Is your hair heavy or dull? These clarifying shampoos are worth a try

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If you’ve noticed your hair feeling heavy, dull, greasy or resistant to your styling products, the problem may not be your hair care routine, it could be buildup. Over time, oils, dry shampoo, styling products, silicones and even environmental pollutants can build up on your scalp and hair strands, and the results make the hair feel weighed down, lack lustre and flat.

That’s where a clarifying shampoo can help. Unlike your everyday shampoo, a clarifying formula is designed to give the hair and scalp a deep cleanse. Generally speaking, clarifying shampoo should be used once every few weeks or whenever hair starts feeling “coated.” And because a deeper cleanse can leave your hair feeling less conditioned, a nourishing mask or conditioner is recommended.

Here are a few clarifying shampoos worth trying:

For a luxurious take on the weekly reset, Oribe’s the Cleanse uses exfoliating ingredients and volcanic ash to remove dirt, oil and product buildup, while targeting mineral buildup from hard water and chlorine. This mousse-to-cream formula is designed to deeply cleanse without stripping the hair’s natural oils.

Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo | $63

Maria Nila’s Purifying Cleanse Shampoo combines AHAs to provide a mild exfoliating effect, while aloe vera and peppermint help leave the scalp feeling refreshed. For best results, try using it once per week or once a month to your regular shampoo routine.

Maria Nila Purifying Cleanse Shampoo | $45

Kristin Ess Deep Clean is formulated to remove mineral deposits, excess oil, styling-product residue and even silicone buildup. It’s vegan, cruelty-free and designed to restore volume and shine.

Kristin Ess Deep Clean Clarifying Shampoo | $17

For those concerned about buildup as well as maintaining the condition of their hair, K18’s Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo is a great option. Its colour-safe, non-stripping formula combines activated charcoal and salicylic acid with K18PEPTIDE. Based on testing, one wash proven to remove 99 per cent of product buildup and 95 per cent of sebum. For best results, use it once a week or as needed.

K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo | $56

The goal isn’t squeaky-clean hair, it’s clean, lightweight, refreshed hair that is ready to receive the rest of your routine.