Skip to main content
Nexxus Logo
    • Get the Look
      Get the Look

      Our hair tutorials will show you how to get the effortless, on trend styles you love without

      Get the Look

    • Nexxus Hy Volume Collection
      Our Newest Collection

      Unlock your HY-est hair with the NEW Nexxus Hy Volume Collection

      Learn More

    • Best-selling
      Best-selling

      Browse our best-selling products.

      Best-selling Products

    • XX-Analyzer
      XX-Analyzer

      Achieve your hair goals with our AI virtual diagnostic tool

      XX-Analyzer

    View All Spotlights
    • Nexxus shampoo bottles
      Shampoos

      Discover the best shampoo for your hair. Choose from thickening shampoos, silicone free

      View shampoo products 

    • Nexxus conditioner and ingredients
      Conditioners

      Find your perfect conditioner. From curly to straight hair, our conditioners will give your

      View conditioner products

    • Nexxus clean and pure scalp scrub
      Treatments & Masks

      Self care for your hair. Add a scalp scrub, hair mask or treatment into your routine the next

      View hair care products 

    • A set of Nexxus styling products
      Styling

      Salon-crafted styling range. Choose from hair sprays, texture sprays, dry shampoos and

      View styling products

    • Collection of Nexxus products
      Collections

      Get salon quality hair when you use one of our proteinfusion blends. We got you covered, from

      View Nexxus Collections

    View all hair products
    • Damaged Hair
      Damaged Hair

      Nexxus scientists discovered the proteins that damaged hair lacks and have created custom

      View Damaged Hair products

    • Colored Hair
      Colored Hair

      Treat colored hair to our uniquely crafted formulas that replenish color treated hair with the

      View Colored Hair products 

    • Dry & Frizzy Hair
      Dry & Frizzy Hair

      Daily aggressors takes its toll on even the healthiest of hair, smooth and moisturize dry or

      View Dry & Frizzy Hair products

    • Fine & Thin Hair
      Fine & Thin Hair

      Nexxus scientists discovered the proteins that make fine hair strong and created formulas rich

      View Fine & Thin Hair products

    • Model with brown, curly hair
      Curly Hair

      Curly hair needs moisture and nourishment. Whether your curls need moisture, damage repair or

      View Curly Hair products

    • Model with blonde hair
      Blonde Hair

      correct brassy tones and enrich bleached, platinum or silver hair to give a natural or intense

      View Blonde Hair products

    • Model with oily hair
      Oily Hair

      manage and purify oily or greasy hair to recover your hair's natural shine

      View Oily Hair products

    View all Hair Types
    • Our Story
      Our Story

      Learn more about nexxus haircare and our scientific approach to creating customized hair

      Our Story

    • Our Ingredients
      Our Ingredients

      Get to know the ingredients that make up our unique ProteinFusion blends

      Our Ingredients

    Find Your Formula
  • HAIRCARE 101
  • HAIR ANALYSIS
  • Where to buy


  1. Home
  2. Haircare 101
  3. Best at home detox shampoo
woman washing her hair with shampoo

The best at-home detox shampoo for your hair and scalp

Intro

What exactly do detox shampoos do?

When should I use a detox shampoo?

How do you actually detox hair?

What should I use in-between detox shampoo?

You’ve heard of detoxifying your body, but have you ever considered the concept for your hair? While we mostly associate it with something to do after, say, a bachelorette weekend in Vegas, detoxing is something your hair can benefit from, too.

Over time, dirt, pollution, oil, and products all build up on the scalp and hair, leaving behind a residue that your daily wash alone can’t shift. It’s a bit like keeping a house fresh and clean: you give your counters a quick wipe every day, but you also need to get the rubber gloves out regularly to tackle the real dirt and grime. And just like in your home, if you don’t remove that deep build-up, you’ll quickly notice things don’t look as good as they used to. And if left too long, this build-up can cause serious damage to your hair. If you’re struggling with dull, oily, lifeless hair, it’s likely you’re in need of a good hair detox.

What exactly do detox shampoos do?

Detox shampoos (sometimes called clarifying shampoos) deep clean, cutting through the oil, dirt, and product build-up and flushing them out of your hair and scalp. They dislodge the dirt and grime your regular shampoo can’t get to and break down oils that would otherwise be left to build up and weaken strands.

Nexxus’ Clean & Pure range is specifically designed to gently cleanse in this way. Thanks to its 0% silicones, sulfates, dyes, and parabens formula, it doesn’t leave any residue on the hair (all of those elements are known to leave behind build-up, no matter how much you rinse). Then, the PROTEINFUSION™ blend formula injects strength back into your hair by way of elastin protein and marine minerals, and other nourishing ingredients.

When should I use a detox shampoo?

