19 Best Clarifying Shampoos for Thorough Cleaning On Your Scalp

Here’s the thing, even if you wash your hair regularly with your normal shampoo, there might still be some stubborn build-up!

A clarifying shampoo can help you whether your hair and scalp are oily, you live in an area with hard water, or you simply enjoy spending five days between washes and relying on dry shampoo in the meantime.

To help deeply cleanse your hair and scalp, Beauty Insider has come up with a list of some of the best clarifying shampoos you need for thoroughly cleaning every hair strand on your scalp.

Contents

What is a Clarifying Shampoo?
What Are The Perks Of Using A Clarifying Shampoo?
How To Use Clarifying Shampoo?

What is a Clarifying Shampoo?

Clarifying shampoos are formulated to help provide your hair and scalp with deep cleansing. Suitable for all types of hair, it can be used to help liven your hair as well!

If you heat style your hair often, have coloured hair, or use leave-in hair products, then it’s time to clarify your hair. But, you also have to be careful about which shampoo you use because clarifying shampoos can sometimes be quite stripping.

Containing more surfactants in their formula, these shampoos are here for a thorough clean. Chelating agents such as EDTA can be a bit harsh on the strands and dry them out. So, assess your hair and look at the ingredient list before putting it in the bag.

What Are The Perks Of Using A Clarifying Shampoo?

Clarifying shampoos also contain a thorough cleansing agent that is designed to remove excess oils, gels, and dry shampoo from your scalp. When you use a clarifying shampoo, the ingredients will clean through any excess, leaving your scalp feeling fresh and free of any extra or lingering substances.

How To Use Clarifying Shampoo?

The techniques for clarifying shampoo are the same as you would normally do; however, to reap the full benefits, use two to three shampooing in one session. Take into account to make clarifying your hair as a monthly hair care treatment.

Given the advantages, using a clarifier more than once a month is unnecessary, too much of usage of this kind of product on your hair can rob it of its natural oils.

In between, concentrate on shampooing your roots and then spreading the product down the length of your hair to the tips. Rinse, condition, and repeat the process. Apply a thick, moisturising hair treatment, such as a mask, to replenish moisture.

1. Virtue Labs Refresh Purifying Shampoo

Targeting hair concerns such as damaged hair and split ends, the Virtue Labs Refresh Purifying Shampoo helps with detoxifying. It’s suitable for hair types such as coloured, oily, normal, dry and even curly hair! Infused with Alpha Keratin 60ku®, it helps gently remove impurities and excess oils. It also helps rejuvenate the hair and bring it back to a healthy state!

Why we love it:

Formulated for damaged and split ends hair
Detoxifying, remove impurities and excess oils
Suitable for all hair types

Price: RM119

Where to buy: Sephora Malaysia

2. Amika Reset Clarifying Gel Shampoo

With the Amika Reset Clarifying Gel Shampoo, it can help achieve a healthier scalp! Drawing out dirt and impurities like a magnet, it also gets rid of product build-up. As it provides moisture to your hair, its texture turns into a light, airy foam. Thus, it helps gently exfoliate and purge your hair of oil, sweat and dirt! Its formula also contains Indian Cress Stem Extract, which helps enrich the hair with vitamins. As well as containing antioxidants to help boost the flow of oxygen.

Why we love it:

Get rid of dirt, impurities and build-up
Light airy foam texture
Provide moistures, and antioxidants

Price: RM102.69

Where to buy: Revolve

3. Verb Reset Clarifying Shampoo

Although similar in name to the Amika Rest Clarifying Shampoo, the Verb Rest Clarifying Shampoo is hydrating instead. It helps purify and remove build-ups in the hair for a clarifying relief. Since it contains aloe vera, honey and seawater, it provides deep cleansing while preserving hydration in the hair.

