Clarifying Shampoo 101: How Often to Use It & How to Get the Best Results

Co-authored by Steven Waldman

Last Updated: January 18, 2023 References

A clarifying shampoo is an occasional treatment that you can use to reduce build-up of hair products, oils, sebum, and dirt from your hair. While clarifying shampoo is extremely effective at combating limp or dull hair, it can also leave your hair dry if not used properly. If you want to introduce clarifying shampoo into your routine, spend some time researching the best shampoo for your hair type. Replace your normal shampoo with the clarifying shampoo. Depending on your needs and hair type, you can use clarifying shampoo as often as once a week or only once a month.

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How often should you use clarifying shampoo?

Use clarifying shampoo about once a month. Clarifying shampoo works so well by stripping out all of the product build-up in your hair. Unfortunately, that same stripping power also removes your scalp's natural oils, which can leave your hair dry and vulnerable if you use clarifying shampoo too often. To keep your hair healthy and strong, stick to using clarifying shampoo once a month.^{[1]
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Using Clarifying Shampoo

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Wet your hair. You should make sure that your hair is completely wet before you apply the shampoo. If you are using a shower or bath, dip your hair under the water. If you are using a sink, you should fill a bucket with water. Hold your head over the basin, and gently pour the water over your hair.
- Wet your hair with warm, but not hot, water to open up the cuticle. Hot water may damage your hair and make it limp.^{[2]
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Massage the shampoo into your hair. Squeeze out about a quarter-sized amount of the shampoo into your hands.^{[3]
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Rinse out completely. Once you are done, you should rinse all of the shampoo out of your hair. Make sure that your scalp, roots, and tips no longer have any shampoo on them. If your hair is excessively oily, you can try to shampoo it again, but in most cases, one application is all you need.
- Many stylists recommend that you rinse with cold water, as cold water may help seal in moisture and make your hair shiny.^{[4]
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Condition your hair. Since clarifying shampoo strips your hair of both natural and artificial oils, you will need to replace some of that hydration to prevent breakage and damage. After you rinse out the shampoo, apply your favorite conditioner.^{[5]
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- If you do a weekly deep-conditioning treatment for your hair, you may want to use the clarifying treatment right before the special conditioner. If you pair these treatments together, you may find that they work more effectively.
- If you have oily hair, you may only want to condition the tips of your hair. Start about halfway down the shaft, and rub the conditioner into the tips. Do not condition the roots or scalp.

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Finding the Right Shampoo

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Determine your hair type. Different clarifying shampoos are marked for use on different hair types. While some may advertise themselves as being suited for “all hair types,” others aim to treat a specific characteristic. If you have normal hair, you can use a shampoo aimed for “all hair types,” but if you have a specific problem, you may want to look for a shampoo that targets the issue. Some common hair types that may use clarifying shampoo include:
- Dry hair
- Oily hair
- Curly hair
- Straight hair
- Fine hair
- Thick hair
- Colored or treated hair
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Look for chelating ingredients if you use hard or chlorinated water. A chelating shampoo is very similar to a clarifying shampoo, but it is more effective against mineral build-ups. If your local water is hard or if you are a swimmer, you should look for a chelating shampoo. If you cannot find one, you can also use a clarifying shampoo that contains the chelating ingredient EDTA.^{[6]
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- Hard water is water that has a high mineral content. If you are uncertain about how hard your water is, you can check with your local water treatment facility, or you can test the water at home. Add ten drops of soap to a bottle of water. Shake the bottle. If it suds up, you have soft water, but if it doesn’t, you may have hard water.
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Find one with hydrating oils for natural curly hair. If you have curly hair, you will want to make sure that you do not dry out your hair too much. Since clarifying shampoo will strip away natural oils, you should replace them with a shampoo that uses an oil, such as Argan oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, shea butter, or olive oil.^{[7]
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- Look for sulfate-free shampoos if you have curly hair, as sulfates in many clarifying shampoos can make frizz worse.
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Try baby shampoo for a gentler option. If you have sensitive skin on your scalp, extremely dry hair, colored hair, or damaged hair, a normal clarifying shampoo may be too harsh. Instead of causing more damage to your hair, you may want to try using a baby shampoo. These are formulated not to strip essential oils, but they will still provide a deep clean for your hair.^{[8]
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- If you have colored hair, you can also look for a “color-safe” clarifying shampoo that will be gentler on your dye job.
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Read reviews online. Many beauty websites offer comparisons and reviews on different clarifying shampoos. Do your research before you buy to make sure that the one you purchase is effective without being too harsh. You may want to see if the shampoo increases shine and reduces oil. If you have dyed or highlighted hair, make sure that other reviewers do not report that the shampoo fades their color.

Community Q&A

Question

If my purple toner shampoo caused a grey/purple tint and I use clarifying shampoo to help reduce that, should I use a purple mask afterwards?

GeGeGeLL

Community Answer

You should only be using purple hair products about once per week or your hair will develop a very purple tone. You can use the clarifying shampoo once per week as well, and this should help remove that purple tone. Do not use a purple mask or purple shampoo after you use the clarifying shampoo, as this will turn your hair purple again. Do not use any purple hair products and the clarifying shampoo during the same hair wash, since it will defeat the purpose of the clarifying shampoo.

Warnings

Most clarifying shampoos contain sulfates. If you are trying to avoid sulfates, you may not want to use a clarifying shampoo or should opt for a sulfate-free brand, such as Cantu.

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If the shampoo is causing your scalp to burn, discontinue use immediately.

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