What’s your favorite clarifying shampoo?

[baanoo]

I’ve been considering clarifying shampoos and wondered: what’s your favorites?

[akurah]

For me, Suave Clarifying is my go-to clarifying shampoo.

[Kathie]

I just jump right in with the most economical stuff I can find. I'm all about simplicity when it comes to a clarifyer... give me that SLS. So I use TRESemme Deep cleansing. I'm based in Australia, I'm not sure if they have it in the US or Europe?

[Ylva]

I just jump right in with the most economical stuff I can find. I'm all about simplicity when it comes to a clarifyer... give me that SLS. So I use TRESemme Deep cleansing. I'm based in Australia, I'm not sure if they have it in the US or Europe?

I think it's called Cleanse & Replenish here. Not sure. At least that's the product I came here to mention!

[littlestarface]

Man, my favorite was joico chelating one but they reformed it and I didn't like it too much. Now iv'e been trying so many others like paul mitchell,redken,jason and they don't match up with the old joico at all. I just tried kenra clarifying, I love the smell but sadly it doesn't last and my scalp is really itching me but my hair feels really clean for now but its still damp.

[lapushka]

Pantene Aqua Light does a nice job even though it isn't strictly meant as a clarifier. I do have a legit clarifying shampoo from Pantene, but they don't make that anymore... sadly. Still, I think these are on par.

FYI, the volumizing shampoo by Pantene is about the same as well!

Other formula's (repair and such) are more moisturizing so would not recommend those at all!

[sapphire-o]

Giovanni Golden Wheat shampoo is my favorite. :) It's a bit pricey, but hopefully I wouldn't need to clarify very much, as I don't use any styling product.

[Dragon]

My favourite is the redwin tea tree shampoo.

[baanoo]

For me, Suave Clarifying is my go-to clarifying shampoo.

My mom swears by this one after a day at the pool. ;)


I just jump right in with the most economical stuff I can find. I'm all about simplicity when it comes to a clarifyer... give me that SLS. So I use TRESemme Deep cleansing. I'm based in Australia, I'm not sure if they have it in the US or Europe?


I think it's called Cleanse & Replenish here. Not sure. At least that's the product I came here to mention!


Man, my favorite was joico chelating one but they reformed it and I didn't like it too much. Now iv'e been trying so many others like paul mitchell,redken,jason and they don't match up with the old joico at all. I just tried kenra clarifying, I love the smell but sadly it doesn't last and my scalp is really itching me but my hair feels really clean for now but its still damp.

So many good suggestions! I don't often need a clarifying shampoo but it's good to have one on hand whenever I feel like it's time for a solid scrub. I always liked TreSemme shampoos, hopefully that one is available nearby without having to hunt too much for it – since COVID started I haven't been able to bring myself to go on a good prowl for things.

Lapushka, thanks for the heads-up on Pantene, and sapphire-o & dragon - I'll keep my eyes out!

[Hedwig]

It used to be Herbal Essences Tealightfully Clean but they don't sell that here anymore. I tried the new Pantene Clear & Balanced last year and that is really good too. :)

[Dark40]

My favorite is the Mane n Tail Gentle Clarifying Shampoo. It is my go-to clarifying shampoo. Even though I've heard a lot people not liking anything from Mane N Tail but I've never had any issues with it! So, I really like their products!

[shelomit]

Suave Clarifying for me as well. I use it to pre-treat laundry as well as for my hair. . . it takes grease stains out of clothes better than my actual laundry supplies : P

[baanoo]

Suave Clarifying for me as well. I use it to pre-treat laundry as well as for my hair. . . it takes grease stains out of clothes better than my actual laundry supplies : P

What!?! Better than shout? This is excellent information.

[sipnsun]

I use Neutrogena anti-residue formula, inexpensive and doesn't have a ton of ingredients or artificial colors.

[shelomit]

What!?! Better than shout? This is excellent information.

IMO, yes! I don't use it for all kinds of stains, but esp. for kitchen towels, aprons, or anything else that gets oily or greasy, it works wonders.

[aelrah]

I also use the Neutrogena Anti-Residue, and it's been fantastic for me!

[school of fish]

Another vote for Neutrogena Anti-Residue from me :) Even though I wash daily with a Pantene SLS formula I still find I need a monthly clarify - this one does the trick!!

[sapphire-o]

I also use the Neutrogena Anti-Residue, and it's been fantastic for me!

I once got a bottle of that. It worked well, but I couldn't stand the smell. It's so strong. I don't know what it's supposed to smell like. I'm sure mine was not old or anything.

[Sea_Otter spins]

Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Shampoo does a fantastic job of cleaning my hair.

[ExpectoPatronum]

Another vote for Suave Clarifying. It's cheap as heck and does a great job. It's the only clarifying shampoo I've used for years at this point.

[lapushka]

Another vote for Suave Clarifying. It's cheap as heck and does a great job. It's the only clarifying shampoo I've used for years at this point.

