Helping you better understand your naturally curly hair through easy-to-follow tutorials, science-based haircare tips, and problem-solving.
Best Clarifying & Chelating Shampoos for All Curl Types
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Best Clarifying & Chelating Shampoos for All Curl TypesWhich clarifying shampoos actually remove build up, including hard water buildup? I’m sharing my top picks that work for all curl types. All clarifying shampoos should be used in place of your regular shampoos. Rotate to avoid dryness and do not use any of these daily. Always use a deep conditioner after using strong clarifying shampoos. Clarifying + Chelating ShampoosThe following shampoos will remove buildup from products, oil, sweat, etc. and also remove hard water minerals. Shampoos are listed in order of cleansing strength. The Malibu C Undo Goo is one of the strongest shampoos I’ve tried and should only be used occasionally because it has a high pH. This is ideal for stripping the hair prior to salon services and for a deep cleanse. It is color-safe since it’s sulfate free. The Hard Water Wellness shampoo is a bit milder because it has a pH closer to the hair but still removes both buildup and hard water minerals. Both are great for swimmers as well.
Suave Daily Clarifying Cleansing Shampoo For a very strong clarifying shampoo from that is super cheap from the drugstore, this Suave one will do the trick for buildup and hard water. Use with caution though because I find it to be drying. Always follow up with a very moisturizing deep conditioner to prevent dryness. The fragrance is also strong, which I don’t prefer. This is not color-safe because it contains sulfate.
Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Shampoo This shampoo is multi-purpose because it contains bond-building ingredients and removes buildup and hard water. It’s very strong so I always use a good deep conditioner afterward. While it has Olaplex’s signature bond-building ingredients to strengthen and repair damage, I would not rely on it to be your only treatment if you have very damaged hair since it’s a rinse-off. It would be great used in conjunction with No 3 for severe damage from bleach or heat. Color-safe and contains protein.
Living Proof Clarifying Detox Shampoo This shampoo is unique in that it contains charcoal to detoxify the scalp. Due to the charcoal, the formula is a translucent black color. It removes hard water minerals, copper, and buildup. It also helps improve color vibrancy. I don’t find it too stripping either. Color-safe and sulfate-free.
Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo This is one of my favorites because it’s very effective and not stripping. It removes both buildup and hard water minerals. It’s color-safe, sulfate-free, and protein-free.
Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Exfoliating Shampoo This is great drugstore option for those who want a clarifying shampoo that also has chelating ingredients for hard water. It’s color-safe, sulfate-free, and contains protein.
AG Renew Clarifying Shampoo This AG shampoo is great if you want a more gentle way to remove buildup and hard water. It also removes chlorine making it a good option for swummers. It uses Citric Acid to gently chelate, keep the pH low, and is not stripping. It contains protein and is color-safe. Clarifying Shampoos for Buildup
Twist Hit Reset Clarifying Shampoo The Twist shampoo is another affordable clarifying shampoo. This one does not have chelating ingredients so it would not remove hard water but will remove product buildup. It contains sulfate so would not be color-safe. Also contains protein but it’s low on the list. Unfortunately it appears that Twist is being discontinued, so it’s on sale and currently in stock on Amazon.
Curlsmith Wash & Scrub Detox Pro-Biotic Shampoo I also have a couple of options that clarify and contain a scalp scrub to exfoliate dead skin and flakes. This Curlsmith one has a micro-fine scrub made of perlite so it dissolves and doesn’t leave behind plastic beads on your scalp. It also contains apple cider vinegar to help balance out the scalp pH, making it ideal for those that struggle with a dry or an oily scalp. Color-safe and protein free. I highly recommend the whole Detox Kit which is a 3-step system to prevent dryness and clarify.
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo The Briogeo scrub is also a clarifying shampoo. It has a unique formula because it’s the texture of a scrub or mask but lathers up into shampoo when adding water. It contains charcoal to help detox the scalp, making it a dark gray color. It’s very similar to the Curlsmith scrub but has a bit more moisturizing ingredients. I like how the scrub easily dissolves and is not too abrasive. Color-safe and protein-free.
Bounce Curl Enzyme Gentle Clarifying Shampoo This Bounce Curl shampoo is the most mild, non-stripping clarifier I have because it contains several oils. It still lathers nicely and removes buildup. The pointed nozzle is nice for reaching the scalp. It contains enzymes to gently exfoliate the scalp. It contains protein and is color-safe. How to pick the best shampooUse the shop page on my blog to filter based on your needs. There are filters such as:
There are many more filters as well to help you narrow down your search. Please let me know if you need assistance in finding your perfect match.
Watch the full playlist on How to Pick Products for more help.
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Gena Marie
Helping you better understand your naturally curly hair through easy-to-follow tutorials, science-based haircare tips, and problem-solving.
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