13 Best Clarifying Shampoos of 2024, According to Experts

So fresh and so clean.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Unless you’ve won the genetic lottery, healthy, flowing locks don’t come without some hard work and determination. Luckily, there’s an army of products on the market to invest in to help reach your hair goals, like hair masks to quench our thirsty strands, dry shampoos to make our styles last longer between wash days, and hair bonding treatments to repair damage from heat styling. However, without a clarifying shampoo in the mix, those treatments and tricks won't be as effective as intended. In some cases, they can make your hair feel limp and lifeless over time, as sebum, styling products, and hair-nourishing ingredients can build up on your scalp and hair over time, preventing reparative formulas from penetrating your hair.

Yes, hydration is one of the keys to healthy hair, but a good, thorough cleanse is also essential. “Clarifying rids your hair of suffocating build-up while nourishing the scalp,” says colorist Lucille Javier. “It helps stimulate hair follicles, allowing for hair growth, and clears the scalp of dandruff, acne, and scabbing.” Think of it as a fresh start for your hair that allows your strands to breathe and primes your hair to absorb all of the goodness from your other products. You might even find that your scalp feels healthier and your hair grows more quickly.

The process is pretty low commitment, too; using a clarifying shampoo once a week or every other week should proffer the results you desire. “If you have an itchy, oily, or inflamed scalp, dry follicles, hair loss, or any scalp pain, it’s time to detox,” says Javier. If you’re ready to invest in your hair’s health, bite the bullet and choose your best match from the list below. Experts, editors, and customer reviews assisted us in cherry-picking the 13 best clarifying shampoos that’ll restore shine and make your scalp feel oh-so-clean.

Don’t let the runny consistency fool you. Carol’s Daughter’s Wash Day Delight cuts your shampoo time in half with a water-to-foam formula that transforms into a rich lather and deeply cleanses stubborn dirt and build-up. The nozzle applicator gets deep into braids and twists to keep your protective styles fresh and your scalp clean as a whistle.

Size: 16.9 fl oz

Amazon star rating: 4.5/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Every time I get knotless braids installed, I reach for this shampoo because few products cleanse the weeks-worth of oil and leave-in conditioner built up on my braids like this gem. It pours onto your hair like water—so be careful and apply a little as you go—but lathers to a foam that washes away every trace of dirt to leave your day, well, delightful.” —Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor

Girl + Hair, formulated by Dr. Camille Howard Verovic, understands the importance of keeping your scalp clean and clear regardless of your hairstyle. Thanks to the nozzle tip, you can apply the nourishing formula—which has apple cider vinegar to break down build-up and gunk—directly to your scalp to get to the root of all your hair woes.

Size: 10.1 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I used this product after taking down my box braids. I love how the nozzle tip allowed me to apply the formula directly to my scalp. It broke up build up easily and left my scalp feeling clean and refreshed. It’s great to have an affordable product that works!” —Danielle James, ELLE.com digital beauty director

If you’ve heard a lot about peptides, specifically in skin care, you’ll know how effectively the ingredient replenishes and repairs what’s lost to renew. The same goes for the powerhouse ingredient in hair. The Peptide Prep shampoo by K18 is a reparative, moisturizing shampoo that eliminates build-up via salicylic acid and strengthens weak strands with peptides.

Size: 8.5 oz

Sephora rating: 4.6/5 stars

An ELLE contributor says: “On wash days, nothing gives my hair a fresh start like the K18 Detox Shampoo. I used to use it in tandem with the K18 hair mask post-bleach job, but now that my hair is fresh and healthy, I cannot skip the detoxing step, even if I don’t go in with the treatment. It completely removes all build-up and oil from my head, even on days when I use a ton of gel and oils for a slicked-back bun. 10/10, no other shampoo compares.” —Tatjana Freund, contributing fashion & luxury commerce editor

Beyoncé’s hair care line is designed for all hair types and styles, whether you have thin, straight hair, or locs that need a deep clean. The Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub contains tea tree oil and gentle exfoliators that fight through buildup and excess sebum to give you a clean slate whenever you need it.

Size: 8 fl oz

Cécred rating: 4.9/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I first tried this shampoo in February, and I have a feeling that we’re going to be lifelong companions. My hair can get oily pretty quickly, and if I’m not careful, I can fall into the trap of washing it every day. However, one shower with this formula is like hitting the reset button—my scalp is rebalanced enough that it looks fresh days after wash day.” —Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer

You may be concerned that clarifying shampoos are too harsh, especially for color-treated hair, but you can use this Olaplex formula worry-free. Because it’s pH-balanced and sulfate-free, it won’t throw your scalp or strands out of balance, and the formula can even restore your color and its vibrancy.

Size: 8.5 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Olaplex’s clarifying shampoo makes my hair feel squeaky clean without feeling stripped. I use it whenever I feel like I’ve gone overboard on putting product in my hair, and it truly gets everything out and restores my hair back to equilibrium. Plus, it smells good, like all Olaplex products do.” —Katie Berohn, ELLE beauty editor

This sulfate-free shampoo is another top-tier option for color-treated hair. Even though it does everything a clarifying shampoo should, like breaking down buildup from hard water and using styling products, ingredients like glycine and vitamin C provide moisture and nutrients to hydrate hair and preserve color.

