Anybody else get super overwhelmed when you walk the shampoo aisle" There are so many choices, and a lot of the time, it’s hard to tell what all of the shampoos even do. Like, what is clarifying shampoo" Do we really need it" Are we truly dirty enough to necessitate thorough clarification, something that goes beyond your average wash-and-go session" As far as our hair is concerned, it’s looking like a yes.
Clarifying shampoo is, for all intents and purposes, like your regular shampoo but way more intense. Ian Michael Black, Aveda‘s global artistic director for hair color, explains that clarifying is just a marketing-approved way to say “deep-cleansing.” All shampoos will cleanse your hair of the usual oil and residue, but a targeted clarifying formula will cut through more stubborn gunk, like the kind you get when you use styling products all the time?as in, if you’re the breed of irregular hair-washer who has been known to go five days on the wings of dry shampoo alone. MORE: The 15 Best Products for Maintaining Your Hair Color
But just because you don’t load up on styling products doesn’t mean you’re immune to dulling buildup and the occasional need for a total reboot. Even your standard shampoo and conditioner can build up their own residue over time, which is why Black recommends a regular clarifying treatment for all hair types. If you’re a product fiend, use a ton of dry shampoo, or spend...