deeply cleansing formula gently breaks down buildup, oil, dirt + sweat
This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.
—
Stated by brand
Can’t be confirmed from label.
amika · Reset
Reset Clarifying Gel Shampoo
Shampoo / Clarifying, deep-cleaning
- Shampoo
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Protein-free
- Vegan · label states
- Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent:
Notes: fresh.
Manufacturer page: loveamika.com
Personal fit
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Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
All types
Not in your profile
Moisture level
Moderate
Not in your profile
Cleansing strength
Strong
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
Moderate
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Medium
Not in your profile
Fragrance
Present
Not in your profile
Protein
None
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
None
Not in your profile
Clarifying wash needed
Low
Not in your profile
Scent
Fresh & airyStrength not recorded
Not in your profile
Show all 23 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
Sulfates
None listed
Not in your profile
Parabens / preservatives
None of these listed
Not in your profile
Essential oils
None listed
Not in your profile
Fast-drying alcohol
None
Not in your profile
Vegan / cruelty-free
Vegan · label statesCruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Vegan · label states
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
None
Not in your profile
UV filter
None listed
Not in your profile
pH adjusted
Adjusted
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
36 ingredientsA long list
Not in your profile
Price tier
Salon
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
Brand websiteOne channel
Not in your profile
The consultation builds your hair profile, then reads every factor in this table against it — and tells you where this product fits, or what to use instead.
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Your avoid-list
Same job for less elsewhere
$4.48/oz at 6.7 oz — more than 92% of the 805 shampoos , which mostly run $0.81–3.01/oz.
Great for
Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Maybe skip if
this product carries a scent
Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
Hard waterno chelator here to bind the minerals
Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Cleansing strength
Strong
Removes oil, buildup, and most residue — a reset wash.
Expected lather
High
Thick foam that spreads quickly through the hair.
Slip and detangling
Moderate
Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list.
Water-binding (humectants)
Moderate
Humectants in the working part of the formula.
Scalp active
None
No over-the-counter scalp active.
Hard-water defence
None
No chelating agent in the list.
Needs detergent to remove
No
Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.
Protein
None
No protein or amino acids in the list.
Fragrance
Present
Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.
from the formula
stated by the brand
reported by reviewers
Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients plus anything lower down that changes a decision. These chips name what an ingredient does — they are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterWater/Eau/Aqua | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate | olefin sulfonate cleanser | — | Cleanses |
| Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate | amphoteric cleanser | — | Cleanses |
| Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Softens |
| Citric Acid | pH adjuster | Fine-tunes the pH | pH balancer |
| Glycerin | humectant | Adds a little water-binding | Moisturizes |
| MontmorilloniteMontmorillonite (Pink Clay/Argile Rose) | clay | A little absorbency | Neutral |
| Illite | clay | A little absorbency | Neutral |
| FragranceFragrance/Parfum | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Hydroxycitronellal | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Limonene | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. No protein — a moisture formula, not a repair one. Fragrance is on the label. Vegan and cruelty-free.
Full ingredient list (36)
US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Annotations keep three readings separate: the ingredient's general function, its role in this product type, and what its position can support.
-
1
Water
· Water/Eau/Aqua
General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
General function
A strong non-sulfate detergent used in "sulfate-free" shampoos. It cleans about as thoroughly as a sulfate despite the label difference.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
PubChemMay suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesA strong detergent with no sulfate on the label. It removes deposited films about as completely as a sulfate does.
May not suitVery dry or highly damaged hairSulfate-free on the label is a naming fact, not a mildness one: this is an efficient detergent, and hair short of moisture can feel it.
- olefin sulfonate cleanser
- cleanser
-
3
Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate
General function
A very mild cleanser used in baby and sensitive-scalp shampoos.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairMild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairOne of the mildest detergent classes. It is usually there to let a formula lather without a harsher detergent doing the work.
May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesThe mildest detergents are also the least complete: a routine that deposits films needs something stronger periodically.
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
4
Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide
General function
A plant-derived solvent used to dissolve other ingredients and improve feel.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- solvent
- emollient
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
5
Citric Acid
General function
Used to bring the product to a slightly acidic pH, which helps the cuticle lie flat. It is almost always near the end of the list.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
International Journal of TrichologyMay suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesHolds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairThe acid side of pH adjustment, and the reason it matters is measured: alkaline formulas raise the fibre's surface negative charge, increase friction between strands and lift the scales, while lower-pH ones do the reverse.
