Side by side
amika The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo vs Ouai Medium Hair Shampoo
95% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 72%. amika The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo and Ouai Medium Hair 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.
- The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo — colour-treated hair
- Medium Hair 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”.
- Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
- Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
- Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
- Cuticle-smoothing pHa pH adjuster brings it to the acidic range hair prefers
- Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
- Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
- Hard waterand swimmers dealing with mineral deposit
- Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
- Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
- Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
- Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
- Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
- Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
- Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
More facts about each one
- sulfate-free
- sulfate-free
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
The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- Glycol Stearate
- Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant/Cassis) Fruit Extract
- Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
- Benzyl Benzoate
Medium Hair Shampoo
Full ingredient list — The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo (38)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- olefin sulfonate cleanser
- cleanser
-
3
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
4
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
5
Cocamide MIPA
- secondary cleanser
- nonionic cleanser
- thickener
-
6
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
7
Glycol Stearate
- opacifier
- emollient
-
8
Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant/Cassis) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
9
Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn/Agrousier) Fruit/Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
10
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
11
Panthenol
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
12
Amodimethicone
- silicone
- conditioning agent
- film former
- 13 Sodium Polyaspartate
-
14
Polyquaternium-113
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
15
Polyquaternium-53
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
16
Polyquaternium-7
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
17
Polyquaternium-92
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
18
Glycerin
- humectant
-
19
Butylene Glycol
- humectant
- solvent
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
20
Caprylyl Glycol
- preservative
- humectant
-
21
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
22
Sodium Carrageenan
- gum
- thickener
-
23
Ethylhexylglycerin
- preservative
- emollient
-
24
Aminomethyl Propanol
- pH adjuster
-
25
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
26
Polysorbate 20
- solubilizer
- emulsifier
-
27
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
28
Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster
-
29
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
30
Sodium Metabisulfite
- antioxidant
- preservative
-
31
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
32
Sodium Citrate
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
33
Sodium Chloride
- salt
- thickener
-
34
Fragrance
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
35
Benzyl Benzoate
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
36
Hydroxycitronellal
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
37
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
38
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
- fragrance
Full ingredient list — Medium Hair Shampoo (40)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- olefin sulfonate cleanser
- cleanser
-
3
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
4
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
5
Cocamide MIPA
- secondary cleanser
- nonionic cleanser
- thickener
-
6
Glycol Distearate
- opacifier
- emollient
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
7
Fragrance
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
8
Amodimethicone
- silicone
- conditioning agent
- film former
-
9
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
10
Glycerin
- humectant
-
11
Citrus Japonica Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
12
Panthenol
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
13
Hydrolyzed Keratin
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
14
Polyquaternium-7
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
15
Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
16
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
17
PEG-150 Distearate
- thickener
- emulsifier
-
18
Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
19
Cetrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- cleanser
-
20
C11-15 Pareth-7
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
21
Laureth-9
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
22
Trideceth-12
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
23
Cocoglucosides Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
-
24
Acrylates Copolymer
- film former
- polymer
-
25
Tocopherol
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
26
Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
- emulsifier
-
27
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
28
Disodium EDTA
- hard-water chelator
-
29
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
30
Sodium Chloride
- salt
- thickener
-
31
Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster
-
32
Tetrasodium EDTA
- hard-water chelator
-
33
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
34
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
35
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
36
Benzyl Alcohol
- preservative
- solvent
-
37
Benzyl Salicylate
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
38
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
39
Hexyl Cinnamal
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
40
Ci 15985 (Yellow 6)
- colourant
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.
The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo
protect your hair color for up to 40 washes with this clinically proven color + strengthening shampoo
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
Medium Hair Shampoo
Wash your way to a happy medium with this hydrating shampoo that cleanses, nourishes, and revives shine for medium hair types
Partly supportedSome hydration, at a low level.
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 the scent and how it cleanses.
The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo
Most reviews are unqualified five-star praise with little critical or mixed feedback surfaced in the sample retrieved
general reviewer populationSeveral reviewers describe the scent as a standout, calling it amazing or delicious
general users across hair typesReviewers with color-treated hair, including bold/fashion colors (purple, ruby red, highlights), report noticeably reduced color fading with repeated use
color-treated hair, including vivid/fashion-color usersReviewers report the shampoo cleanses without stripping or drying hair, leaving it feeling clean, soft, and smooth
wavy and curly hair types (2a-3b) per reviewer-attribute tagsMedium Hair Shampoo
Lathers well and leaves hair soft yet manageable per multiple reviewers
Refill pouch called out favorably for cost savings by repeat buyers
repeat purchasersHair described as clean and soft after washing, without residue
Scent is the most-repeated compliment across reviews
Reviewers with 'in-between' hair (not fine, not thick) report best fit for their texture
medium-texture hairPrice 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.
$1.60/oz vs $3.26/oz — amika The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo costs about 2× more per ounce than Ouai Medium Hair Shampoo.
Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 805 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.
The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo · Medium Hair 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.
- 8 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.
Still unsure? Take your consultation or browse more products.
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