Side by side
Kerastase Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo vs Nexxus Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free Shampoo
96% function match · 12 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 69%. Kerastase Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo and Nexxus Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free 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.
- Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo — colour-treated hair
- Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free 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
- Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
- Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
- Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
- Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
- Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
- Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
- Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
- Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
- Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
- Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
- Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
- Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
- Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
More facts about each one
- sulfate-free
- silicone-free
- protein-free
- curly-method compatible
- sulfate-free
- silicone-free
- protein-free
- curly-method compatible
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
Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo
Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Full ingredient list — Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo (29)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- olefin sulfonate cleanser
- cleanser
-
3
Cocamide MEA
- secondary cleanser
- nonionic cleanser
- thickener
-
4
Glycerin
- humectant
-
5
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
6
Glycol Distearate
- opacifier
- emollient
-
7
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
8
Hexylene Glycol
- solvent
- humectant
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
9
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
10
Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster
-
11
Sodium Chloride
- salt
- thickener
-
12
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
13
Propylene Glycol
- humectant
- solvent
-
14
Coco-Betaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
15
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
16
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
17
Salicylic Acid
- active
- exfoliant
-
18
Carbomer
- thickener
- polymer
- film former
-
19
Benzoic Acid
- preservative
-
20
Polyquaternium-7
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
21
Linalool
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
22
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
23
Sodium Hyaluronate
- humectant
-
24
Arginine
- amino acid
- humectant
-
25
Centella Asiatica Extract
- botanical extract
-
26
Lactic Acid
- pH adjuster
- humectant
- exfoliant
-
27
CI 17200
- colourant
-
28
Ci 19140/Yellow 5
- colourant
-
29
Fragrance
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
Full ingredient list — Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free Shampoo (24)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- olefin sulfonate cleanser
- cleanser
-
3
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
4
Fragrance
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
5
Glycerin
- humectant
-
6
Sodium Gluconate
- hard-water chelator
-
7
Sodium Chloride
- salt
- thickener
-
8
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
9
Carbomer
- thickener
- polymer
- film former
-
10
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
11
Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer
- film former
- polymer
- conditioning agent
-
12
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
13
Ppg-7
- emulsifier
-
14
Polyquaternium-10
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
15
Disodium EDTA
- hard-water chelator
-
16
PEG-45m
- thickener
-
17
Benzyl Alcohol
- preservative
- solvent
-
18
Benzyl Salicylate
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
19
Citronellol
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
20
Hexyl Cinnamal
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
21
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
22
Linalool
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
23
Blue 1 (CI 42090)
- colourant
- direct dye
- blue dye
-
24
Red 33
- 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.
Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo
Preserves 92% of color intensity after 6 weeks
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.Provides glossy, healthy, vibrant shine
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.Adds lightweight bounce
SupportedLess likely to weigh hair down.Sulfate-free, paraben-free, mineral oil-free
SupportedGentler on colour and coils.
Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Extends color vibrancy for up to 40 washes
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.Sulfate-free and silicone-free formula
SupportedGentler on colour and coils.Replenishes nutrients lost during coloration
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
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.
Kerastase Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo draws complaints about how it cleanses and irritation; Nexxus Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free Shampoo draws complaints about weight and curl definition.
Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo
Many reviewers with color-treated hair describe the shampoo as their favorite in the Chroma Absolu line, saying it leaves hair looking shinier and healthier while helping protect their color.
color-treated hair users, several long-time repeat buyersA recurring complaint describes dryness, scalp itchiness, or hair left feeling stripped rather than protected, sometimes attributed to a formula change some longtime buyers noticed.
reviewers who found the shampoo drying or irritatingA few reviewers say the shampoo alone underwhelmed them and only delivered noticeable shine when used together with the rest of the Chroma Absolu conditioner and treatment line.
reviewers expecting dramatic results from the shampoo on its ownNexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Many reviewers praise the scent and describe hair feeling soft and shiny after use, especially when paired with the matching conditioner
general usersSome reviewers report dryness with regular use despite the moisture-focused positioning
general usersPackaging complaints note the pump mechanism malfunctions, prompting some buyers to decant into other bottles
general usersA recurring and serious complaint thread describes heavy shedding/hair loss with continued use, described as hair "falling out in clumps" over weeks of use
users reporting sheddingPrice 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.
Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Against 817 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.
Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo · Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free 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.
- 6 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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