9 Best Clarifying Shampoos for Curly Hair for a Hair Refresh and Thorough Scalp Cleanse
Accomplishing salon-worthy healthy hair in the comfort of your own shower.
Just like your skin care routine, it's non-negotiable to opt against a healthy haircare regimen. Sure, we're all familiar with typical shampoo and conditioner, followed by a daily moisturizer at the very minimum. But if you've noticed that your weekly washes aren't cleansing your strands as thoroughly as you'd like, perhaps your hair cabinet is missing a reliable clarifying shampoo for curly hair.
What is a clarifying shampoo exactly? Simply put, it's a deep-cleansing, restorative shampoo meant to refresh the scalp from any product buildup and lift away excess dirt or grease, whether that be from sweat or caused by environmental factors. Unlike your daily or weekly shampoo, its deep cleansing properties make it too harsh for daily use, drying the scalp and stripping away natural oils if used excessively.
It's best to use no more than at least once a week, even up to once a month depending on how much product goes into your hair and how active you are. For the wash days you are using a clarifying shampoo for curly hair, it's not like the typical one-and-done but requires three to four lathers for the best amount of hydration and buildup removal.
Whether you're looking for a clarifying shampoo for curly hair to reduce that dreaded itchiness or get rid of that oil buildup that just won't budge, L'OFFICIEL has got you covered. Below, find the best formulas of clarifying shampoo for curly hair that deserve to be used for your next hair wash day.
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If you're looking for something that can be switched to be used as both a daily shampoo and a clarifying shampoo for curly hair, look no further. While having deep cleansing properties, this shampoo has a gentle formula containing a blend of nutrients and antioxidants that don't strip natural oils from your strands. It's sulfate and paraben-free, not to mention it resists frizz — convenient for the humid weather.
Joon Saffron Rose Shampoo, $64, Saks Fifth Avenue
Thanks to its rich blend of oils including avocado, argan, lavender, keratin, and jojoba, this clarifying shampoo for curly hair is a hero product when it comes to removing excess buildup caused by sweat, hair products, chlorine, and dirt. At the same degree, while removing unwanted buildup, the shampoo provides deep, penetrative hydration for healthy and bouncy curls.
Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo, $26, Saks Fifth Avenue
Not only does it remove pore-clogging oils and hidden irritants, but this dermatologist-developed shampoo is formulated with beneficial ingredients that are helpful for hair and skin. It's sulfate, silicone, and paraben-free, friendly to color-treated hair, and fragrance-free for those with sensitive skin. While most clarifying shampoos need three to four lathers for a thorough cleanse, it only takes a couple of rounds from Seen's shampoo to get the job done.
Shampoo Fragrance-Free, $29, Seen
This clarifying shampoo for curly hair does not only clarify and reset the strands but completely detoxifies the scalp. It boasts a lightweight liquid-y texture that makes it easy to lather through the hair and is an ideal pick if sporting a protective style. It's packed with powerful ingredients such as Charcoal Powder, Coconut Fatty Acid Blend, and Alpha Keratin, effectively adding moisture through the deep cleanse without weighing down the hair.
Virtue Purifying Clarifying Shampoo, $32, Sephora
The blue-tansy-infused gel formula lifts built residue from the scalp whilst maintaining high levels of hydration and moisturization. Beyond offering a deep cleanse, this clarifying shampoo for curly hair addresses key haircare benefits including reducing breakage, promoting hair growth, strengthening split ends, and revitalizing strands caused by any hair damage.
Adwoa Beauty Blue Tansy Clarifying Gel Shampoo, $25, Sephora
The key to this gentle yet powerful clarifying shampoo for curly hair is two main ingredients: Tsubaki Seed Oil and Coconut Surfactant System. The Tsubaki Seed Oil adds shine and seals in moisture while the Coconut Surfactant System focuses on cleansing the strands from grease and pollutants without adding heavy weight. An added bonus is that it has a slight scent of bergamot and lemongrass, resulting in subtle fragranced hair — adding a little something extra for hair perfume lovers.
Crown Affair The Ritual Shampoo, $36, Sephora
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross is loved by hair enthusiasts and expert hair stylists alike, and this clarifying shampoo for curly hair adds to the hype. It has a blend of extracts such as Rosemary Leaf, Safflower Seed, and Aloe Leaf, to better remove buildup and revive the scalp, without stripping healthy oils. It also locks in moisture for low-porosity hair types, by keeping the cuticles open for deep penetration.
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Cleansing Shampoo, $20, Sephora
The inclusion of skin care exfoliants — such as Volcanic Ash and Green Tea Extract — is what powers this clarifying shampoo for curly hair. It gently exfoliates the strands, purifying the scalp and hair without stripping away natural oils and strengthening the hair against further damage or breakage. The result? Smooth and soft hair that's never felt lighter.
Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo, $49, Sephora
This mineral-rich clarifying shampoo for curly hair is infused with anti-inflammatory oils and butters that wash away grease, dirt, and excess oils and helps calm the scalp. With a liquid texture that does not cause further buildup, it delivers a thorough cleanse for optimal healthy hair, with an additional touch of reduced itchiness and irritation thanks to its naturally derived ingredients.
Melanin Haircare African Black Soap Reviving Shampoo, $20, Ulta Beauty