The struggle of your hair being greasy or dull even after a thorough wash is quite common in Pakistan. The weather is hot and humid in cities and the dusty winds during the dry months also add a layer of residue that even your regular shampoos cannot completely wash off. This is when you can use a clarifying shampoo. It helps in deep-cleaning your hair and scalp by getting rid of the buildup which regular shampoos usually leave behind.
What Is Clarifying Shampoo?
Clarifying shampoo offers a lot more than regular shampoos. It removes the accumulated sebum, styling products, minerals, and dust that deposits over time. These deposits can make hair look dull or greasy. Buildup also makes it impossible for the regular products to work correctly.
Shampoos in general are designed to clean up sweat and dirt from the surface frequently, but clarifying shampoos contain stronger cleaning agents, which is why they are recommended for use only occasionally when in need of a deep cleansing. This is the reason why, after using one, it is necessary to apply a good conditioner to smooth cuticles and rehydrate the hair.
An occasional clarifying wash will breathe new life into your hair. As the residues that have been weighing your hair down are eliminated, your hair can even bounce back with volume.
Regular Shampoo vs. Clarifying Shampoo
Signs You Need a Clarifying Shampoo
Below are the signs that indicate buildup is the culprit and your hair is in dire need of a deep cleanse:
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Dullness: Due to the accumulation coating the strands, your hair loses its natural shine.
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Greasiness: Besides the humid weather and sweating being the direct causes of greasy roots, product buildup can trap the sebum secretion. If your scalp still feels oily even after a thorough wash, that's a sign you require a clarifying treatment.
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Flatness: The leftover product weighs the hair down. Blowouts or ponytails tend to lose their volume pretty fast. A clarifying treatment gets rid of the weight and gives a lift back.
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Scalp Issues: Sometimes, the itchy scalp might not be dandruff. It could be a product overload causing the issue. When the pores are blocked by excessive products or oils, flaky residue becomes visible.
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Sticky Hair: In some cases, when hair feels as if it has a layer after washing, it might be due to the minerals in the shower water.
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Limp Curls: Buildup either loosens or weighs down the curls, making them look less defined. Cleaning off the residues enables the curls to regain their shape and definition.
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Ineffective Products: When your beloved conditioners or styling creams are no longer able to work properly, the residues on your hair strands might be blocking the penetration of new products.
Best Shampoo for Scalp Build Up Removal
The best clarifying shampoo is one that will get rid of your hair buildup without taking away your hair's moisture. GK Hair pH+ Shampoo, along with other GK Hair products, is a salon-proven product that is being used in more than 75 countries worldwide. It is free of sulfates, so it cleanses without causing the harsh stripping that traditional sulfates bring.
This cleanser clarifies the hair that has been coloured without taking away the dye. It is made with Juvexin, an original blend of non-hydrolyzed keratin proteins, that goes through the hair cortex and hair strands, coating them for protection and strengthening. You do a great cleansing and genuine care at the same time. Using sulfate-free clarifying products is the most colour-safe method when it comes to cleaning off residues.
Best for: any hair type, mainly if you have oily scalp, hair that has been dyed or hair loaded with products.
How to Apply: Begin by soaking your hair thoroughly with water. Water at a warm temperature is great for helping cuticles open up and shedding any surface dirt or buildup. Grab a good amount of pH+ Shampoo and massage it up in your hair. Pay extra attention to the scalp and roots since that's where oils and leftover products accumulate the most.
Wait for 1 to 3 minutes with the shampoo in your hair. The waiting period allows the formula to break down even the most resistant product buildup, hard water minerals and environmental dust.
How Often Should You Use Clarifying Shampoo?
Excessive use of a clarifying shampoo can dry the hair. The correct frequency depends on your environment and hair type.
Normal Hair
Once or twice a month is enough on average. If you apply styling products moderately, a monthly clarifying session keeps your hair fresh without stripping its oils.
Oily Scalp
If you have very oily hair, you will need to clarify more often. The same applies if you use lots of styling products. Once every two weeks works well. Ensure you condition afterwards.
Curly Hair
Clarifying shampoo for curly hair should be used very cautiously. Curly hair types have a hard time holding moisture because the natural oils have a difficulty traveling down the curly strand. The best time to do it is once every 4 to 6 weeks. The other alternative is to select water-based products that don't make as much buildup and then you can extend the time between sessions.
Climate Consideration
The hot, humid monsoon season in Pakistan makes the scalp produce more sebum. However, in the heavily polluted cities, the dust gets easily stuck to the hair that is oiled. Clarifying twice a month is sometimes necessary to get rid of the buildup that happens almost daily.
Note on Colouring: Clarify a few days before colouring your hair to get rid of product residue. Don't dye your hair immediately after clarifying as the freshly opened cuticles will absorb the colour unevenly leading to patchy results.
Is Clarifying Shampoo Good for Curly Hair?
Yes, clarifying shampoo for curly hair has beneficial effects if used properly. Since curly and coily hair types tend to be dry as natural oils spread slowly along the spiral-shaped hair strand, product buildup can not only stretch out the curl pattern but also prevent the hair from getting moisturized. If you use a clarifying shampoo it is very likely that the removal of the residue will help your curls to bounce naturally again.
Is Conditioner Good for Hair After Clarifying?
Conditioner is beneficial for hair after every clarifying wash as it removes layer after layer of oils and dirt and penetrates the hair shaft to open up the cuticles. Hair without conditioner will be dry, rough and easily tangled. A great conditioner not only closes the cuticles but also replenishes hair's moisture and makes hair smooth and easy to handle.
To get the maximum benefit out of conditioning, the best conditioner for hair in Pakistan should be lightweight so it can handle the humidity without causing the hair to straighten and weigh down.
GK Hair Moisturizing Conditioner is the perfect product to complement the effects of the pH+ Shampoo and replenish moisture in hair after a deep cleansing treatment. This product will also work to smooth and condition the cuticle of hair and restore moisture to the hair strands after the thorough cleaning process.
Best for: dry, colour-treated, or frizz-prone hair.
Best Clarifying Shampoo Practices
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Use it as a substitute for your usual shampoo, not an extra one.
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Wet your hair thoroughly to get the shampoo spread all over and to help foaming.
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Concentrate on the scalp and roots. That is where most of the buildup usually happens.
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Using medium pressure, rub the shampoo softly on your hair.
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Before washing off, leave it on for 1 to 3 minutes.
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Wash your hair thoroughly so all the impurities come out.
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If your hair is virgin or you have hard product buildup, repeat the steps of using a clarifying shampoo once again.
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Always do post-clarifying conditioning to bring back moisture after deep cleaning.
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Use a wide-tooth comb to remove tangles because hair is quite weak when it's wet.
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Do not use heat styling right after cleansing. In case you need to heat style, put a heat protectant such as GK Hair ThermalStyleHer Cream on your hair first.
Best for: all hair types before heat styling
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If you have scalp problems and use clarifying shampoos, think twice. It may make your condition worse.
Stylist's Corner
GK Hair stylists recommend doing a strand test 48 hours before colouring after any clarifying treatment. Open cuticles absorb colour unevenly, which can lead to patchy results.
Cleanse Your Hair in a Healthy Way
Hair care is a matter of balance, so consider a clarifying shampoo as only a monthly reset and not as a daily cleanser. Adjust the frequency of this treatment based on the type of your hair, the weather in your location and the products being used so that hair remains fresh without being dried out. GK Hair is trusted in 75+ countries and our pH+ Shampoo is tailored for the Pakistani climate. Give it a shot when you need a thorough cleansing and allow your hair to get the restart it truly needs.
