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Side by side

Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique vs Wella ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk

89% function match · 7 of the 9 functions we compared match Formula overlap 15%. Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique and Wella ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk share 3 ingredients among each other's most prominent.

These sit in different steps of a routine — Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique is a heat protectant and Wella ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk is a finisher. 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.

  • Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique — heat styling
  • ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk — 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
Kerastase

Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique

  • Heat protectant
  • Prestige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Wella ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk — 3.3 oz container Wella

ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk

  • Finisher
  • Prestige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$48 5.01 oz · $9.58/oz
$30 3.3 oz · $12.12/oz
Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Prestige tier · costs more than 80% of the 904 heat protectants we’ve priced
Priced above most anti-frizz finishers $$$$$ Prestige tier · costs more than 86% of the 23 anti-frizz finishers we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Straight–Curly Smoothing and thermal products span straight through curly hair. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Heat protection
High The brand states a protection temperature — a label claim, not a measurement. 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
Shine system
—
Moderate Light esters or a volatile carrier: shine with little residue. 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
Oils and butters Differs
—
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • 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
  • 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
  • Dull-looking haira recognised shine system is present
Why you might skip it
  • 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
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • 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
Heat protectantserum
Finisher
Where to buy
Brand website
Brand website · Salons · Specialty beauty
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
Cruelty-free
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
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

IngredientChroma Absolu Serum Chroma ThermiqueULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Amodimethicone
Buildup
#2Leading
#8Supporting
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#8Below the 1% line
#18Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#22Below the 1% line
#35Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#24Below the 1% line
#34Below the 1% line
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#23Below the 1% line
#2Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#27Below the 1% line
#16Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique

ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk

Full ingredient list — Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique (27)
Full ingredient list — ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk (64)

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.

VerdictsChroma Absolu Serum Chroma ThermiqueULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk
Supported
3
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
1
Potential conflict
0
0

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.

ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk

  • 24/7 SILKY MILK, a non-greasy lightweight, anti frizz hair product for smoothness anytime & anywhereSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Smoothness lasts up to 3 daysStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Provides humidity protection, UV protection, and heat protection up to 450°FSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.

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 slip and frizz control. Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique draws complaints about weight and residue or cast.

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

ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk

Multiple reviewers say it visibly reduces frizz and leaves noticeable shine after use.

general reviewers

The scent is called subtle and pleasant and several reviewers say it lasts in the hair for a long time.

general reviewers

Several reviewers apply it to dry ends between washes as well as after washing and report it still tames flyaways without weighing hair down.

reviewers with dry ends

Reviewers repeatedly say it softens hair and makes it much easier to comb through without any heavy or sticky residue.

general reviewers on the brand's German storefront

One reviewer with severely damaged, postpartum hair found it only partly tamed her hair, though it still didn't leave it greasy.

reviewer describing very damaged hair

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.

$9.58/oz vs $12.12/oz — Wella ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk costs about 1.3× more per ounce than Kerastase Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique.

Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique

Against 904 heat protectants with a computable unit price.

ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk

Against 23 anti-frizz finishers with a computable unit price.

Value readChroma Absolu Serum Chroma ThermiqueULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
Priced above most anti-frizz finishersCosts more per ounce than most anti-frizz finishers; nothing in our library matches it closely for less.

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 Serum Chroma Thermique vs Dream Cocktail Kale-Infused Leave-in TreatmentColor Wow · 100% function matchULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk vs Bright Blonde Essential Priming SerumOribe · 86% function matchChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique vs Discipline Fluidissime Thermique Heat Protecting SprayKerastase · 95% function matchULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk vs Weightless Shine Air Dry CrèmeKRISTIN ESS HAIR · 84% function matchChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique vs Pro-V Moisturizing Leave-In ConditionerPantene · 95% function matchULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk vs Frizz Ease Secret Weapon Finishing CrèmeJohn Frieda · 84% function matchChroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique vs Kids Taming SprayPaul Mitchell · 95% function matchULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk vs Apple Cider Vinegar Overnight Hydrating Hair SerumdpHUE · 82% function match

Chroma Absolu Serum Chroma Thermique · ULTIMATE SMOOTH Silky Milk · All heat protectants 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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