“This clarifying shampoo deeply cleanses away dirt, oil and product buildup with apple cider vinegar while keratin helps strengthen hair.” – OUAI

Why I tried it

I’m getting serious about my healthy hair journey and part of that is looking for a good clarifying shampoo to reset my hair one to two times per month. I’ve been seeing a lot of people on Instagram and TikTok talking about the OUAI Clarifying Detox Shampoo, so when Ulta had their BOGO sale on minis back in July, I had to pick up a bottle. 

A quick note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you shop through them — at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions and recommendations are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What I loved

I applied a quarter-sized amount for each half of my head (I split my hair into two sections when shampooing to access my scalp more easily and prevent tangling) and left it on my hair for about a minute, according to the product instructions. After the first application, I didn’t notice any sudsing, but considering that I used hair grease on my last styling day, I’m not entirely surprised, so I went back in for a second round. The second round is where I really saw the results I was looking for.

This left my hair feeling really clean without feeling overly stripped at the roots. My ends did feel dry, but I have to acknowledge that my hair is color-treated and over two years old and they tangle if the wind doesn’t blow the right way (LOL!), so I can’t say that they tangled because of this product. I noticed that immediately after washing my hair looked incredibly shiny, and I haven’t seen that type of sheen after a shampoo in a really long time.

I’m always a little skeptical when a product makes a big claim on the front of the bottle, because sometimes the ingredient list tells a very different story. In this case, though, the formula actually supports what OUAI is selling. It’s formulated with apple cider vinegar, citric acid, and three separate chelating ingredients. The apple cider vinegar and citric acid contribute to the shampoo’s acidic formula, while the chelating agents can bind to minerals and metals that accumulate on the hair from hard water. If you want to learn more about how clarifying shampoos work, I have a deeper breakdown here. I don’t know of many shampoos that contain three separate chelating ingredients, so seeing all three in one formula immediately caught my attention. This is truly a first for me. If you know of any others, let me know down below, I’ll be happy to try them!

What I didn’t love

I really did not like the smell. As soon as I opened the bottle, I was hit with the smell of rose, and rose is one of my least favorite floral scents. On the bright side, the fragrance wasn’t terribly heavy, so it didn’t totally turn me off from trying the product. Unfortunately, none of the reviews I watched actually mentioned the scent, so this wasn’t something I was expecting. But now looking at the Ulta website rose is the first scent listed — let this serve as your reminder to check multiple sources before you actually purchase something.

Who I think it’s for

This is a really great clarifying shampoo that offers chelating benefits. That’s especially important to me because I live in an area with very hard water. Over time, minerals from hard water can accumulate on the hair strand, leaving hair looking dull and making it harder for my favorite products to perform the way I expect them to.

The verdict

Rating: 4.5/5 ★★★★☆

Bottom line: This is a really great clarifying shampoo with chelating benefits, which is especially useful if you live in an area with hard water or use a lot of products that contribute to buildup. I’m not a fan of the fragrance, which is really what’s keeping this from getting five stars. I could definitely see myself buying this shampoo again, but I would prefer if OUAI made it in a different scent.

If you’ve tried OUAI detox clarifying shampoo, let me know what you thought of it in the comments! Did you like the scent or are you anti-floral fragrance too? What other products from OUAI should I try?

With love,

Ash ♡