The 21 Best Clarifying Shampoos to Banish Build-Up

Jen Atkin, queen of dry shampoos and style-maintenance products, knows the importance of cleansing the hair of build-up. Apple cider vinegar gently exfoliates the scalp while keratin softens and manages frizz.

If you love using style-protecting products like dry shampoo, incorporating this product into your hair routine once a week will allow you to remove any build-up or residue that's accumulating on the scalp.

This gentle shampoo is infused with lemongrass and argan oil, allowing hair to maintain its protection while still effectively cleansing the scalp. Unlike many clarifying shampoos, it's gentle enough to be used daily without excessively drying or stripping the hair.

For hair that needs an extra shot of moisture, clarifying shampoos can seem excessively stripping. Tracee Ellis Ross's Pattern curated this shampoo specifically for low-porosity hair (aka strands that crave hydration) so that it can deep-clean without removing essential hair nutrients.

Eucalyptus oil and burdock extract work together to rid the hair and scalp of excess oil and pollution that could cause irritation and limp hair. This shampoo is gentle enough for regular use of build-up removal.

This French brand doesn't mess around—effectiveness comes first. This clarifying shampoo utilizes glycolic acid and citrus to cleanse the hair and remove build-up, while amino acids aid in not overly stripping hair's natural oils. Plus, it smells as fresh as a bike ride through the French countryside.

Opt for this clarifying shampoo by Virtue if you're seeking extra smoothness. The winning ingredient? Alpha Keratin 60ku—a healing protein that's identical to the keratin that makes up 90-percent of our hair—that restores damaged strands with every use.

With a host of active ingredients, including coconut oil, witch hazel, tea tree oil, and vitamin C, this shampoo seeks to remove harmful build-up without removing your hair's key defenses. When washing, let the product sit in your hair for a minute or two before rinsing.

Use this shampoo once a week to quickly and efficiently remove residue from hair styling products. Build-up is removed after use to reveal clean, shiny hair.

Nourishing your scalp means clearing it of any congestion first. The salicylic acid in this formula helps to loosen any stubborn gunk, while wheat protein strengthens your hair follicles to promote healthy growth.

Clarify hair with DevaCurl's build-up busting shampoo sans silicones, sulfates, and parabens. So, it won't strip your gorgeous waves, coils, or curls.

If you're noticing excessive oiliness or dullness, this clarifying shampoo nips those concerns in the bud. The hair is cleansed and primed for its next adventure with argan oil, natural extracts, and keratin. For people looking to chemically process their hair in the future—with a Keratin treatment, perm, or dye—this shampoo prior will let you get even better results.

Just because you're going to town on your scalp doesn't mean your ends should suffer. This Parisian gem will cleanse your scalp thoroughly while nourishing the rest of your length, too.

What's blue tansy, you wonder? An annual yellow-flowered Mediterranean plant found in northern Morocco, also known as Moroccan Tansy. The natural ingredient has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it superb in clarifying shampoo for calming overly-stressed strands.

Charcoal, often used to remove impurities and toxins, is the key ingredient in this shampoo. It absorbs leftover product residue in the hair and scalp. And if your hair has endured lots of heat and chemicals, this product strengthens damaged strands, too.

Clarifying shampoos might seem out of the question for those who prefer to co-wash their hair instead of using traditional shampoos. However, this product caters to co-washers who want a deep clean without completely stripping the hair. So, curly-haired ladies, this co-wash might be your savior.

If you're a dry shampoo devotee, chances are your scalp is junked up with residue you can't shake out. Enter this buckwheat extract-infused formula, which will break up that nasty layer of dust and add shine back to your strands.

If your scalp feels itchy from excess product build-up, this shampoo removes those aggravating substances and soothes with calming aloe vera. It's perfect for all hair types that don't want to sacrifice moisture for cleanliness.

This shampoo targets build-up from these three leading causes: products, pollution, and hard water. Not only does this color-safe clarifier gently cleanse away build-up, but it also soothes the scalp from itchiness and irritation.

Ahead of washing, treat your scalp with this gentle cleansing pre-shampoo scalp treatment oil. It detoxifies while absorbing toxins, dirt, and build-up, all with an invigorating feel.

This unique formula sets itself apart from other clarifying shampoos. It comes out as a mousse that you apply to the scalp, then rinse out. Key ingredients include volcanism ash and herbal extracts that aid in cleansing the hair while strengthening weak strands.