Best Clarifying Shampoos 2022

Best for: Damaged hair

Heard of Alpha Keratin 60ku®? Neither had we—or the beauty insiders behind Virtue for that matter who, after stumbling upon a protein that was identical to the keratin in your hair, created this unique formula to remove impurities and strengthen damaged hair. The ingredients also include things like Charcoal Powder to extract excess oil and impurities,  purifying Hops extract to tone the scalp and hydrating Coconut Oil, which helps leave your locks looking nourished while also removing product build-up. Like you’d use a weekly face mask, use this clarifying shampoo once a week by smoothing it onto wet hair and massaging thoroughly from your scalp down to the roots before rinsing off for brighter, stronger and healthier hair.

The hype: “I have used this twice and I am IN LOVE. It’s a great alternative to the Recovery or Smooth shampoo and I am going to continue to use it every few weeks or so to properly clean my hair! I got comments that my blonde hair looks brighter, and I haven't coloured my hair in months! It’s clean, shiny and hydrated. Absolutely love it.” - Margo, customer review

Best for: Vegan-friendly

Harnessing the power of natural ingredients, Noughty’s eco-friendly Detox Dynamo Clarifying Shampoo gives your hair the ultimate detox, removing product build-up and hydrating each and every strand. The winning combination includes a mix of plant oils to strengthen the hair, purifying Peppermint, cleansing Sorrel Leaf and conditioning Sugar Beet to remove all the daily grime (think: pollution, styling products and hard water) so you’re left with squeaky-clean hair every time. An all-rounder with a great price point, this refreshing formula is great for all hair types too.

The hype: “For years, I’ve struggled to find a curl-friendly detox shampoo that didn’t leave my hair feeling crispy and frizzy afterwards. It lathers up really well and, while I can definitely feel that it’s cleaning my hair, I don’t feel like it’s stripping it of all the natural goodness. The parts of my hair that stayed straight have started to wave and I’m so excited!” -  Emma, customer review

Best for: Coloured hair

From dry shampoo to styling products, pollution and hard water - product build-up in our hair is inevitable and causes everything from oily, greasy, limp hair that feels out of balance. The solution? With over 40 years of hairdressing experience, the hairstylists behind Paul Mitchell created a colour-safe active cleanser that gets rid of all the residue from your products and daily life to boost body and shine. Formulated with ingredients like soothing Chamomile, Rosemary, Aloe Vera, and Jojoba, it’s especially suited for oily scalps to restore health but won’t ever strip the hair of its natural oils, making it suitable for everyday use or as a targeted weekly treatment. The result: Shiny, healthy hair that’s got its bounce back. 

The hype: “Best shampoo ever for build-up. I’ve tried literally every cleansing shampoo on the market and this one is just perfect. I have coloured, thick and long hair which gets oily every 1-2 days. This shampoo helps my scalp to get a proper deep clean so it stays cleaner for up to three days now. The smell is also very refreshing, almost citrus like but not overpowering either.” - Mesha, customer review

Best for: Scalp health

We all know that healthy hair starts with the scalp, but how often do we actually put this into practice? As an extension of our skin, an unhealthy scalp can cause everything from clogged pores and weakened hair. That’s why Bouclème’s innovative formula, designed specifically for curly hair, looks at the root of the problem first in order to restore bounce and life back into curly locks. Enriched with hydrogenated Castor Beads, this creamy Scalp Exfoliating Shampoo rids the scalp of impurities and bacteria and really exfoliates the skin. Top tip: use it once a month and massage throughout your scalp in a circular motion; follow up with the Intensive Moisture Treatment to make sure any remaining beads are rinsed off for bouncy, lightweight and more-defined curls from here on out. 

The hype: “Unlike other clarifying shampoos that often leave my hair feeling stripped, this removed all product build-up thanks to the gently exfoliating castor oil beads that stimulate hair growth and left mine feeling soft, lightweight and energised. It’s perfect for any hair type that needs a cleanse and revival. My hair-wash cycle has definitely been stretched out a few more days after using this and I couldn’t be any more grateful. To be honest I’m already looking forward to the next time I can lather my locks in this." - Jemma Thompson, Get The Gloss.

Best for: Curly hair

Curlsmith’s raved-about Scalp Wash & Scrub Detox Pro-Biotic has garnered countless awards and five-star reviews—the award-winning formula? Powered by live pro-biotics and micro-organisms, it actually strengthens the scalp's protective barrier (like our skin: the hair’s protective barrier can also become compromised over time), called the Microbiome, to ensure hair follicles become their strongest; meaning curls become more defined and hair grows longer. The formula has a fine texture so that the scrub gently exfoliates the roots and gets rid of residue thanks to ingredients like Ginger, Pertile and Apple Cider Vinegar but without ever stripping it. Part of the Curlsmith Scalp Transformation System, use this as the second step in your haircare routine: simply apply on wet hair directly on top of the Curlsmith Super Slip Pre-Biotic Primer and without rinsing first, and finish with the conditioner to restore moisture levels. The result? Velvety, bouncy curls with restored moisture and shape.

The hype: “Blows my mind. Super cleanse and amazing for anti-frizz. This is like a 10-in-1 kind of product: it works wonders when you’re in the shower and then for many, many hours afterwards, your hair just feels amazing.” - Mimita, customer review

Best for: Sensitive hair

Hair feeling a little lifeless and in need of a boost? Cruelty-free, naturally-derived and eco-friendly—Aveda’s iconic Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo is the refreshing lift your hair needs right now. It’s formulated with White Vinegar and Micelles to work deep into the roots, lift every speck of oil or dirt and actually strengthen your hair over time but without compromising the moisture and elasticity along with refreshing Peppermint to wake up your scalp and skin. A gentle but effective formula, this daily clarifying shampoo will leave your hair feeling refreshed, shiny and energised. 

The hype: “This shampoo is a great early morning pick-me-up: It gets hair really clean, providing a cool, tingling sensation for the scalp—and fragrance for the entire bathroom.” - Allure, customer review