Side by side
Act+Acre Balancing Shampoo vs Bosley mendXtend Strengthening Shampoo
91% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 25%. Act+Acre Balancing Shampoo and Bosley mendXtend Strengthening Shampoo share 4 ingredients among each other's most prominent.
Which of these fits your hair?
We check your pattern, moisture need, scalp, fragrance tolerance, weight sensitivity and more against each formula — and say which one lines up.
Your profile at a glance
- Your answers appear here
- Your answers appear here
- Your answers appear here
- Your answers appear here
When each one is the right call
What each formula is built for, from its own ingredient list.
- Balancing Shampoo — fragrance-free
- mendXtend Strengthening Shampoo — colour-treated hair
Side by side
Every trait, aligned
One row per trait, read from each product’s own ingredient list and record. A dash means we have not researched that field for that product — it is not a “no”.
Compared at different sizes — 33.8 oz against 10 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.
- Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
- Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
- Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
- Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
- Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
- Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
- Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
- Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
- Scents bother youthis product carries a light scent
- Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
- Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
- Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
- Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
- Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
More facts about each one
- sulfate-free
- silicone-free
- fragrance-free
- protein-free
- curly-method compatible
- sulfate-free
- silicone-free
- protein-free
- curly-method compatible
Facts as we recorded them. A dash means we have not researched that field for that product — it is not a "no".
The bottom line
The bottom line depends on your hair
Which of these two suits you is a question about your hair, not about them. The consultation answers it — and tells you what your routine needs around it.
$49.00 once, for your consultation and hair profile. No subscription, no required purchases.
The detail behind the table
Where the readings above come from: the ingredient lists themselves, each brand’s claims checked against them, what owners report, and cost per ounce in context.
Shared and distinct ingredients
Shared and distinct ingredients
Computed from the ingredient lists as printed. "Shared" means both lists carry it; where it sits on each label is stated, because position is what tells you how much.
What both formulas carry
What only one of them carries
Balancing Shampoo
Full ingredient list — Balancing Shampoo (43)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
3
Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
- amino acid
- mild anionic cleanser
- humectant
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
4
Triethyl Citrate
- pH adjuster
- preservative
-
5
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
- emulsifier
-
6
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
- starch
- thickener
- film former
-
7
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
8
Glycerin
- humectant
-
9
Acrylates Copolymer
- film former
- polymer
-
10
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
- film former
- polymer
-
11
Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
12
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil (Amaranth)
- botanical extract
-
13
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
14
Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
- fragrance
- botanical extract
-
15
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
16
Caprylyl Glycol
- preservative
- humectant
-
17
Cistus Ladaniferus Leaf/Stem Extract (Rockrose)
- botanical extract
-
18
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
19
Cocamide MIPA
- secondary cleanser
- nonionic cleanser
- thickener
-
20
dimethyl heptenal
- fragrance
-
21
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
22
gamma-nonalactone
- fragrance
-
23
Glycol Distearate
- opacifier
- emollient
-
24
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
25
hexenyl acetate
- fragrance
-
26
Hexylene Glycol
- solvent
- humectant
-
27
ionone
- fragrance
-
28
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
29
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
30
menthyl ethylamido oxalate
- fragrance
-
31
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
32
Panthenol
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
33
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
34
Pogostemon Cablin Oil
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
35
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
36
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
- antioxidant
-
37
Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster
-
38
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
39
Steareth-4
- emulsifier
-
40
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
- hard-water chelator
-
41
Vanillin
- fragrance
-
42
Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
-
43
Xanthan Gum
- gum
- thickener
- film former
Full ingredient list — mendXtend Strengthening Shampoo (43)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
3
Glycerin
- humectant
-
4
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
5
Lauryl Lactyl Lactate
- light ester
- emollient
- conditioning agent
-
6
Decyl Glucoside
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
7
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
8
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
9
Acrylates Copolymer
- film former
- polymer
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
10
Fragrance
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
11
Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract
- botanical extract
-
12
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
13
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
- botanical extract
-
14
Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
15
Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Extract
- botanical extract
-
16
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
- humectant
-
17
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
18
Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
19
Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract
- botanical extract
-
20
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
- gum
- thickener
-
21
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
- botanical extract
-
22
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
23
Hexyl Cinnamal
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
24
Xanthan Gum
- gum
- thickener
- film former
-
25
Tocopherol
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
26
Tocopheryl Acetate
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
27
Lecithin
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
28
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
29
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
30
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
31
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
32
Coco-Glucoside
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
33
Lauryl Glucoside
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
34
Polyquaternium-10
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
35
Chlorphenesin
- preservative
-
36
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
- hard-water chelator
-
37
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
38
Mica
- colourant
- mineral
- opacifier
-
39
Linalool
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
40
Polyquaternium-7
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
41
Titanium Dioxide
- colourant
- opacifier
- mineral
-
42
Menthol
- fragrance
- active
-
43
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
Claims check
What each brand says, against what each formula shows
Claims are quoted from each brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when that product’s ingredient list actually speaks to it.
Balancing Shampoo
Nourishes scalp
SupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.Strengthens hair
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
mendXtend Strengthening Shampoo
Prevents breakage after one use saving up to 1400 hair fibers in 30 days
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.1.5X stronger strands after one use
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.Strengthens strands from innermost hair layers
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.Repairs bleach and heat damage
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.Promotes hair growth
Stated by brandNot something a label can show.
What owners say
What people report
Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings, and we never balance one product’s themes against another’s by inventing them.
Balancing Shampoo
Reviewers say it balances the scalp and leaves it feeling clean
Liked for its mild, low-intensity scent by repeat users
repeat/loyal usersA reviewer using it as part of the dry/damaged hair system said it cleans well and pairs nicely with the mask
Some reviewers note stock/availability issues with other Act+Acre shampoo variants driving them to try this one
mendXtend Strengthening Shampoo
No review themes researched for this product yet.
Price check
Cost per ounce, in context
Cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in. Value labels are computed from that percentile and from how many products that do the same job cost less; they are comparisons, not judgements about a brand.
$1.48/oz vs $1.85/oz — Act+Acre Balancing Shampoo costs about 1.3× more per ounce than Bosley mendXtend Strengthening Shampoo.
Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 817 shampoos with a computable unit price.
Computed from cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced, and from how many products that do the same job cost less. It is a comparison, not a judgement about the brand.
Compare with something else
Close formulas to each of these, as their own comparison pages.
Balancing Shampoo · mendXtend Strengthening Shampoo · All shampoos in the library
How this page was made
- This page is assembled from the same researched records the individual product pages render: identity, each ingredient list as printed, each brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. Nothing on it is written per comparison.
- We do not rank these against each other. Which of them suits you depends on your hair, and that is what the consultation works out.
- The formula similarity percentage is a stored, precomputed number: position-weighted overlap of the two ingredient lists blended with agreement on the attributes we derive. It measures how alike two formulas are, not how well either works.
- 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.
- 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.
- 7 sources were consulted across the products on this page.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice. We do not sell these products and take no placement fees.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
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