13 Best Drugstore Clarifying Shampoos for an Instant Hair Detox

Written by Alvira Dsouza, Hair Expert
Updated on Mar 04, 2024
13 Best Drugstore Clarifying Shampoos for an Instant Hair Detox
13 Best Drugstore Clarifying Shampoos for an Instant Hair Detox
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Women and their love for hair needs no introduction. Women’s hair is directly associated with their youthfulness, lifestyle, and personality. After all, hair is part of a woman’s identity that further accentuates their beauty. Hence, it is mandatory to ensure optimum hair and scalp health. And, you can do it with the best drugstore clarifying shampoos at your hands. These shampoos pave way for healthy, smooth, and lustrous hair by washing away deep-seated environmental toxins, product build-up, excess sebum, and bacteria. Not just that, these shampoos prevent scalp irritation, dandruff, flakes, unclog clogged pores, and so much more that you will come to know at the end of this article.

Now, let’s start talking about the factors that negatively impact your hair quality. Tiffany Young, a hair stylist, says, “Environmental factors, though fairly common, are something to be aware of. Chlorinated bathing water dries out the hair cuticle. Sun rays cause oxidative damage and make your hair color fade quickly leading to frizziness. Moreover, pollution blocks the hair cuticle's ability to absorb moisture thus leaving it dry.” Sounds scary, right? But you need not worry, we have curated a list of some good drugstore-clarifying shampoos to embrace a healthy mane. Scroll down and check it out!

 

13 Best Drugstore Clarifying Shampoos

Neutrogena has introduced this shampoo with a flawless anti-residue formula that is gentle and non-irritating. This shampoo effectively washes away 90% of the heavy build-up caused by multiple hair care and styling products that you use in your day-to-day life. In addition to cleansing, this shampoo also conditions your hair and boosts hair volume. Besides, it comes with a clear formulation that does not contain artificial colorants, or dyes. 

 

Pros
  • Can be rinsed easily
  • Ideal for all hair types
  • Suits color-treated hair
  • Best for once-a-week treatment
Cons
  • Bottle prone to leakage

Quick Tip

Lather the shampoo gently on the scalp and massage it for at least 3-5 minutes. This reduces residue and excess sebum production while enhancing hair growth.

  • Best for Oily Hair

    MAPLE HOLISTICS DEGREASE SHAMPOO

     MAPLE HOLISTICS DEGREASE SHAMPOO
  • Cleanse your hair from roots to tips with this Degrease Shampoo from Maple Holistics. This shampoo is specially crafted for those possessing oily and greasy hair. It efficiently cleans your scalp off excessive sebum, dandruff, dirt, flakes, build-up, and residues. Moreover, it is enriched with hair-nourishing ingredients such as basil, cyprus, rosemary, and jojoba that blend together to disinfect your mane and moisturize your strands. This shampoo also adds much-needed vibrancy and shine to your locks. 

     

    Pros
    • Paraben-free
    • Adds moisture
    • Best for total scalp care
    • Safe for color-treated hair
    • Suitable for men and women
    Cons
    • Unpleasant fragrance
  • Best Color-safe Formula

    PAUL MITCHELL SHAMPOO TWO

     PAUL MITCHELL SHAMPOO TWO
  • With an energizing and refreshing lemon fragrance, this clarifying shampoo from Paul Mitchell makes its space in the hair care regime of a majority of women around the world. It is renowned for deep-cleansing the hair and washing off scalp buildup thoroughly. Moreover, since it actively controls excessive oil production, it suits oily hair the most. Talking about its ingredients — aloe barbadensis, and white ginger root extracts are responsible for leaving your hair shiny and squeaky clean.

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Lightweight formula
    • Paraben-free
    • Color-safe formula
    • Eco-friendly packaging
    Cons
    • Runny consistency
  • Best Anti-inflammatory Properties

    WOW SKIN SCIENCE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR shampoo

    WOW SKIN SCIENCE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR shampoo
  • Improve your overall scalp and hair health with this apple cider vinegar shampoo from Wow Skin Science. This shampoo magically revives luster after clearing up stubborn scalp buildup. Moreover, it comes with a gentle and plant-powered clarifying formula for stressed stresses. Along with raw Himalayan apple cider vinegar, it is also crafted from 100% vegan botanical ingredients like sweet almond oil and nettle leaf extract. Besides, this shampoo also contains zero parabens, sulfates, or colorants and balances your hair and scalp’s pH levels.  

     

    Pros
    • Reduces hair fall
    • Soothes the scalp
    • Strengthens hair
    • Clears dead skin cells
    • Contains anti-inflammatory properties
    Cons
    • Little greasy texture

    Quick Tip

    Use this as the second shampoo in your double-cleansing scalp routine. The ACV formula revitalizes the scalp and prevents further build-up and dandruff.