Size: 6.9 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I absolutely love this shampoo! Moved into my house and found out we have super hard water and was looking for a shampoo to help my hair since it was becoming very greasy, and [the] buildup was bad. Found this one, and after one wash, I noticed, physically and visually, that my hair was so much better! Love the smell!”

If you’re new to the clarifying shampoo world, the OUAI Detox shampoo is excellent for beginners. It’s gentle enough to be used up to twice a week, but it still contains intense clarifying ingredients, like apple cider vinegar, to clean your scalp and strands.

Size: 10 fl oz

Amazon star rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “I’ve tried other detox shampoos & have been disappointed, but OUAI really cleans your hair & has a nice scent!! I will recommend it to family & friends for sure!!”

Oily hair is most prone to becoming itchy and irritated, and this shampoo was specifically designed to reset the scalp without stripping out healthy oils. Formulated with detoxifying pink grapefruit, oily hair can finally feel refreshed.

Size: 12 fl oz

Amazon star rating: 4.4/5 stars An Amazon reviewer said: “Cleans my oily hair after two washings. It leaves my hair fresh and clean but not at all dry. It’s awesome!”

Hair that hasn’t been clarified can often look weighed down and dull. This apple cider vinegar-infused shampoo gives such a thorough cleanse that you’ll be left with voluminous, shiny hair.

Size: 12 fl oz

Amazon star rating: 4.4/5 stars An Amazon reviewer said: “Removes excess scalp oil and leaves my hair silky clean. Excellent product for a fair price.”

Clarifying shampoos, like clarifying face toners, can often leave your hair feeling stripped and dry. However, this formula from Moroccanoil contains various nourishing and strengthening ingredients to help keep the hair hydrated during and after the deep cleanse, including argan oil, lavender, rosemary, chamomile, and jojoba extracts, keratin, and panthenol.

Size: 8.5 fl oz

Amazon star rating: 4.5/5 stars An Amazon reviewer said: “I have always been a fan of Moroccan oil products, and this shampoo is no exception. It does a great job of getting rid of all of the buildup of grease and products in my hair after a week of not washing and leaves it feeling clean and hydrated.”

If you’re looking to deep-cleanse your hair and simultaneously deposit a ton of nourishing ingredients into it, this shampoo from Briogeo is for you. The brand describes it as a “juice cleanse for your hair,” so you can replenish its nutrients while eliminating all the impurities. Plus, it’s safe to use on color-treated, keratin-treated, chemically-treated, and relaxed hair.

Size: 12.5 oz

Sephora star rating: 4.1/5 starsA Sephora reviewer said: “LOVE this shampoo! I have dry, colored hair and this shampoo does such a nice job of moisturizing. It doesn’t weigh my hair down and it smells AMAZING!”

This clarifying shampoo from Bumble and Bumble is perfect for those days when you have a little more time to devote to your beauty routine. The shampoo uses ginseng root extract, rosemary leaf extract, and sage leaf extract to cleanse and stimulate the scalp. Keep in mind that this product is not meant to be used on color-treated hair.

Size: 8 fl oz

Sephora star rating: 4.7/5 stars A Sephora reviewer said: “I’ve been using this shampoo for a while now & it leaves my hair so soft & shiny. It also gives some volume to my hair, very manageable. My hair feels so clean & I don’t feel like I have a film on my hair.”

Somewhere between a scrub and a shampoo, this product contains exfoliating beads that remove build-up trapped on the scalp and strands. Basically, it offers all the benefits of a scrub, with the comfort of a familiar shampoo.

Size: 8.45 fl oz

Amazon star rating: 4.4/5 stars An Amazon reviewer said: “I’m using it once a week and it helps to reduce the oils. Amazing product.”

Lucille Javier is a New York-based colorist at Mark Ryan Salon.

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com editors spoke with a hair expert to find the best clarifying shampoos. The authors personally tested a number of these products and scoured reviews for the top-rated products on the market.

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.

Carol Lee is the Associate Beauty E-Commerce Writer at ELLE.com, where she covers all things beauty and personal care. Before joining the team, she was an editor at Food Network Magazine and HGTV Magazine and ran the beauty section at The Pioneer Woman. Carol received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from New York University and was one of the first customers to visit Glossier’s flagship store in New York’s Soho neighborhood. Over the years, she’s tested countless makeup, hair, and skin care products, and written hundreds of articles covering the beauty space, from pieces about the trendiest launches to roundups of the best products on the market. As a Korean-American, she grew up in a sea of Korean makeup and skin care products and is a bona fide expert on the ever-expanding world of K-beauty, helping lead our coverage. Additionally, she’s also always on the hunt for the perfect lipstick and watches the same few comfort sitcoms (Frasier, Cheers, Seinfeld, New Girl, etc.) over and over again.

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