Depending on your hair type and the product, you should use a detox shampoo anywhere from daily to once a month.

Those with oily hair are likely to need a hair detox at least every week or so, as oil builds up more quickly in greasier hair. It’s also likely you're using dry shampoo regularly, which can lead to residue build-up on the scalp.

If your hair is on the drier side, or if you have curls or coils, your hair naturally lacks moisture, so a once-a-month detox is probably sufficient for you. But while you may need a hair detox less often than those with oily hair, they are just as important for you. Why? People with drier hair tend to use more products that create build-ups, such as hydrating and finishing creams, and hair spray. So even though you need to do it less often, don’t be tempted to skip the detox step in your hair routine.

The Nexxus Clean & Pure range is so gentle and lightweight, it’s formulated for safe daily use which is perfect if styling products feature heavily in your daily hair care.

How do you actually detox hair?

Put down the green juice – it won’t help you here! Detoxifying hair products come in a few different forms, such as cleansers or scrubs. You use the Nexxus Clean & Pure Nourishing Detox Shampoo and Conditioner just as you would any cleanser and conditioner in the shower, while the Clean & Pure Invigorating Detox Scalp Scrub has the consistency of an exfoliator you might associate more with your skincare products.

The scrub works by physically dislodging embedded dirt that a traditional shampoo just can’t get to, and can be used alone in place of shampoo, or as a pre-treatment before your Clean & Pure Shampoo. Simply massage into the scalp until the particles fully dissolve into a light lather. And it must be said: the feeling of freshness you feel after using a scalp scrub for the first time will likely have you wondering why you didn’t try one sooner.

If the idea of a scrub sounds a little harsh, it’s reassuring to know Nexxus’ version not only has a 0% silicones, dyes, and parabens formula, but also 0% sulfates, so it won’t dry your hair out.

What should I use in-between detox shampoo?

Your scalp doesn’t require a deep clean or detox at every wash, but you do want to choose a shampoo and conditioner that will leave little to no residue behind (as the environment and styling products are probably doing enough of that!). Nexxus created the Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner to ensure your hair gets the moisture it needs (thanks to the hydrating and strengthening PROTEINFUSION™ blend) without residue and build-up.

Featured Products

Nexxus Clean & Pure Nourishing Hair Detox Shampoo - Product Image packshot

Nexxus Clean & Pure Nourishing Hair Detox Shampoo

Nexxus Clean & Pure Nourishing Detox Conditioner - Product Image packshot

Nexxus Clean & Pure Nourishing Detox Conditioner

Nexxus Clean & Pure Exfoliating Scalp Scrub - Product Image packshot

Nexxus Clean & Pure Exfoliating Scalp Scrub

Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo for Oily Hair - Product Image packshot

Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo for Oily Hair

Nexxus Hydra-Light Lightweight Moisture Conditioner for Oily Hair - Product Image packshot

Nexxus Hydra-Light Lightweight Moisture Conditioner for Oily Hair

  1. slide 1
  2. slide 2
  3. slide 3
  4. slide 4
  5. slide 5

Related Articles

  • 7 healthy hair and scalp heroes your daily routine needs
    7 healthy hair and scalp heroes your daily routine needs
    Easy, everyday tweaks to level up your hair health
  • What is a scalp cleanse, scrub and detox & do you need them?
    What is a scalp cleanse, scrub and detox & do you need them?
    There's a variety of products designed to improve scalp health. What's the difference between them? What they do? Find the best one for your hair here.
  • Our Guide To Clarifying Shampoo For Colored Hair
    Our Guide To Clarifying Shampoo For Colored Hair
    Colored hair may need an additional deep cleanse. Discover & read if you should be clarifying your hair & what can cause build up in hair and scalp here!
  • why-we-added-this-hair-science-to-all-our-products
    Best shampoo for oily hair: Meet Nexxus’ Clean & Pure and Hydra-Light ranges
    Nexxus’ Clean & Pure range is designed to detox the scalp, reducing build-up, while Hydra-Light moisturizes without weighing hair down.
  1. slide 1
  2. slide 2
  3. slide 3
  4. slide 4
Locale Icon
  • Location

    us United States
right arrow
About Nexxus
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility
Legal
    • Privacy Notice
    • Terms of Use
    • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
    • Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy
    • Limit Use of My Sensitive Personal Information
    • Voluntary Recall
Smart Label
Facebook Icon
Instagram Icon
Youtube Icon
Twitter Icon
Pinterest Icon
  • + 1-877-404-4958
Unilever logo Open in a new window

© 2025 Unilever. All Rights Reserved.


This website is directed only to U.S. consumers for products and services of Unilever United States.
This website is not directed to consumers outside of the U.S.

Don't miss out! Enter your email for Nexxus coupons, beauty news, expert how-tos & more!

Continue