Dae Just Launched the Non-Stripping Detox Shampoo of My Dreams

I’ve never liked the word “detox.” I don’t like it when Gwyneth Paltrow says it, I don’t like when “health” influencers throw it around, and I certainly don’t like it when it comes to my haircare. Despite plenty of detox shampoos and scrubs claiming to gently clean hair from product and oil buildup, I'm always left with a stripped scalp and hair that more closely resembles a rat's nest than the clean, silky strands I expect.

But if there's one brand that could change that, it would be Dae. The brand, founded by OG hairfluencer Amber Fillerup Clark, is all about results-driven haircare with a sense of whimsy. The desert-inspired formulas are some of my favorite hair products on the market, so when I heard that they were launching a detox shampoo, my interest was piqued.

Ahead, everything you need to know about the Dae Desert Detox Shampoo, launching December 24—plus my honest review.

The Inspiration

"Desert Detox was a no brainer and something we have been working on for a while," Alyssa Kobel, Dae's VP of brand marketing and creative tells Byrdie. "It is the perfect addition to our signature wash care ritual. We wanted to give our styling clients what they’ve been begging for."

However, the brand wanted to do it the Dae way. "Typically, when it comes to a detox shampoo, it tends to be thought of as a chore or Sunday task—washing the week away," says Kobel. "Not with Desert Detox. You simply can’t wait to reach for this bottle. The scent is intoxicating, the 'goop' is stunning, the lather is so luxurious. We want the steps in your beauty routine and every dae life to become dreamy magical moments, even detox dae."

The Formula

Meant to deeply cleanse hair without drying or stripping, the Desert Detox Shampoo shares a few things in common with the brand's beloved Signature Shampoo. First is Dae's signature citrus scent, with notes of orange blossom and vanilla. Both formulas also include moringa seed oil to help boost keratin production and moisturize dry hair.

The hero ingredient at play in Desert Detox is the brand's "signature desert botanical blend," which hydrates, tames frizz, adds shine, and strengthens and prevents breakage. It also has prickly pear seed oil and cactus flower extract to help nourish and strengthen hair. For best results, the brand recommends using Desert Detox once a week for a deep clean.

Kobel says that when it came to formulating, "the non-negotiables were easy: dreamy performance. For Dae, what that means is that we always want to formulate the best of the best, in this case a beautiful clarifying shampoo, delivering that extra deep clean (aka performance), while also delivering on sensoriality that only Dae can deliver—stunning texture, an intoxicating signature citrus scent, a rich, rich lather," she adds. It was also crucial that it be non-stripping and color-safe. "Ultimately, we wanted to create the dreamiest detox experience. We did it."

My Review

As mentioned, I have never actually found a detox shampoo that I genuinely love. They usually leave my hair stripped, dry, and a tangled mess as soon as I get out of the shower. However, I use Dae's Signature Shampoo every day, so I was down to give this one a try. As soon as I worked the shampoo through my hair, I knew my experience would be different. It instantly bubbled into a frothy, soft lather, and didn't feel chalky or drying on my hair or scalp. I braced myself for tangles to form as the creamsicle-scented shampoo did its thing, but was met with nothing.

After applying conditioner and getting out of the shower, I started to work through my hair with a wet brush, once again waiting for tangles and tugging, but it never came. And once dried, my hair didn't fell stripped or squeaky—my scalp felt super clean, but my strands were soft and shiny. I've been using Desert Detox weekly since November for the perfect Sunday night refresh, or as an extra-deep clean after a flight or lots of styling products. It's safe to say I'm a convert.