15th Dec 2025
The ultimate guide to clarifying shampoos
Ever wondered why clarifying shampoos are all the rage among hair stylists and their clients? Well, the science says it all. Healthy hair starts at the root, making clarifying shampoos the secret ingredient to attaining silky, luscious locks that look and feel amazing. A hair clarifying shampoo is the holy grail for clients who struggle with product build-up, delivering deep, purifying properties that an ordinary shampoo just won’t do.
Let’s lather up the facts and explore the revolutionary benefits of using a great clarifying shampoo to help your clients unlock their healthiest hair yet.
What is a clarifying shampoo?
A clarifying shampoo is a deep-cleansing shampoo that effectively removes product build-up, excess oil and impurities from the hair and scalp. The result? Hair that feels light, silky and restored. Clarifying shampoos contain stronger cleansing ingredients that clean more thoroughly than regular shampoos, for a deeply renewed feel. Ideal for clients who battle with product build-up, clarifying shampoos can help to restore hair health. For clients with sensitive scalps, a sulphate-free clarifying shampoo can help to deeply cleanse and refresh the hair with minimal risk of irritation.
What does clarifying shampoo do?
Clarifying shampoos help to remove product build-up and detoxify the scalp, to leave the hair feeling refreshed and purified. Using a clarifying shampoo is also an excellent way to prepare the hair for colouring, straightening and perming treatments, ensuring even, long-lasting results. Perfect for clients with oily scalps, using a clarifying shampoo every week can prevent the hair from becoming greasy, and help them to maintain a healthy, fresh feel for longer. Due to its deep, cleansing properties, hair clarifying shampoos can help frequent swimmers to remove chlorine from the hair, ensuring all chlorine is removed with each wash to prevent chemical damage.
How often should you use a clarifying shampoo?
How frequently your client needs to use a clarifying shampoo will depend on their hair type, condition and lifestyle. Clarifying shampoo is not designed for daily use but can be used weekly or monthly depending on your client’s needs.
Here's a general guide:
| Hair type/lifestyle | Frequency or clarifying shampoo | Why |
| Normail hair | Every 1-2 weeks | A regular detox helps remove product build-up, pollution and excess oils without over-drying. |
| Oily hair or flaky scalp | Once a week | Clarifying formulas help rebalance oil levels and deeply cleanse the scalp. |
| Curly or textured hair | Every 2-4 weeks | Curly hair is naturally drier, so over-clarifying can strip essential moisture. A monthly cleanse is usually enough unless using heavy stylers. |
| Colour-treated hair | Every 3-4 weeks
| Clarifying shampoos can fade colour if used too frequently. Use them sparingly and always follow with a nourishing mask. |
| Heavy product users (such as dry shampoo, hairspray, gels and oils) | Once a week | Frequent styling causes product build-up that clarifying shampoos remove effectively. |
| Swimmers (chlorine exposure) | Weekly or after every swim | Use a gentle or colour-safe clarifier to remove chlorine and minerals. |
"Using clarifying shampoos has many benefits such as helping with scalp health, removing stubborn product build-up and restoring the hair's natural shine.
I would highly recommend this to my clients that have limp and dull-looking hair, those who have an active lifestyle and do sports such as swimming as the chlorine can be damaging and cause dryness, and those who style their hair with products on a regular basis, I would encouarge them to use a clarifying shampoo weekly."
Chantell Bent, Direct sales, NVQ level 2 & 3 Hairdressing
The best clarifying shampoo for salon-quality results
Finding the right clarifying shampoo for you and your clients will depend on your needs and budget. Here’s a roundup of our best clarifying shampoos that will work wonders on your client’s hair and scalp:
OLAPLEX No. 4C bond maintenance shampoo 1L
Serie Expert scalp advanced clarifier shampoo 1.5L
OSMO scalp therapy detoxify shampoo 400ml
INVIGO balance deep cleansing shampoo 1L
Indola Professional cleansing shampoo 300ml
Serie Expert metal detox shampoo 1.5L
The ultimate treatment for hair and scalp
For the ultimate in hair and scalp health, try the Monpure Japanese head spa treatment bundle and Japanese head spa and massage bed.
Monpure Japanese head spa treatment bundle
Monpoure bridges the gap between skincare and hair care to reveal healthy, transformative results. From a stimulating scalp scrub to a nourishing scalp mask, this Monpure bundle contains everything you need to deeply cleanse, exfoliate and revive your client’s hair – making it an essential for luxury scalp treatments. Infused with a concoction of active ingredients known to purify the scalp and encourage healthy hair growth (such as pumpkin seed extract and keratin), this Monpure hair care bundle will transform your treatments, giving a more premium feel and delivering unparalleled results. Harnessing the power of concentrated active ingredients, Monpure’s rejuvenating formulas create the optimal environment for healthy hair, resulting in thicker, fuller strands that support the hair’s natural growth cycle. Investing in the Monpure hair care range will allow you to increase your prices per treatment and further improve your revenue potential through retail sales, providing an excellent opportunity for your salon or spa.
Japanese head spa and massage bed
Where relaxation meets ultimate scalp rejuvenation. Offering a unique and luxurious spa-like experience, the Japanese head spa uses traditional Japanese techniques to purify the scalp and soothe the mind and body. With an iconic rainbow shower that illuminates your treatments with beautiful colours, and steam therapy to prepare the scalp for deeper nourishment, this Japanese head spa bundle enables you to create a premium, luxurious treatment like no other. This innovative treatment helps to improve scalp health and promote healthy hair growth for hair that feels cleansed, hydrated and renewed. Pair with the Monpure bundle for an exceptional and profit-boosting opportunity. If you want to add this ground-breaking treatment to your spa or salon services, you can enhance your skills with our accredited Japanese head spa training courses, available online and in-person. Learn more with our ultimate guide to Japanese head spa.
Shop our full range of clarifying shampoos here: