The best clarifying shampoos to beat monsoon buildup and greasy roots

Clarifying shampoos often get a bad rap–from fears that they will cause your colour to fade or will be too harsh on your hair. Yet, the overload of products over time, pollution, and heat styling do cause build-up, which in turn can weigh your strands down and make them appear dull and lifeless. This is when you need to turn to a clarifying shampoo to get back that radiance and shine and to revitalise your hair. What’s key is to pick a gentle but effective formula that soothes a dry, itchy scalp while thoroughly cleaning away any dirt, impurities, and build-up.

Dr Rinky Kapoor, dermatologist and dermato-surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics, believes that clarifying shampoos are the best way to get rid of a build-up of silicone, wax, moisturisers, hard water and excessive chlorine exposure. “But it is important to use them correctly so that they clean without drying and damaging your scalp and strands,” she says.

She advises using a clarifying shampoo once a week if you use tons of styling products, once a fortnight for oily hair, and once a month for those with normal hair who don’t style their hair with heat or products daily. If you’ve coloured your hair, wait for some weeks before using one.

A clarifying shampoo can also become your saviour during the muggy monsoon season when humidity swells up your strands and oiliness becomes second nature for your roots.

It’s not just how often you use it, though, but how you use it. “Wash your hair twice with a clarifying shampoo. First, gently massage your scalp and wash it off. Don’t worry if it does not lather. For the second wash, gently work up a lather, and let it sit for a minute before rinsing. Always finish with a moisturising conditioner to prevent your hair from drying out,” she says. Look for ingredients like charcoal, ginseng, sage, eucalyptus, salicylic acid and rosemary.

To make it easy, our pick of clarifying shampoos literally do the heavy lifting for you and leave your hair bouncy, airy and fresh.

Kérastase Symbiose Bain Pureté Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, ₹2,950

Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo, ₹1,200

Anomaly Clarifying Shampoo, ₹820

Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure Clean Balance Deep Cleansing Shampoo With Tocopherol, ₹1,975

Olaplex No. 4C Blond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo, ₹3,200

L’Oreal Professionnel Scalp Advanced Anti-Dandruff Dermo-Clarifier Shampoo, ₹990

Also read:

Humidity-proof hair is a myth—here’s what to do instead

5 dry shampoos that work, plus the hacks that make them better

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