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These DIY clarifying shampoos remove product buildup, cleanse the hair, and leave your hair soft and smooth. It is easy to clarify hair at home using simple, natural ingredients like baking soda and apple cider vinegar. This really does make the best clarifying shampoo!
Table of Contents
- What Does Clarifying Shampoo Do?
- Key Ingredients
- #1 Homemade Clarifying Shampoo with Baking Soda
- How to Use
- #2 Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
- How to Use
- Homemade Clarifying Shampoo vs Conventional Clarifying Shampoo
- Clarifying Hair Treatment for Sensitive Hair
- Recipe FAQs
- Related Recipes
- Homemade Clarifying Shampoo Recipe
What Does Clarifying Shampoo Do?
Clarifying shampoo is a specially designed shampoo used to remove product buildup, dirt, and grime on the scalp. It is not a substitute for shampoo and, as a result, should not be used daily.
In fact, you should only use a clarifying shampoo once a month, up to once a week, in extreme cases. Use this DIY clarifying shampoo when there are excess oils and residue buildup on the scalp.
Hair clarifiers and homemade chelating shampoos contain surfactants that remove impurities, cut grease, and residue from hair products. These impurities can build up in the hair, leaving it dull, limp, and damaged.
Key Ingredients
Baking soda: Probably one of the most effective ingredients for a clarifying shampoo is baking soda. Dissolved with water, baking soda makes the perfect clarifying shampoo for your hair. It will effectively remove buildup, oils, and soaps and leave the hair squeaky clean.
Apple Cider Vinegar: The second ingredient you will want to grab is apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a powerful product used in hair rinses such as this homemade apple cider vinegar hair rinse. It will help regulate pH levels, remove product buildup, and may even help with split ends.
The antimicrobial properties and acidity in apple cider vinegar can also help with treating dandruff, which is why it’s a key ingredient in homemade dandruff shampoo.
#1 Homemade Clarifying Shampoo with Baking Soda
To make a clarifying shampoo with baking soda, you will need baking soda, water, and you have the option of adding in essential oils if desired.
Essential oils or fresh herbs can give your clarifying shampoo more benefits and make a beautiful customized scent. Some of the best essential oils for hair include lavender and rosemary.
What Goes Into This Recipe
Recipe Instructions
Step 1. Add warm water to a small bowl.
Step 2. Add the essential oil, if you are using it, and stir well.
Step 3. Measure out the baking soda and add that to the water and oil mixture.
Step 4. Stir with a spoon until the baking soda is dissolved.
How to Use
With wet hair, evenly distribute the shampoo throughout the scalp and hair.
Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and then rinse out with warm water.
Follow up with a natural homemade hair conditioner.
#2 Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
If you want to make things real simple, keep reading! Did you know that a simple mixture of ACV and water can do wonders for your hair?
Apple cider vinegar is a versatile ingredient with potential benefits for hair. It can help balance hair pH and add shine. Always dilute apple cider vinegar with water before using it on your hair.
What Goes into This Recipe
Recipe Instructions
Step 1. Using a small funnel, pour water into a small glass spray bottle.
Step 2. Add the apple cider vinegar.
Step 3. If you are using essential oil, add 1-2 drops into the bottle.
Step 4. Secure the lid and shake well to combine.
How to Use
Generously spray the mixture over wet hair. Then, use your hands to work it into the strands and scalp.
Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes.
Rinse with warm water.
If desired, follow up with a natural homemade hair conditioner.
Top Tip: This is a great way to prepare the hair and scalp before using a homemade hair growth spray!
Homemade Clarifying Shampoo vs Conventional Clarifying Shampoo
Homemade clarifying shampoo and conventional clarifying shampoo serve the same purpose: to remove any buildup from the hair and scalp. They are essentially a heavy-duty hair shampoo.
Homemade clarifying shampoo uses minimal, natural ingredients to clarify the hair and have the least amount of negative effects on the hair.
Conventional clarifying shampoos may contain harsh, synthetic ingredients that, with overuse, can dry out and strip the hair of its necessary oils.
Clarifying Hair Treatment for Sensitive Hair
Baking soda and ACV are some of the most effective and easiest ways to clarify the hair at home. That said, they can be harsh for some. Fortunately, there are more gentle alternatives that you can start with if your hair is sensitive.
Below are 3 very gentle alternative recipes for dry, colored, or damaged hair.
