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Paul Mitchell

Clear Essential Shampoo

Shampoo / Everyday cleanser, balanced

  • Shampoo
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Vegan · label states
  • Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size10.14 fl oz
Price$20seen at one store · 10.14 oz
Price / oz$1.97/ozat 10.14 oz
Where to buy1 store

Manufacturer page: paulmitchell.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

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Upper-mid price for a shampoo

$1.97/oz at 10.14 oz — more than 61% of the 817 shampoos , which mostly run $0.81–3.01/oz. The cost less.

Price and stores

Great for

no fragrance (parfum) on the label
Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list

Maybe skip if

Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
Hard waterno chelator here to bind the minerals
Picking it up locallywe have it recorded in one channel only

Whether this much cleansing is right for you depends on how fast your scalp oils, how much product you layer, and your water — that is what the consultation works out.

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 Moderate

Removes oil and product; leaves some conditioning behind.

Expected lather Moderate

An ordinary shampoo lather.

Slip and detangling High

Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula.

Water-binding (humectants) None found

No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair.

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 None listed

No fragrance is listed.

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.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
WaterWater (Aqua, Eau) solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate mild anionic cleanser — Cleanses
Cocamidopropyl Betaine amphoteric cleanser — Cleanses
Cocamide MIPA secondary cleanser Softens the main detergent Cleanses
Ethylhexylglycerin preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Softens
Polyquaternium-10 conditioning agent A little conditioning left behind Detangles
Citric Acid pH adjuster Fine-tunes the pH pH balancer
Phenoxyethanol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Protein-free: this is built for moisture rather than for strengthening. Recorded as vegan and cruelty-free.
Full ingredient list (8)

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 (Aqua, Eau)
    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 ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    • solvent
  • 2 Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
    General function

    A gentle cleanser that leaves a soft after-feel; often paired with stronger detergents.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitCurls or waves needing flexible hold

    The detergent class most curl routines are built around: it lathers and cleanses without stripping the strand back to bare.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    A gentler detergent leaves more of the surface oil that slows water loss from coarse or porous hair.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Cleanses with less sebum removal than a sulfate detergent, so hair that is short of moisture keeps more of it through the wash.

    PubChem
    • mild anionic cleanser
    • cleanser
  • 3 Cocamidopropyl Betaine
    General function

    A mild coconut-derived co-cleanser that boosts foam and softens the effect of stronger detergents. It appears in most shampoos, gentle or not.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Mild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.

    May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    The mildest detergents are also the least complete: a routine that deposits films needs something stronger periodically.

    DependsVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Among the mildest detergents in use — it is what baby shampoos are built on — but it is almost always the second detergent in a formula. How much a wash strips is still decided by the primary detergent listed above it.

    Indian Journal of Dermatology
    • amphoteric cleanser
    • secondary cleanser
    • cleanser
  • 4 Cocamide MIPA
    General function

    A coconut-derived thickener that stabilises shampoo foam and gives the liquid its body.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Mild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A 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 routines

    Gentle cleansing leaves water-insoluble deposits largely in place; they come off with a stronger wash, not this one.

    • secondary cleanser
    • nonionic cleanser
    • thickener
  • ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
  • 5 Ethylhexylglycerin
    General function

    A preservative booster that also adds a little softness. Almost always paired with phenoxyethanol.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It 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 hair

    Emollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.

    PubChem
    • preservative
    • emollient
  • 6 Polyquaternium-10
    General function

    A cellulose-based conditioning polymer that leaves a thin, static-reducing film. Very common in shampoos as the ingredient that keeps them from stripping.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It 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 hold

    Cationic polymers hold a curl loosely and stay soft, which is why they turn up in definition products rather than firm-hold ones.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    Film formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.

    • conditioning agent
    • film former
    • polymer
  • 7 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 zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Holds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    The 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 hair

    Where a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.

