9 Best Clarifying Shampoos For Dandruff – 2023 Update

Gently formulated products keep dandruff away from your delicate tresses and scalp.

By Shiboli ChakrabortiShiboli Chakraborti, Certified Skin Care Coach  • 
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Dandruff is a common problem that is aggravated in winter. But, you can overcome the problem with the best clarifying shampoos for dandruff. Pollution, styling products, and skin type can all cause dandruff. You must consult a doctor if your condition is severe, otherwise, clarifying shampoos can do the work quite easily.

A good quality clarifying shampoo cleanses your scalp and clears out all residues and accumulation of all kinds. A clean scalp plays the main role in healthy hair. Here, we have listed some of the best clarifying shampoos available on the market right now. Keep scrolling to find out more!

Top Picks
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Best pH-balanced: Tru Moroccan Clarifying Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best For Dry Hair: OLAPLEX No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Hydrating: Maple Holistics Hydrate Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Nourishing: Botanic Hearth Tea Tree Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best For Frizzy Hair: Aquableu Apple Cider Vinegar Deep Cleansing Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Anti-Bacterial: Kitsch Clarifying Shampoo Bar
Price on Amazon
Best Sulfate-Free: Laurel Essential Organic African Black Soap Hair Cleanser
Price on Amazon
Best Color-Safe: OUAI Detox Clarifying Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best For All Hair Types: Botanic Hearth Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
Price on Amazon

9 Best Clarifying Shampoos For Dandruff In 2023

1. Best pH-balanced: Tru Moroccan Clarifying Shampoo

3.6
Tru Moroccan Clarifying Shampoo Image: Tru Moroccan

The Tru Moroccan Clarifying shampoo is loaded with a blend of essential oils and herbs that cleanse and exfoliate your scalp and hair follicles. It is infused with rosemary extract that stimulates blood circulation while promoting hair growth. Tea tree unclogs the hair follicles and eliminates excess oil and product build-up while nourishing your hair from the roots. It also treats dandruff. Jojoba extracts minimize hair fall and volumize and strengthen your strands. Further, apricot kernel & horsetail extract adds strength, make your hair softer, and restores its pH balance. Witch hazel eliminates itch and stabilizes an oily scalp without stripping its moisture. The shampoo keeps the hair perfectly hydrated and moisturized for long hours, preventing them from turning brittle. It is holistic formula for soft, smooth, detangled, and dandruff-free hair.

Key Ingredients: Rosemary, Tea tree oil, Jojoba oil, Apricot kernel, Horsetail extract, and Witch hazel

Pros

  • pH-balanced
  • Vegan
  • Organic ingredients
  • Ideal for colored hair
  • Refreshing fragrance
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Runny consistency
  • Less lather
Quick Tip
Clarifying shampoos are also called deep-cleansing or degreasing shampoos. They have heavy surfactants for active ingredients. These are strong soapy compounds that can pull out stubborn residue from the scalp.
Price at the time of publication: $20.0

2. Best For Dry Hair: OLAPLEX No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo

4.6
OLAPLEX No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo Image: Olaplex

The OLAPLEX No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo is a unique clarifying shampoo that removes the buildup of hazardous pollutants and hair products. It assists in restoring the volume, smoothness, sheen, and the color vibrancy of your hair. This formula uses a cutting-edge broad-spectrum clarifying process, called the Bond Building Technique, that does not peel the hair or dry it out to remove a wide variety of impurities. This shampoo even maintains the ph balance and moisture of the hair.

Key Ingredients: Bis-Aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate and Citric acid

Pros

  • Sulfate-free
  • Lightweight
  • Gentle cleanser
  • Silicone-free
  • Suitable for all hair types

Cons

None

Price at the time of publication: $60

3. Best Hydrating: Maple Holistics Hydrate Shampoo

4.1
Ultra Hydrating Shampoo for Dry Hair Image: Maple Holistics

The Maple Holistics Hydrate Shampoo has an ultra-hydrating formula that drains out flakes and nourishes your hair deeply from root to tip. The moisturizing shampoo is made with almonds which promote hair growth and offer sufficient nutrients to hair follicles that strengthen the hair strands and prevent hair fall. The nourishing haircare is also enriched with jojoba, carrot, and lavender oils, which treat dandruff, volumize your hair, and make them look lustrous. This hair shampoo can be used by both men and women for healthy and conditioned hair.

Key Ingredients: Almond oil, Lavender oil, and Jojoba oil

Pros

  • Natural ingredients
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Paraben-free
  • GMO-free
  • BPA-free
  • Synthetic fragrance-free
  • Synthetic color-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Thick consistency
Caution
If you have color-treated hair, avoid using clarifying shampoos unless they are labeled color-safe. The general composition of these shampoos is otherwise too strong and can damage your hair easily.
Price at the time of publication: $11.95

4. Best Nourishing: Botanic Hearth Tea Tree Shampoo

4.1
Botanic Hearth Tea Tree Shampoo Image: Botanic Hearth

The Botanic Hearth Tea Tree Shampoo is made with 100% pure tea tree oil, which clarifies the scalp and nourishes your hair. It has an invigorating scent that calms your mind. The color-protecting shampoo suits every hair and is an excellent choice for everyday use. It is formulated with peppermint, lavender, and rosemary oil that fights dandruff & dry scalp while retaining the lost moisture. The vitamin C in the formula reduces hair loss and promotes the growth of healthy hair. This non-drying hair shampoo keeps your hair strands hydrated until the next wash.

