Banishing greasy hair for good can feel daunting, if not almost impossible. However, implementing a clarifying shampoo into your hair-care routine can certainly help. These special shampoos are designed to deep-clean hair by eliminating oils, dirt, dry shampoo, sweat, residue, and more.
According to Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City, the best clarifying shampoos are those that “remove all excess impurities without drying it out and damaging” the hair. Meanwhile, New Jersey-based hairstylist and salon owner Michelle Cleveland tells The Tease that clarifying shampoos should only be used one to two times a week “at most” due to their deep-cleansing properties — in other words, don’t ditch your traditional shampoo.
Intrigued? Read on for the best clarifying shampoos, according to stylists.
Lasio Clarifying Shampoo
“At my salon and skincare spa, we use the Lasio Clarifyjng Shampoo before every chemical service done on clients,” says Paul Labrecque of Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa in New York City. He also notes how the keratin-enriched shampoo “rids hair of buildup without drying it” or leaving it “excessively knotty.”
Shop: Lasio Clarifying Shampoo, $44.00
Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance™ Clarifying Shampoo
The Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance™ Clarifying Shampoo comes highly recommended by Cleveland, which features the brand’s “ patent bond-building complex.” She also notes the shampoo’s hair-strengthening properties, which she deems “a huge bonus” for “over-processed, already dehydrated” strands.
Shop: Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance™ Clarifying Shampoo, $30.00
Sebastian Reset Shampoo
Cleveland reaches for the Sebastian Reset Shampoo “when a client shows a chemical reaction in their hair such as metals or chlorine buildup.” Why? “It’s no joke and will remove most any foreign substance or chemical buildup sitting on the surface of the hair.” The under-$20 pick also boasts exfoliating salicylic acid and nourishing glycerin.
Shop: Sebastian Reset Shampoo, $18.00
Redken Hair Cleansing Cream
Redken’s Hair Cleansing Cream is spiked with ingredients like salicylic acid and conditioning sugarcane extract. “Not only does it remove pollution residue, hard water minerals, and excess oil, but also product build up in the hair,” explains Iowa-based hairstylist Jamie Wiley.
Shop: Redken Hair Cleansing Cream, $46.00
Mizani Moisture Fusion Gentle Clarifying Shampoo
According to Wiley, the Mizani Moisture Fusion Gentle Clarifying Shampoo is especially great for curly and coily hair types since it “gently cleanses and removes buildup without roughing up the cuticle and creating frizz.” Ingredient highlights include oil-eliminating charcoal and moisturizing coconut oil.
Shop: Mizani Moisture Fusion Gentle Clarifying Shampoo, $42.00
Kerastase Bain Hydra-Fortifiant Shampoo
Toth describes the Kerastase Bain Hydra-Fortifiant Shampoo as “a lightweight, volumizing, clarifying shampoo for weakened hair that is prone to falling out.” The shampoo’s silicone-free formula also features glycerin and ginger root extract, which is loaded with fatty acids.
Shop: Kerastase Bain Hydra-Fortifiant Shampoo, $38.00
Ouai Detox Shampoo
Toth loves Ouai Detox Shampoo for its gentle yet effective formula, which features noteworthy ingredients like vitamin-rich apple cider vinegar and keratin. We’d also be remiss not to mention the delightful floral scent, which has notes of jasmine, peony, rose, freesia, bergamot, and more.
Shop: Ouai Detox Shampoo, $30.00