Lemon Juice
For this shampoo, you will need one fresh lemon and warm water. Squeeze the juice of one lemon in a jar and add in 1 cup of water. Stir the liquid with a spoon.
If desired, add in a few drops of rosemary essential oil. Pour the lemon water over wet hair, massage it into the scalp, allow it to sit for a few minutes, and rinse out.
Lemon hair treatment is perfect for treated or colored hair. However, do note that lemon can be used as a natural hair lightener and, therefore, may lighten colored hair slightly.
Aloe Vera Juice
Pure aloe vera juice can have some pretty incredible benefits for the hair. I even use it in an aloe vera hair mask for hair growth! Aloe can also seal in moisture, making it especially good for dry, damaged hair.
Mix 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice with 1 cup of water. As with the other recipes, pour the mixture over wet hair, massage it into the scalp, allow it to soak in, and then rinse with warm water.
Bentonite Clay
Mix equal parts of bentonite clay, water, and ACV in a small bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon until a paste forms. Massage the mixture into wet hair, allow it to soak in, and rinse with warm water.
Exclude the ACV from this recipe if you have frizzy or dry hair. Follow up with a natural homemade hair serum.
Recipe FAQs
No, these recipes are intended for one-time use. Make a batch of shampoo right before you are ready to use it and use the entirety of the batch that day. The recipes are very simple and quick to make, so I find it very easy to whip up a fresh batch each time.
Clarifying shampoos are used for deep cleaning to remove excess oils, grease, and hair product buildup. However, overuse can strip oils that are necessary for optimal hair strength and growth. To maintain healthy hair, use a clarifying shampoo no more than once a week, preferably once or twice a month. It’s also a good idea to follow a clarifying treatment with a homemade deep conditioner treatment or a hydrating homemade castor oil hair mask.
Using vinegar in your hair can help balance hair and scalp pH levels. Ultimately leading to softer, smoother, and easier to style hair. Vinegar (used in moderation) can make your hair less prone to breakage while hydrating and adding natural shine. ACV can benefit all hair types when diluted and used correctly.
Related Recipes
- How to Make Shampoo Out of Soap Nuts
- Simple DIY Dry Shampoo
- Homemade Scalp Serum
- DIY Scalp Scrub
- Homemade Hair Growth Oil
If you tried this Homemade Clarifying Shampoo Tutorial or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Homemade Clarifying Shampoo
Equipment
- Small bowl
Ingredients
Baking Soda Shampoo
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 0.6 oz warm water, 1 tablespoon
- 1-2 drops lavender essential oil, optional
Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
- 0.2 oz apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon
- 4 oz warm water
- 1-2 drops rosemary essential oil, optional
Instructions
Baking Soda Shampoo
- Slowly add baking soda, stirring until dissolved.
- Cover the hair with the paste with wet hair, working into the strands down to the scalp.
- Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing out with warm water.
Apple Cider Shampoo
- Add all ingredients to a glass spray bottle.
- Secure lid and shake well.
- Spray the shampoo onto wet hair, then use hands to distribute throughout the hair.
- Allow the mixture to sit for 3-5 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water.
- Follow up with a homemade conditioner.
Video
Notes
- Clarifying shampoo should only be used once a month, or up to once a week in extreme cases.
- Always dilute apple cider vinegar before using it on the skin or hair.
- Scroll up for gentle clarifying shampoo options for sensitive, damaged, or colored hair.
Works great!
Hi!
I tried making the baking soda clarifying shampoo. It didn’t turn into a paste – it was basically water with baking soda. What gives?
It should be a liquid. The water really helps to distribute the baking soda to the scalp to remove any buildup.
I think what’s confusing is that you initially state the baking soda should dissolve, and it’s a liquid. But towards the end you state to put the paste on the hair. Those are two separate things. Can you please clarify which should be used?
Hey! Thank you for this. I am trying the ACV clarifying shampoo. Do I use this before my regular shampoo or after and then conditioner? In other words, is the sequence:
1. acv-clarifying shampoo, regular shampoo and then conditioner
or
2. regular shampoo, acv-clarifying shampoo and then conditioner?
Thank you so much!
I do the clarifying shampoo when I need the extra rinse or have build-up and then wash hair like normal.
It would be great if you could also add the aloe vera shampoo recipe to this also, that way you can have all three on one sheet. I will be trying that one for sure.
This is a great recipe with fab info, thanks
I am so glad you like it!