When hair is in need of a really good clean—enough to tackle a week’s worth of product buildup—the best clarifying shampoo will get the job done. These deep cleansing products (like our top pick from Ouai) are much more efficient at the task than your standard hair wash. They’re formulated with ingredients for removing excess oils, flakes, pollution and layers of styling creams, heat protectant sprays, gels and powders from the hair and scalp. “They are meant for people who use a lot of haircare products that leave residue,” says Dr. Karan Lal, an adult and pediatric dermatologist and fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologist. “And they’re especially great for those with very oily hair.”
The best clarifying shampoos work to remove buildup from styling creams, heat protectant sprays, … [+] gels and powders from hair and scalp.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
On top of handling buildup, many formulas help rinse away chloride from swimming pools and minerals from hard water, which can warp hair color and leave hair feeling dry and brittle if left unattended for too long. hair, promote scalp health and more. Lal explains that these multitaskers are a great way to “reset” your scalp every month. Plus, they are “great for those with dandruff or psoriasis, as they can help exfoliate the scalp scales,” he says. Ahead, 12 standout options to shop now.
Best Clarifying Shampoo Overall
A Do-It-All Product With A Beautiful Scent
On top of its impressive strengthening and cleansing qualities, thanks to apple cider vinegar and keratin, Ouai’s Detox Shampoo smells great too. It’s scented with the brand’s signature Melrose Place fragrance, which has notes of bergamot, lychee, cediterwood and w The delicious scent, the clarifying shampoo will win over those with oily hair and dry, flaking scalps.
Best Drugstore Clarifying Shampoo
An Affordable Formula That Gives Visible Results
Like many other Aveeno products, this sulfate-free clarifying shampoo uses colloidal oat extract and apple cider vinegar for a soothing effect on the scalp. The effective combination of ingredients helps to balance the hair and scalp without leaving it dry. Reviewers it also prases for leaving hair smooth, soft and shiny. And at $8 a bottle, it’s a hard deal to beat.
Best Clarifying Shampoo For Scalp Health
A Scalp-Focused Top Pick
Some clarifying shampoos have a bad reputation of drying out hair, but Taraji P. Henson’s gel version is made with honey to actually boost hair’s moisture levels. Scalp health is another main focus of this standout formula—willowbark extract exfoliates while aloe soothe
Best Clarifying Shampoo For Natural Hair
A Celeb-Approved Formula That Cleanses And Strengthens
MOST POPULAR
Tracee Ellis Ross’s clarifying shampoo gently cleansing natural hair, including curls and coils, without stripping the hair of moisture. It’s also beloved for its light jasmine, bergamot and sandalwood fragrance. The formula is infused with a trio of ingredients—matcha aree green vera and panthenol—to strengthen the hair, too.
Best Clarifying Shampoo For Curly Hair
A Luxuriously Scented Shampoo That’s Great For Curls
Moroccanoil is known for its distinct fragrance; this clarifying shampoo has that same scent, plus a laundry list of haircare benefits. The wash removes the buildup that makes hair look limp and lifeless, leaving it revived. Since the shampoo is packed with ingredients like argan and avocado oils, it’s best for those with thicker or curly hair.
Best Clarifying Shampoo For Oily Hair
A Great Match For Excess Oil And Limp Strands
Not only can chlorine leave hair dry, brittle and prone to breakdown, it can also wreak havoc on hair color—specifically causing brassiness or turning lighter tones green. If swimming is a regular part of your weekly schedule, consider adding a chlorine-removing shampoo , like this cult favorite formula from Paul Mitchell, into your wash routine. You may also enjoy the fresh, zesty pink grapefruit scent that adds an energizing boost to your haircare routing.
Best Clarifying Pre-Shampoo
A Speedy Pre-Shower Treatment For Softer Hair
While technically a clarifying treatment to be used pre-wash, this spray-on product is perfect for removing impurities and minerals that collect on hair from hard water. The formula works well for most hair types, from straight to curly to coily—it’s meant to be used on dry hair and left on for three minutes. After rinsing, shampooing, conditioning and styling, hair is said to feel noticeably lighter and softer.
Best Clarifying Shampoo For Buildup
An Excellent Option For Removing Product Buildup, Pollution And Metals
Living Proof’s product is dubbed “triple detox” for a reason. The high-powered formula works to remove product buildup, pollution and metals left behind on hair from hard water. The scalp gets attention too, with oil-absorbing charcoal and a witch hazel -infused complex that forms a lipid layer to soothe and support the scalp’s barrier. It’s perfect for a deep, once-a-week cleanse when dry shampoo usage has hit its peak. Plus, it doesn’t leave hair feeling like it was stripped of moisture.
Best Clarifying Shampoo For Chemically Treated Hair
A Gentle Yet Detoxifying Formula
With so many charcoal shampoos out there, it can be difficult to know which one is worth taking up coveted space in your shower. IGK’s comes out on top for many reviewers say the activated charcoal and tea tree oil-infused formula leaves hair cleaning feeling super and soft. On the ingredient list you will also notice rose centifola extract and marine hydrogel technology (packed with glycerin), which protects the scalp, reduces frizz and brings moisture to the hair.
Best Clarifying Shampoo For Volume
A Dermatologist-Recommended Shampoo
“This is a great residue remover,” Lal says. While ridding hair of excess oil, product buildup and minerals, Kristin Ess’s incredibly popular formula also works to give hair added volume and a shiny glow. Shoppers also give the clarifying shampoo their stamp of approval, dubbing it a “hair blessing.”
How We Chose The Best Clarifying Shampoos
We considered all of the top options in this category on the market and ranked them based on hair types, efficiency and benefits they each provide for the scalp. We did our research and found that best clarifying shampoos have key functions ranging from removing buildup from hair products to offering added benefits like volumizing strands and adding moisture. We also looked into the ingredients in these formulas and scoured hundreds of customer testimonials to confirm that they hold up to their claims, while also testing out several ourselves. We recruited the help of a board-certified dermatologist who has years of expertise under his belt.
We keep this article updated with new product selections, updated pricing and availability to provide you with the best picks on the market. We also consider new quotes and opinions from reviewers to include in the story too. This story was last updated in December 2022.
Sienna Blake is a licensed aesthetic consultant and beauty writer specializing in cosmetic surgery advancements and non-invasive treatments. With a background in dermatology and over eight years of industry experience, Sienna is passionate about helping people achieve confidence through informed beauty decisions. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and regularly collaborates with top plastic surgeons to stay at the forefront of aesthetic innovations. Outside of her work, Sienna enjoys traveling, skincare research, and practicing Pilates.
