Primarily used by stylists as the priming/clarifying step of amika's professional Smooth Over service, distributed mainly through professional-beauty channels. It also works as a standalone clarifying shampoo for anyone who wants to strip product buildup and get a clean base before styling or coloring, not exclusively for Smooth Over clients.

Regular shampoo doesn't always remove the buildup that styling products, hard-water minerals, or oil leave behind, and a clarifying step does. This one is designed to do that specifically before a smoothing treatment, so the treatment can actually absorb into the hair rather than sit on top of residue. Even without the treatment, an occasional deep-clean wash resets hair that's started to feel weighed down or dull.

Massage through wet hair and rinse thoroughly; repeat if hair is thicker or coarser and needs a second pass. Towel dry. As part of the full Smooth Over service, this shampoo is used first, followed by the Smooth Over Frizz-Fighting Treatment.

It's formulated to actually strip buildup rather than just add shine, so it functions as a true clarifying shampoo, and it works both as a system step and as an occasional standalone reset while being vegan and free of sulfates/parabens. A clarifying shampoo isn't meant for daily use, since frequent stripping can leave hair feeling dry if it isn't followed with conditioner, and it's positioned and distributed as a professional product, which may make it less convenient to repurchase than a mass-market retail shampoo.