Why we love it:

Purify and remove build-ups in the hair
Deep cleansing and retain moisture
Features aloe vera, honey and seawater

Price: RM73.94

Where to buy: Revolve

4. OUAI Detox Shampoo

Next up is the OUAI Detox Shampoo that helps target concerns such as dull and dry hair. This liquid clarifying shampoo contains apple cider vinegar that deeply cleanses the hair. Removing build-up left by styling products, it also removes dirt, oil and impurities as well! Suitable for all hair types, come out of the shower feeling refreshed and with hair that is smooth and glossy!

Why we love it:

Formulated to aid dull and dry hair
Suitable for all hair types
Eliminate build-up, oil, dirt and impurities

Price: RM130

Where to buy: Sephora Malaysia

5. Sunday Riley Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum

The Sunday Riley Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum is infused with both AHAs and BHAs. Its formula is micellar water-based and is gentle to help lift the dirt when rinsing your hair. Thus, it helps remove dead skin, excess oils, product build-up and pollution for a cleaner scalp!

Why we love it:

Micellar water-based
Gentle to the hair
Help remove dead skin, excess oil, and impurities

Price: RM197.16

Where to buy: Revolve

6. Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo

Moving on, we have the Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo. This clarifying shampoo is 100% vegan and contains multi-functional surfactant technology! Because of that, it helps to gently and effectively cleanse your hair. If your hair is exposed to hard or softened water, this shampoo can help maintain its vibrancy and health. Leaving your hair looking smooth and manageable!

Why we love it:

100% vegan
Features multi-functional surfactant technology
Effectively cleanse for hair exposed to hard and softened water

Price: RM147

Where to buy: Cosmetics Now

7. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PHD) Triple Detox Shampoo

Do you need some “Living Proof” you can achieve a perfect hair day too? Well, here’s the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PHD) Triple Detox Shampoo! It helps remove the product, hard water and pollution build-ups. Feel fresh after a good detox!

Why we love it:

Detoxifying
Eliminate impurities and hard water buildup
Suitable for all hair types

Price: RM115

Where to buy: Cosmetics Now

8. Sachajuan Anti-Pollution Shampoo

Helping to cleanse and protect your hair is the Sachajuan Anti-Pollution Shampoo. Its formula is innovative as it contains three unique and natural ingredients that help shield from environmental aggressors. Creating a barrier for the hair, its nourishing formula also minimises colour-fading. If you have frizzy hair, it can also help calm it down for improved shine!

Why we love it:

Help reduce frizziness and improved shine
Cleanse and protect hair from impurities
Minimise colour-fading

Price: RM127.50

Where to buy: LookFantastic Singapore

9. Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo (Curl Essentials)

This is for the ones with curly hair! The Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo is essential for curls! With a gentle yet powerful chelating formula, it helps cleanses and clarifies while retaining moisture. Its formula is also non-stripping and nourishes your curls for styling. It is also suitable for those with colour-treated hair.

Why we love it:

Suitable for curly and colour treated hair
Gentle and nourishing formula
Help clarify while retaining moisture

Price: RM213

Where to buy: Cosmetics Now

10. Avalon Organics Clarifying Lemon Shampoo

Get ready for a new look as the Avalon Organics Clarifying Lemon Shampoo helps remove build-up! Getting rid of dullness and bringing brightness back to your hair will help make your hair shine. This shampoo also contains no GMO’s, is biodegradable and vegan.

Why we love it:

Help eliminates dullness and build-up
Leaving hair smooth and shine
Contains no GMO, biodegradable and vegan

Price: RM39.95

Where to buy: Fruugo

11. Suave Naturals Daily Clarifying Shampoo

This Daily Clarifying Shampoo from Suave Naturals is able to help cleanse your hair gently. When used with the Daily Clarifying Conditioner, it can help bring two times the moisture to your hair! Using this can help your hair shine naturally and beautifully.

Why we love it:

Gentle to the hair
Double the moisture to the hair
Leave hair smooth and shine naturally

Price: RM70

Where to buy: Ubuy

12. Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two

The Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two can provide deep cleaning and remove dull build-ups! Suitable for daily use, it is also safe for hair treated chemically. Leaving your hair feeling soft and clean, it allows it to shine without drying it out! Formulated with extracts such as chamomile and aloe vera, it adds to the fullness of your hair too.