Didn't they go sulfate free recently. I remember someone on here mentioning it (though I can't remember who, sorry).

[Obsidian]

Not really sulfate free but they did replace the sls with a different surfactant.
Its still a good shampoo, just not quite as cleansing as before. I still have a big bottle to use but I won't be replacing it once its gone.

I've switched to prell for clarifying. Its harsh and a bit drying but it does the job really well

[renia22]

Didn't they go sulfate free recently. I remember someone on here mentioning it (though I can't remember who, sorry).

They now use:
Sodium C12 -13 Pareth Sulfate as the main cleansing agent. One past formula used SLES, another used ALES. Both were good. The one now makes my hair not cleansed properly, yet dry at the same time.

My favorites are Paul Mitchell shampoo 2 (clarifying) and Paul Mitchell shampoo 3 (clarifying and chelating). I do also love Prell.

[Bat]

Joico clarifying shampoo is my favourite

[Sea_Otter spins]

Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Shampoo does a fantastic job of cleaning my hair.

Since posting this, I've used K18 Peptide Prep Detox shampoo a couple of times. I think I've found my new clarifying shampoo. It's excellent!

[Mariekeeee14]

I like Garnier Whole Blends Coconut water and Aloe, and As I Am clarifying shampoo. The garnier one is less stripping cause of the added ingredients, but it also has glycerin high up the Inci, so my hair is both happy and unhappy. The As I am one is very bare bones, and I like that! Also means it’s more drying. So again, hair is happy and unhappy at the same time.

[renia22]

It happened about a year ago, but bummer Neutrogena discontinued their anti-residue shampoo. That was a cult classic.

[angel-baby]

I've been using the Olaplex clarifying shampoo. I like that it cleans well without stripping my hair too much.

[clairenewcastle]

Avalon Organics Lemon shampoo is the best shampoo I've found for thoroughly stripping any build-up from my hair.

[lapushka]

Avalon Organics Lemon shampoo is the best shampoo I've found for thoroughly stripping any build-up from my hair.

I used to love the verbena one, or is it the lemon verbena? :confused: It wasn't bad, back when I still set foot in Holland & Barrett.

[KameRose]

It happened about a year ago, but bummer Neutrogena discontinued their anti-residue shampoo. That was a cult classic.

I was going to say Neutrogena but apparently it's discontinued. :/ I have like half a bottle left. So I guess I need to find a new one.... in a few months.

[renia22]

^One thing I liked about Neutrogena is I felt like it really got everything out. The other day I overdid a Pantene mask after a henna, and I’ve been having trouble getting the residue feeling out. Paul Mitchell’s shampoos 2 & 3, Prell and Kenra clarifying are all ones that I have at the moment, and I noticed Kenra tangles but it doesn’t necessarily get everything out.

The other 3 are more gentle than they used to be, are good formulas, and don’t tangle my hair, but I don’t think they get everything out either, when there’s a real problem. I guess I’m just going to have to use them a few times in a row.

Neutrogena, I liked that one because I felt like it really cut through the junk. It maybe left my hair on the tangled side, but it got stuff out.

[clairenewcastle]

I used to love the verbena one, or is it the lemon verbena? :confused: It wasn't bad, back when I still set foot in Holland & Barrett.

Holland and Barrett don't sell Avalon Organics any more but I remember when they kept a lot of that range. The other Avalon Organics shampoo I like is their tea tree one, its also very clarifying.

[Salice]

OUAI Detox Shampoo is my favourite. The scent is quite mild, and the shampoo lathers well but doesn't knot or strip my hair. The result is clean but still soft. I would also like to test the Olaplex No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo.

[KameRose]

So I was at CVS and I had to look at the shampoo aisle to see what kind of clarifying shampoo I could find, since I just found out Neutrogena discontinued theirs. And I found what looks just like the Neutrogena anti residue shampoo. The dupe is Vitresse Clarifying Shampoo. Here are some comparison shots:

https://i.imgur.com/nPcHYuCh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Jib52Uwh.jpg

I tried to find a link to the product but instead I found another dupe:

Signature Care Shampoo Clarifying - 6 Fl. Oz. (https://www.jewelosco.com/shop/product-details.970476726.html)

[lapushka]

Wow. The ingredients are markedly similar. Great find!

[aeryss]

For the people with sensitivities regarding smell - by far: Swiss-O-Par. ;)
It does work, doesn't leave the hair too dry or stripped and the smell goes away fairly quickly.

[lapushka]

For the people with sensitivities regarding smell - by far: Swiss-O-Par. ;)
It does work, doesn't leave the hair too dry or stripped and the smell goes away fairly quickly.

Yeah, maybe that's local to Germany? We don't have this here in Belgium. I doubt it is in the US either.

