14 Clarifying Shampoos for When Your Hair Needs a Serious Deep Clean

Best Overall: Davines SOLU Shampoo

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This sudser is a go-for for Byrdie Senior Editor Karli Bendlin, and it's so clarifying that it’s meant to be used to deep clean hair before a perm. But trust us, go ahead and use it whether or not you’re getting a perm. It quickly transforms into an airy foam that whisks away all kinds of excess residue, gunk, and grime, all while leaving hair with mega-watt shine.

Size: 8.45 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Budget: Suave Essentials Daily Clarifying Shampoo

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Not quite sold on the fact that you need a clarifying shampoo and/or just don’t want to shell out the big bucks for one? This guy will cost you a few dollars, a very small price to pay regardless, but even more so when you consider the efficacy. Gentle and pH-balanced, it still gets the job done and also has a very lovely, fresh scent.

Size: 12 fluid ounces | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Splurge: ORIBE The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo

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There’s no sugar-coating it—there’s something about the idea of a clarifying shampoo that just feels, well, kind of clinical. But trust us, there’s none of that with this luxurious shampoo, which has high-end hair treatment vibes. The whipped foam boasts a luscious texture and high-end scent (in true Oribe fashion), though that doesn’t keep it from being a heavy-hitting treatment, using volcanic ash to exfoliate your scalp and hair and take oil and product build-up with it.

Size: 7.1 fluid ounces | Scent: Cote d’Azur | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Splurge, Runner-Up: Ouai Detox Shampoo

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“This is a lighter clarifying shampoo that leaves hair softer than many other formulas do,” says Mouzakis of another one of his picks. It lathers up nicely and contains both apple cider vinegar for clarifying purposes and chelating agents to remove hard water deposits. There’s also strengthening keratin in the mix, always a nice plus.

Size: 10 fluid ounces | Scent: Ouai’s Melrose Place scent | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Drugstore: Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo

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The namesake ingredient in this pick (ACV, obvi) deep cleans both your scalp and hair but also comes with soothing oats to help calm a stressed-out scalp. Sulfate-, paraben-, and dye-free, it’s another great pick for colored hair and also happens to add plenty of shine and volume, too.

Size: 12 fluid ounces | Scent: Fruity | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Oily Hair: Amika Reset Clarifying Gel Shampoo

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Those with oily hair can benefit from incorporating a clarifying shampoo, like this one, into their routine. This touts two oil-absorbing ingredients more often found in skincare—pink clay and charcoal—to not only sop up excess grease but also remove all kinds of odors, residue, and other unwanted gunk and grime. The lightweight gel-to-foam texture that won’t weigh down your hair is another plus, given that those with oily hair also tend to have finer hair.

Size: 6.7 fluid ounces | Scent: Cote d’Azur | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Colored Hair: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo

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If you color your hair, proceed with caution when using a clarifying shampoo. After all, by definition, they’re more stripping than traditional formulas, which can spell disaster when it comes to unwanted color fading. That being said, there are plenty of options out there that are safe for colored hair, which can also benefit from a deep clean every once in a while.

Take this option, for example. It boasts a litany of different ingredients to get the job done: an anionic polymer that removes product residue, chelating agents that attach to dulling minerals in hard water, charcoal to absorb excess oil, and sulfate-free surfactants to clean without removing your color.

Size: 5.4 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Curly Hair: Pattern Beauty Clarifying Shampoo

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Does curly hair ever need a clarifying shampoo? The short answer is yes. Not only do those with curly hair tend to go longer in between washes, but they also tend to use more product, both factors that up the need of reaching for a clarifying formula occasionally.

Make it this pick, from the brand created by Tracee Ellis Ross to specially address the (unique) needs of curly girls everywhere. In this case, that means purifying your hair and scalp but also making sure your curls aren’t stripped of their natural moisture, thanks to ingredients such as aloe vera and panthenol.

Size: 7.8 fluid ounces | Scent: Jasmine, bergamot, sandalwood | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for All Hair Types: Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo

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Have fine, straight hair? This is a great option for you. Blessed with thick curls? Yep, still a great option. For any and every hair type and texture, this formula gets the clarifying job done but also delivers plenty of moisturizing argan and avocado oils, as well as strengthening keratin in the process. Oh, and it’s safe for colored hair, too.

Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Sensitive Scalps: Girl+Hair Clarifying Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

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For those whose scalp is on the sensitive side, the last thing you want to do is use a more intense or overly harsh shampoo that can cause further dryness and possible irritation. Instead, reach for this rinse. While you use it as a shampoo, it relies on apple cider vinegar rather than detergents to remove residue and help balance your scalp’s pH, and there are also hydrating shea butter and oil-absorbing tea tree oil in the mix, too. Plus, the targeted nozzle makes it easy to apply directly to your scalp.

Size: 10.1 fluid ounces | Scent: Apple | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best for Heavy Duty Build-Up: Unite Weekender Shampoo

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This is a top pick for stylist John Mouzakis, co-owner of 3rd Coast Salon in Chicago. The caveat? Use it just once a week; it will help clarify your scalp and hair without stripping natural oils or color. It’s safe for chemically-treated hair and extensions, too, and the refreshing, mandarin-lemon scent is a nice bonus.

Size: 8 fluid ounces | Scent: Citrus | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for City Dwellers: Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo

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Stash this in your shower if you live in a city. Mouzakis says it helps remove not only product build-up but also pollution residue and minerals found in hard water (copper, iron, magnesium, calcium) that can change both the texture and color of your hair. Plus, the formula is pH balanced to help keep hair looking and feeling healthy and shiny.

Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Scent: Citrus | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Flaky Scalps: Ameliorate Clarifying Shampoo

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Clarifying shampoos can be a good way to help remove dead skin on the scalp… so long as the formula isn’t too stripping, which can end up exacerbating the situation. Enter this option. The mild shampoo clarifies but contains ingredients such as prebiotics and a unique hydration complex to help soothe your scalp while still getting rid of flakes. Plus, it can be used daily.

Size: 8.4 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No