Click here to visit the Beauty Brains blog.
Welcome to the new Forum. Please feel free to start a new discussion.
Clarifying Shampoo
  • noumenon
    How exactly do clarifying shampoos work? I've heard mixed opinions on what the "active ingredients" are so to speak. Some say that the extra-harsh Lauryl surfactants are what strips the hair of all the build-up, and they are safe to use once in a while for clarifying purposes. However, others say that it has nothing to do with the strength of the surfactant and even Sodium Laureth Sulfate can be used in a clarifying shampoo on it's own. These people tend to claim that it's something like lemon peel or an acidifier like citric acid that helps to strip the build-up.

    Could you please help to "clarify" the situation for us all? :) What exactly is the specific ingredient(s) that removes build-up beyond my gentle Sodium Laureth Sulfate based shampoo? Or is the whole clarifying thing a myth and you can really use any shampoo you want to remove build-up equally?

    Thank you.
  • BeautyBear
    There are two types of products here. ONE is a Clarifying Shampoo or Treatment. This removes surface build-up and leaves the hair clean and 'residue free'. 

    TWO is a Chelating Shampoo or Treatment that removes minerals, metals and medications from the internal structure of the hair by the process of chelation. 

    The best Clarifying Shampoos have few ingredients and will usually lather freely and rinse out quickly. I like PRELL® for this myself, there are no 'Magic' ingredients for Clarifying Shampoos just effective cleansers and no conditioning (coating) agents. 

    Chelating Shampoos have an ingredient or ingredients (tetrasodium EDTA, potassium and sodium citrate and others) that chelate or bind with unwanted materials to neutralize their effects and help make them wash away when the hair is rinsed. The pH of chelating shampoos may be more acid than most shampoos to facilitate the process.
  • georgia
    I'm interested in chelating shampoos. Are there any negatives?  What are some brands?

    For clarifying shampoos, I like Neutrogena Anti-Residue. It has few ingredients. I dilute it half and half with distilled water. It's just as effective for clarifying, but the watered down formula is more gentle on scalp and hair.
Add a Comment