  • Most Nourishing

    Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend SHAMPOO

    Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend SHAMPOO
  • Keep your happy hair days rolling with Aveeno’s Fresh Greens Blend Shampoo. It is infused with a farm-fresh-inspired blend of rosemary, peppermint, cucumber, and scalp-soothing oats. This shampoo effectively adds thickness and body to your hair without the presence of sulfate, dyes, and parabens. Plus, it is clinically proven to calm down your itchy scalp by clarifying the scalp with the above-mentioned wholesome ingredients. There is something more — this shampoo also adds light moisture to your roots. 

     

    Pros
    • Nourishes hair strands
    • Best for fine to medium hair
    • Ideal for color-treated hair
    • Provides a cooling freshness
    Cons
    • Overpowering fragrance
  • giovanni ECO CHIC HAIR CARE 50:50 BALANCED HYDRATING CLARIFYING SHAMPOO

    giovanni ECO CHIC HAIR CARE 50:50 BALANCED HYDRATING CLARIFYING SHAMPOO
  • For all those looking for a hydrating yet deep cleansing shampoo, here is your pick — Giovanni's clarifying shampoo. It magnificently protects over-processed, overworked, and color-treated hair with its proprietary blend of proteins, nutrients, and vitamins. This shampoo also enhances the vitality of your hair with aloe vera, rosemary, and a few other botanical ingredients. In addition to cleansing your scalp, it also refines the texture, quality, and health of your hair.

     

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Cruelty-free
    • Gentle formula
    • Perfect for daily use
    • Recyclable packaging
    Cons
    • Prone to leakage
  • ACURE CURIOUSLY CLARIFYING SHAMPOO

    ACURE CURIOUSLY CLARIFYING SHAMPOO
  • Cleanse your scalp and get rid of buildup with Acure’s clarifying shampoo in just a few washes. This shampoo is made from gentle ingredients like lemongrass and argan oil. It also replenishes your hair by adding moisture and boosting overall hair luster. Moreover, it is a 100% vegan drugstore shampoo that is formulated without parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, and petrolatum and is thus perfect for everyday cleansing. To top off its benefits, it exudes a pleasant fragrance and doesn’t irritate your scalp. 

     

    Pros
    • Refreshing formula
    • Cruelty-free
    • Very Affordable
    • Prevents dandruff
    • Crafted for normal hair type
    Cons
    • Might make your hair a little stiff
  • NOTHING BUT Clarifying SHAMPOO

    NOTHING BUT Clarifying SHAMPOO
  • Standing true to its name, this shampoo cleanses your hair from root to tip. It rinses stubborn contaminants, excess sebum, and chlorine from your hair follicles. With this shampoo in your hair care regime, you can flaunt naturally smooth and lustrous hair. Not just that, after using this product, you will pave the way for your conditioning treatments to penetrate better. So, for embracing noticeably healthier hair, slide this product into your cart right away. 

     

    Pros
    • Sulfate-free
    • Non-irritating formula
    • Safe for color-treated hair
    • Doesn’t weigh down your hair
    Cons
    • Unsatisfactory packaging
  • MOROCCANOIL CLARIFYING SHAMPOO

    MOROCCANOIL CLARIFYING SHAMPOO
  • Wave goodbye to unmanageable, dull, damaged, and lifeless hair with Moroccanoil’s clarifying shampoo. This shampoo features a deep-cleansing formula which removes buildup and leaves your hair follicles squeaky clean. Moreover, it is rich in argan, lavender, jojoba, rosemary, chamomile extracts, and keratin for replenishing your hair thoroughly. It also rehydrates your hair and leaves it smoother, softer, and healthier. To top off its benefits, with a color-safe, sulfate, and paraben-free formula, this shampoo suits all hair types. 

     

    Pros
    • Adds shine
    • Excellent for oily scalp
    • Strengthens the hair
    • Controls excessive sebum production
    Cons
    • Unpleasant scent
  • SheaMoisture RESIDUE REMOVER SHAMPOO

    SheaMoisture RESIDUE REMOVER SHAMPOO
  • With tea tree, aloe vera, and borage seed oil, this residue remover shampoo from Shea Moisture’s wig and weave collection leaves users absolutely impressed. It features a gentle yet highly effective formula that is also sulfate-free. Plus, it helps you get rid of leftover residue, dirt, grime, and scalp impurities without stripping natural oils from your hair. To sum up, this shampoo ticks off all boxes when it comes to your hair’s nourishment and its maintenance. 

     

    Pros
    • Adds luster to hair
    • Best hair detox treatment
    • Enhances hair manageability
    • Ideal for synthetic and natural hair
    Cons
    • Little difficult to rinse
  • LOVE beauty AND planet SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO

    LOVE beauty AND planet SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO
  • This Love Beauty And Planet shampoo is loaded with charcoal and bergamot to delightfully detox your scalp and hair. With this hair care essential, you can easily get rid of the stubborn environmental pollutants, dirt, dust, grime, and product residues seated on your scalp. Plus, it is enriched with coconut oil and thus maintains good hair and scalp health. Last but not the least, it is a vegan and plant-based shampoo that leaves no stone unturned in taking you a step forward for attaining healthy hair. 

