Hydration vs. Clarifying Shampoo: Which One Are You In Need of?

I’ll never forget the first time I realized my hair needed different kinds of care depending on the day. On one wash day, I reached for a co-washing conditioner (I used to wash my hair/scalp with conditioner….never again), hoping it would revive my dry curls after a week of protective styling, only to find that no matter how much conditioner I used afterward, my hair still felt heavy and dull. A few days later, I switched to a clarifying shampoo, and suddenly my curls bounced back, soft, defined, and full of life! That’s when it clicked: my natural coily hair doesn’t just need moisture, it also needs balance. Learning when to reach for hydration versus when to hit reset with a clarifying formula completely transformed my routine, and Pattern Beauty’s Hydration Shampoo and Clarifying Shampoo have become my go-to duo for keeping my coils thriving! Both are essentials for a healthy wash routine, but knowing when to use which can make all the difference in how your coils thrive.

This post includes affiliate links, but as always, all thoughts are 100% my own.

When to Reach for Hydration Shampoo

Pattern Beauty’s Hydration Shampoo is your go-to for everyday wash days when your curls need gentle cleansing without stripping away moisture. Coily and curly textures tend to run drier naturally, so keeping hydration locked in is key!

Choose Hydration Shampoo when:

• Your hair feels dry, brittle, or in need of softness. 
• You’ve recently styled with lightweight products like leave-ins or curl creams. 
• You’re washing more frequently (like after workouts). 
• You want your curls to feel refreshed but still moisturized and bouncy. 

Hero moment: The Hydration Shampoo from Pattern is infused with nourishing ingredients that cleanse while keeping your curls juicy and manageable. It’s like giving your coils a tall glass of water every wash day.

When to Reach for Clarifying Shampoo

Even the most moisturizing routine can’t save curls weighed down by product buildup, oils, or environmental residue. That’s when Pattern Beauty’s Clarifying Shampoo comes to the rescue. It’s designed to deeply cleanse the scalp and strands, resetting your hair so it can properly absorb moisture again. 

Choose Clarifying Shampoo when: 

• Your curls feel heavy, greasy, or coated in buildup. 
• Your usual products aren’t working the same (sign your hair isn’t absorbing them). 
• You’ve used heavy stylers, gels, or oils for protective styles. 
• It’s been a while since your last wash day reset. 

Hero moment: Pattern’s Clarifying Shampoo gives that clean slate feel without leaving your hair parched, a must have for coily hair that craves balance. Think of it as pressing “reset” on your curls!

For healthy curls and coils, you don’t need to choose only one, the secret is rotation in your routine. Use Hydration Shampoo for your regular washes to maintain softness, and incorporate Clarifying Shampoo about once or twice a month (or more often if you’re a product-heavy styler or sweat a lot, like me!). Together, they keep your curls clean, nourished, and ready to shine.

✨ Pro Tip: Follow up either shampoo with a deeply moisturizing conditioner to seal the deal. Pattern’s conditioners are curl-approved and pair perfectly with both cleansers.

Tap here to shop my favorite Pattern Beauty Products 

Your hair deserves care that adapts to its needs. With Pattern Beauty’s Hydration Shampoo for moisture and Clarifying Shampoo for resets, you’ve got the perfect tag team to keep your curls healthy, bouncy, and defined, no matter what your wash day calls for. I used to be scared of clarifying shampoos for fear of drying out my strands, but since developing this shampoo routine, my hair and scalp have been thanking me!  Let me know in the comments or message me on IG or TT to tell me how you schedule your shampoos, do you use both a hydrating and clarifying shampoo or just one?