Get Pure Clarifying Treatment? The 86 New Answer

Dying your hair at home can give you a fun new look for less than the cost of a salon visit, although there are many ways a do-it-yourself hair coloring treatment can go wrong.

Even a simple application of toner can produce undesirable results if you’re not careful. Sometimes you add toner to cover up orange stains from the bleach or to dye your hair a different shade.

However, the toner application does not always go as planned. Hair toners can dye patches of your hair in outrageous colors like shades of purple, yellow, or orange, giving your hair a patchwork look.

If you’ve tried applying toner at home and the results aren’t what you expected, all is not lost. There are a few ways you can remove the toner and speed up the process of turning your hair back to normal.

In this article, we discuss how to wash out toner using recommended hair products or common household items.

How to wash toner from hair

If you’re unhappy with the results of your hair coloring treatment, there are ways to get rid of the toner right away without having to wait.

If you want to remove toner from your hair immediately, you must also wash your hair immediately. For best results, try one of these solutions within 24 hours.

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Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo

The best way to quickly wash toner out of your hair is to use a clarifying shampoo. Clarifying shampoos are powerful cleansers that people typically use to wash out product build-up, dirt, and other substances that get into your hair.

These shampoos can also remove toner. You can find them at most stores that sell hair products.

Clarifying shampoos work because they contain surfactants, which are active ingredients that strip hair of all impurities, including artificial color. Although it can damage your hair, it doesn’t cause as much damage as peroxide or bleach. Just make sure you use a conditioning treatment afterwards.

You use a clarifying shampoo just like you would any other shampoo. Then leave the shampoo in your hair according to the directions on the bottle and wash out like regular shampoo.

If the first round of clarifying shampoo doesn’t work, you can try washing a few more times to get the last of the toner out.

While it’s not usually recommended to use it more than a few times a week, using it a few times in the same day to remove the toner won’t seriously damage your hair.

After using a clarifying shampoo, be sure to rehydrate your hair with a deep conditioner or hair mask as it will strip away some of its nutrients.

Use dandruff shampoo to remove toner from hair

Dandruff shampoo is another way to wash out toner. Like clarifying shampoo, it contains sulfates, chemicals that strip the hair of all impurities.

Dandruff shampoo tends to be gentler than clarifying shampoo, so you can use it more often and not damage your hair as much.

However, this also means that it takes more washes to get the toner out of your hair than if you were to use a clarifying shampoo.

Some barbers recommend making your own toner wash-out mix based on dandruff shampoo, but more on that later.

You can find dandruff shampoo at most drug stores, beauty stores, and even supermarkets.

If you don’t want to completely remove the toner but want to reduce the appearance of orange and yellow tones, try a purple shampoo. Using purple shampoo often works well for those with blonde hair.

Use home remedies to reduce overly toned strands of hair

If you can’t walk to the store (or you’re embarrassed to show your hair color condition in public), you can conjure up a solution to remove your hair tonic from common household items.

Lemon Juice and Dishwashing Liquid

You can use lemon juice and Dawn dish soap to make a mixture that will remove toner from your hair by chelating your hair. Chelation is a process that rids hair of dirt and debris. It can also remove unwanted hair color and undertones.

You can buy a chelating shampoo at the store, but you can also replicate the process at home. Wash your hair first with mild dish soap instead of shampoo. Then, rinse out the dish soap and squeeze a lemon onto your hair.

Leave the lemon juice on your hair for a few minutes and then rinse it out. This should clear the toner build up.

Be sure to moisturize your hair with a conditioner and hair mask after this process, as chelation strips the hair of desired nutrients in addition to unwanted impurities. In fact, many women are now using dish soap for hair growth, so there may be other benefits to using this treatment as well.

lemon juice and conditioner

Lemon juice can be very helpful in removing toner from your hair. You can use the chelating method outlined above or mix it with a grooming product.

For best results, use a 3:1 ratio of lemon juice and conditioner. The amount varies depending on the hair length.

Then apply the mixture to your hair. Be sure to coat your hair thoroughly, paying special attention to the parts stained by toner.

Finally, leave it on for at least three hours or overnight and tie your hair back with a shower cap to allow the lemon juice to soak into your hair strands.

You can also mix lemon juice and water in a 2:1 ratio in a spray bottle and treat specific areas of your hair. This process uses a “bleaching” effect, so the final color can be somewhat unpredictable.

Some women suggest it’s similar to spinning the color wheel, so we recommend using shampoo (or the first two methods) whenever possible.

Even if you’re worried about messing up your hair, the good news is that your hair colorist can fix your hair the next time you visit the hair salon.

These hair care issues are common at salon appointments, so your hairstylist (or colorist) should be able to offer advice, answer common questions, and ensure you don’t damage your hair while removing the toner.

baking soda

Baking soda is a versatile household ingredient used in baking, cleaning your home, and even cleaning your hair. Add a little baking soda, about 10ml, to your regular shampoo and use it to wash your hair with lukewarm water.

You can repeat this process a few times if the toner doesn’t go away, but it should be very effective.

hydrogen peroxide

Disclaimer: We don’t recommend using this approach as the other options are much better solutions. This is a popular choice, however, and we’ll address it below.

Finally, if you have a serious problem with toner discoloring your hair, it’s time to find serious solutions. A mixture of hydrogen peroxide and dandruff shampoo is very effective at removing toner from your hair.

First mix together 100ml hydrogen peroxide and dandruff shampoo. Then gently mist your hair with water – you don’t want to get your hair wet like you would with a regular shampoo as the drying process could damage your hair.

Apply the mixture to the discolored parts of your hair and leave it on for about five minutes before rinsing it out.

Hydrogen peroxide is a very powerful ingredient. So if you decide to use this method, be sure to take precautions to protect yourself.

Use disposable gloves when mixing and applying the solution to avoid skin burns. Check every minute to see if the toner is gone, because you don’t want to leave this mixture on your head for too long.

After applying hydrogen peroxide, you need to carefully care for and moisturize your hair. This prevents further damage.

The best way to remove toner from hair

The best way to remove unwanted color tones from your hair is to use a clarifying shampoo, anti-dandruff shampoo, Dawn conditioner, or visit your colorist.

When removing toner yourself at home, start with some sort of shampoo, and after the toner is removed, follow with a deep conditioning treatment. This is the basic approach we recommend regardless of hair type or hair colour.

