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Collage: Gabrielle Langdon; Source images: Courtesy of brands
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The best clarifying shampoos do more than just clean—they hit reset on hair weighed down by dry shampoo (IYKYK), styling products, hard water minerals, and everyday pollution that dulls shine and flattens volume.
Unlike your go-to daily shampoo, these formulas are specially designed to sweep away stubborn residue while preserving moisture and color. Many rely on ingredients like apple cider vinegar for gentle exfoliation and shine, fruit-derived acids to rebalance the scalp's pH, or sensitive skin-friendly beta-hydroxy acids, such as willow bark extract. That means softer strands, lifted roots, and revived bounce (and who doesn’t want that?).
Just like a bond repair treatment, clarifying shampoos should be used sparingly. “Depending on your lifestyle, you might need a clarifier once or twice weekly. How often you use it depends on how much scalp buildup you’re getting from excess sweat, product, or the environment,” says Katelyn Ellsworth, a stylist based in San Diego, CA. She suggests letting the formula sit for two to five minutes and even double-lathering for an extra-clean finish.
Our Top Clarifying Shampoos
- Best Overall: K18 Peptide Prep Clarifying Detox Shampoo, $39
- Best Daily Shampoo: Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo, $21
- Best Applicator: Aavrani Scalp Detox Jelly Cleanser, $34
- Best Hydrating: Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo, $26
- Best for Oily Hair: Bumble and Bumble Sunday Clarifying Shampoo, $36
- Best for Sensitive Scalps: R+Co Lost Treasure Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse, $34
- Best for Mature Hair: Unite Weekender Shampoo, $32
- Best for Thick Hair: Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo, $30
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: Kenra Clarifying Shampoo, $21
- Best for Curly Hair: Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo, $24
Ahead, the pros share the best clarifying shampoos they trust to reboot every hair type—from curls and coils to color-treated strands—so your hair feels lighter, shinier, and full of movement again.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What are clarifying shampoos?
- Who should use clarifying shampoos?
- How often should you use a clarifying shampoo?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: K18 Peptide Prep Clarifying Detox Shampoo
K18
Peptide Prep Clarifying Detox Shampoo
Amazon
Sephora
Why it's worth it: K18's Peptide Prep Clarifying Detox Shampoo combines the brand’s molecular-level approach to hair repair with intensive clarifying properties to create a formula that enhances your strands from root to tip. This wash contains plant-derived surfactants that gently cleanse the scalp and, of course, features the brand's proprietary K18Peptide, a chain of proprietary peptides that reinforces hair bonds for stronger strands as it removes product buildup and sebum.
The brand highlights two key ingredients: oil-absorbing activated charcoal and exfoliating salicylic acid, but cosmetic chemist Esther Oluwaseun also emphasizes Peptide Prep's strand-smoothing properties. "To mitigate any potential of the hair being stripped, the shampoo uses guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, which is a cationic polymer that helps the hair feel conditioned and smooth," she explained in our review. "Hair has a net-negative charge, so using positively-charged ingredients such as [this one] helps to smooth the hair. In addition, the use of panthenol helps smooth the cuticle as well."