May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hairWhere a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
6
Glycerin
General function
A small water-loving molecule that draws moisture into the hair and holds it there. It is the most common softening ingredient in conditioners and leave-ins.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
Scientific ReportsMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairHigh-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairBinds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairWater moves both ways. Measured across concentrations, glycerin solutions give water up in some conditions and take it from the air in others. What it does for you depends on how much of it is there and on the air around it.
- humectant
-
7
Montmorillonite
· Montmorillonite (Pink Clay/Argile Rose)
General function
A clay used for oil absorption and matte texture.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairAbsorbs oil and adds texture, which is what gives fine hair grip at the root instead of slip.
- clay
- powder
-
8
Illite
General function
A mineral clay that absorbs oil and adds slip. In hair products it is used for oil control and texture.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairAbsorbs oil and adds texture, which is what gives fine hair grip at the root instead of slip.
- clay
- absorbent
-
9
Charcoal Powder
· Charcoal (Charbon) Powder
General function
Activated charcoal, used to absorb oil and for a clarifying claim. It also tints the product black.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA dry powder takes up oil and adds friction between strands, which is most of what root lift in fine hair actually is.
- absorbent
- powder
-
10
Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn/Argousier)Fruit/Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
11
Tropaeolum Majus (Indian Cress/Capucine) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
- botanical extract
-
12
Melia Azadirachta (Neem/Margousier) Flower Extract
- botanical extract
-
13
Corallina Officinalis Extract
- botanical extract
-
14
Coccinia Indica (Ivy Gourd/Courge Écarlate) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
15
Melia Azadirachta (Neem/Margousier) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
-
16
Solanum Melongena (Eggplant/Aubergine) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
17
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
- botanical extract
-
18
Ocimum Sanctum (Holy Basil/ Basilic Sacré Herbe) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
-
19
Curcuma Longa (Turmeric/Safran Des Indes) Root Extract
- botanical extract
-
20
Tocopheryl Acetate
· Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E/Vitamine E)
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
21
Tocopherol
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
22
Panthenol
General function
Provitamin B5. It draws in water and penetrates the strand a little, which is why it is the standard ingredient for softness and shine claims.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairIt hydrates without adding oil or a film, which is the combination fine hair usually needs.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA humectant that also penetrates the cuticle, so it holds water inside the strand rather than only on the surface.
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
23
Ethylhexylglycerin
General function
A preservative booster that also adds a little softness. Almost always paired with phenoxyethanol.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- preservative
- emollient
-
24
Coco-Glucoside
General function
A sugar-derived, low-foaming cleanser used in gentle and curly-method shampoos.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairMild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA sugar-derived non-ionic detergent, among the gentlest in use. It cleanses with little foam of its own and little sebum removal.
May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesGentle cleansing leaves water-insoluble deposits largely in place; they come off with a stronger wash, not this one.
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
25
Glyceryl Oleate
General function
An emulsifier that also softens, often added to make a cleanser feel less stripping.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
26
Propylene Glycol
General function
A small humectant and solvent that keeps formulas stable and helps active ingredients spread.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairLight and water-binding rather than oily, so it hydrates without contributing weight.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
- humectant
- solvent
- 27 Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
-
28
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
General function
A conditioning polymer made from guar bean gum. It deposits during rinsing, which is why sulfate shampoos can still leave hair soft.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdGums thicken and set soft, which gives definition that bends rather than a rigid cast.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairCationic conditioners bind to the negatively charged damaged cuticle, laying it flat and cutting the friction that causes combing breakage.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingA styling polymer dries into a film across the strands, which is what makes a shape hold instead of relax.
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
29
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
- antioxidant
-
30
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
31
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
32
Benzoic Acid
- preservative
-
33
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
34
Fragrance
· Fragrance/Parfum
General function
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
35
Hydroxycitronellal
General function
A soft floral fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
36
Limonene
General function
A citrus-smelling fragrance component that EU rules require to be named separately because some people react to it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
What the whole list adds up to
- 9 botanical extracts
- 5 preservatives
- 4 emollients
- 3 solvents
- 3 cleansers
- 3 humectants
- 3 antioxidants
- 3 vitamins
- 3 fragrances
- 2 clays
- 2 powders
- 2 absorbents
- 2 named fragrance allergens
- 1 olefin sulfonate cleanser
Ingredient list captured 2026-08-22. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 6.7 oz
Seen at
$30
Good value under
$5
Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $5 line; products that do this job typically go for about $6 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it1 listing · 1 store
-
amika DTC (loveamika.com)
$30.006.7 oz · $4.48/ozAug 22Lowest per oz
Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.