It’s important to remember that toner is a type of hair dye used to refresh the color between salon visits or to add a subtle change to your look. Examples are ash toner, violet toner, blue toner and more.

While toner can’t completely change your hair color, it can change it subtly. For example, add a purple hue, ashy tones, or yellow undertones.

They come in many different forms, from toning glosses that last several weeks to less toning shampoos.

Toner is not as strong as bleach or regular hair dye as you would get in a box. Most toning products last a few weeks at most and wash out naturally.

While this is bad news if you were hoping to permanently change your appearance, toner’s temporary nature is a relief if you’ve just made a mistake using it.

Because toner is weaker than bleach or box dye, it’s a much more forgiving product. However, it’s still possible to end up with a hair nightmare on your hands if you choose the wrong toner. Some toner might even turn your hair green!

Timing is an important factor

The best and worst thing about toner is that unlike permanent and semi-permanent dyes, it is temporary (aka demi-permanent dye).

That’s annoying if you’re hoping to refresh your hair with lasting results, but a blessing if you’re unhappy with the results of your toning experiment.

Some toner products wash out after just a few washes. If you’re a little unhappy with the way your hair looks but can afford to wait a few days, you can speed up the process by washing your hair more often than usual.

Washing your hair every day can be bad for your hair, but doing so will wash out toner faster.

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Get rid of toner

If you made a toner mistake while coloring your hair at home, all is not lost. Toner is a temporary coloring product and is easily removed compared to bleach or box dye.

There are several ways to wash toner out of your hair if you don’t want to wait for it to come out naturally.

You can use store-bought products like clarifying shampoos and dandruff shampoos that clean your hair. Or you can make your own treatment using your regular hair products and ingredients you may have at home, like lemon juice and baking soda.

No matter how you wash the toner out of your hair, make sure you condition your hair afterwards. All of these treatments strip your hair of color, but also of important nutrients and moisture. Rehydrate your hair with a deep conditioner or hair mask.

Let’s face it: it’s no secret that curly-haired girls are obsessed with all the styling products. And co-washing. And deep conditioning.

Which basically means all of our favorite creams and gels accumulate over time and sit on our tresses, often leaving them dull and lifeless.

Use a clarifying cleanser to bring back your curls

If your hair lacks shine, bounce, and definition, you probably need to clarify it. And using a clarifying cleanser every now and then will rid your scalp of excess oil, hard water and environmental toxins.

But how do you know when to clear it up? How often should you do it? What should you use?

Don’t worry curly friends because today we are giving you the lowdown on how to clarify your hair.

How do I know when to clarify?

Do you feel your hair is flat and lackluster? Is there build-up of product on your tresses right after you get out of the shower? Are you dealing with scalp problems like dandruff or dandruff?

If so, you probably need to clarify as soon as possible.

How often should I clarify?

This is where it gets tricky: There is no right or wrong answer to this.

If you use products with silicones, you might want to clarify this more often. Or if you live in a hard water area, clarifying detergents should be your best friend.

All in all, instead of your regular cleansing routine, you should really get your curls sorted out at least once a month but no more than once a week. Over-cleansing your hair can cause dryness, so definitely only do it once a week.

What should I use for clarification and how do I do it?

We may be biased, but our favorite clarifying product is Buildup Buster.

Buildup Buster is formulated with micellar water (yes, that stuff you love to cleanse your face with) to attract dirt, oil and product build-up on the hair and scalp to reveal fresh, shiny locks.

But don’t worry, Buildup Buster won’t strip your curls and it’s even packed with moisturizing ingredients like jojoba.

Don’t you believe us? Check out these great before and after pics of some of our favorite curly chicks using Buildup Buster.

Clarifying is actually super easy and takes as long as normal hair washing.

Swap out your clarifier for your regular cleanser and massage the product into your scalp, working from your mid-lengths to ends. Make sure you rinse thoroughly to remove debris and detergent. If you have low water pressure, turn your head to help disperse the water. Finally, use your favorite conditioner or treatment to lock in moisture.

how often do you clear your hair Have you tried Buildup Buster yet? Let us know below!

Beautiful hair is a never-ending quest. We’ve scoured the list of the best salon hair treatments that can restore body, shine, and instantly improve the health of your locks. Here is our list of the best salon hair treatment services that repair damaged hair.

Keratin Treatment

Do you want to fight and win the fight of frizzy hair? Keratin Complex has been a popular hair straightening service for over a decade and can provide smooth results for many weeks. Also known as the popular Brazilian blowout, relaxation and keratin treatments can transform hair from curly to straight. The problem is they only last until your hair grows back, and then it’s back to the salon for another use.

Keratin treatments are ideal if you have curly or frizzy hair that just won’t stop and you want smooth results without the hassle of flat irons and styling products at home.

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There are two ways a keratin treatment can be applied to hair, so it’s important to know the difference between the two. A basic keratin smoothing treatment like Goldwell’s Kerasilk penetrates your hair’s cortex and promises shine and silky curls for up to six months.

The popular Brazilian Blowout releases a formaldehyde-derived solution that coats the hair shaft, keeping curls at bay for up to three months after rinsing, blow drying and straightening. You’ll wake up with straight hair that IS.

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scalp treatment

If a dry and itchy scalp is one of your hair concerns, a salon scalp treatment can be a useful service that not only feels wonderful, but can also significantly correct the scalp’s oil production and improve hair growth.

Whether your fine hair is burdened by an oily scalp or prone to flaky patches, a healthy scalp is essential if you want healthy hair. A scalp facial is a growing Japanese trend that is gaining popularity due to the results of an improved scalp. Brands like Aveda and Phyto offer complex cocktails that exfoliate the scalp and remove buildup.

It is ideal for everyone. Scalp scrubs and serums are the new skincare for hair.

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Treatment with hot oil

Hot oil treatments add instant shine and seal the cuticle, resulting in silky hair that feels nourished and smooth. Typically left on for around 12-20 minutes and then rinsed out, this professional salon hair treatment can do wonders for dry and damaged hair in an instant.

It is best for dry and colored hair types that benefit from hot oil treatments. How long you leave it on, how often and how much you apply depends on the health of the hair.

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moisture treatment

Revitalize dry and parched hair with a moisturizing protein treatment. The creme de la creme deep conditioning treatment, a premium moisturizing treatment, can address common hair problems like lack of shine and split ends. Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3 is a popular repairing treatment that is massaged into the hair during a luxurious and relaxing service that can be added to the cost of your weekly blowout.

