If You Use Dry Shampoo Almost Every Day, You Need These Clarifying Shampoos In Your Weekly Rotation (2024)

• Beauty
• Hair

Key Ingredients: Magnetic polymer, naturally-derived chelating agent, activated charcoal | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

One of the reasons we chose this pick as the best clarifying shampoo overall is its hero ingredient—charcoal. Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology, really likes this pick for her patients because the formula contains charcoal to help soak up oils and grime. She also likes that it’s color safe and can be used by all hair types and textures.Other notable ingredients in this formulation include a magnetic polymer that attracts product buildup and a naturally derived chelating agent to remove heavy metal buildup from hair water from your showerhead.

Key Ingredients: Cocamidopropyl betaine, glycerin, panthenol | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Curly girls flock to all things DevaCurl, and for good reason—this brand knows its stuff when it comes to curls. Dr. Yadav recommends this pick for curly hair because it's gentle on the hair. “Curly hair is often more susceptible to breakage than straighter textures,” she explains. “Plus, it won't strip color, but will effectively clarify the scalp.”

Key Ingredients: Aloe extract, vitamins B3 & B6 | Size: 12.5 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: No

Dr. Yadav recommends this budget-friendly clarifying shampoo because the formula contains aloe, which helps hydrate the hair without weighing it down, as well as conditioning panthenol. “I also like that it comes in a range of sizes, too,” she explains. We love that you can easily find this at most drugstores nationwide and that it only costs about $5 per bottle.

Key Ingredients: Proprietary Rootbiomic Ferment, bio-peptides, yuzu ceramide | Size: 4 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

There’s a lot to love about this pick from newbie The Rootist. First off, it’s in a concentrated formula, meaning it uses little to no water in its formulation and you can use half the usual amount of product when washing your strands. Secondly, we love that this product contains the brand’s proprietary Rootbiomic Ferment, which works to balance your scalp and further your hair health. This is a great pick for folks with fine hair because it doesn’t weigh down your locks and is super easy to rinse out, too.

Key Ingredients: Rice bran oil, maracuja oil, aloe leaf extract | Size: 6 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: No

If you’ve got a really irritated, itchy scalp that needs some extra TLC, you might want to consider reaching for the Cucinello Beauty Plush Perfecting Shampoo. This anti-inflammatory formula uses rice bran oil, maracuja oil, and aloe leaf extract to calm inflammation and irritation while hydrating your hair and scalp. It’s a great option for folks who are looking to get rid of scalp buildup while also treating their hair and scalp gently, too.

Key Ingredients: Charcoal powder, coconut fatty acid blend, hops extract | Size: 4 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Yates really likes this pick because it’s designed as a cleanser that also delivers the brand’s proprietary keratin blend for added benefits. We love this as a strengthening shampoo because the proprietary keratin blend works to reduce breakage and damage to your locks, too. It’s great for all hair types and should be used about once a week in place of your regular shampoo.

Key Ingredients: Matcha green tea, aloe vera, panthenol | Size: 7.8 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Folks with textured hair, this one's for you! This pick from PATTERN does a great job of clarifying the hair and scalp without drying the heck out of your strands. We like that this pick works to enhance curls and coils and has a super cute bottle, too. Some folks have complained that this isn’t as clarifying as other once-per-week clarifying formulas, so it’s probably not ideal for those with oily scalps that have a lot of buildup.

Key Ingredients: Olaplex bond-building blend | Size: 8.5 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: No

It’s always difficult to find a clarifying shampoo that’s safe enough for color-treated hair. This pick from Olaplex is beloved by many and is great for people with color-treated hair. It contains the brand’s bond-building formula along with cleansers to gently clarify your hair and scalp. It should be used 1-2 times per week, and the brand recommends to wait about two weeks post-hair coloring before using this clarifying shampoo.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 4.5 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: No

You know when you can feel residue that’s been left in your hair from previous styling products or other shampoos and conditioners? Richard Bottiglione, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dermatologist’s Choice Skincare, likes to recommend this oldie but goodie to his patients. “If you have a lot of styling product damage, when you can feel residue on your scalp, look for a shampoo with salicylic acid or glycolic acid to clear the residue, like the Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo,” he says.

Key Ingredients: K18PEPTIDE proprietary peptide blend | Size: 8.5 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

“In addition to being formulated with charcoal to absorb excess oils, this product features salicylic acid, an oil-soluble chemical exfoliator that helps break down buildup and clarify the scalp, as well as the brand's peptide blend that's designed to fortify the hair,” explains Dr. Yadav. This is a great option for folks with oily hair because the charcoal soaks up excess oil, while the K18PEPTIDE proprietary peptide blend strengthens hair and won’t dry out your strands either.

Key Ingredients: Buckwheat | Size: 8.45 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: No

We like this pick from Davines for dry hair because it’s super gentle on the scalp and hair, while also being strong enough to provide a thorough cleanse, too. This pick leaves your hair looking really soft and shiny, and a little goes a long way—it lathers really nicely. One thing to note is that folks are divided about the smell. Some like the fragrance, while others are not a huge fan.

Key Ingredients: Volcanic ash, green tea extract, Oribe Signature Complex | Size: 7.1 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Yates is a big fan of this pick from Oribe because it’s a luxe splurge that’s designed as a lathering mousse. “The weightless lather is easily distributed from strand to scalp,” she explains. “Plus, it carries the awesome Oribe fragrance, too.” One issue some folks find with this pick is that its container has dispensing issues.

Key Ingredients: Amaranth, rice protein | Size: 13 fl. oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

For those who want to avoid sulfates, Dr. Yadav thinks this is a nice option. “It has moisturizing amaranth and rice protein, as well as a very pleasant and natural unisex scent,” she explains. We like that the price is relatively affordable at $12 per bottle. One thing to note is that this formula isn’t as clarifying as other shampoos on this list, so you might have to use it twice in one wash to really get an extra clean.