    International Journal of Trichology
    • pH adjuster
    • hard-water chelator
  • 8 Phenoxyethanol
    General function

    The most common modern preservative; it keeps the product free of bacteria and mould. It sits well below 1% of the formula.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    PubChem
    • preservative

What the whole list adds up to

  • 2 cleansers
  • 2 secondary cleansers
  • 2 preservatives
  • 1 solvent
  • 1 mild anionic cleanser
  • 1 amphoteric cleanser
  • 1 nonionic cleanser
  • 1 thickener
  • 1 emollient
  • 1 conditioning agent
  • 1 film former
  • 1 polymer
  • 1 pH adjuster
  • 1 hard-water chelator

Ingredient list captured 2026-09-08. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 10.14 oz

Seen at $20 1 store · checked Sep 8
Good value under $7 Under $0.65/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 8 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $7 line; products that do this job typically go for about $7 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it1 listing · 1 store

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
  1. 10.14 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.
  2. Seen at $20 is the price we have observed for the 10.14 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $7 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.65/oz; at 10.14 oz that is $7. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $7 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 10.14 oz.

Formula

Formula score
9 of 10

The formula carries the systems a shampoo is built around, and it sits in the middle of the range for shampoos per ounce.

How the score is counted
  • 7 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs more per ounce than 61% of the 817 shampoos we’ve priced
  • Covers 6 of the 7 things a shampoo should do
  • Reviewers mention 2 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.

Head & ShouldersClosest function BARE Pure Clean 2in1 Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner, Anti-Dandruff Treatment $1.23/oz $0.74/oz less
  • Budget
Function
  • Film formers
Also
  • Drugstore tier
  • 13.5 oz bottle
Compare
NativeLowest cost per oz Native Daily Clean Shampoo - Citrus & Herbal Musk $0.67/oz $1.30/oz less
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
  • Deep clean
· Close function
Function
  • Cleansing strength
  • Slip and detangling
Also
  • Drugstore tier
  • 16.5 oz bottle
Compare
NativeLighter feel Native Daily Clean Shampoo - Santal & Leather $0.67/oz $1.30/oz less
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
  • Deep clean
· Close function
Function
  • Cleansing strength
  • Slip and detangling
Also
  • Woody scent
  • Drugstore tier
  • 16.5 oz bottle
Compare

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

Suits every hair pattern

Final decision

Should you buy it?

A solid pick for the hair it suits
Best user

People sensitive to fragrance — for a formula with no added fragrance and washing without sulfates

Biggest tradeoff

Less suited to soft, over-stretchy hair that needs protein, hard water without a chelating wash, or anyone who wants to pick it up locally

Best alternative if not

Head & Shoulders BARE Pure Clean 2in1 Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner, Anti-Dandruff Treatment — 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.

4
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
4
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Made Without Gluten

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Sulfate Free

No sulfate detergents appear in the ingredient list.

—

Supported

Gentler on colour and coils.

Color Safe

It avoids sulfate detergents, which are the usual cause of fast fade.

  • Polyquaternium-10
Supported

Less fade per wash.

Vegan

Our researched record has this brand or product as vegan.

—

Supported

Matches our researched record.

Made With Just 8 Essential Ingredients

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Dermatologist and pediatrician-tested

A brand-run study. We report it as stated and do not repeat the number as fact.

—

Stated by brand

Only the brand’s testing shows this.

Recognized by the National Eczema Association with the Seal of Acceptance™

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Fragrance-free and dye-free

No fragrance is listed.

—

Supported

Safer for scent-sensitive scalps.

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.

Several reviewers describe the gel-like formula as lathering gently and rinsing to a silky finish that feels like it does not need a separate conditioner.

general reviewers describing texture and rinse-out feel

Reviewers with sensitive scalps, fragrance allergies or skin conditions say the fragrance-free, dye-free formula does not itch or irritate the way other shampoos have.

reviewers with scalp sensitivity or allergies

Some reviewers with wavy or curly hair say it leaves hair dry, frizzy or limp, and suggest it suits straight hair better.

wavy or curly-haired reviewers

A handful of reviewers with oily or fine hair felt it did not lather or cleanse strongly enough, needing multiple washes to feel fully clean.

oily or fine-haired reviewers

More from Paul Mitchell

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 (2 manufacturer or regulatory, 0 retailer, 2 editorial), last checked 2026-09-08.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 4 of 6 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 2026-09-08.

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