It works best for parched, over-processed, heat-damaged, and distressed hair that needs a little (or a lot) of love. Add a moisturizing treatment to your next coloring service and your hair will thank you.

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detox treatment

Detox hair treatments remove build-up on the hair shaft caused by overuse of product or chemicals like chlorine. By clarifying the hair shaft, a detox improves hair and scalp health and can stimulate hair growth.

Construction is a dirty word and we all have it. Detox treatments clean your locks and add volume while removing the impurities that are dulling them. If you use a lot of styling products or tend to skip shampoo several times a week, a detox might be for you.

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Relax treatment

If your curls have taken over, a relaxation treatment can regain strength. Relaxing treatments effectively fight frizz and leave hair supple for months. Results can be adjusted to reduce frizz, remove frizz, and control movement. Cezanne Perfect Finish Keratin Smoothing Treatment is a popular semi-permanent smoothing treatment that’s formaldehyde-free and works.

Relaxing treatments are used on textured hair, whether it’s wavy or curly. You can have the beachy waves of your dreams and get rid of the dry, frizzy side effect of your locks. Although this treatment can last for months, reapplication must be done carefully. If a relaxing treatment is performed too often, the result can be dry, limp and lifeless hair. Choose your fight and act wisely.

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Toning treatment

Toning treatments are used to correct hair color. Perhaps your blonde turned a little too golden after the foils were removed or your red faded as all reds do, a toning treatment can be applied after the initial color service to perfect your hair color or in between a full color service such as maintenance. Typically applied in the shampoo bowl, a toning treatment is left on the hair for between 15 and 20 minutes and then rinsed out to perfection.

Toning treatments can prolong your hair color, prevent fading and correct a variety of coloring sins. Professional application is important as lightened hair takes on the color immediately. Avoid a hair color mishap and get toned at the salon instead of experimenting with color boxes at home.

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hair shine treatment

Want instant hair shine that lasts for weeks? A hair shine treatment smoothes the shaft and adds reflective shine. This popular hair care service is applied in the shampoo bowl and can be used after a color treatment or on virgin hair to boost radiance.

Shine treatments are a fun little hair enhancement service that can be done on a whim. Consider a shine treatment as a top coat for your hair and opt for one after every hair coloring service.

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Love your hair from roots to tips!

The next time you’re battling hair breakage or desperately staring at split ends, rest assured that a haircut isn’t the only cure for damaged hair. Make every day a beautiful hair day with a professional salon treatment.

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You know that feeling when you walk out of the salon after your haircut and style and just can’t stop touching your hair. It’s soft, shiny, and full of body, and as much as you know your stylist would hate your tugging on it, you just can’t resist. What kind of magic do they use to make your hair feel like this, and why do your efforts always fail when trying to recreate that feeling at home? How can clients of almost all hair types achieve this soft, salon-quality hair? The key to healthy, shiny hair is multi-step, and even if you’re not a pro, these expert tips can help you get closer to a perfect salon style at home every time.

Meet the Expert Holly Dear is a hair artist, creator and owner of House of Dear and House of Dear Salon in Dallas.

George Kyriakos is a recognized hairdresser with more than 20 years of experience. He is also the founder and creator of stylebookings.com.

Keep scrolling to learn how to get the soft and shiny strands of your dreams.

If your tresses are looking thin, dull, or dry, it could be due to build-up of product on your hair and scalp. Styling gel, mousse, hairspray, and even some shampoos and conditioners can leave residue on your hair that builds up over time. This residue can weigh down and dry out your hair, making your strands more prone to breakage and an overall thinning appearance. As well as reducing your natural shine, buildup can also damage your hair by clogging the follicles — which can stunt hair growth.

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Try these helpful tips to fight buildup and keep your hair looking healthy:

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1. Use a clarifying shampoo

Regular shampoos are formulated to remove dirt and excess oil from your hair, but clarifying or anti-residue shampoos are specifically formulated to remove build-up. Use these products once a month or, if you really love your styling products, once a week to get rid of residue.

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2. Try micellar water

Ask any French woman her beauty secret and she’ll probably say micellar water. This popular beauty product has long been a favorite of the French and is used as a means of deep cleansing, toning and conditioning the skin. Now micellar water can also be found in hair products. This multi-purpose product cleanses and moisturizes while removing dirt and oil through the use of micellar technology. Micelles are tiny clusters of molecules that attach to and break down dirt, much like your dish soap cuts through the grease on your pots and pans. Hair products with micellar water are free from harsh ingredients and contain nourishing oils, making them gentler than clarifying shampoos. To ensure you don’t over clean your hair, use only as needed or weekly at most.

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3. Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Conditioner

This household product is a natural way to remove styling product residue from your hair. Combine one part apple cider vinegar with one part water and use as a post-shampoo conditioner. Apply the mixture with a spray bottle or pour it directly onto your hair. Leave it on for a minute or two and then rinse thoroughly. Apple cider vinegar also helps detangle hair and close the hair cuticle (the outermost layer of the hair shaft), keeping it smooth and shiny. Use apple cider vinegar as a regular part of your natural hair regimen.

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4. Baking powder isn’t just good for baking

Baking soda is another versatile everyday item that naturally removes product build-up from your hair. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda into a normal amount of shampoo, then wash and rinse your hair normally. Alternatively, try rubbing baking soda directly onto your wet hair and scalp. Rinse thoroughly, then shampoo and condition as usual.

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WE ARE HAIR HEALTH EXPERTS

Would you like to know more about healthy hair from HairClub?

HairClub’s EXT Extreme Hair Therapy is more than big promises and a product or two. It is a comprehensive program that combines center visits with at-home products to maximize your results. Would you try to lose weight without dieting or exercising? HairClub is like a gym, personal trainer and nutritionist for your hair.

let’s talk

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Styling products are a great way to add volume and keep your style in place, especially if you have thinning hair. But overuse of these products can actually do more harm than good. If you have thinning hair, it’s especially important to follow these tips to remove product build-up from your hair.

Find out more about thinning hair and what you can do about it by scheduling a free, private consultation at a HairClub location near you.

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YOU MAY LIKE

Maxxam® Clarifying Shampoo

ADVANTAGES

Hard water and annoying deposits don’t stand a chance against the Maxxam Clarifying Shampoo. Thoroughly cleanse hair of excess oils and buildup without stripping your locks. Your hair and scalp will feel cleansed and revitalized.

