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Side by side

Acure Curiously Clarifying Shampoo vs Acure Simply Smoothing Shampoo

99% function match · 10 of the 10 functions we compared match Formula overlap 79%. Acure Curiously Clarifying Shampoo and Acure Simply Smoothing Shampoo share 4 ingredients among each other's most prominent.

Based on your consultation

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.

  • Curiously Clarifying Shampoo — fragrance-free
  • Simply Smoothing Shampoo — dry, thirsty 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”.

Trait
Acure Curiously Clarifying Shampoo — 8 oz container Acure

Curiously Clarifying Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Acure Simply Smoothing Shampoo — 8 oz container Acure

Simply Smoothing Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Moisture-rich
Price, size & price per ounce
$9–11 8 oz · $1.25/oz
$9–10 8 oz · $1.25/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 57% of the 817 shampoos we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 57% of the 817 shampoos we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Moisture level Same
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Cleansing strength
Moderate Removes oil and product; leaves some conditioning behind. Your hair
—
Slip / detangling Same
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
Weight on hair
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
—
Fragrance
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
—
Protein
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
—
Silicone / wax buildup Same
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Low Your hair
Low Your hair
Expected lather Same
Moderate An ordinary shampoo lather. Your hair
Moderate An ordinary shampoo lather. Your hair
Scalp active Same
None No over-the-counter scalp active. Your hair
None No over-the-counter scalp active. Your hair
Hard-water defence Same
Chelators present Chelators are present — they bind hard-water and pool minerals. Your hair
Chelators present Chelators are present — they bind hard-water and pool minerals. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • 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
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Hard waterand swimmers dealing with mineral deposit
  • Cuticle-smoothing pHa pH adjuster brings it to the acidic range hair prefers
  • Vegan and cruelty-freeour researched record has it as both
Why you might skip it
  • 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
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Picking it up locallywe have it recorded in one channel only
from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
More facts about each one
Type
Shampoo
Shampoo
Where to buy
Brand website
Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
—
Vegan
Vegan · label states
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · label states
Cruelty-free · label states

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.

Take the consultation

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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

IngredientCuriously Clarifying ShampooSimply Smoothing Shampoo
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleanses
#2Leading
#2Leading
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
Cleanses
#3Leading
#3Leading
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Moisturizes
#4Supporting
#4Supporting
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#5Supporting
#5Supporting
Levulinic Acid
pH balancer
#21Below the 1% line
#25Below the 1% line
Sodium Levulinate
Stabilizes
#23Below the 1% line
#26Below the 1% line
Potassium Sorbate
Stabilizes
#30Below the 1% line
#33Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Curiously Clarifying Shampoo

Simply Smoothing Shampoo

Full ingredient list — Curiously Clarifying Shampoo (35)
Full ingredient list — Simply Smoothing Shampoo (39)

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.

VerdictsCuriously Clarifying ShampooSimply Smoothing Shampoo
Supported
1
2
Partly supported
1
0
Stated by brand
3
4
Potential conflict
0
0
100% Vegan
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
Cruelty-free
SupportedMatches our researched record.
SupportedMatches our researched record.

Curiously Clarifying Shampoo

  • Gently removes buildup and excess oil without stripping moisturePartly supportedLight residue, not heavy build-up.
  • Leaves hair feeling light, refreshed, and healthyStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Suitable for all hair typesStated by brandSee the fit panel instead.

Simply Smoothing Shampoo

  • Paraben-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • Sulfate-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Climate Neutral CertifiedStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Clinically tested ingredientsStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.

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.

Both praised for a light feel.

Curiously Clarifying Shampoo

Has a fresh and pleasant scent that customers specifically appreciate.

One reviewer noted purchasing the product specifically for its refreshing almond scent.

Improves hair texture and appearance with regular use.

Reviewers with initially dry or flat hair reported noticeable improvements after using this product.

Becomes customers' preferred shampoo after trying other brands and keeps them coming back.

Reviewers described it as their favorite, go-to, or only product that works for them.

Effectively removes stubborn product buildup and daily grime from hair.

Multiple reviewers mentioned using this for hairspray, chlorine, and dirt removal.

Simply Smoothing Shampoo

Several reviewers specifically buy and use it together with the matching Simply Smoothing Conditioner as a paired routine rather than on its own.

reviewers describing their routine

Reviewers describe hair coming out noticeably smoother and shinier, holding up even in humid weather without frizzing.

general reviewers, one specifically on a humid day

A few reviewers with formaldehyde allergies or a history of scalp itchiness say the gentle formula lets them wash without a reaction.

reviewers who specifically mention allergies or past scalp irritation

Reviewers with fine or oily hair say it cleans without feeling heavy or greasy afterward.

reviewers with fine, breakage-prone or oily/thick hair

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.

$1.25/oz vs $1.25/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

$0.00/oz median $1.48/oz $17.29/oz $1.25/oz Curiously Clarifying Shamp $1.25/oz Simply Smoothing Shampoo

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 817 shampoos with a computable unit price.

Value readCuriously Clarifying ShampooSimply Smoothing Shampoo
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for shampoos per ounce.
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for shampoos per ounce.

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.

Curiously Clarifying Shampoo vs Be Gentle, Be Kind Aloe + Oat Milk Ultra Soothing ShampooBriogeo · 100% function matchSimply Smoothing Shampoo vs Be Gentle, Be Kind Aloe + Oat Milk Ultra Soothing ShampooBriogeo · 99% function matchCuriously Clarifying Shampoo vs Ultra Hydrating ShampooAcure · 96% function matchSimply Smoothing Shampoo vs Moringa & Avocado Power Greens ShampooSheaMoisture · 99% function matchCuriously Clarifying Shampoo vs Vivacious Volume ShampooAcure · 96% function matchSimply Smoothing Shampoo vs Vivacious Volume ShampooAcure · 95% function matchCuriously Clarifying Shampoo vs Moringa & Avocado Power Greens ShampooSheaMoisture · 96% function matchSimply Smoothing Shampoo vs Ultra Hydrating ShampooAcure · 95% function match

Curiously Clarifying Shampoo · Simply Smoothing 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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