If your hair has been feeling a little lacklustre lately - we're talking greasy roots and dull strands that even your favourite products no longer seem to touch - it might be time to hit the reset button with a clarifying shampoo. But what is clarifying shampoo, we hear you ask?
We're breaking down exactly what it does, who should use it, and how to get the best results without stripping your hair of the moisture it needs in this helpful guide.
What is a clarifying shampoo?
Put simply, a clarifying shampoo is a deep-cleansing hair product that's designed to remove build-up from styling products (such as mousse, gels and dry shampoo), natural oils, hard water minerals, pollution and everyday dirt that regular shampoos might leave behind.
In fact, many shampoos for greasy hair are actually clarifying since they’re designed to cut through that build-up and leave your scalp feeling super fresh and clean.
What is the difference between clarifying shampoo and regular shampoo?
Unlike your daily shampoo, which is formulated for gentle cleansing, clarifying shampoos have stronger surfactants that deeply purify the scalp and hair, which is similar to hard water shampoo. They're especially useful if your hair feels heavy, looks dull, or isn't responding well to your usual products.
What is in clarifying shampoo?
Typically, clarifying shampoos contain a blend of surfactants to strip the dirt from your follicles. Some common ingredients you might find in a clarifying shampoo include:
• Sodium laureth sulphate
• Sodium lauryl sulphate
•Sodium olefin sulfonate
• Ammonium laureth sulphate
• Ammonium lauryl sulphate
• DEA lauryl sulphate
• TEA lauryl sulphate
How often should you use a clarifying shampoo?
While effective at cleansing the hair, clarifying shampoos should only be used sparingly - typically once a week or less - to avoid stripping the hair of essential moisture. If you have a sensitive scalp need to wash your hair more regularly, we recommend a lighter, sulphate-free shampoo to give your locks a gentle cleanse.
Should you use clarifying shampoo on coloured hair?
You can, but use it sparingly. Clarifying shampoos are powerful cleansers, which means they can sometimes strip away hair colour along with product buildup and oil. If you’ve recently coloured your hair or have a vibrant or semi-permanent dye, it’s best to avoid clarifying shampoos too soon after colouring, as they can cause fading.
If in doubt, it's better to stick to a shampoo formulated for coloured hair instead, as these are specially designed to cleanse gently while helping to preserve your colour for longer, so you get clean, fresh hair without the fade.
What is the best clarifying shampoo?
Paul Mitchell
OGXArabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, cinema trips, playing board games and walking her three dogs.