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Apple cider vinegar isn’t always the first ingredient that comes to mind on the scalp. After all, it’s a kitchen cupboard staple! However, in recent years, this ingredient has gained popularity in the natural hair movement. People use pure apple cider vinegar to remove buildup from the scalp and make hair shinier, but is this practice really safe? It is not so easy!

How does apple cider vinegar work?

Apple cider vinegar is a fermented juice that many people have used for centuries for natural home remedies, including hair care. One of the main benefits of this acidic substance is that it can help remove scalp buildup while restoring your pH balance. Other benefits of apple cider vinegar include that it is rich in vitamins C and B. Whether you have curly hair, curly hair or wavy hair, you can benefit from using this ingredient in your hair care routine.

Let’s go back to basics. Your scalp has a natural pH (acid or alkaline) level of around 5. People with frizzy or dry hair may actually have a higher pH level. Acidic substances like apple cider vinegar help rebalance these levels.

How can I use it on my hair?

You should never apply apple cider vinegar directly to your hair. As mentioned above, it has a highly acidic pH which, undiluted, can cause irritation, itching or burning of the sensitive skin of the scalp. The best and safest way to use this ingredient is to dilute it with water to make a hair conditioner. After diluting it, you can use it in different phases of your routine. The different treatments include:

Use as a pre-poo – apply to your hair before cleansing, making sure to really saturate it. Use one cup of apple cider vinegar per quart of water for this method.

Works as a final rinse – Use as a final rinse after you’ve cleaned your hair. Leave on for a few minutes and then rinse. Use the same amounts as before.

Use as a leave-in treatment – you can use the rinse method by placing the formula in a spray bottle and applying it evenly all over your head. Leave it on overnight and clean your hair the next day. If you use this method, you should use a much lower ratio of apple cider vinegar to water, just one tablespoon per quart of water.

Whichever method of application you choose, be sure to use the recommended amounts and dilute well if you want to maintain a healthy scalp.

How often should I apply apple cider vinegar to my scalp?

Due to the high acidity of apple cider vinegar, it should be treated as a clarifying treatment. We recommend using it about once a week if you wash your hair daily, once every two weeks if you wash your hair 2-3 times a week, and once a month if you only wash your hair once a week. If you’re not sure how often you should wash your hair, let our guide walk you through the best practices.

Is apple cider vinegar suitable for every hair porosity?

Before tying any new method or routine to your hair care routine, it’s always important to consider your hair porosity. Porosity is the hair’s ability to store and absorb water. Depending on the porosity of your hair, you can get different benefits from this DIY hair treatment.

Low Porosity: People with low porosity hair often suffer from build-up of product on the scalp. Apple cider vinegar can help melt away buildup, so it’s a great treatment for clarifying this hair type. We recommend using it as a pre-poo in this case to really help your normal cleanse when it comes to cleaning the scalp.

Medium Porosity: Medium porosity hair falls between the high and low porosity types, so it can benefit from all apple cider vinegar application methods. The pre-poo method helps keep buildup under control, while the final rinse or leave-in method tames cuticles and leaves hair shiny.

High porosity: High porosity hair has a very open hair cuticle, which means moisture can easily penetrate the hair shaft but also escape just as quickly. Apple cider vinegar’s low pH can help seal cuticles, so it’s a great way to lock in moisture without drying hair strands too quickly. Use as a final rinse or as a leave-in to really lock in moisture, tame frizz and boost shine.

Is pure apple cider vinegar really the best option for clarification?

As we mentioned earlier, apple cider vinegar is a very pungent and highly acidic substance. It can have good results in melting buildup and helping you get shiny hair, but it’s also a risky substance to use in its raw form as it can develop sensitivities and scalp issues.

Instead of using this successful DIY treatment, you can more easily deep clean your hair with a clarifying shampoo. This type of cleanser is specifically designed to remove product build-up and deeply cleanse the scalp while being gentle on the skin. It should be used every 4-5 washes, alternating with a daily shampoo or co-wash.

Even better, you can use a clarifying shampoo infused with apple cider vinegar like our Wash & Scrub! This scalp exfoliating shampoo is designed with all the benefits of this ingredient without the downsides of DIY. Apple cider vinegar can have a very strong scent, but our Wash & Scrub has a deliciously fresh scent. In addition, we have developed the product with just the right amount of apple cider vinegar, so you never run the risk of using too much and having a reaction on your skin.

Should You Use Apple Cider Vinegar?

Baking soda helps build product

Commercial liquid shampoos and conditioners often contain synthetic silicones and silica that coat your hair to make it “feel” comfortable, but leave residue in your hair. Styling products and your own natural sweat and oil production can contribute to residue build-up.

The detergent shampoos high in SLS are very good at removing EVERYTHING (even the natural oils we want) and stripping your hair of residue.

Clarifying your hair is a way to remove the buildup that some products leave on your hair, which can leave your hair dull and lifeless. Regular household baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an easy-to-use clarifier.

Baking soda naturally removes oil and product residue from your hair. Your clean hair will be free of buildup and appear much softer and shinier.

Some people like to do a vinegar rinse after their baking soda rinse.

Also great for swimmers to remove chlorine from hair!

The transition to a solid shampoo for many hair types

can be helped with a little baking powder.

Keep some baking soda in your shower

Hard water and/or residue from previous products can cause problems with the setting of the shampoo bar. Adding baking soda can help counteract the build-up of minerals from hard water.

There are a few easy ways to add some baking soda to your shampoo cycle:

Sprinkle a little baking soda on your damp hair and then lather it up

add a little baking soda to the lather of the shampoo bar already in your hair, then add a little more water and lather

especially for hard water – add a pinch of baking soda to a liter of warm water and use this mixture to dampen your hair before shampooing, then lather

If you notice tangles after using baking soda, use an apple cider vinegar rinse all over your head, or put some apple cider vinegar rinse in a bottle and use as a spritz after rinsing.

Baking Soda Clarifying Conditioner

Our natural shampoo bars, very gentle cleansers, do not remove hair in the same way as detergent based shampoos and therefore may not thoroughly remove the residue from your hair.

Gentle shampoo bars may struggle to remove the buildup of chemicals that have built up in your hair over the years of using liquid shampoos. The buildup may resemble dandruff but is more localized and not itchy.

Clarifying your hair is one way to remove buildup that can make hair feel heavy.

Regular household baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an easy-to-use clarifier. Baking soda naturally removes oil and product residue from your hair.

