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Side by side

Bed Head Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair vs Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique

78% function match · 6 of the 9 functions we compared match Formula overlap 9%. Bed Head Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair and Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique share 1 ingredient among each other's most prominent.

These sit in different steps of a routine — Bed Head Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair is a finisher and Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique is a heat protectant. Comparing their formulas is fair; treating one as a replacement for the other is not.

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.

  • Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair — protein-sensitive hair
  • Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique — heat styling

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
Bed Head Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair — 8.62 oz container Bed Head

Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair

  • Finisher
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Kerastase

Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique

  • Heat protectant
  • Prestige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$22 8.62 oz · $2.60/oz
$48 5.01 oz · $9.58/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most serums $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 83% of the 79 serums we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Prestige tier · costs more than 80% of the 904 heat protectants we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Straight–Curly Smoothing and thermal products span straight through curly hair. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Oils and butters Same
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
—
Slip / detangling
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Weight on hair Same
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Fragrance
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
Protein Same
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Same
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Heat protection
—
High The brand states a protection temperature — a label claim, not a measurement. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol Same
None No fast-drying alcohol in the list. Your hair
None No fast-drying alcohol in the list. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Covers the core
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
  • Sun and colour fadea UV filter is in the list
  • Heat stylingthe brand states protection to 450°F
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Vegan and cruelty-freeour record does not support both claims here
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
Finisherserum
Heat protectantserum
Where to buy
—
Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
Cruelty-free
—
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Heat protection
—
up to 450°F

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

$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

IngredientControl Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny HairChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#4Supporting
#8Below the 1% line
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#5Supporting
#23Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#12Below the 1% line
#27Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#13Below the 1% line
#22Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#15Below the 1% line
#24Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair

Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique

Full ingredient list — Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair (26)
Full ingredient list — Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique (27)

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.

VerdictsControl Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny HairChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique
Supported
0
3
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair

No claims recorded for this product beyond the ones above.

Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique

  • Universal leave-in designed to protect against heat and humidity for all sensitized or damaged color-treated hairSupportedLess fade per wash.
  • Frizz controlSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • 96% smoother and softer hairStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • A frizz-reducing leave-in that hydrates hair and shields it from external aggressorsSupportedHelps 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.

Both praised for frizz control. Bed Head Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair draws complaints about tangling and frizz; Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique draws complaints about weight.

Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair

The scent is frequently called out as a favorite feature on its own.

general Ulta reviewers

Long-time users describe it working across fine, straight, wavy and curly hair without feeling heavy, and say they've repurchased it for years.

repeat buyers, multiple hair types

Many reviewers report the serum meaningfully reduces frizz and flyaways, especially on wavy or curly hair.

wavy/curly-hair reviewers

Some reviewers say the serum leaves hair feeling sticky, crunchy or straw-like rather than smooth.

general Ulta reviewers

A portion of reviewers report the serum did not control frizz for them and instead left hair feeling drier, more tangled or brittle.

general Ulta reviewers

Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique

Protects color-treated hair during frequent high-heat blowouts

Kérastase official reviewer

Lightweight use detangles, controls frizz, and improves blowouts

Sephora France reviewers

Fine-hair users may find the serum heavy or sticky

Kérastase and Sephora reviewers

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.

$2.60/oz vs $9.58/oz — Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique costs about 3.7× more per ounce than Bed Head Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair.

Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair

Against 79 serums with a computable unit price.

Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique

Against 904 heat protectants with a computable unit price.

Value readControl Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny HairChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique
Label
Lower cost than most serumsCosts less per ounce than most serums we have researched.
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.

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.

Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair vs Control Freak Frizz Control SerumBed Head · 100% function matchChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique vs Dream Cocktail Kale-Infused Leave-in TreatmentColor Wow · 100% function matchControl Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair vs Hair Alchemy Fortifying Treatment SerumOribe · 79% function matchChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique vs Discipline Fluidissime Thermique Heat Protecting SprayKerastase · 95% function matchControl Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair vs Supershine Moisturizing CreamOribe · 76% function matchChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique vs Pro-V Moisturizing Leave-In ConditionerPantene · 95% function matchControl Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair vs Blond Absolu Cicanuit SerumKerastase · 75% function matchChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique vs Kids Taming SprayPaul Mitchell · 95% function match

Control Freak Frizz Control Serum For Smooth Shiny Hair · Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique · All serums 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.
  • 10 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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