Your hair is the most flexible part of your body; you can curl it, straighten it, and adjust it however you like. It is also believed that having healthy hair is a good indication that your body is healthy. However, as resilient as it is, if you don’t take proper care of your hair and do not provide the nutrients it requires, it might become weak and dull.

When people think about hair health, they either completely forget about their scalp or they don’t pay enough attention to it. So they load it up with dry shampoos and other hair products that result in scalp build-up and weakening of the hair follicles. 

So let’s talk about hair detox and choosing the best hair follicle detox shampoo that can keep your scalp clear and promote healthier hair!

Table of Contents

• What is hair detox?
• How do you know if your hair follicles are clogged?
• How do I detox my hair?
• How do you choose the best hair follicle detox shampoo?
• Tips on hair care after using hair follicle detox shampoo

What is hair detox?

I am sure you have heard the word ‘detox’ several times in your life, but do you know what it really means? Detoxification is the removal of toxic substances from our organs / skin / body. Hair detox is supposed to remove product build-up and dead skin cells, making way for your hair follicles to “breathe” and for your hair to grow at a normal and healthy rate. 

Healthy hair starts at the scalp, so the first step towards achieving hair health should be to focus on the scalp. If you notice that your scalp has excessive build-up or it looks irritated or inflamed, go for a hair detox.

How do you know if your hair follicles are clogged?

If you do not keep your scalp clean and clear, product build-up can become so thick that it results in clogged pores and hair follicles. Here are some signs that your hair follicles are clogged:

• One of the clearest signs of clogged hair follicles is the appearance of tiny bumps or pimples on your scalp. Just like you get acne on your skin, you can get it on your scalp as well. Over time, if not treated properly, these pimples can get very painful and can even cause hair loss.
• Another sign of clogged follicles is experiencing excessive and constant scalp itching, which can be worsened by a bacteria or fungal overgrowth.
• If you notice that your hair products no longer work as they used to, it may be a sign that you have clogged hair follicles.
• If you have clogged hair follicles, you might also notice slow hair growth. 

How do I detox my hair?

Hair detox is the best available solution to your clogged hair follicles. What I have learned from my personal experience is that the best way to detoxify my scalp and hair is to cleanse them really well, using the proper hair care products. I use two products to detoxify my scalp and hair:

It is an amazing way to clarify scalp/hair build-up, purify pores, and rejuvenate hair follicles to help promote hair health. Stay tuned till the end to find out my recommendation for the best hair follicle detox shampoo.

I love applying a DIY clay masks once a month to get rid of scalp build-up.

Ingredients I like to incorporate in the mask are (I don’t necessarily use all of them at once, but rather alternate them):

• Apple cider vinegar;
• Bentonite clay;
• Activated charcoal powder;
• Pure Aloe Vera gel;
• Essential oils such as tea tree, rosemary, and peppermint.

Besides this, I always make sure to deep condition my hair whenever I detoxify it to balance the moisture level of my hair shafts and scalp. I also avoid heavy oils for some time and incorporate lightweight leave-in conditioners into my hair care routine.

And if you want to boost your scalp's circulation and protect it from infections you can add a bit of onion oil.

There is also plenty other ways to use apple cider vinegar in order to detoxify your scalp that you can read about in our apple cider vinegar how-to guide.

How do you choose the best hair follicle detox shampoo?

The active ingredients are the most important things to look for when it comes to choosing the best detox shampoo. Here are my recommendation for the best hair follicle detox shampoos:

WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo & Coconut Oil Conditioner

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is one of my favorite ingredients for hair detox, and this sulfate-free shampoo from WOW incorporates it amazingly well. It frees the hair from product build-up, restores the natural pH of the scalp, calms the scalp and flattens the cuticle, resulting in shiny, bouncy hair. 

Activated Charcoal & Keratin Shampoo

Another great ingredient for hair detox is activated charcoal, and a charcoal-based shampoo that works wonderfully is this truly WOW Activated Charcoal & Keratin Shampoo. It works by absorbing excess sebum and impurities, removing flakes, dirt, dust, and helping clear the scalp. 

WOW's Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo is also a great choice for a clarifying shampoo that nourishes your hair making it soft and shiny.

Tips on hair care after using hair follicle detox shampoo

After detoxifying your hair, it is important to care for it properly. Your hair might need a bit more moisture than usual, so make sure to condition it well with nourishing hair masks and hair tonics that can keep it hydrated.  Picking the right hair care products full of natural ingredients like WOW Skin Science's is a good start. Also, make sure you drink plenty of water.