We tested color protecting shampoo and conditioners using wet comb testing, fade resistance testing and consumer testing with 22 panelists, and 14 volumizing shampoo and conditioners with consumer testers. Additionally, these products were blinded and sent to consumers who used the product for three consecutive washes before completing a standardized questionnaire rating ease of use, performance and overall satisfaction on a 5-point scale. In the Lab, the products were evaluated for their comb-ability properties in hair’s most vulnerable state - when it's wet - using an Instron instrument to measure how well products lubricate hair when it's wet and prevents future damage. For moisturizing shampoo and conditioners, 12 shampoo and conditioner sets were evaluated using both laboratory and consumer testing protocols. The Good Housekeeping Institute has tested a variety of hair cleansing products including moisturizing, color protecting and volumizing shampoos and conditioners. The list below includes our picks for clarifying shampoos that we use in the Lab to thoroughly clean hair swatches before testing, those that are highly rated and reviewed, or our editor and scientist favorites. For each shampoo, our chemists methodically test and quantify the efficacy of each formula (with the matching conditioner) on real human hair swatches and send products out for real consumer feedback. Over the years, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have evaluated hundreds of shampoos for different hair types and concerns including shampoo for dry hair, oily hair and color-treated hair, brass-fighting purple shampoos for blonde hair, thickening shampoos and more. 'If used too often, you could end up with super dry hair,' explains Bullock. Clarifying shampoos are meant to be used sporadically and only when needed. It's important to choose the right one for your hair type, texture and overall hair condition, especially if your hair is processed or color-treated. While the function of clarifying shampoo is consistent across different brands and formulas, they are not all created equal.

'They provide a deeper cleanse, thanks to a higher percentage of strong cleansing agents, also known as surfactants.' If you use leave-in styling products, have oily hair, wash your hair in hard water or live in an area with high air pollution, all of these factors can leave deposits on your hair that regular shampoo may not completely remove.īut how exactly do they work? 'The surfactants produce micelles that surround oily substances like sebum, and pull it off the hair follicle or scalp, making it easier to be rinsed out in water,' explains Danusia Wnek, a chemist at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab.

Clarifying shampoos, often called purifying or deep cleaning, 'are formulated to remove excess buildup, residue, dirt, oils and product on your hair and scalp,' says Antoinette Bullock, DIY natural hair expert for Sally Beauty. If your freshly washed hair still looks dull and limp, a clarifying shampoo may be in order. We updated this article in December 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on expert advice and top reviews, and added five new products, recommended by expert.

Clarify hair shampoo