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Side by side

Kevin Murphy KILLER.CURLS WASH vs Kristin Ess Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo

94% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 54%. Kevin Murphy KILLER.CURLS WASH and Kristin Ess Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo 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
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  • Your answers appear here
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When each one is the right call

What each formula is built for, from its own ingredient list.

  • KILLER.CURLS WASH — colour-treated hair
  • Moisture Rich Curl 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”.

Trait
Kevin Murphy KILLER.CURLS WASH — 8.45 oz container Kevin Murphy

KILLER.CURLS WASH

  • Shampoo
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Kristin Ess Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo — 10 oz container Kristin Ess

Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$37 8.45 oz · $4.38/oz
about $12 10 oz · $1.20/oz
Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 90% of the 805 shampoos we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 59% of the 805 shampoos we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. 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
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
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. 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
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
  • 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
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
Why you might skip it
  • 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
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • 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
Killer.Curls
—
Where to buy
Brand website · Specialty beauty
Brand website · Specialty beauty
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
—
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · label states
Scent
Scented, not described
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

IngredientKILLER.CURLS WASHMoisture Rich Curl Shampoo
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleanses
#2Leading
#2Leading
Propanediol
Moisturizes
#4Supporting
#4Supporting
Glycol Distearate
Softens
#6Supporting
#5Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#27Below the 1% line
#28Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#20Below the 1% line
#6Below the 1% line
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil
Softens
#9Secondary
#7Below the 1% line
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
Softens
#10Secondary
#8Below the 1% line
Hydroxyacetophenone
Stabilizes
#13Below the 1% line
#26Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

KILLER.CURLS WASH

Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo

Full ingredient list — KILLER.CURLS WASH (27)
Full ingredient list — Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo (41)

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.

VerdictsKILLER.CURLS WASHMoisture Rich Curl Shampoo
Supported
1
5
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
4
Potential conflict
0
1

KILLER.CURLS WASH

  • Nourishing Oat Milk shampoo that gently cleanses hair while protecting the cuticleSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Define, enhance, and refine naturally textured or permed hairStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo

  • Moisture consciousSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • gently cleansingStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • rich latherStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • non-strippingStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • all curl typesStated by brandSee the fit panel instead.
  • free of drying alcohols, sulfates, parabens, phthalates and siliconesSupportedGentler on colour and coils.
  • Cruelty-freeSupportedMatches our researched record.
  • color-safeSupportedLess fade per wash.
  • keratin-safePotential conflictNot in the ingredient list.
  • veganSupportedMatches our researched record.

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. Kristin Ess Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo draws complaints about dryness and curl definition.

KILLER.CURLS WASH

Bottle described as long-lasting, seen as good value by repeat users

Does not dry out hair even with frequent or daily washing, and carries a pleasant, non-overpowering scent

reviewer who washes hair daily and dislikes perfumed shampoos

Frequently reported to reduce frizz and enhance curl definition and bounce across curl types, including wavy hair

curly and wavy hair reviewers

Parents report success using it on children with curly, frizzy hair, reducing tangles and knots

parent using on a daughter with curly frizzy hair

Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo

Many reviewers say the shampoo cleanses curls gently without stripping moisture and produces a nice, creamy lather.

Ulta shoppers who purchased the product

Some reviewers say it leaves a filmy or waxy residue on the hair that can make it feel dry with continued use.

Ulta shoppers who purchased the product

A number of reviewers mention scalp itching or irritation developing with continued use.

Ulta shoppers who purchased the product

Several reviewers report noticeable shedding or hair coming out in clumps while using this shampoo.

Ulta shoppers who purchased the product

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.

$1.20/oz vs $4.38/oz — Kevin Murphy KILLER.CURLS WASH costs about 3.7× more per ounce than Kristin Ess Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo.

$0.00/oz median $1.47/oz $17.29/oz $4.38/oz KILLER.CURLS WASH $1.20/oz Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 805 shampoos with a computable unit price.

Value readKILLER.CURLS WASHMoisture Rich Curl Shampoo
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
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.

KILLER.CURLS WASH vs Cantu Avocado Hydrating Sulfate Free ShampooCantu · 98% function matchMoisture Rich Curl Shampoo vs Curls + Coconut Oil, Argan Oil & Vitamin E ShampooHask · 96% function matchKILLER.CURLS WASH vs ESSENTIAL SHAMPOOR+Co · 98% function matchMoisture Rich Curl Shampoo vs Double Duty Detangle & Slip Flaxseed ShampooCreme of Nature · 96% function matchKILLER.CURLS WASH vs Scalp Balancing ShampooMoroccanoil · 96% function matchMoisture Rich Curl Shampoo vs Curl Love Moisturizing ShampooCamille Rose · 94% function matchKILLER.CURLS WASH vs Superfoods Mango + Cherry Balancing ShampooBriogeo · 96% function matchMoisture Rich Curl Shampoo vs Clean Beauty Everyday ShampooPaul Mitchell · 94% function match

KILLER.CURLS WASH · Moisture Rich Curl 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.
  • 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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