I’ll admit it: I’m a snooze-button frequenter, which means most of my mornings are spent dousing my hair in dry shampoo and sprinting out the door. My routine gets me by for most of the week, but come Sunday, my hair’s greasy, my scalp’s itchy, and I’m ready for a heavy-duty shampoo. But after discovering my foaming, no-frills cleanser wasn’t quite strong enough to cut through days’ worth of hair products, I stumbled into a (now) full-fledged love affair with clarifying shampoos.
I know what you’re thinking: aren’t all shampoos clarifying? The short answer is yes — sort of. Whereas any average-Joe shampoo works to clean hair and strip oil, clarifying shampoos specialize in deep-cleaning, which means they target product buildup (dry shampoo, hairspray, frizz-tamers, the works) and day-to-day stressors (like hard water or chlorine). Anyone can reap the benefits of a clarifying formula (dry-shampoo obsession or not), which is why I’ve rounded up the very best shampoos ahead.
1. For curls and waves…
Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
www.desertcart.ae
Dhs233
Most clarifying shampoos are too harsh for curls and waves, since powerful detergents can strip hair of its much-needed moisture. This gentle-but-effective formula calls on a blend of fruit acids (lemon, grapefruit, and orange flower extracts) to remove residue and hydrate simultaneously, deeming it the ultimate curl cleanser.
2. For non-colored-treated…
Bumble and bumble Sunday ShampooÂ
www.uae.souq.com
Dhs137
This once-a-week shampoo is the answer to your product-buildup woes — the formula features a cocktail of ginseng root, rosemary leaf, and sage leaf extracts, which wash away residue and soothe your scalp.
3. For damaged hair…
Shea Moisture Rescue & Repair Clarifying Shampoo
www.desertcart.ae
Dhs67
If you have chemical- or heat-damaged hair, it’s important to look toward the gentlest of clarifying shampoos, like this cult-favorite formula from Shea Moisture. As tea tree oil removes buildup and residue, shea butter and sacha inchi seed oil (which is loaded with omegas 3, 6 and 9) blast hair with moisture. The result? Clean, shiny, and crazy-soft hair.
4. For fine hair…
R+Co Oblivion Clarifying Shampoo
www.desertcart.ae
Dhs137
This lightweight cleanser combines astringents like rosemary leaf extract, witch hazel, and tea tree oil with ultra-hydrating coconut oil for hair that’s equal parts clean and soft. The best part? The formula is topped off with hydrolyzed soy protein, which works to strengthen dull, fine strands.
5. For sensitive scalps…
Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea SaltÂ
www.sephora.ae
Dhs151
If hair products leave your scalp itchy, oily, or irritated, Christophe Robin’s sea salt scrub has your name all over it. The hero ingredient in this formula is — you guessed it — sea salt, which gently exfoliates and cleanses your scalp and hair, as sweet almond oil hydrates and conditions.
6. For oily hair…
Acure Curiously Clarifying Lemongrass Shampoo
www.desertcart.ae
Dhs143
Clarifying shampoos should typically be used once a week, but oily hair types that require frequent washes can look toward this gentle formula for everyday use. This vegan and sulfate-free cleanser combines fruit juice extracts (acai, pomegranate, and blackberry, to name a few) with hydrating oils like lavender and avocado to clean and moisturize on the fly.
7. For color-treated hair…
www.desertcart.ae
Dhs139
Those with color-treated hair should be especially careful when using clarifying shampoos, since most formulas can fade your hue. This sulfate-free shampoo uses gentle coconut-derived cleansers to strip excess oil and product buildup, as well as antioxidant-rich green tea and vitamins E and B5 to strengthen your hair and enhance its shine.
8. For dry hair…
Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo
www.uaesouq.com
Dhs121
If even the words clarifying shampoo make your already-parched hair feel dryer, allow this ultra-hydrating formula to change your mind. As lavender, rosemary, and chamomile extracts clean your scalp and hair, a blend of argan oil, keratin, and jojoba seed extract strengthen and moisturize even the driest of strands.
H/TÂ Cosmo US