Baking Soda Recipes for Clarifying Conditioners

Simple hair conditioner with baking soda to clarify hair

1 tablespoon baking powder

1-2 cups of warm water

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle or squirt bottle. Wet the hair and spray or pour the conditioner onto your hair and work it in. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, then shampoo with your regular shampoo

Or simply add less than a teaspoon of baking soda to the lather of the shampoo bar already in your hair. Add some more water and shampoo.

Baking Soda Scalp Clarifying Conditioner

This scalp scrub helps rid your scalp of excess oil and even build up dry dandruff on the scalp.

2 tablespoons baking powder

1/2 cup water

Mix into a grainy paste. Massage the paste into your scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Follow it up by using a gentle shampoo.

Try to only leave the baking soda on the scalp as much as possible as this concentration can dry out your hair length quite a bit.

Clarifying conditioner with baking soda and essential oils

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup of warm water

2 drops of essential oil

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle or mug. Moisten hair and massage into scalp and hair roots. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Please visit our Essential Oils for Hair Care page for information on using essential oils for your hair

Because baking soda has a high pH, ​​it can lift the hair cuticle. If this gives you problems with dry hair or tangles, follow the baking soda rinse with a vinegar rinse or spritz.

If you’re suffering from hair loss, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at how you wash your hair. While every hair is different (and requires different treatments as well), there are some common shampoo mistakes that can harm your scalp and hair health down the line.

Read on for more details.

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Too much dry shampoo

Dry shampoo is a way to prevent oil build-up without having to constantly wash your hair. However, it could contribute to product build-up, which is another issue that can contribute to scalp irritation and hair weakness.

“You shouldn’t overdo it with dry shampoo, as the buildup of product combined with trapped dirt, oil and bacteria can clog your scalp’s pores, dull the hair’s vibrancy and potentially cause irritation,” Lauren Thompson, stylist at Nunzio Saviano Salon in Manhattan, tells Prevention.

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Do not check ingredient label

It’s a good rule of thumb to stay away from shampoos that contain sulfates, which can wreak havoc on your hair’s health. According to Nutrafol: “When you rinse out the shampoo, sulfates take all the oils and residue with them. But during cleansing, they can also damage hair, making it brittle and increasing frizz.”

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Not washing hair enough

Many people are afraid of shampooing their hair too often. However, not washing your hair adequately can be similarly detrimental to the health of your strands. Although your exact hair washing schedule will depend on your individual hair needs, it’s probably a good idea to shampoo your hair every other day.

Melissa Piliang, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, told The Healthy, “It varies a bit from person to person depending on how oily your scalp is. But most people should wash their hair at least every other day. If you don’t, things like oils and pollutants can build up on the scalp and lead to inflammation and dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis).”

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Do not use clarifying shampoo

Using a clarifying shampoo once a week is a good idea to keep your scalp and hair healthy. Ipsy explains: “Just like a detox smoothie, the clarifying shampoo thoroughly cleanses your hair of chemicals, waxes and residue left behind by your hair products and the environmental stressors of everyday life. Clarifying shampoos differ from regular shampoos because they are designed to remove surface dirt and grime rather than to condition and smooth it out.”

By prioritizing the health of your scalp, you can ensure that surface irritation isn’t contributing to hair loss.

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forgot to rinse

If you’re in a hurry, you might forget to spend enough time underwater after shampooing. However, it’s important to actually rinse all of the product out of your hair. Amy Abramite, stylist and creative director at Maxine Salon in Chicago, told Shape, “If your hair is falling flat or you have irritation on your scalp, chances are you didn’t wash off all of the product in the shower.”

Each editorial product is independently selected, although we may receive compensation or receive an affiliate commission if you purchase something through our links. Ratings and prices are correct and items are in stock at the time of publication.

Beauty aisles are crammed with clarifying shampoo options, but unless you have a very specific hair type, they’re likely doing more harm than good to your precious strands. Here’s why.

Clarifying shampoo is one of the biggest drugstore beauty farces out there in my opinion. It’s all a sophisticated marketing ploy to lure you into buying what I consider dish soap in a more elegant bottle. I’ve worked with hair care products and their formulas for years (you can read about how I make over $80,000 a year testing shampoos) and even my thick, healthy strands get crisp and brittle when it’s just a dab of it clarifying stuff hits my head. I asked my most trusted hair expert friends if they agreed too. Have you ever.

“Clarifying shampoos are rarely recommended for a daily shampoo,” shares Liam Carey, owner of Broome and Beauty Salon in New York. “Using clarifying shampoo could leave your hair brittle and dry, and cause an itchy scalp.” Liam told me that anyone with processed hair, especially those with red tones, highlights, any form of bleached hair, or curls, is particularly susceptible to the damage is that soapy water can cause. As a curly haired girl I can tell you that wetness is a way of life. “If you don’t want more damage and the worst knots in the world, stay away.”

Liam confirmed what I was already feeling deep in the soul of every single strand I had, but I needed a more scientific explanation as to why this sudsy cleanser is such a silent killer.

“Clarifying shampoos are formulated with higher levels of surfactants than other shampoos,” explains Ron Robinson, cosmetic chemist for Dove Hair (a line I personally use). “They are designed to remove build-up and residue from conditioners and styling products. Unfortunately, in doing so they strip away some of the hair’s natural oils that keep it shiny and moisturized, especially if used too often.” Here’s a cheat sheet to finding the best shampoo for your hair type.

Make-your-own clarifying shampoo

On a scientific level, this means that anyone with dry, damaged, or processed hair should avoid these shampoos like the plague and instead opt for homemade clarifying shampoo options. My personal formula for a homemade clarifying shampoo is pretty simple but a little smelly, so only use it when you really need it, like after a weekend at the beach when your strands get contaminated with oils, heat protectants, sea hairspray, etc. other sticky products. All you have to do is take a cup, a fork, 1/4 cup of your regular shampoo (hopefully something moisturizing) and add the same amount of apple cider vinegar. Whip it up until fully blended and shampoo the dirt right out of your hair without risking your gorgeous locks. The vinegar smell will disappear as you condition your hair.

It’s a great solution for people with treated hair who also love to work out, because sometimes you really want to get rid of all the oils and sweat from a long run or hard workout, but don’t damage your strands more than your hair’s color, finish, and lifespan already. In the meantime, if you still have a bottle of the damaging clarifying agent in your shower, swap it out for something labeled with the words moisturizing, hydrating, or replenishing. Your hair will thank you.