How we work this out
- 6.7 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
- Seen at $30 is the price we have observed for the 6.7 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
- Good value under $5 comes from the 7 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.82/oz; at 6.7 oz that is $5. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $6 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 6.7 oz.
Formula
10
Formula score
10 of 10
This is a complete shampoo formula. It is also above the range for shampoos per ounce, with 6 close matches selling for meaningfully less.
How the score is counted
- 6 products that do the same job cost less per ounce
- Costs more per ounce than 92% of the 805 shampoos we’ve priced
- Covers 7 of the 7 things a shampoo should do
- Reviewers mention 3 things they like about how it performs
- A working detergent systemWhat actually removes oil and product.3 pts
- Slip for detanglingReduces the force it takes to comb wet hair.2 pts
- A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
- A hard-water chelatorBinds the minerals that dull hair in hard water.1 pt
- A pH adjusterBrings the formula to the acidic pH hair prefers.1 pt
- No detergent-dependent filmNothing that needs a clarifying wash to remove.1 pt
- Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt
The formula score is completeness for the job: the share of the systems this product type is normally built around that we can find in this list, weighted. It is not efficacy, not quality, and it never compares across product types.
Does the same job, for less
Same derived functions — what it cleans, conditions, coats or holds — at a lower cost per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy it can still differ.
CantuLowest cost per oz
Mens 2 in 1 Hair & Body Wash
$0.37/oz $4.11/oz less
- Sulfate-free
- Protein-free
- Deep clean
- Function
- Also
ORSLighter feel
Curlshow Opening Act Curl Shampoo
$0.80/oz $3.68/oz less
- Sulfate-free
- Protein-free
- Deep clean
- Function
- Also
TGINLighter feel
Miracle RepaiRx Strengthening Shampoo
$1.23/oz $3.25/oz less
- Sulfate-free
- Protein-free
- Deep clean
- Function
- Also
See more alternatives in the product library
These are functional neighbours, not personal recommendations — they are close on formula, not chosen for anyone. Get the one that fits your hair, routine, and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
Good for the right person, not the lowest costBest user
Colour-treated hair — for washing without sulfates and a protein-free formula
Biggest tradeoff
Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance, dry or damaged hair, or soft, over-stretchy hair that needs protein
Best alternative if not
Cantu Mens 2 in 1 Hair & Body Wash — for similar results at a lower price
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Claims check
What the brand says, against what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when the ingredient list actually speaks to it; everything else stays "stated by the brand", which is not a criticism — most claims simply cannot be read off a label.
1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
1
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
1
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
leaves strands feeling weightless + revived, not stripped
A mid-weight formula: light on coarse hair, noticeable on fine hair.
- Water
- Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide
Partly supported
Depends how fine your hair is.
cruelty-free, certified vegan formula
Our researched record has this brand or product as vegan.
—
Supported
Matches our researched record.
How to read this
We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula — not marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
Reviewers
What people report
Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.
Reviewers with oily scalps report it cleans the scalp thoroughly (squeaky-clean feel) without stripping or drying out the hair.
oily-scalp/blonde reviewersThe tingly, spa-like sensory feel of the gel-to-foam lather during application is a recurring positive callout.
general reviewersReviewers using it weekly as a clarifying step report a noticeable difference in buildup removal versus their regular shampoo routine.
weekly-clarifying-step reviewersOne reviewer with thick hair and a diagnosed scalp condition (seborrheic dermatitis) found daily use made hair oilier and did not recommend it for thick hair used every day.
thick-hair reviewer with scalp condition, used more frequently than the recommended weekly cadenceMore from amika
How this page was made
- Everything above is generated from our researched product record — identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. No part of this page is written per product.
- The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
- Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
- The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
- 4 sources consulted for this product (3 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-25.
- Ingredient references are linked for 12 of 17 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are conditional formulation guidance, not a conclusion about the finished product or about you.
- We have not tested this product in a lab and we do not physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list; behaviour claims are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v22. Record last updated 2026-08-25.