If you use anything on your hair regularly—heat protectants, hair sprays, conditioner—you may notice that your strands start to feel like they're coated in some kind of mysterious film. Yup, that's called build-up.
Removing leftover deposits from styling products, shampoos and conditioners, or hard water (depending on where you live) is one main reason for using a clarifying shampoo. These products deep clean in a way typical shampoos can't, because they contain ingredients that buff away the gunk.
"A healthy scalp means healthier hair, and removing these deposits restores your hair's luster and manageability," says Debra Jaliman, M.D., a New York City-based dermatologist and the author of Skin Rules.
But if you're simply looking for more a bit more bounce, choose a volumizing shampoo and use that on a regular basis versus a clarifying shampoo, says Fran Cook-Bolden, M.D., a dermatologist affiliated with Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York.
Otherwise, grab a clarifying shampoo as soon as your hair starts to feel "tacky" or "sticky," she advises.
Check for sulfates: Sulfates are cleansing ingredients in shampoos that bind water to oil and dirt so that they rinse out of your hair. Many people avoid them because they can be drying and harsh. But when you're looking for a clarifying shampoo, you want to look for sulfates to effectively strip out oil and residue, says Shilpi Khetarpal, M.D., a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic.
That said, many highly-rated clarifying shampoos are sulfate-free, so there are still options if you wish to avoid them. Apple cider vinegar and activated charcoal are great alternative ingredients to look for on the label.
Look for label lingo: Along with "clarifying," another option is to find a shampoo advertised as "purifying," says Dr. Khetarpal. "Balancing" or "normalizing" are other common buzzwords to consider when buying, adds Dr. Cook-Bolden.
Go gentle: If you find that your clarifying shampoo is causing scalp irritation, it may be that you're washing with it too often. (Plus, it many contain common irritating ingredients, like dyes or fragrances.) If you experience irritation, look for a bare-bones clarifying shampoo that contains the fewest ingredients you can find, says Dr. Khetarpal. Simpler is better here.
Finally, stick to no more than once weekly use, suggests Dr. Jaliman. Some people like to use these immediately before a color appointment to give hair a clean slate before treatment. Ready to buff away the build-up? Below, the best clarifying shampoos for every hair type:
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