How to Use Clarifying Shampoo
Determine your hair type., Look for chelating ingredients if you use hard or chlorinated water., Find one with hydrating oils for natural curly hair., Try baby shampoo for a gentler option., Read reviews online., Wet your hair., Massage the shampoo...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Determine your hair type.
Different clarifying shampoos are marked for use on different hair types.
While some may advertise themselves as being suited for “all hair types,” others aim to treat a specific characteristic.
If you have normal hair, you can use a shampoo aimed for “all hair types,” but if you have a specific problem, you may want to look for a shampoo that targets the issue.
Some common hair types that may use clarifying shampoo include:
Dry hair Oily hair Curly hair Straight hair Fine hair Thick hair Colored or treated hair -
Step 2: Look for chelating ingredients if you use hard or chlorinated water.
A chelating shampoo is very similar to a clarifying shampoo, but it is more effective against mineral build-ups.
If your local water is hard or if you are a swimmer, you should look for a chelating shampoo.
If you cannot find one, you can also use a clarifying shampoo that contains the chelating ingredient EDTA.Hard water is water that has a high mineral content.
If you are uncertain about how hard your water is, you can check with your local water treatment facility, or you can test the water at home.
Add ten drops of soap to a bottle of water.
Shake the bottle.
If it suds up, you have soft water, but if it doesn’t, you may have hard water. , If you have curly hair, you will want to make sure that you do not dry out your hair too much.
Since clarifying shampoo will strip away natural oils, you should replace them with a shampoo that uses an oil, such as Argan oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil.These shampoos will often be labeled as “cleansing oil” shampoos. , If you have sensitive skin on your scalp, extremely dry hair, colored hair, or damaged hair, a normal clarifying shampoo may be too harsh.
Instead of causing more damage to your hair, you may want to try using a baby shampoo.
These are formulated not to strip essential oils, but they will still provide a deep clean for your hair., Many beauty websites offer comparisons and reviews on different clarifying shampoos.
Do your research before you buy to make sure that the one you purchase is effective without being too harsh.
You may want to see if the shampoo increases shine and reduces oil.
If you have dyed or highlighted hair, make sure that other reviewers do not report that the shampoo fades their color. , You should make sure that your hair is completely wet before you apply the shampoo.
If you are using a shower or bath, dip your hair under the water.
If you are using a sink, you should fill a bucket with water.
Hold your head over the basin, and gently pour the water over your hair.
Wet your hair with warm, but not hot water.
Hot water may damage your hair and make it limp., Squeeze out about a quarter-sized amount of the shampoo into your hands.Rub your hands together to create a lather, and massage the shampoo into your hair.
Make sure you rub it into your scalp so that the shampoo can remove oils that have built up around your roots. , Once you are done, you should rinse all of the shampoo out of your hair.
Make sure that your scalp, roots, and tips no longer have any shampoo on them.
If your hair is excessively oily, you can try to shampoo it again, but in most cases, one application is all you need.
Many stylists recommend that you rinse with cold water, as cold water may help seal in moisture and make your hair shiny., Since clarifying shampoo strips your hair of both natural and artificial oils, you will need to replace some of that hydration to prevent breakage and damage.
After you rinse out the shampoo, apply your favorite conditioner.If you do a weekly deep-conditioning treatment for your hair, you may want to use the clarifying treatment right before the special conditioner.
If you pair these treatments together, you may find that they work more effectively.If you have oily hair, you may only want to condition the tips of your hair.
Start about halfway down the shaft, and rub the conditioner into the tips.
Do not condition the roots or scalp. , If you are a frequent swimmer or if you use many different hair products every day, you may need to use the clarifying shampoo weekly.
Pair it with a deep conditioning treatment, such as a hair mask, to avoid extensive damage.A hair mask is a deep conditioner that you can use once a week to hydrate your hair.
Apply the mask to wet hair, and brush it through with a wide-toothed comb.
Leave it on for between two and fifteen minutes before washing it out., Most people will need to use a clarifying shampoo no more than once every two weeks.
This schedule will allow you to benefit from its cleansing properties without over-drying or damaging your hair.
Clarifying shampoos use sulfates to cleanse your hair.
During the rest of the month, you may want to use a sulfate-free shampoo to reduce your exposure to these harsh and irritating chemicals.
This will prevent further damage to your hair.
Look for a shampoo that will hydrate your scalp as it cleans. , If your hair is dry or if it is dyed, you do not need to use a clarifying shampoo more than once a month.
If you use it more often, you risk breaking your strands or fading your color., A day or two before you get your hair dyed, you should use clarifying shampoo to remove excess oils.
This will help the color stick to your stands.
Do not use it the same day as a color treatment, however, as you want a little bit of natural oil in your hair. -
Step 3: Find one with hydrating oils for natural curly hair.
-
Step 4: Try baby shampoo for a gentler option.
-
Step 5: Read reviews online.