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Hair product build-up can be the reason why your hair doesn’t look or feel as good as it used to.

Dry, limp, lifeless, lacking in volume, frizzy and impossible to style are some of the telltale signs of product buildup in your hair.

You see that over time styling products like sprays, serums, waxes, creams etc. leave their sneaky by-products like silicones, mineral oils, polyquats, polymers and other chemicals that make your tresses shiny and smooth but still, leave a sticky residue that are not soluble.

And non-soluble products are not so easy to wash out with regular shampoos. Instead, they bind to the hair strands and deposit on the scalp, clogging the follicles. This makes the strands of hair brittle, break easily and irritates the scalp.

For this reason, I recommend using a clarifying shampoo as an essential part of any hair care routine.

To help you understand how often you need to deep clean your hair, let me explain how to identify hair and scalp build-up and what signs and symptoms to look out for.

What is product construction?

Product build-up is the progressive accumulation and layering of residue from sprays, gels, creams, serums, conditioners and shampoos on the hair strands and scalp.

Anything that adds shine and smoothness to your hair is likely to contain ingredients like silicone, wax, mineral oil, and other similar chemicals. These are the by-products that stick to the hair, and instead of washing out, they cling to your tresses, forming layer after layer.

Over time, these layers of product buildup block moisture, forcing your conditioners to stay on the surface instead of penetrating the hair.

What is the product structure?

Product buildup in hair looks like blobs, white film or chunky flakes that stick to strands like tiny clumps. You can see product build up if you part your hair into sections and rub your fingers through the parting. It’s the scaly film under your fingernails. Yep – that’s the gross stuff that’s been built for a while!

Product residue will linger for a long time if you don’t rinse it away with a clarifying product.

Clogged hair follicles eventually lead to irritation of the scalp — itching, flaking, inflammation, and sometimes infection.

Related: How to clean scalp pores

How does product build-up feel on hair?

Some signs that product might have built up in your tresses include dryness, lack of shine, tangling, breaking, and difficulty combing through knots.

Your scalp will feel greasy, and yet your hair will feel parched all the time. In some cases, you may also see white flakes and scales clustering between your crowns.

What causes product build-up?

Any hair styling cosmetics that promise to make your hair shiny, smooth, and shiny most likely use ingredients like silicone, mineral oils, and polymers that lay down the hair shaft. These ingredients add an insoluble barrier to lock out moisture and prevent environmental factors from interfering with your hairstyle.

However, these cosmetic ingredients can be stubbornly rinsed out. They gradually build up on the hair, causing layers of excess buildup. If you zoom in on a single strand of hair, it looks like a dirty film.

How can you tell if you have product buildup in your hair?

Hear how your hair feels and reacts. When it starts to lose its shine and thunder and it takes you ages to fleek your locks every day, chances are you have a lot of buildup in your hair.

So watch out for these signs and symptoms:

Your hair feels dry but your scalp feels greasy

This is the most obvious sign of product residue and deposits causing an imbalance. This happens because the hair strands struggle to absorb moisture and the scalp fights back by producing more sebum to unclog its pores.

The result: A combination of oily roots and dry ends.

Her hair looks dull all the time

Dull looking hair and lack of shine are obvious signs that your tresses are coated in product.

Structure makes your hair look dull, heavy, greasy and limp.

Her hair feels rough and stiff every day

The inability to absorb nutrients and moisture from conditioners, moisturizers and masks makes your hair strands dry, weak and brittle. As a result, they begin to wilt and curl, making them rough and stiff.

You find that you use a lot more shampoo than usual

Your hair never feels clean.

There’s always that feeling of dirt and grease on the scalp. That’s because your scalp works harder to produce sebum to fight off the product residue clogging the pores.

This creates a vicious cycle of washing and the scalp quickly becomes greasy again.

To break this cycle, you need an exfoliating shampoo that can scrape the waxy layers off your hair strands.

Her hair struggles to hold a style

When your hair feels stiff and lacks elasticity and bounce, it becomes a nightmare to style. Forget fancy hairstyles. The only thing you will do is slip your heaping nest of locks into an elastic band and let it be.

lack of volume

Dry and lackluster hair will never lift from the roots. It will always feel flat and monotonous no matter how many volume sprays you use. Unleashing volume and definition becomes nearly impossible when your hair is coated in dirt.

You have severe hair breakage

Dry and unhealthy hair eventually leads to hair breakage from medium length. As your hair withers due to lack of moisture, it also struggles to maintain length. The older parts will start to break and crumble like dry twigs unless you nurture them back into healthy strands.

Itchy and irritating scalp

A clogged scalp is an angry scalp. When stuff builds up near your hair roots, it clogs your scalp pores.

As a result, the clogged pores become infected, inflamed and the scalp begins to irritate and fight back against the dirt.

Loss of curl pattern in curly and natural hair

When your natural hair is struggling to hold definition and its true curl pattern, it’s a sign your tresses are inundated with moisture-blocking dirt that’s making your products ineffective.

How product build affects hair and scalp

As products build up, they leave a layer of residue on your scalp and hair. The product sticks itself to the surface of each strand, making it rough, inelastic and unable to absorb moisture.

Eventually, the hair fibers become brittle, frizzy and rough, causing them to easily tangle and break midway.

Product buildup on the scalp can clog pores and, in the long run, cause inflammation and dandruff.

How to do a hair composition test at home

Check out these cool hacks that will help you gauge how much buildup is in your hair.

Hairscape test

Make sure your hair is not washed or wet. Take a pair of scissors. Take a small section of your hair to test it out. Run the blade of the scissors down the length of your curls. See how many lines of white wax residue peel off

Thanks to Boston-based hairstylist Daleen Jordan for sharing this trick on her Instagram feed. I also tried it at home and it worked!

See it here: Viral video shows hair build-up caused by drugstore shampoo

Scratch your scalp

Create a part on your hair. Run your fingernails gently across the crown. Check how much waxy residue accumulates under your nails

It’ll feel gross, but it’s also a sure-fire way to know how much product residue has built up since you last gave your hair a deep clean (if you ever did!).

If you find that most of the debris is concentrated on your scalp, you can also use a dandruff comb to loosen the dandruff before washing your hair.

How to remove product accumulation

The best solution to getting rid of product build-up is to add a regular deep clean to your hair care routine. Once a week is good enough to start with, but you need to be consistent with it.

