Side by side
Act+Acre Plant Based Stem Cell Conditioner™ vs Olaplex Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner
88% function match · 7 of the 10 functions we compared match Formula overlap 55%. Act+Acre Plant Based Stem Cell Conditioner™ and Olaplex Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner 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
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When each one is the right call
What each formula is built for, from its own ingredient list.
- Plant Based Stem Cell Conditioner™ — fragrance-free
- Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner — maximum slip
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”.
Olaplex
Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner
- Conditioner
- Prestige
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
Compared at different sizes — 10 oz against 3.38 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.
- Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
- Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
- Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
- Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
- Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
- Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
- Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
- Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
- Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
- Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
- Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
- Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
- Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
- Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
More facts about each one
- sulfate-free
- silicone-free
- fragrance-free
- curly-method compatible
- sulfate-free
- silicone-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
Plant Based Stem Cell Conditioner™
Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner
Full ingredient list — Plant Based Stem Cell Conditioner™ (48)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Cetearyl Alcohol
- fatty alcohol
- emollient
- thickener
-
3
Isoamyl Laurate
- light ester
- emollient
-
4
Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
- wax
- film former
- emollient
-
5
Glycerin
- humectant
-
6
Diheptyl Succinate
- light ester
- emollient
-
7
Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate
- light ester
- emollient
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
8
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
9
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
- conditioning agent
- emulsifier
-
10
Cetrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- cleanser
-
11
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
- light ester
- emollient
-
12
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- light ester
- emollient
-
13
Behentrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- cleanser
-
14
Arachidyl Alcohol
- fatty alcohol
- emollient
- thickener
-
15
Panthenol
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
16
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
17
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
- wax
- emollient
-
18
Behenyl Alcohol
- fatty alcohol
- emollient
- thickener
-
19
Ceteareth-20
- emulsifier
-
20
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract
- botanical extract
- antioxidant
-
21
Dipropylene Glycol
- humectant
- solvent
-
22
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
23
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
- butter
- emollient
- sealant
-
24
Arachidyl Glucoside
- cleanser
-
25
Sclerotium Gum
- film former
- gum
- thickener
-
26
Hydroxyethylcellulose
- gum
- thickener
- film former
-
27
Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
28
Caprylyl Glycol
- preservative
- humectant
-
29
Isopropyl Alcohol
- drying alcohol
- solvent
-
30
Tocopheryl Acetate
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
31
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
- hard-water chelator
-
32
Ethylhexylglycerin
- preservative
- emollient
-
33
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
34
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract
- botanical extract
-
35
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
36
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
- film former
- emollient
-
37
Tocopherol
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
38
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
- antioxidant
-
39
Sodium Acetate
- salt
- pH adjuster
-
40
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
41
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
42
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
43
Cellulose
- thickener
- gum
-
44
Linalool
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
45
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
- botanical extract
-
46
Xanthan Gum
- gum
- thickener
- film former
-
47
Lecithin
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
48
Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster
Full ingredient list — Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner (62)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Cetearyl Alcohol
- fatty alcohol
- emollient
- thickener
-
3
Glycerin
- humectant
-
4
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
- conditioning agent
- emulsifier
-
5
C13-15 Alkane
- emollient
- solvent
-
6
Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
- conditioning agent
-
7
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
- light ester
- emollient
-
8
Cetyl Esters
- light ester
- emollient
- thickener
-
9
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
- emollient
- oil
-
10
Polyquaternium-37
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
- thickener
-
11
Cetrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- cleanser
-
12
Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
-
13
Polyester-37
- film former
- polymer
-
14
SH-Oligopeptide-281 SP
- protein
-
15
Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes
- oil
- emollient
-
16
Panthenol
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
17
Polyquaternium-10
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
18
Quaternium-87
- conditioning agent
-
19
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
- botanical extract
-
20
Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
-
21
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
22
Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Extract
- gum
- film former
- botanical extract
-
23
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
- humectant
-
24
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
25
Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
26
Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
27
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax
- wax
- film former
-
28
Jojoba Esters
- wax
- light ester
- emollient
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
29
Tocopherol
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
30
Pentylene Glycol
- humectant
- solvent
- preservative
-
31
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
- emollient
- sealant
-
32
Acacia Senegal Gum
- gum
- thickener
-
33
Propanediol
- humectant
- solvent
-
34
Ethyl Linoleate
- light ester
- emollient
-
35
Ethyl Oleate
- light ester
- emollient
-
36
Caprylic Acid
- preservative
- emulsifier
-
37
Xylitol
- humectant
-
38
Lactic Acid
- pH adjuster
- humectant
- exfoliant
-
39
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
40
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
- emulsifier
-
41
Hydroxypropylcellulose
- gum
- thickener
-
42
Ethylhexylglycerin
- preservative
- emollient
-
43
Polyglycerin-3
- humectant
-
44
styrene/butadiene copolymer
- film former
- polymer
-
45
Propylene Glycol
- humectant
- solvent
-
46
Phenethyl Alcohol
- preservative
- fragrance
-
47
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
- antioxidant
-
48
Fragrance
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
49
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
50
Chlorphenesin
- preservative
-
51
Sodium Chloride
- salt
- thickener
-
52
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
53
Gluconolactone
- humectant
- exfoliant
- hard-water chelator
-
54
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
55
Benzyl Alcohol
- preservative
- solvent
-
56
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
57
Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster
-
58
Citral
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
59
Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
60
Hexyl Cinnamal
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
61
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
62
Menthol
- fragrance
- active
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.
Plant Based Stem Cell Conditioner™
Supports scalp health
Stated by brandDepends on your scalp.Promotes thicker, fuller-looking hair
Stated by brandNot something a label can show.
Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner
Instantly strong, infinitely defined, 7-day hydrated curls
SupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.Clinically proven: stronger hair/less breakage in 1 use; defined curl pattern in 1 use
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.50% less frizz in high humidity; 96% agree hair was easier to detangle
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.Seals the cuticle to lock in hydration and block out damage and frizz
SupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
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.
Olaplex Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner draws complaints about weight and breakage.
Plant Based Stem Cell Conditioner™
Visible results reported after the very first use
Scent is called out as a strong positive
Reviewers describe hair as noticeably softer and more "luscious" with continued use
A reviewer found the system drying overall despite the conditioning step
Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner
Reviewers with curly hair describe the conditioner as rich and moisturizing yet rinsing out cleanly without weighing curls down
curly-hair reviewersReviewers using the full Nº.4/Nº.5 curl system together report improved curl definition and reduced frizz, including on chemically-altered or post-chemo curl texture
reviewers with atypical/newly-curly hair textureReviewers report hair feels noticeably softer, more hydrated, and easier to detangle/comb through after use
A minority of reviewers report disappointment relative to Olaplex's core Bond Maintenance line, describing hair left feeling coarse/hay-like
Some reviewers with low-porosity or fine/oily hair report the system feels heavy or greasy and does not work well for their hair type
low-porosity/fine or oily hair reviewersPrice 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.
$4.20/oz vs $4.73/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.
Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 689 conditioners 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.
Plant Based Stem Cell Conditioner™ · Nº.5CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner · All conditioners 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.
- 9 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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