Why we love it:

Deep cleaning and remove build-ups
Safe for hair treated chemically
Formulated with extracts such as chamomile and aloe vera

Price: RM67.50

Where to buy: Lazada Malaysia

13. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt

Diving into French territory, we have just the shampoo for oily hair types. The Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt is a cream formulation. Even though it contains AHA’s and BHA’s it is also paraben-free! Ideal to be used as a detox treatment, this scrub helps balance and purify sensitive and oily scalps. Sea salt is also a natural exfoliant that helps remove impurities.

Why we love it:

Cream formulations
Features AHA and BHA
Bring balance and purify sensitive to the scalp

Price: RM230

Where to buy: Sephora Malaysia

14. Moroccanoil – Clarifying Shampoo

Suitable for all types of hair, the Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo helps with deep cleansing. It helps remove impurities and build-up while restoring the hair and scalp to a healthy balance. It also contains essential oils and leaves your hair feeling soft, smooth and purified!

Why we love it:

Suitable for all hair types
Deep cleansing
Restoring hair and scalp to a healthy balance

Price: RM144.50

Where to buy: Lazada Malaysia

15. Curlsmith Vivid Tones Vibrancy Shampoo

To end our list of best clarifying shampoos, we have the Curlsmith Vivid Tones Vibrancy Shampoo! Best for those with curly and colour-treated hair, it helps seal in cuticles and absorbs excess oils. As well as being super gentle, it helps your hair look shiny and vibrant! Formulated with lemon extract, it helps dissolve all the gunk building up on your scalp.

Why we love it:

Suitable with curly and colour-treated hair
Gentle to the hair and scalp
Eliminates impurities, build-ups and absorb excess oils

Price: RM113.11

Where to buy: 1Outlets

16. Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo

This is one of the best clarifying shampoos for a fair price and a high-quality product. This sulfate-free clarifying shampoo with colloidal oat extract and apple cider vinegar as the main ingredients helps to relax the scalp. The potent ingredient combination regulates the hair and scalp without drying it out. Consumers love it for leaving their hair clean, smooth, and brilliant.

Why we love it:

Free of sulphates, dyes, and parabens
For all hair types, and coloured hair
Nourishes ingredients
Promotes healthy scalp

Price: RM112.00

Where to buy: Shopee

17. Neutrogena Anti-Residue Clarifying Shampoo

Prepare to have up to 90% of the dampening residue created by shampoos, conditioners, and styling products removed swiftly. Your hair will feel completely cleansed after using this best clarifying shampoo. This non-irritating clarifying shampoo cleans your hair and instantly rinses away the gunk. You should only apply it once a week before switching to your standard shampoo. It’s also suitable for all hair types, including coloured hair.

Why we love it:

Help eliminates 90% of dampening residue
Non-irritating and hypoallergenic
For all hair types

Price: RM83.90

Where to buy: Lazada

18. Davines SOLU Shampoo

Davines SOLU Shampoo is the best clarifying shampoo for perm hair, it is formulated to remove styling product residue or to be used before a perm treatment. The rich and light foam thoroughly cleans the hair. This shampoo quickly transforms into an airy foam that whisks away all kinds of excess residue, gunk, and grime, all while leaving hair with the healthy shine that your hair needs.

Why we love it:

Works for all hair types
Transforms into a light foam
Revitalised hair and scalp
Hair that is soft and lustrous
Active substances derived from nature

Price: RM75.00

Where to buy: Davines’s Official Website

19. Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo

Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo is a daily clarifying shampoo that leaves hair clean and fresh. This shampoo is 97% natural, contains micelles and white vinegar to effectively cleanse hair without damaging it, and has an energising scent of organically cultivated rosemary, peppermint, and spearmint. It has been found to energise, stimulate the senses, and calm the mind. It promotes hair development by leaving it clean, invigorated, and gleaming.

Why we love it: