Image Source: PopSugar Photography/Lauren Gordon
The world of hair routines can be confusing, but there’s one thing I think everyone should consider adding into their routine and that’s clarifying shampoo. And I think, for curly hair, I’ve found the best. My current hair wash routine consists of a regular shampoo and conditioner (sulphate-free of course) a deep conditioning mask (which I use once a month for an extra burst of moisture) and now, for the past few months, a clarifying shampoo, a crucial product for deeply cleansing my hair.
What is a clarifying shampoo though? And how should you use it? “A clarifying shampoo is a shampoo that has a stronger detergent to deeply clean hair to remove harsh build-up and gunk,” Adwoa Beauty founder and hair expert Julian Addo tells POPSUGAR UK. Curly and textured hair types like mine are encouraged to use a clarifying shampoo one to two times a month, or every three to five washes, to remove dirt or impurities left over by styling products, oils and gels.
“This is because people with textured hair use various products and formulations in their daily hair care so it’s important to ensure you are getting all of those different build-up types from your hair and scalp,” Addo explains. “In the same way, you would detox your body with your diet or your skin care routine – your hair routine is no different.”
But the tricky thing about most clarifying shampoos is that they are powerful enough to strip the hair of its moisture, so for hair types that are colour-treated, or prone to dryness, finding a clarifying shampoo that moisturises, nourishes and deeply cleanses your hair can seem impossible. Well, not any more – introducing my favourite, Adwoa Beauty’s Blue Tansy Clarifying Gel Shampoo (£27).
Related: British Women Are Reclaiming the Scrunchie – Here’s What Fashion Experts Have to Say
About Adwoa Beauty’s Clarifying Shampoo
What I Liked About Adwoa Beauty’s Clarifying Shampoo
I’ve been using this shampoo for four months now, usually in between styles, and I’m in the habit of bringing it to my salon appointments for my hairdresser to use on my hair. As well as washing my natural hair with Adwoa Beauty’s clarifying shampoo, I also use it to give my extensions a gentle but deep clean, allowing me to get more wear out of them while maintaining their quality.
The shampoo has become a solid contender in my routine and even my hairdresser now loves the product – and has noticed how it has improved the state of my dry scalp. So much so, she’s now recommended it to other clients. “Your hair is clean, but still smooth and silky, like new, and I’ve told my clients to buy the shampoo if they want their bundles to last past one style,” Nadia, my hairdresser at Divine Hair Salon, tells me as she blow dries my extensions after installing them for the third time.
Not only that, but my hair (and my extensions) don’t feel rubbery or dehydrated after washing, which I found when using other clarifiers. Adwoa Beauty’s clarifying shampoo caters to coily, curly and kinky hair types specifically, prioritising moisture and hydration, as well as cleansing. It’s something I notice from the luxurious lather it creates from the gel substance.
Deeply washing my extensions using this clarifying shampoo has meant I’ve saved hundreds of pounds on buying new extensions. And while quality matters, as does maintenance, so far this routine has enabled me to use my extensions three times and they’re still as good as new.
What To Consider About Clarifying Shampoo
A clarifying shampoo should be different to your regular shampoo, and should only be used as needed, or every one to two weeks in your wash routine. Using a clarifying shampoo too much, for example twice a week, can over-strip the natural oils, potentially resulting in a dry, itchy scalp and brittle hair.
I usually only use my clarifying shampoo when washing my hair after removing a protective style (like weave or braids, which are kept in for four to six weeks) to ensure my hair and scalp get a thorough wash.
Rating
Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at POPSUGAR UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.
