Good hair starts with clean hair, and Chris McMillan has built his new launch around that idea. The iconic celebrity hairstylist’s Clarifying Shampoo ($38.00) is designed to rinse away product buildup and excess oil without the stripped, squeaky feeling clarifying formulas are known for.
The Formula
The sulfate-free cleanser also looks after the scalp. The key ingredients:
- Encapsulated Niacinamide supports scalp barrier health and balances oil production.
- Sodium Sulfonate is the sulfate-free cleansing agent that removes buildup without stripping.
- Peppermint Oil stimulates the scalp to increase blood flow for healthier hair.
The shampoo also features HS3, McMillan’s proprietary blend of active ingredients. It protects hair from heat up to 450°F, maximizes shine, and fortifies the cuticle. The technology seals hair from the outside in, helping protect against tension from heat styling as well as external aggressors like UV, sun damage, and pollution. It works on all hair types, so yes, you can use those hot tools.
How To Use
- Use one to two times per week, as needed.
- Apply to wet hair and massage into the scalp for at least one minute.
- Rinse and repeat two to three times for a more intense cleanse.
- Condition from mid-lengths to ends.
We caught up with McMillan to hear why he made it, how to use it, and which shampooing habits he wishes people would drop.
Keep reading for more.
The Tease: From a stylist’s perspective, how much does properly clarifying the hair impact everything that comes afterward, from a blowout to product performance and the finished style?
Chris McMillan: It’s all about Step 0, which is a proper shampoo, the kind of shampoo you would get in a salon. Starting with really clean hair sets the foundation for everything that comes afterward, from how your products perform to the blowout and finished style.
Clarifying shampoos have a reputation for being harsh or stripping. What did you do differently with The Clarifying Shampoo, and why was maintaining scalp and hair health so important to the formula?
McMillan: I work a lot with extension installs, and clarifying shampoos play a big part in properly prepping the hair. The detox shampoos I was using before were always too stripping, so one of my goals was to tackle that and create a clarifying shampoo that really cleans the hair without being overly harsh, and that’s safe for extensions.
People also just don’t wash their hair enough these days. We’re using more products and going longer between washes, so buildup happens. I wanted to create a clarifying shampoo that could really help combat that buildup while still being mindful of the health of the hair and scalp.
You recommend lathering two or three times for a more intensive cleanse and really focusing the shampoo on the scalp. What shampooing habits do you see, even among professionals, that you wish people would rethink?
McMillan: Not giving a proper shampoo. Even in my salon, it’s something I teach new assistants over and over and over again. You really need to get in there and focus on areas people tend to miss, especially around the nape of the neck and the occipital bone, where so much of your hair is concentrated. Those are the areas I see both professionals and consumers missing all the time.
With clients using more dry shampoo, oils, leave-ins and styling products than ever, has buildup changed the way you approach hair prep? Where do you think clarifying fits into the modern stylist’s toolkit?
McMillan: People are using more products than ever, while at the same time washing their hair less frequently. Dry shampoo, oils, leave-ins, and styling products all build up over time, so clarifying has become an essential part of properly prepping the hair. It goes back to Step 0: you need to start with a clean foundation. When you remove that buildup properly, everything you do afterward works better.
Your new wash day rule: shampoo the scalp, condition the ends, and never forget the nape. Grab The Clarifying Shampoo at chrismcmillan.com and give your hair the clean slate it deserves.