Tester feedback from contributor Kirbie Johnson
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“The short of it is I loved the Detox shampoo mostly because I need my shampoo sessions to put in work. It delivered on that front… After blow-drying, it felt similar to how it always feels when I use K18: sleek and healthy.” —Kirbie Johnson, contributor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: activated charcoal, salicylic acid, peptides
- Who it’s for: everyone
- Frequency of use: once per week
- Size: 8.5 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: citrus
- Sulfate-free: no
Best Daily Shampoo: Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
Aveda
Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
Aveda
Why it’s worth it: This mint-and-rosemary combo of Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo gives your scalp a lively little tingle—the kind of refreshing buzz you usually only get at the salon. While you’re enjoying the invigorating aroma and zing, the clarifying formula sweeps away buildup, excess oil, and impurities without leaving your hair dry or stripped, thanks to sunflower seed oil and glycerin. A touch of vinegar helps maintain your scalp’s pH balance, so it’s even gentle enough for daily use. You get hair that feels light, soft, shiny, and effortlessly full of movement—almost like you just stepped out of a professional wash.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“As someone who piles on styling products for work (an occupational hazard), I’m obsessed with having a clarifying shampoo like Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo in my routine. It melts away all the gunk without drying out my hair, so I can use it every day if needed. The minty-herbal scent is addictive, and I can’t get enough of the cool, tingly feeling.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: sunflower seed oil, menthol, camphor, vinegar, glycerin
- Who it’s for: people with normal to oily hair
- Frequency of use: daily
- Sizes: 1.7 fluid ounces, 8.5 fluid ounces, or 33.8 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: rosemary mint
- Sulfate-free: no
Best Applicator: Aavrani Scalp Detox Jelly Cleanser
Aavrani
Scalp Detox Jelly Cleanser
Amazon
Sephora
Why it's worth it: A 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner, Aavrani’s Scalp Detox Jelly Cleanser features a cleverly built-in scalp scrubber that massages as you cleanse, boosting circulation, loosening buildup, and delivering a deep clean without the need for extra tools. The scrubber sets it apart: “Its silicone applicator has soft teeth that make it easy to distribute the clarifying shampoo into every nook and cranny of your scalp,” says features director Dianna Singh.
Its bouncy, jelly-like texture transforms into a gentle lather that feels cooling and refreshing on the scalp while whisking away product residue and excess oil. Infused with soothing botanicals (like aloe vera and lotus flower extract), it leaves your roots feeling weightless, your scalp feeling balanced, and your hair soft and shiny.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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"My dry, sometimes itchy scalp loves this harmonic blend of acids and moisturizing ingredients—it has a satisfying lather that encourages me to actually take my time working it in, as someone who, ahem, doesn't wash their hair as often as they probably should. I will admit it's a tad easier to use a separate scalp massager if you really want to get into your roots—at least when the tube is full-ish, but other than that, I think the applicator is a standout." —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycolic acid, vitamin E, lotus extract
- Who it’s for: people with oily hair or heavy buildup
- Frequency of use: once or twice per week
- Size: 8.4 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: peppermint, rose
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best Hydrating: Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo
Dae
Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo
Amazon
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: When your strands feel desert-dry, Dae Desert Detox Clarifying Shampoo—yet another 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner—is the hydration they need (and deserve). A blend of powerful yet balanced surfactants works hard to break down product buildup, oil, and hard-water residue. At the same time, it quenches your hair’s thirst thanks to nourishing botanicals like prickly pear and cactus flower extracts that replenish hydration, while moringa leaf oil locks in moisture and protects strands from breakage. Glycerin also draws water into the hair shaft to keep it soft and touchable, and bright orange and lemon peel oils leave behind a fresh, sunny citrus scent.
Tester feedback from social director Kassidy Silva
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“I take clarifying shampoos more seriously than I should. With a dry scalp, keeping flakes at bay and my roots moisturizer and clean, is a top priority in my shower routine. I’ve been a fan of the Dae Hair Desert Clarifying Shampoo since I had a tiny lab sample. Twice a week I use a generous dollop, about the size of two quarters, and massage it into my roots. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes while shaving my legs then rinse throughly. If I’ve been using a lot of product in my hair, I’ll do a second application and let it sit for 5 more minutes. After, my hair feels soft and squeaky clean. Not to mention, all of those products I use, start working like they should again without the build up.” —Kassidy Silva, social director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: prickly pear, glycerin, moringa leaf extract, orange and lemon oils
