What does clarifying shampoo do to colored hair? Get the lowdown.

What does clarifying shampoo do to colored hair? We’re here with everything you need to know.

A lot of hair dye fans wonder if this powerful product is safe for their color-treated locks.

Well, it depends on what type of product you use and how often you use it! They can contain harmful chemicals that your color just won’t like.

But there are formulas that contain gentle cleansers like coconut oil, argan oil and aloe vera that won’t strip away too much moisture from your tresses while still removing any residue left behind by styling products.

We’re here to answer some of the most common questions we’re asked about clarifying shampoos- from what they are to why you need them and how to use them – plus more top tips!

Let’s go!

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What is clarifying shampoo?

This is a strong, ph-balanced shampoo that gives your hair a deep cleanse and removes residue like sweat and product buildup from your strands.

Most contain active ingredients that deep clean hair by removing excess oil and dirt build-up from the scalp, hair follicles and hair shaft.

They also act as a deep cleanser, which is exactly what you need to remove sweat residues after working out at the gym or walking around in hot weather.

Other types of common hair residue include:

• Mineral deposits from hard water
• Environmental pollutants like dirt and debris brought in from outdoors or picked up at the gym through physical activity or perspiration.
• Hair care product residue including silicone, which coats the hair shaft to make it look shiny and smooth.
• Buildup from conditioner that has been left on for too long or layered with other products, like hairspray.

They can be used on all types of hair, but they’re especially helpful for people with colored or treated hair because they strip away residue that can cause fading.

This is great news if you want to keep your color bright and vibrant between salon visits, but it also means that clarifying shampoos should only be used occasionally—otherwise, you could end up stripping the color right out of your hair!

If you do not have buildup in your hair that requires removal, you may want to use a moisturizing shampoo or shampoo bar instead.

Which are the best clarifying shampoos for colored hair?

Sulfates are the enemy of colored hair. These are the little nasties that will fade and strip your color.

Fortunately, there plenty of high-end and supermarket products that can cleanse your hair without ruining your color. You can also find ones free of phosphates and parabens.

Here are a few of our top recommends that are color-safe, cruelty-free and gentle.

Best clarifying shampoo for colored hair at a glance.

Shampoo	Looks like	Buy it now
Redken Detox Hair Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo | For All Hair Types		Check it out on Amazon
Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo		Check it out on Amazon
Rooted Rituals Clarifying Shampoo with Ginger Root and Charcoal		Check it out on Amazon
Love Beauty And Planet Delightful Detox Daily Clarifying Sulfate-Free Shampoo		Check it out on Amazon
Nexxus Clean and Pure Clarifying Shampoo		Check it out on Amazon
Neutrogena Anti-Residue Clarifying Shampoo		Check it out on Amazon

Why do I need clarifying shampoo?

You need these shampoos because they remove leftover product build-up and impurities from your strands after you’ve washed them, which can cause dullness if not removed.

If your hair feels particularly sticky after you wash it, if there seems to be a lot of product in your hair after you’ve washed it or if you need to remove excess oil from your locks, then clarifying shampoo may come in handy.

What does clarifying shampoo do to colored hair?

While clarifying shampoos are meant for oily hair and scalp, they can be used on color-treated hair types to keep the colour fresh and vibrant.

The trick is to use sulfate-free shampoos that will be kinder to your color and won’t strip your dye-job.

And don’t use it too soon after you’ve dyed your hair or it can flush out unsettled dye pigments.

It’s best to wait around one-two weeks before introducing it into your hair care routine.

We recommend using clarifying shampoo on colored hair no more than once every two weeks for the best results.

It’s also great for giving hair a good clean before any dyeing treatments – it will remove any barriers coating your hair shafts so that the hair dye or treatment can really sink in.

How to use clarifying shampoo.

The first step in using clarifying shampoo is to make sure that you have the right product for your hair type.

Those with colored, dry or damaged locks should look for something milder that still removes buildup without stripping away too much moisture.

Once you have found the perfect product, use it as you would any other shampoo.

Start by wetting your hair with warm water before massaging in a generous amount of clarifying shampoo to your wet hair, all over your scalp and down the length of your strands.

Rinse it off with cool water (this will help seal in moisture). Finish up with an ultra-hydrating conditioner for best results!

Does clarifying shampoo lighten colored hair?

No! Don’t worry, it doesn’t contain any chemicals that will lighten your hair.

It’s really just a very strong type of cleanser that removes residue, grease, product buildup and grime.

If you use clarifying shampoo regularly, your hair will have less buildup which means it will become healthier over time with improved color vibrancy and shine.

This can make your hair appear brighter which will have the same effect.

Does clarifying shampoo remove hair dye?

No, you can’t use this to strip hair color!

It’s not formulated for this purpose so you will need a specific treatment designed to remove dyed pigments like bleaching or even hair colour remover.

Does clarifying shampoo darken highlights?

Not really – it’s not formulated to darken your hair. In fact it will do the opposite!

Used clarifying shampoo regularly and your hair may end up with less buildup which means that the color of your highlights will be more visible and brighter over time.

Will clarifying shampoo make my hair brassy?

Clarifying shampoos can make your hair appear brassy because it strips all of the color and leaves nothing but light shades, which often look yellowish.

If you want to get rid of any brassy tones in your colored locks then we recommend using a purple shampoo once a week (not daily) and leave it on for three minutes before rinsing off completely.

Brassy blonde’s should use brightening purple whereas brassier browns should try ash toned silver/purple formulas.

The violet pigment in the formula is what neutralizes the yellow undertones so be careful with how long you leave these shampoos on as they may turn your hair lavender if left too long!

Will it make my hair frizzy?

Some people find their hair does become dry and frizzy after using clarifying shampoos.

This is because it strips the natural oils moisture from your locks.

You can counter this by using a hydrating deep conditioner afterwards to re-moisturize your hair and replenish its health.

Another trick is to use a leave-in conditioner or hair masks like Moroccan oil which coats the hair shaft with emollients and seals in moisture.  

Should I use a clarifying shampoo before coloring?

Yes! We recommend using a clarifying shampoo at least 24 hours before any type of coloring treatment.

This will give your scalp and hair a deep clean so that there is no excess dirt, grease or product leftover in your locks ready for the dye to absorb.

It also makes the color more pure, bright and rich because there isn’t anything else coating your strands.

One thing to avoid is over-washing before coloring as this can lead to dehydration which affects how well the dye absorbs into your cuticles.

If you have oily roots then it’s not a problem but if you have dry hair then try avoiding washing every day until after you’ve colored as overdoing it will strip away moisture from the shafts and make them appear dull and lackluster.

Will clarifying shampoo remove green tint?

Clarifying shampoos are also great for removing mineral deposits like chlorine from swimming pools (and even sea water) which can turn blonde hair green!

This is because all of the minerals in these types of water get trapped on porous blonde cuticles, so they need to be removed or stripped off with a good clarifying shampoo.

If the green is stubborn, you can try other ways to remove green from your hair, including dyeing it over again with the right colour to correct it.

Parting words

So, to summarize, clarifying shampoo helps remove product build-up and chlorine from dyed hair to leave it clean, but may dry out the scalp and strands.

It’s important for color treated hair, especially before coloring treatments, to use a mild cleansing shampoo and deep conditioner weekly. These will help keep color bright and vibrant.

We hope this clarifying shampoo guide has been helpful!

Thanks for reading!