Here are some excellent solutions that work:

Use a clarifying shampoo

A clarifying shampoo removes dirt and penetrates deep into the pores to remove impurities that clog the scalp.

It cleans, exfoliates and moisturizes in one go.

Use it weekly and see how it lifts your hair. It is an excellent way to detoxify both the hair and scalp.

Make an apple cider vinegar rinse

Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and deep-cleansing properties that help remove dirt, oil, and product build-up from both the hair and scalp. It also has a low pH that helps smooth hair and keep the scalp healthy.

Try it once a week and you will see the immediate benefits.

Recommended product:

Try a baking soda scrub

Baking soda is a popular DIY ingredient that can be used to exfoliate the scalp. Many people who use the No Poo method use it to cleanse their scalp, but you should exercise caution as it can increase the pH level of the hair.

Here is a good recipe from MindBodyGreen that you can try:

Try a micellar water shampoo

Micellar cleansers are great for removing product build-up in hair as they act like dirt magnets. They’re also gentle, non-sticking and sulfate-free.

Micellar water binds to impurities to dissolve them, so sticky residue can be rinsed out of the hair with pure water.

Pantene Pro-V Micellar Shampoo is designed for women who want to get rid of greasy, heavy hair that has been weighed down by too many conditioners. It has an exclusive formula that removes oils, residue and hard deposits without drying out your curls and scalp.

It is important to clarify your hair to keep it healthy, shiny and manageable. But what exactly is “clarifying your hair”? Determining the right products and the best techniques can be difficult.

Find out how to clarify your hair in the comfort of your own home with our helpful tips for practicing salon-quality hair care!

What is “clarify your hair”?

Before we talk about how to clarify your hair, we need to start with the more fundamental question: what is “clarify”?

To “clarify” something means to make it clear. You’ll hear it in cooking, like clarifying butter or clarifying a broth, where it literally means something becomes or stays clear. However, clarifying your hair means ridding it of “build-up”. Without the right care, almost all hair accumulates deposits over time. This can come from our scalp’s natural oils (called sebum) or just plain old dirt if you work in a dirty environment or spend a lot of time outdoors. But most commonly, the buildup in our hair comes from the hair care products themselves, like styling gels, hair serums, and even shampoos and conditioners.

That doesn’t mean hair care products are bad, and learning how to clean your hair doesn’t mean giving up the products that work for you. But it does mean that you should have a special clarifying hair product on hand whenever you need to clarify.

Good clarifying agents will not dry or damage your hair

Deposits on hair tend to be soft and oily. This means that a good clarifying product must contain strong detergents that attack this buildup more than the oils adhere to your hair and break it up so it can be washed away with water.

Good cleansers are powerful without being harsh, and target build-up closely rather than indiscriminately stripping away your hair. So if you’re worried about how to clarify your hair without damaging it, don’t worry: clarifying your hair doesn’t have to mean drying it out, you just have to choose a good clarifying product.

Most clarifying shampoos and conditioners come with moisturizers to replace lost sebum, and really good clarifying products can increase your hair’s overall moisture level when it’s too dry. (This is important as dry hair also suffers from buildup!)

It all depends on the ingredients

When it comes to learning how to properly clarify your hair, it’s all about the ingredients and finding the right balance between nourishing and clarifying. Your hair will thank you for doing some research before purchasing any product! We firmly believe in our Eco Chic® hair care philosophy of excluding harmful ingredients and harsh chemicals from our products. Everything we make is free from phthalates, lauryl or laureth sulfates, parabens and other industrial detergents. When you think about how to condition your hair, you probably don’t think of “dish soap,” do you? While harsh chemicals can remove buildup from your hair, they are harsh. You don’t want to use these in your hair. At Giovanni we bridge the gap between salon quality and naturalness by selecting ingredients that care for hair and skin. Our 2chic® Clarifying & Calming hair care line is specially formulated to cleanse and moisturize your hair, and we do this with our Dual Purifying Complex of Wintergreen and Blue Tansy, two essential oils that effectively and safely remove build-up. How to clarify your hair the 2chic® way! For added help in clarifying your hair, our clarifying and soothing products also contain other botanicals, such as lemon balm, an astringent that helps break down stubborn build-up, and squalane, a gentle moisturizer.

Our best application tips

Besides choosing a conditioner with good ingredients, the other important factor in learning how to condition your hair is the physical act of applying the product. Here are some of our tips:

Use lots of product (don’t skimp!) because you need enough to remove any buildup in your hair. Using too little product can leave residue. Start with too much and reduce the amount over time until you find just the right amount.

Clarifying products must be worked into the hair. Make sure your hair is wet to start, then massage the product thoroughly and vigorously into your hair. After all, what clarifies your hair if it is not rejuvenated?

For very oily hair or a lot of buildup, wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Then repeat these steps a second time. This is another crucial step in mastering how to successfully clarify your hair. (You only need to condition once.)

Follow a clarifying shampoo with a clarifying conditioner to restore moisture.

Find hair care for your lifestyle at Giovanni

We hope this has cleared up any questions you had about what clarifying your hair is and how to successfully clarify your hair. If you’d like to explore our clarifying products, check out our 2chic® Clarifying & Calming line. Here you will find everything you need for optimal clarification:

2chic® Clarifying & Calming Shampoo: Provides the main cleaning power and restores your hair to its clean, beautiful self.

2chic® Clarifying & Calming Conditioner: Nourish your hair for texture, shine and full moisture.

2chic® Clarifying & Calming Deep Conditioning Hair Mask: Strengthens hair fibers and smoothes split ends for the ultimate hydrated, clean feeling.

Our ingredient lists are simple and reasonable so you always know what’s clearing your hair. So give your hair the clarity it deserves with cruelty-free, color-safe products from Giovanni.

Share on Pinterest We include products that we think our readers will find useful. If you make a purchase through links on this site, we may receive a small commission. Here is our process. We include products that we believe will be useful to our readers. If you make a purchase through links on this site, we may receive a small commission. Here is our process. Conventional shampoo is great for keeping your hair and scalp clean on a daily basis, but what if you feel like you need a deeper clean? This is where clarifying shampoo comes into play. Hair care experts recommend using a clarifying shampoo to get rid of buildup in your hair. Clarifying shampoo is designed for occasional use only and should not replace your daily cleansing. If you think your tresses could use some help from dullness and excess buildup, read on to see if clarifying shampoo is a good option for your hair.