[SeppV]

I have a Wella SP clarifying shampoo. It's a pre treatment shampoo, to remove all residue pefore getting a perm or something like that. I think it's meant for salons too. Anyway, it's powerful stuff and I like it because it does what it's supposed to do. When I go for a clarifying shampoo I want it to remove mineral build up from hard water and such too. I guess what I want is a chelating shampoo and this works really well for that. Besides, it wasn't that expensive when I bought a huge tub! :-D

[aeryss]

Yeah, maybe that's local to Germany? We don't have this here in Belgium. I doubt it is in the US either.

Yeah I looked around a bit and it's probably local to Germany/Austria only, sorry. Swiss-O-Par is such a dinosaur brand around here (my mom had their stuff lying around in the 80s & they are still kicking), I didn't think twice about it.

[lapushka]

Yeah I looked around a bit and it's probably local to Germany/Austria only, sorry. Swiss-O-Par is such a dinosaur brand around here (my mom had their stuff lying around in the 80s & they are still kicking), I didn't think twice about it.

We all recommend stuff that's local to us, don't worry. But I had to point it out, I thought because it's usually common to your part of the world.

[renia22]

So I was at CVS and I had to look at the shampoo aisle to see what kind of clarifying shampoo I could find, since I just found out Neutrogena discontinued theirs. And I found what looks just like the Neutrogena anti residue shampoo. The dupe is Vitresse Clarifying Shampoo. Here are some comparison shots:

https://i.imgur.com/nPcHYuCh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Jib52Uwh.jpg

I tried to find a link to the product but instead I found another dupe:

Signature Care Shampoo Clarifying - 6 Fl. Oz. (https://www.jewelosco.com/shop/product-details.970476726.html)



Oh wow, that’s great! Generic works for me! I’ve see other Neutrogena generics, but not for that shampoo. I don’t see it on the CVS website, but I’ll definitely be checking the stores in my area for that. Thank you for posting!

[renia22]

I found it! Last 2, right next to the newer sulfate free Neutrogena ones I have no interest in. Smells the same, too!

https://i.ibb.co/16rtTpR/95645-AB6-399-E-4715-910-E-46-C6279941-C3.jpg (https://ibb.co/M6cx7jP)

Thank you again for posting, KameRose!

[lapushka]

renia, I think that's awesome that you commented. Normally you are always the one to show us products. This time it's different. Awesome. Just wanted to say that. ;) Glad you found it. Could it be that Neutrogena is somehow still behind it? No clue; never heard of "Vitresse".

[renia22]

^ Thanks Lapushka! Pretty sure the Neutrogena was discontinued about a year ago and is long gone. Looks to me like a CVS store brand knock off, and probably only CVS would have it. Smart on their part!

edit:
I looked up the company, Apollo Health. It’s in Toronto, Canada & they make generic knock offs of popular brand names:

https://www.apollocorp.com/hair-care.html

[KameRose]

Oh wow, that’s great! Generic works for me! I’ve see other Neutrogena generics, but not for that shampoo. I don’t see it on the CVS website, but I’ll definitely be checking the stores in my area for that. Thank you for posting!


I found it! Last 2, right next to the newer sulfate free Neutrogena ones I have no interest in. Smells the same, too!

https://i.ibb.co/16rtTpR/95645-AB6-399-E-4715-910-E-46-C6279941-C3.jpg (https://ibb.co/M6cx7jP)

Thank you again for posting, KameRose!

You are quite welcome. I am good with dupes too and was quite excited to find it. The lady at CVS made a comment like "Oh, this the new one!" Which made me think that it hasn't been out long, but then seemed confused when I mentioned that the Neutrogena one was discontinued so not sure if she /really/ knew her products or not. :shrug:

I'm probably set until 2025 now though. :p

So thank-you renia for mentioning that Neutrogena discontinued theirs. I wouldn't of even thought of looking at the shampoo aisle at all if you didn't mention it, I was just looking out of curiosity because I had to go to CVS to get some sanitary napkins. Was so excited I had to grab a bottle and do a comparison post. Glad the post helped!

[renia22]

^Yeah maybe she just thought it was a new shampoo altogether and didn’t realize what it was.

Funny last I saw the Neutrogena one was at Walgreens right before they discontinued it, the larger 12 ounce ones they’d sometimes have, and then I just didn’t see it anywhere for a while. From what I know that’s a best seller, around since 1980, and men like it too, so I never dreamed they’d discontinue it, although I should have known better because things I like tend to get the axe and is anything safe, really.

I thought maybe the stores I was looking in just didn’t carry it anymore or something, and by the time I looked it up on their website it was long gone.

So glad you looked in CVS, that’s one of the stores I haven’t checked.

[clairenewcastle]

Back in the 1990's I used Neutrogena anti-residue shampoo quite a lot and loved it. (I was living in Northern Ireland at the time) I was annoyed when I couldn't find it anymore.

[renia22]

^It really was a great product! I tried the generic Vitresse one today and it’s good too. I was able to find a few more, but it was sold out in a couple of CVS’s, I had to search for it!