- Who it’s for: people with dry hair or dry scalp
- Frequency of use: once a week
- Size:10 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: citrus
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Oily Hair: Bumble and Bumble Sunday Clarifying Shampoo
Bumble and Bumble
Sunday Clarifying Shampoo
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why it's worth it: Sundays are for meal prep, laundry, and catching up on your shows—and, with this once-a-week clarifying shampoo, giving your hair a fresh start (though, of course, you can reach for it any day you need a reset). Bumble and Bumble Sunday Clarifying Shampoo is the ultimate reset button for your strands, sweeps away a week’s worth of product buildup, excess oil, and hard water minerals. Panax ginseng root extract helps cleanse and encourage a healthy scalp, while rosemary stimulates and sage naturally clarifies, supporting both scalp and hair shaft. Glycerin keeps your hair from feeling squeaky or dry, so it emerges light, shiny, and bouncy. “This is a classic clarifier I’ve trusted for years, especially for clients who use a lot of styling products or those living in a city and exposed to a lot of environmental pollution,” says Marcos Diaz, a stylist based in New York City.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: ginseng, rosemary leaf extract, sage leaf extract
- Who it’s for: people with heavy product buildup, an oily scalp, or oily hair
- Frequency of use: once per week
- Sizes: 2 fluid ounces, 8.5 fluid ounces, and 33.8 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: cassis, cyclamen, mint leaf
- Sulfate-free: no
Best for Sensitive Scalps: R+Co Lost Treasure Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
R+Co
Lost Treasure Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
Bluemercury
Walmart
Why it's worth it: If you’ll humor us, R+Co Lost Treasure Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse is truly a hair-care gem. Apple cider vinegar and white willow bark sweep away product buildup, excess oil, and hard water residue, while aloe vera and tamanu oil soothe irritated scalps. “I use this at least once a week, and I love the way it smells and really cleanses my scalp. It leaves my hair feeling hydrated and cuts down on any dry or itchy scalp,” says Ellsworth. Use it in place of shampoo when your strands need a reset (don’t expect a big lather) or as a co-wash.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: apple fruit extract, aloe vera, tamanu seed oil
- Who it’s for: people with buildup or hard water
- Frequency of use: leave on up to three minutes as often as needed
- Size: 6 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: a blend of lemon, tangerine, eucalyptus, moss
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Mature Hair: Unite Weekender Shampoo
Unite
Weekender Shampoo
Target
Why it's worth it: Known for salon-level formulas, Unite’s Weekender Shampoo is the clarifying reset pros reach for. “When you lather, rinse, and repeat—then leave it on for five minutes—it clears away any buildup, including excess oil caused by hormonal changes, such as those associated with menopause. It leaves hair absolutely clean without stripping color or drying strands,” says Ellsworth, who’s used it for almost 15 years. Panthenol (pro-vitamin B) boosts weightless volume and shine, glyceryl cocoate (derived from coconut oil) smooths and softens, and a blend of sugar cane, apple, orange, and lemon extracts moisturizes and tames frizz, all while making healthy hair smell great.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: panthenol, glyceryl cocoate, sugar cane, sunflower seed extract, apple extract
- Who it’s for: everyone, especially if you have oily or mature hair
- Frequency of use:
- Size: 10 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: orange-lemon
- Sulfate-free: no
Best for Thick Hair: Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo
Moroccanoil
Clarifying Shampoo
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why it's worth it: Famous for pioneering argan oil–infused hair care, Moroccanoil delivers a powerful refresh with its Clarifying Shampoo, which, of course, features argan as its star hydrator. "It's deep-cleansing, removes everyday buildup, and restores your hair and scalp to a healthy balance," says New York City-based stylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew. Avocado oil, keratin, and botanical extracts like lavender, chamomile, and jojoba strengthen, soothe, and boost shine, while panthenol adds lightweight moisture, preventing it from weighing down thicker strands.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: argan oil, panthenol, keratin, lavender, rosemary, chamomile, jojoba
- Who it’s for: people with thick, dry, or coarse hair
- Frequency of use: up to twice per week
- Sizes: 8.5 fluid ounces or 33.8 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: amber, magnolia, wood
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Kenra Clarifying Shampoo
Kenra
Clarifying Shampoo
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: If you're worried about your freshly dyed (and expensive) color treatment washing down the drain, stylist Lacy Redway says Kenra's Clarifying Shampoo effectively washes away excess oil and product without dimming your hair color. "It's also great for removing buildup or if you're in an area with hard water and you don't have a filter in your shower," she adds.
