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Side by side

CHI Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub vs CHI Scalp-ology Scalp Serum

10 of 10 functions match Formula overlap 100%. CHI Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub and CHI Scalp-ology Scalp Serum 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.

  • Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub — fragrance-free
  • Scalp-ology Scalp Serum — fragrance-free

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
CHI Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub — 8 oz container CHI

Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub

  • Scalp treatment
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
CHI Scalp-ology Scalp Serum — container, alternate view CHI

Scalp-ology Scalp Serum

  • Scalp treatment
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$19 8 oz · $2.38/oz
$12–17 3 oz · $5.10/oz

Compared at different sizes — 8 oz against 3 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most scalp treatments $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 89% of the 152 scalp treatments we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 63% of the 152 scalp treatments 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
Slip / detangling Same
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Weight on hair Same
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Fragrance
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
Protein Same
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. 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
Oils and butters Same
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Hard-water defence Same
None No chelating agent in the list. Your hair
None No chelating agent in the list. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
A simple formula
out of 10
A simple formula
Who should choose this
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
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
Scalp treatment
Scalp treatmentserum
Where to buy
Brand website
Brand website · Grocery / mass
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • curly-method compatible
How often
weekly
as needed

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

IngredientScalp-ology Scalp ScrubScalp-ology Scalp Serum
Sodium Chloride
Stabilizes
#1Leading
#1Leading
Propanediol
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#2Leading
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleanses
#3Leading
#3Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#4Supporting
#4Supporting
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Softens
#5Supporting
#5Supporting
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#6Supporting
#6Supporting
Water
Neutral
#7Supporting
#7Supporting
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleanses
#8Supporting
#8Supporting
Hydrolyzed Silk
Protein
#13Secondary
#13Secondary
Salicylic Acid
Active
#15Secondary
#15Secondary
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
Fragrance
#16Below the 1% line
#16Below the 1% line
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
Fragrance
#17Below the 1% line
#17Below the 1% line
Full ingredient list — Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub (28)
Full ingredient list — Scalp-ology Scalp Serum (28)

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.

VerdictsScalp-ology Scalp ScrubScalp-ology Scalp Serum
Supported
1
1
Partly supported
0
1
Stated by brand
3
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub

  • Pre-wash exfoliation treatment designed to support a healthy scalpStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Lifts away flakes, excess oil, buildup, and impuritiesSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • Clinically proven blend of Salicylic Acid, Undecylenic Acid, and ArginineStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Works to balance and protect the scalp from environmental stressorsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Scalp-ology Scalp Serum

  • A clinically proven blend of Salicylic Acid, Undecylenic Acid, and Arginine works to balance and protect the scalpStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Nettle detoxifies and refreshes the scalp, clearing away buildupPartly supportedLight residue, not heavy build-up.
  • Aloe deeply nourishes and calmsSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.

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.

$2.38/oz vs $5.10/oz — CHI Scalp-ology Scalp Serum costs about 2.1× more per ounce than CHI Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub.

$1.25/oz median $7.12/oz $55.03/oz $2.38/oz Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub $5.10/oz Scalp-ology Scalp Serum

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 152 scalp treatments with a computable unit price.

Value readScalp-ology Scalp ScrubScalp-ology Scalp Serum
Label
Lower cost than most scalp treatmentsCosts less per ounce than most scalp treatments we have researched.
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for scalp treatments 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.

Scalp-ology Scalp Scrub · Scalp-ology Scalp Serum · All scalp treatments 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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