-
Step 6: Wet your hair.
-
Step 7: Massage the shampoo into your hair.
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Step 8: Rinse out completely.
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Step 9: Condition your hair.
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Step 10: Apply once a week if you swim or use hair products.
-
Step 11: Shampoo twice a month if you have oily or normal hair.
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Step 12: Apply once a month for dry or colored hair.
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Step 13: Use the shampoo before you go in for a color treatment.
Detailed Guide
Different clarifying shampoos are marked for use on different hair types.
While some may advertise themselves as being suited for “all hair types,” others aim to treat a specific characteristic.
If you have normal hair, you can use a shampoo aimed for “all hair types,” but if you have a specific problem, you may want to look for a shampoo that targets the issue.
Some common hair types that may use clarifying shampoo include:
Dry hair Oily hair Curly hair Straight hair Fine hair Thick hair Colored or treated hair
A chelating shampoo is very similar to a clarifying shampoo, but it is more effective against mineral build-ups.
If your local water is hard or if you are a swimmer, you should look for a chelating shampoo.
If you cannot find one, you can also use a clarifying shampoo that contains the chelating ingredient EDTA.Hard water is water that has a high mineral content.
If you are uncertain about how hard your water is, you can check with your local water treatment facility, or you can test the water at home.
Add ten drops of soap to a bottle of water.
Shake the bottle.
If it suds up, you have soft water, but if it doesn’t, you may have hard water. , If you have curly hair, you will want to make sure that you do not dry out your hair too much.
Since clarifying shampoo will strip away natural oils, you should replace them with a shampoo that uses an oil, such as Argan oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil.These shampoos will often be labeled as “cleansing oil” shampoos. , If you have sensitive skin on your scalp, extremely dry hair, colored hair, or damaged hair, a normal clarifying shampoo may be too harsh.
Instead of causing more damage to your hair, you may want to try using a baby shampoo.
These are formulated not to strip essential oils, but they will still provide a deep clean for your hair., Many beauty websites offer comparisons and reviews on different clarifying shampoos.
Do your research before you buy to make sure that the one you purchase is effective without being too harsh.
You may want to see if the shampoo increases shine and reduces oil.
If you have dyed or highlighted hair, make sure that other reviewers do not report that the shampoo fades their color. , You should make sure that your hair is completely wet before you apply the shampoo.
If you are using a shower or bath, dip your hair under the water.
If you are using a sink, you should fill a bucket with water.
Hold your head over the basin, and gently pour the water over your hair.
Wet your hair with warm, but not hot water.
Hot water may damage your hair and make it limp., Squeeze out about a quarter-sized amount of the shampoo into your hands.Rub your hands together to create a lather, and massage the shampoo into your hair.
Make sure you rub it into your scalp so that the shampoo can remove oils that have built up around your roots. , Once you are done, you should rinse all of the shampoo out of your hair.
Make sure that your scalp, roots, and tips no longer have any shampoo on them.
If your hair is excessively oily, you can try to shampoo it again, but in most cases, one application is all you need.
Many stylists recommend that you rinse with cold water, as cold water may help seal in moisture and make your hair shiny., Since clarifying shampoo strips your hair of both natural and artificial oils, you will need to replace some of that hydration to prevent breakage and damage.
After you rinse out the shampoo, apply your favorite conditioner.If you do a weekly deep-conditioning treatment for your hair, you may want to use the clarifying treatment right before the special conditioner.
If you pair these treatments together, you may find that they work more effectively.If you have oily hair, you may only want to condition the tips of your hair.
Start about halfway down the shaft, and rub the conditioner into the tips.
Do not condition the roots or scalp. , If you are a frequent swimmer or if you use many different hair products every day, you may need to use the clarifying shampoo weekly.
Pair it with a deep conditioning treatment, such as a hair mask, to avoid extensive damage.A hair mask is a deep conditioner that you can use once a week to hydrate your hair.
Apply the mask to wet hair, and brush it through with a wide-toothed comb.
Leave it on for between two and fifteen minutes before washing it out., Most people will need to use a clarifying shampoo no more than once every two weeks.
This schedule will allow you to benefit from its cleansing properties without over-drying or damaging your hair.
Clarifying shampoos use sulfates to cleanse your hair.
During the rest of the month, you may want to use a sulfate-free shampoo to reduce your exposure to these harsh and irritating chemicals.
This will prevent further damage to your hair.
Look for a shampoo that will hydrate your scalp as it cleans. , If your hair is dry or if it is dyed, you do not need to use a clarifying shampoo more than once a month.
If you use it more often, you risk breaking your strands or fading your color., A day or two before you get your hair dyed, you should use clarifying shampoo to remove excess oils.
This will help the color stick to your stands.
Do not use it the same day as a color treatment, however, as you want a little bit of natural oil in your hair.
About the Author
Judy Alvarez
Creates helpful guides on crafts to inspire and educate readers.
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