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Side by side

Head & Shoulders Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo vs Head & Shoulders Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free

13 of 13 functions match Formula overlap 99%. Head & Shoulders Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Head & Shoulders Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free 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.

  • Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo — flaking scalps
  • Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free — flaking scalps

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
Head & Shoulders Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo — 13.5 oz container Head & Shoulders

Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Head & Shoulders Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free — 13.5 oz container Head & Shoulders

Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$10–12 13.5 oz · $0.81/oz
$16.62 13.5 oz · $1.23/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most shampoos $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 75% of the 817 shampoos we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 58% 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
Moderate Removes oil and product; leaves some conditioning behind. Your hair
Moderate Removes oil and product; leaves some conditioning behind. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
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
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
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. 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
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
pyrithione zinc, 1% Carries an over-the-counter scalp active, listed under Drug Facts. Your hair
pyrithione zinc, 1% Carries an over-the-counter scalp active, listed under Drug Facts. 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
Complete for its job
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • Flaking scalpsthis carries an over-the-counter active
  • 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
  • Flaking scalpsthis carries an over-the-counter active
  • Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
  • Hard waterno chelator here to bind the minerals
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
  • Hard waterno chelator here to bind the minerals
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
Target · Grocery / mass · Drugstore
Target · Grocery / mass
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Mint & herbalStrong
Scented, not described

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

IngredientBare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff ShampooHead & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
Cleanses
#2Leading
#2Leading
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleanses
#3Leading
#3Leading
Acrylates Copolymer
Holds
#4Supporting
#6Below the 1% line
Polyquaternium-10
Detangles
#5Supporting
#5Below the 1% line
Sodium Benzoate
Stabilizes
#7Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Citric Acid
pH balancer
#8Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free

Full ingredient list — Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (8)
Full ingredient list — Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free (8)

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.

VerdictsBare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff ShampooHead & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free
Supported
2
1
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
3
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

  • Fights recurrence of the symptoms of dandruffSupportedA recognised active does the work.
  • Sulfate free, silicone free, and dye freeSupportedGentler on colour and coils.
  • Only 9 ingredientsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Dermatologist Verified Safe & EffectiveStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 45% less plastic packagingStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.

Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free

  • Minimal Ingredients Dandruff ProtectionSupportedA recognised active does the work.
  • 0% sulfates, silicones, and dyesStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 45% less plastic bottleStated 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 moisture, the scent, and the packaging. Head & Shoulders Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo draws complaints about dryness and the scent; Head & Shoulders Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free draws complaints about weight and residue or cast.

Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Reduces flaking and itch for many users, especially in cold/dry weather

reviewers using during winter/dry-air conditions

Peppermint scent perceived as pleasant and cooling on scalp

general reviewers

Eco-friendly, lightweight, less-plastic bottle design well received

general reviewers

Some users report increased hair/scalp dryness after use

general reviewers

Mint scent perceived as too strong by a minority of reviewers

scent-sensitive reviewers

Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free

Reviewers report effective dandruff control combined with a gentler, hydrating feel on dry or textured hair

dry/textured hair users

Reviewers like the orchid-and-aloe scent and eco-friendly reduced-plastic bottle

general users

A subset of reviewers report the sulfate-free formula leaves a greasy feeling or residue

possibly finer/oilier hair types

Some reviewers found the bottle design harder to dispense from as product runs low, and a few reported the formula ineffective for their dandruff

general users

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.

$0.81/oz vs $1.23/oz — Head & Shoulders Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free costs about 1.5× more per ounce than Head & Shoulders Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo.

$0.00/oz median $1.48/oz $17.29/oz $0.81/oz Bare Itchy Scalp Relief An $1.23/oz Head & Shoulders Bare Anti

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

Value readBare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff ShampooHead & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free
Label
Lower cost than most shampoosCosts less per ounce than most shampoos we have researched.
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.

Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo vs Head & Shoulders Bare Sensitive Scalp Care ShampooHead & Shoulders · 100% function matchHead & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free vs Bare Minimal Ingredients Pure Clean 2in1 Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and ConditionerHead & Shoulders · 100% function matchBare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo vs Bare Minimal Ingredients Pure Clean 2in1 Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and ConditionerHead & Shoulders · 100% function matchHead & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free vs Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Pure Clean Shampoo, Sulfate FreeHead & Shoulders · 100% function matchBare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo vs Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Pure Clean Shampoo, Sulfate FreeHead & Shoulders · 100% function matchHead & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free vs Head & Shoulders Bare Sensitive Scalp Care ShampooHead & Shoulders · 100% function matchBare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo vs Clear Essential ShampooPaul Mitchell · 87% function matchHead & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free vs Clear Essential ShampooPaul Mitchell · 87% function match

Bare Itchy Scalp Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo · Head & Shoulders Bare Anti-Dandruff Soothing Hydration Shampoo, Sulfate Free · 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.

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