What are the advantages? Like other types of hair cleansers, clarifying shampoo is 80 to 90 percent water. The difference lies in the active ingredients. What distinguishes the clarifying shampoo from other cleansers is its content of strong surfactants. Surfactants are soap-like ingredients that remove residue, grease and impurities from your hair. These are much stronger than traditional detergents. Examples of surfactants and their specific benefits include: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Ammonium. This ingredient provides the deepest cleansing. These are best for extreme buildup of hair care products or very oily hair.

This ingredient provides the deepest cleansing. These are best for extreme buildup of hair care products or very oily hair. chlorides or bromides. These are a milder detergent but can help soften your hair.

These are a milder detergent but can help soften your hair. cetyl fatty alcohols. These have a milder cleaning effect.

Are Clarifying Shampoos Safe? While clarifying shampoo can help get rid of excess buildup, overuse can have adverse effects. Using this shampoo more than a few times a week can leave your hair feeling dry and dull. You can also see some flyaways and lots of frizz. You should also be careful if you have colored hair. That’s because strong surfactants can damage your hair color. As a rule of thumb, if a clarifying shampoo’s label doesn’t state that it’s color-safe, then it’s probably not suitable for color-treated hair. Dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis are other considerations you may have before choosing a clarifying shampoo. If the clarifying shampoo doesn’t also contain ingredients like salicylic acid that can control these types of skin and scalp issues, the product may not be suitable. Surfactants can also unintentionally make these conditions worse by drying out your scalp and causing the cells underneath to produce more oils.

Clarifying Shampoo vs. Hair Detox A clarifying shampoo has pretty much the same goals as a hair detox. Both remove residue, minerals and oils. The key difference lies in the active ingredients. Hair detox is mostly based on “natural” ingredients, while clarifying shampoos contain more synthetic ingredients that can dry out your hair if you use them excessively. Additionally, a hair detox can use deeply nourishing ingredients like olive oil, shea, or bentonite clay. Clarifying treatments generally do not add moisture to the hair. A hair detox also aims to get rid of environmental toxins.

How to use the Clarifying Shampoo The Clarifying Shampoo is designed for use once or twice a week. You can apply it like any other shampoo. Work a small amount in your hands, then apply to your damp scalp and massage in until you have a good lather. Leave it in your hair for up to 30 seconds. Rinse out the shampoo completely before applying the conditioner. It is important to use a conditioner after each shampooing session. Not only does the conditioner help keep your hair soft, but it also seals moisture into the hair cuticle to keep it from drying out. You don’t need to use a special conditioner after your clarifying shampoo. Simply apply your regular conditioner to your middle and lower tresses in an even layer, wait a few seconds, then rinse.

Choosing a Clarifying Shampoo The type of clarifying shampoo you choose will depend largely on your hair type and whether it is professionally treated at all. You can look at different bottles to see if they are suitable for dandruff, color treated hair, or chemically straightened or permed hair. Shampoos with higher levels of surfactants are best if you don’t have any special hair care considerations, including color treatments. For the most thorough cleaning possible, look for anionic surfactants on ingredient labels. These include: ammonium lauryl sulfate

ammonium laureth sulfate

sodium lauryl sulfate

sodium stearate

Alpha Olefin Sulfonate

How expensive are clarifying shampoos? The cost of your clarifying shampoo will vary depending on whether you choose a drugstore version or brand name. It could also be more expensive if you choose versions for colored hair. Clarifying shampoos can range from $5 to $45 on Amazon.

Each editorial product is independently selected, although we may receive compensation or receive an affiliate commission if you purchase something through our links. Ratings and prices are correct and items are in stock at the time of publication.

Beauty aisles are crammed with clarifying shampoo options, but unless you have a very specific hair type, they’re likely doing more harm than good to your precious strands. Here’s why.

Clarifying shampoo is one of the biggest drugstore beauty farces out there in my opinion. It’s all a sophisticated marketing ploy to lure you into buying what I consider dish soap in a more elegant bottle. I’ve worked with hair care products and their formulas for years (you can read about how I make over $80,000 a year testing shampoos) and even my thick, healthy strands get crisp and brittle when it’s just a dab of it clarifying stuff hits my head. I asked my most trusted hair expert friends if they agreed too. Have you ever.

“Clarifying shampoos are rarely recommended for a daily shampoo,” shares Liam Carey, owner of Broome and Beauty Salon in New York. “Using clarifying shampoo could leave your hair brittle and dry, and cause an itchy scalp.” Liam told me that anyone with processed hair, especially those with red tones, highlights, any form of bleached hair, or curls, is particularly susceptible to the damage is that soapy water can cause. As a curly haired girl I can tell you that wetness is a way of life. “If you don’t want more damage and the worst knots in the world, stay away.”

Liam confirmed what I was already feeling deep in the soul of every single strand I had, but I needed a more scientific explanation as to why this sudsy cleanser is such a silent killer.

“Clarifying shampoos are formulated with higher levels of surfactants than other shampoos,” explains Ron Robinson, cosmetic chemist for Dove Hair (a line I personally use). “They are designed to remove build-up and residue from conditioners and styling products. Unfortunately, in doing so they strip away some of the hair’s natural oils that keep it shiny and moisturized, especially if used too often.” Here’s a cheat sheet to finding the best shampoo for your hair type.

Make-your-own clarifying shampoo

On a scientific level, this means that anyone with dry, damaged, or processed hair should avoid these shampoos like the plague and instead opt for homemade clarifying shampoo options. My personal formula for a homemade clarifying shampoo is pretty simple but a little smelly, so only use it when you really need it, like after a weekend at the beach when your strands get contaminated with oils, heat protectants, sea hairspray, etc. other sticky products. All you have to do is take a cup, a fork, 1/4 cup of your regular shampoo (hopefully something moisturizing) and add the same amount of apple cider vinegar. Whip it up until fully blended and shampoo the dirt right out of your hair without risking your gorgeous locks. The vinegar smell will disappear as you condition your hair.

It’s a great solution for people with treated hair who also love to work out, because sometimes you really want to get rid of all the oils and sweat from a long run or hard workout, but don’t damage your strands more than your hair’s color, finish, and lifespan already. In the meantime, if you still have a bottle of the damaging clarifying agent in your shower, swap it out for something labeled with the words moisturizing, hydrating, or replenishing. Your hair will thank you.

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