     

    Pros
    • Cruelty-free
    • Ideal for colored hair
    • Suitable for all hair types
    • Contains no harmful chemicals
    Cons
    • Watery consistency
  • NEXXUS CLEAN & PURE SHAMPOO

    NEXXUS CLEAN & PURE SHAMPOO
  • With an exclusive blend of elastin proteins and marine minerals, this clean and pure shampoo from Nexxus detoxifies your hair right from the hair follicles to the ends. It is also a lightweight shampoo that leaves each hair strand nourished, purified, and free from impurities. In addition, this shampoo is beautifully crafted for dry and damaged hair to leave it cleansed, moisturized, and replenished. Therefore, investing in this drugstore shampoo is a great idea for achieving healthy-looking and lustrous hair. 

     

    Pros
    • Silicone-free formula
    • Gentle formula
    • Contains no parabens
    • Easy-to-use dispenser
    Cons
    • Not ideal for sensitive scalp
  • davines SOLU Shampoo

    davines SOLU Shampoo
  • Here comes yet another clarifying shampoo to get rid of heavy scalp buildup. Davines has carefully crafted this solu shampoo to refresh your hair and scalp in just a few washes. Infused with buckwheat extracts, this shampoo leaves your hair soft and shiny. Secondly, for all those who often use hair styling products, this is what you need to incorporate into your hair care to maintain the natural hair texture and quality. 

     

    Pros
    • Easy to rinse out
    • Suits all hair types
    • Available in two sizes
    • Creates rich and airy foam
    Cons
    • Little pricey

    This was our all-inclusive list of the best drugstore shampoos for oily hair, dry hair, curly hair, dandruff-prone hair, etc. To make wiser and better purchasing decisions, look at the buying guide below. 

     

    How to Choose the Best Drugstore Clarifying Shampoo?

    Here are a few aspects that you should consider before splurging on a good-quality drugstore clarifying shampoo. 

    Hair Type And Condition: Always analyze your hair type and condition before splurging on the best drugstore clarifying shampoo. They are crafted with unique formulas and ingredients to target any specific hair or scalp condition. You might come across shampoos for oily hair, dry hair, curly hair, straight hair, damaged hair, and color or chemically-treated hair. Besides, some shampoos are strictly meant for oily, flaky, dandruff-prone scalps. So, understand your hair type and condition and then slide the most suitable shampoo into your cart.  

    Hair Texture: Clarifying shampoos are designed to wash away scalp impurities and detox your hair from root to tip. However, it is important to pay heed to the texture of your hair before investing in one. Some might possess extremely thin, medium, or thick hair. Those with thin hair should opt for a lightweight and gentle clarifying shampoo whereas one with thick hair should pick a heavily formulated shampoo with 100% cleansing formula. Do not pick a shampoo that isn’t crafted for your hair type or texture. 

    Ingredients: Pick a clarifying shampoo that contains aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil, as they help in removing product buildup, dirt, dust, grime, impurities, excess sebum, etc deeply seated on your scalp. These ingredients also aid in reducing scalp infections and itchiness due to their anti-inflammatory properties. 

    Formula: Make sure you invest in a top-notch clarifying drugstore shampoo that features a non-greasy and lightweight formula. Avoid shampoos that contain harmful toxins, parabens, gluten, alcohol, and phthalates as they can trigger scalp infection and contribute to hair loss. Choose a shampoo that has a liquidy and soapy formula that lathers well and doesn’t leave behind any residue. Secondly, the clarifying shampoo should also have the ability to maintain your hair and scalp’s pH levels to maintain the luster and quality of your hair.

    Pro Tip

    Those struggling with very dry hair and scalp can dilute the shampoo in a few tablespoons of water. It reduces the concentration and avoids a strong effect on the scalp.

    Conclusion

    Don’t think much! Pick one of the best drugstore clarifying shampoos and buckle up for a fabulous hair detoxifying session. Here is a fact — these shampoos, also known as deep cleaning shampoos, are crafted to cleanse your scalp and take due care of your hair shafts. Secondly, they are meant to be the go-to solution to remove retained hairstyling products like hair spray, serum, mousse, and gels (1). So to take good care of your hair, ensure that you cleanse your scalp with any of the clarifying shampoos and fortify your mane to the maximum. Happy shopping!

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Our in-house haircare expert Alvira reckons that drugstore clarifying shampoos are formulated to give the hair a deep cleanse, removing product buildup and excess oil, while still being inexpensive and easily available. They contain a higher level of cleansing agents in comparison to regular shampoos – this gives them the power to get rid of impurities from the scalp and hair. After trying all the products over a couple of weeks, she found one that performed better than the rest. Neutrogena’s Anti-residue Formula Shampoo was gentle, non-irritating, and also gave her locks a boost of volume. Plus, it claims to get rid of 90% of product buildup in just one wash and can be rinsed off easily.

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Pinkvilla to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Alvira Dsouza
    Hair Expert

    With a keen eye for detail and a passion for hairstyling, Alvira is a certified Hair Expert who brings the latest tre More