This salon-level cleansing shampoo relies on exfoliating willow bark extract and coconut-based surfactants to scrub your hair and scalp without stripping natural oils, and gluconolactone as a chelating agent to break down hard water deposits. Cleansing agents aside, honey extract sweeps in to nourish and plump strands.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: honey extract, willow bark extract, gluconolactone, glycerin
- Who it’s for: all hair types, especially color-treated hair
- Frequency of use: once per week
- Size: 10.1 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: citrus
- Sulfate-free: no
Best for Curly Hair: Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
Ouidad
Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: Sturdivant-Drew suggests Ouidad's Water Works Clarifying Shampoo for those with curly hair because its buildup-busting formula won't strip their hair of moisture. Because this formulation is mainly powered by exfoliating fruit acids, also known as alpha-hydroxy acids, this deep-cleansing shampoo will put the spring and bounce right back into your curls. Beyond those hardworking (yet gentle) exfoliants, antioxidant-rich citrus extracts boost moisture, softness, and shine. Plus, this is another chelating shampoo, so if you have hard water, your scalp and hair will still feel clean and soft post-rinse.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: AHAs derived from lemon, orange extract, apple extract, panthenol
- Who it’s for: all hair types, especially curly and coily hair
- Frequency of use: once per week
- Size: 8.5 fluid ounces
- Fragrance: tangerine, orange, apricot, banana, peach, prune, strawberry, musk, coconut, cedarwood
- Sulfate-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
What are clarifying shampoos?
Clarifying shampoos are intensive cleansers that aim to remove the buildup of product residue, dead skin cells, and oil, while boosting overall hair health. New York City-based stylist Cash Lawless notes that your stylist may suggest one based on these factors: the amount of buildup you've got, your porosity (how well your hair can absorb moisture), how often you use styling products like texturizers, dry shampoos, and hairsprays, your natural sebum production, styling routine, heat usage, and whether or not your hair is color-treated.
"Do you use leave-in hair products like dry shampoo? Do you heat-style? Most importantly, does your hair feel dull, limp, heavy, or dirty after washing it? If so, then it's time to clarify," says Lawless. Those with color-treated hair should be extra careful with clarifying shampoos. Many formulas can change your color—especially deposited color—so Lawless suggests clarifying if needed before getting a dye job.
Clarifying options have a bad rep for stripping hair, because, well, they're meant to provide a deeper cleanse than conventional formulas. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King says that many clarifying shampoos use chelating agents like EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA, which latch on to metal ions that may be in your water. "[Their] function is to 'chelate' (form a bond with) metal ions in water so that the water is softer and better for the hair," she says. She notes that while EDTAs are less harsh on your strands than other surfactants, they can still have a stripping and drying effect on hair. This is why some brands add moisturizing agents to their shampoos or opt for a sulfate-free shampoo, skipping harsh surfactants altogether.
Who should use clarifying shampoos?
Though not common, Brendan Camp, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, says EDTAs have been reported as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis. “Excessive use of EDTAs can strip the scalp and hair of too much oil and contribute to dryness, flaking, and brittle hair,” he adds.
Most hair types can tolerate a clarifying shampoo, but, considering their usually drying nature, we suggest those with dry hair use it in tandem with a moisture-replenishing hair mask or deep conditioner.
How often should you use a clarifying shampoo?
Most clarifying shampoos are intended for use sparingly, only when necessary, which depends on your hair type and the amount of buildup you have. "It's a personal decision, but in general, I recommend once every two weeks for those who use styling products [and/or] heat and don't wash every day," says Lawless. Most clarifying shampoos come with their own suggestions, so check before subbing it as your daily wash.
Meet the experts
- Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology based in New York City
- Marcos Diaz, a stylist based in New York City
- Katelyn Ellsworth, a stylist, natural color and extension specialist, founder of The Roslyn, and co-founder of Active Coco based in San Diego, CA
- Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist based in Parsippany, New Jersey
- Cash Lawless, a stylist based in New York City
- Esther Oluwaseun, a cosmetic chemist based in California
- Lacy Redway, a stylist based in New York City
- Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, a stylist based in New York City
- James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best clarifying shampoos, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hairstylists who know what it takes to achieve flake- and buildup-free hair. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
