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Side by side

Clairol Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo vs Herbal Essences Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus

85% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 55%. Clairol Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo and Herbal Essences Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus 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.

  • Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo — fast-oiling scalps
  • Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus — protein-sensitive 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
Clairol

Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Silicone-free
Herbal Essences Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus — 13.5 oz container Herbal Essences

Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Silicone-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$19.99 32 oz · $0.62/oz
$6.97 13.5 oz · $0.52/oz

Compared at different sizes — 32 oz against 13.5 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most shampoos $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 84% of the 817 shampoos we’ve priced
Lower cost than most shampoos $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 89% 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
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. Your hair
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. Your hair
Cleansing strength Same
Strong Removes oil, buildup, and most residue — a reset wash. Your hair
Strong Removes oil, buildup, and most residue — a reset wash. 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
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Fragrance
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. Your hair
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. Your hair
Protein Differs
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
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
High Thick foam that spreads quickly through the hair. Your hair
High Thick foam that spreads quickly through the hair. 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
  • Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
  • Hard waterand swimmers dealing with mineral deposit
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
  • Hard waterand swimmers dealing with mineral deposit
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Sulfate-free routinesit uses a sulfate detergent
  • Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Sulfate-free routinesit uses a sulfate detergent
  • Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
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
Line
Shimmer Lights
Amaya Papaya Strength
Where to buy
Grocery / mass · Amazon
Grocery / mass · Drugstore
Free of
  • silicone-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
Cruelty-free
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Fresh & airy
Citrus · Mint & herbalStrong

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

IngredientClairol Shimmer Lights Purple ShampooHerbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleanses
#3Leading
#2Leading
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleanses
#4Supporting
#3Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#6Below the 1% line
#6Below the 1% line
Sodium Benzoate
Stabilizes
#9Below the 1% line
#14Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo

Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus

Full ingredient list — Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo (21)
Full ingredient list — Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus (22)

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.

VerdictsClairol Shimmer Lights Purple ShampooHerbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus
Supported
0
1
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
4
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo

  • Specifically created for blonde and silver hairStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Tone down brassinessStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Shampoo away yellowStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Refresh highlights without affecting ash tonesStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus

  • Strengthens hair against damageStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Dermatologist-tested and pH-balancedStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Certified PETA cruelty-free, silicone-free, dye-free, paraben-freeSupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.

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 shine. Clairol Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo draws complaints about residue or cast.

Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo

Leaves hair feeling shiny and soft

Effective at removing yellow/brassy tones from blonde and gray hair

Works well on salt-and-pepper/gray hair specifically

reviewers with gray hair

Strong chemical/purple-shampoo odor noted

Can leave a purple/violet cast if left on too long or used too frequently

Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus

Reviewers value the affordable price and long-lasting bottle.

value-conscious buyers

Effective lather and clean rinse with hair reported as softer and stronger, notably for bleached or damaged hair.

bleached/damaged hair

Regular use reported to reduce frizz, add root volume, and improve shine.

general users

A small amount goes a long way without weighing hair down, though one report of residual oiliness was noted.

general users

Tropical papaya-citrus fragrance is consistently called out as a standout feature; a small minority find strong fragrances overpowering.

fragrance-sensitive users flagged

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.

$0.52/oz vs $0.62/oz — Clairol Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo costs about 1.2× more per ounce than Herbal Essences Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus.

$0.00/oz median $1.48/oz $17.29/oz $0.62/oz Clairol Shimmer Lights Pur $0.52/oz Herbal Essences Amaya Papa

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

Value readClairol Shimmer Lights Purple ShampooHerbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus
Label
Lower cost than most shampoosCosts less per ounce than most shampoos we have researched.
Lower cost than most shampoosCosts less per ounce than most shampoos we have researched.

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.

Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo vs Daily Silver ShampooAmerican Crew · 89% function matchHerbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus vs Color Me Happy ShampooHerbal Essences · 100% function matchClairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo vs Deepshine PlatinumX Purple ShampooRusk · 89% function matchHerbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus vs Clarify ShampooKenra · 100% function matchClairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo vs Color Me Happy ShampooHerbal Essences · 86% function matchHerbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus vs Dove Men+Care 2 in 1 Thick + Strong Calcium Shampoo and ConditionerDove · 96% function matchClairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo vs Clarify ShampooKenra · 85% function matchHerbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus vs Deep Moisture ShampooAphogee · 96% function match

Clairol Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo · Herbal Essences Amaya Papaya Strength Shampoo with Papaya + Citrus · 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.
  • 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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