Key Ingredients: Tea tree, Vitamin C, Peppermint, Lavender, and Rosemary oil

Pros

  • 100% pure and natural
  • Color-safe
  • Hydrating
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

None

Price at the time of publication: $15.29

5. Best For Frizzy Hair: Aquableu Apple Cider Vinegar Deep Cleansing Shampoo

3.7
Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo Image: Aquableu

The Aquableu Apple Cider Vinegar Deep Cleansing Shampoo is a holy grail of essential oils rich in vitamins and minerals. The apple cider vinegar infused in the formula provides relief from several scalp conditions, including flaking, dandruff, and psoriasis. It also maintains the pH balance of the scalp. The shampoo is crafted with botanical ingredients like papaya and green coconut, which treat dry and flaky scalp. The essential oils like argan, almond, coconut, and avocado repair damaged hair follicles and fortify the scalp. Each of these components has been incorporated to clean and disinfect your scalp perfectly. The vitamin B, E, and green papaya in the formula are enriched with necessary keratin that hydrates, softens, and reinforces the hair strands. It is ideal for damaged, dandruff, color-treated, & chemically-treated frizzy hair.

Key Ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, Jojoba oil, Coconut oil, Avocado oil, and Almond oil

Pros

  • Natural ingredients
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Expensive
Pro Tip
Clarifying shampoos can dry out the hair. So, pair this ACV shampoo with Aqualeu’s Virgin Coconut + Avocado conditioner to achieve moisturized tresses.
Price at the time of publication: $14.99

6. Best Anti-Bacterial: Kitsch Clarifying Shampoo Bar

The 2-in-1 formulation of this shampoo bar is innovatively crafted for cleansing and shaving your scalp. It removes chemical accumulation, excess oil, and deeply cleanses without stripping off hair’s natural moisture. It is loaded with tea tree and mint essential oil, which are rich in antioxidants, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. They are effective in eliminating dandruff and itch. The bar lasts up to 100 washes. It is made without a cold-pressed and saponification process.

Key Ingredients: Tea tree and Mint essential oil

Pros

  • Mild fragrance
  • Zero wastage
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Artificial fragrance-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Overpowering fragrance
Price at the time of publication: $22.98

7. Best Sulfate-Free: Laurel Essential Organic African Black Soap Hair Cleanser

The gentle formula of the Laurel Essential Organic African Black Soap Hair Cleanser is a medical solution that washes and moisturizes your natural tresses. It is infused with essential oils which stimulate hair growth and reduces hair breakage. Its active ingredient is rich in antifungal and antibacterial properties, which cleanses the chemical buildup and excess oil. Other essential oils like jojoba, haitian black castor oil, and glycerine retain the lost moisture and seal in the nutrients to give smoothened and soft hair after each wash. In addition, the shampoo eliminates dandruff and soothes dry, itchy, and flaky scalp.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, Haitian black castor oil, Glycerin, and African black soap

Pros

  • Natural ingredients
  • Vegan
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Salt-free
  • Petrochemical-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Makes your hair greasy
Price at the time of publication: $17.99

8. Best Color-Safe: OUAI Detox Clarifying Shampoo

4.5

The OUAI Detox Clarifying Shampoo is very effective in thoroughly cleaning the scalp as well as the hair without stripping the hair of its color. In fact, it leaves the hair and color appearing more vibrant while also helping to reinforce the cuticle of the hair. The product makes use of chelating agents, which contribute to the elimination of hard water deposits and other pollutants. The apple cider vinegar works to exfoliate the scalp, removing flakes, debris, and buildup so that the hair may remain healthy and lustrous. The incorporated hydrolyzed keratin imparts shine to the hair while also helping to smooth frizz and soften the hair’s texture.

Key Ingredients: Apple cider vinegar and Hydrolyzed keratin

Pros

  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Artificial fragrance-free
  • Color-safe

Cons

None

Price at the time of publication: $60

9. Best For All Hair Types: Botanic Hearth Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

The Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo from Botanic Hearth nourishes your hair with its great damage repair properties. It is enriched with the refreshing and nourishing properties of coconut oil & argan oil, which hydrates each hair cuticle, volumizes them, and adds elasticity to the strands. The apple cider vinegar is rich in vitamins and minerals that detoxify the scalp and eliminate dandruff and buildups. In addition, it improves hair strength and adds essential nutrients to ensure that your hair feels soft, silky, and healthy.

Key Ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, Coconut oil, and Argan oil

Pros

  • Pleasant smell
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Suitable for all hair types
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

None

Price at the time of publication: $15.94

The secret behind dandruff-free, soft, and healthy hair is a nourished scalp. That’s why it is always a wise choice to include a clarifying shampoo in your hair care regimen. Use one of the shampoos from our list once a week and see the difference for yourself!

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a hair care enthusiast who loves to review hair care products. She carefully listed the best clarifying shampoos for dandruff based on user reviews and feedback available on multiple forums and brand websites. These products help cleanse your scalp and clear residues, dirt, excess oil, and impurities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do after using a clarifying shampoo?

Apply your regular conditioner to the lower locks after using a clarifying shampoo, and after a few minutes wash your hair.

What ingredients make a good clarifying shampoo?

Clarifying shampoos are made of strong cleansing agents and sulfates, apple vinegar cider, aloe vera, essential oils, and sea salt.

Is clarifying shampoo good for itchy scalp?

Yes, a clarifying shampoo soothes dry, itchy scalp, removing oil and dandruff from your scalp.

How long does it take for shampoo to work?

It can take five washes for clarifying shampoo to work.

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