Shaz & Kiks Balancing Clay Hair Cleansing Shampoo Review

Jan 19, 2024

Published on 8/2/2023 at 5:55 PM

From weekly hair-oil treatments to daily head massages, I do whatever I can to prioritize my hair health from scalp to ends. It's a form of self-care that I've pretty much grown up with. I love my fair share of oils — like the Squigs Gooseberry Delight Hair Oil and Fable & Mane's SahaScalp Amla Soothing Serum — and I use the innovative Shaz & Kiks Back to Your Roots Pre-Wash regularly as a scalp mask. But I won't lie to you: all these treatments, despite being super beneficial for my hair's health, take up a significant chunk of time. Most require a minimum of 20 minutes to soak in, or in many cases, overnight. Yet when I don't keep up with it, I've noticed that my scalp becomes oily, flaky, and just overall irritated and itchy. To restore balance, I'm always looking for a fast-acting solution.

Luckily, one of my friends told me about how life-changing the Shaz & Kiks Unearth Yourself Balancing Clay Hair Cleanser Shampoo ($42) was for her hair-care routine, especially for easy scalp maintenance. After giving it a shot myself, I couldn't agree more. It's done wonders for my scalp and made my daily routine so much easier. Keep reading to see why this unique clay-based shampoo is a staple in my hair-care regimen.

Shaz & Kiks's Balancing Clay Hair Cleanser is truly nothing like I have ever used or seen on the market. I've tried plenty of clarifying shampoos over the years, and even a few specifically targeted for dandruff, but they all left my scalp feeling the same: overly clarified and squeaky clean to the point of being dry. The Balancing Clay Hair Cleanser, on the other hand, makes the skin on my head feel moisturized yet clean and refreshed. Any excess oil around my roots disappears, bringing my scalp to equilibrium and diminishing flakiness in the process. I really noticed its balancing power when I was rocking third-day hair. Usually, by this time, I'm a flaky, itchy mess, but with this clay-based shampoo, my hair had a more balanced oil production that wasn't irritating to the scalp.

The Unearth Yourself cleanser is also a waterless formula, making it more concentrated, so you only need a little bit to give your scalp that deep cleanse. My normal shampoo routine consists of washing twice, but with this, I only need one round of product. This shampoo has also made styling my hair so much more convenient. I can blow-dry with ease while maintaining bounce and volume at the roots. It's a fast and easy way to keep your scalp in check, especially when you don't have time for a full-fledged masking situation.

The Shaz & Kiks Unearth Yourself Balancing Clay Hair Cleanser feels creamy and thick at first. All you need is a small scoop of the concentrated formula before mixing it in your hands with water to form a light lather. Then you can apply it to wet hair, concentrating it on your scalp, and watch it foam like a regular shampoo, thoroughly cleansing your hair. I like to apply the product directly onto my scalp and let my fingers and the jamun berry seeds do the exfoliating. I massage it for a few minutes (because who can resist a relaxing scalp massage?) before bringing it down to the ends of my hair. It washes out like a regular shampoo, and you can follow up with your go-to conditioner or hair mask. I find that I don't need a second cleanse when using this balancing formula, but if you'd still prefer to do one, it's gentle and hydrating enough for it.

For best results, the brand recommends using the editor-backed Back to Your Roots Pre-Wash before and following it up with the Nourishing Naram Conditioner post-cleanse. When using the Back to Your Roots Pre-Wash Treatment first, rinse your hair with water before going in with this shampoo.

As the name suggests, the Shaz & Kiks Unearth Yourself Balancing Clay Hair Cleanser is a balancing cleanser and great for those with scalp concerns like flakiness, buildup, and oiliness. If your scalp leans dry but you're experiencing flakes, this is a great shampoo to integrate into your routine as a weekly clarifying treatment, along with more moisturizing formulas in between. For those with oily scalps, this can essentially become your go-to product for every wash day.

Since the waterless formula is made with primarily natural ingredients, the brand notes that the color and texture can vary, but it won't impact performance. I've used around three jars of this stuff and barely noticed any difference. It's also best to patch test if you have sensitive skin.

The Shaz & Kiks Unearth Yourself Balancing Clay Hair Cleanser Shampoo is available at Sephora and Credo Beauty.

Rating: ★★★★★