When Do You Need Clarifying Shampoo?

Does your hair feel waxy and greasy even after washing? While a regular shampoo is effective at gently removing oil and dirt, it might not entirely get rid of buildup on your scalp. Enter clarifying shampoo, the heavy lifter in the haircare world. The formula cuts through even the most stubborn impurities and product residue, wiping the slate clean and giving your tresses a fresh restart.

How should you add one to your routine? Can you use it every day in place of your regular shampoo? Let’s decode everything you need to know about clarifying shampoo.

Clarifying shampoo is formulated with higher levels of cleansing agents (surfactants) to break down and wash away anything that has overstayed its welcome on your scalp and strands. These include residue from mousses, gels, serums, leave-in treatments, and even your everyday shampoo and conditioner. The minerals in hard water and chlorine from pools can also leave behind deposits, causing your hair to lose its luster and bounce.

Any shampoo with the label “clarifying” and “hair detox” works the same way but boasts different ingredients. The latter relies on “natural” ingredients like shea butter and bentonite clay to increase the moisturizing power. Meanwhile, the former might use additional additives, such as sulfates, for a more intensive purifying effect. One is not necessarily better, so pick based on your hair needs.

This shampoo goes beyond purging your locks of unwanted gunk. It might just be the missing piece to the puzzle that is your haircare regimen. Here are some of the perks of adding it to your routine.

Just a heads up: the oil secreted from hair follicles can mix with sweat, dead skin cells, and remnants from your hair products. Leaving these on your scalp can lead to itching and inflammation. Thankfully, a clarifying hair and scalp cleanser helps clear any buildup that can trigger irritation, providing some much-needed relief.

Textured hair is inherently more susceptible to dryness, which might prompt you to apply a cocktail of hydrating products onto your coiled crown. However, these products can weigh your strands down. Pushing moisture back into your locks is an A+ move as long as you don’t go overboard. To bring your curls spring back to life, build a routine based on your hair porosity and do a deep cleanse occasionally.

Ever feel like your go-to hair serums and masks aren’t delivering the same results they used to? The accumulation of residue on your hair may be hindering their performance. This is where clarifying shampoo comes in. It creates a clean canvas for your haircare routine to work its magic.

If your hair feels heavy, dull, or you find yourself reaching for dry shampoo more often, it's time to start using a clarifying shampoo. It does a stellar job of whisking away any trace of filth in one wash. However, the catch is it can be very drying on your scalp since it contains fewer conditioning agents.

Strike the right balance by using a hair clarifier no more than two times a month. But if you want to keep your haircare routine lowkey without alternating between two types of shampoos, you can try Dove Botanical Silicone Free Shampoo for Fresh Hair Clarify. Made with 100% botanical oil and white tea extract, it thoroughly cleanses your strands and scalp while nourishing them from within. Plus, the formula is gentle enough for everyday use.

Don't forget to follow up with Dove Botanical Silicone Free Conditioner for Fresh Hair Clarify. It has zero colorants, parabens, and silicone, so it can rehydrate your locks without leaving heavy buildup. The result? You'll have fresh and soft hair until your next hair wash day.

So, if you're experiencing limp hair or itching and oiliness on your scalp, take the plunge and add clarifying shampoo to your shower essentials ASAP. Your hair and scalp with thank you for it.