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Side by side

Kristin Ess Strengthening Shampoo vs Kristin Ess Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo

69% function match · 7 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 58%. Kristin Ess Strengthening Shampoo and Kristin Ess Ultra Rich Softening 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
  • 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.

  • Strengthening Shampoo — colour-treated hair
  • Ultra Rich Softening 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
Kristin Ess Strengthening Shampoo — 10 oz container Kristin Ess

Strengthening Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Curly-method
Kristin Ess Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo — 10 oz container Kristin Ess

Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$12–13 10 oz · $1.24/oz
about $12 10 oz · $1.20/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 57% of the 817 shampoos we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 59% of the 817 shampoos we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. 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
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. 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
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. 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 Differs
Low The silicones here are the water-soluble kind. 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
  • Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Hard waterand swimmers dealing with mineral deposit
  • 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
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
  • 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
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
Brand website · Ulta
Brand website · Grocery / mass
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Vegan · label states
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · label states
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

IngredientStrengthening ShampooUltra Rich Softening Shampoo
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleanses
#2Leading
#3Leading
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleanses
#3Leading
#2Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#4Below the 1% line
#5Below the 1% line
PEG-150 Distearate
Stabilizes
#6Below the 1% line
#13Below the 1% line
Sorbitol
Moisturizes
#42Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Cocamide MIPA
Cleanses
#29Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#27Below the 1% line
#9Below the 1% line
Ethylhexylglycerin
Softens
#36Below the 1% line
#26Below the 1% line
Sodium Benzoate
Stabilizes
#33Below the 1% line
#29Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Strengthening Shampoo

Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo

Full ingredient list — Strengthening Shampoo (54)
Full ingredient list — Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo (30)

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.

VerdictsStrengthening ShampooUltra Rich Softening Shampoo
Supported
3
6
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Strengthening Shampoo

  • cruelty freeSupportedMatches our researched record.
  • color + keratin safeSupportedThe named ingredient is really there.
  • veganSupportedMatches our researched record.

Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo

  • Gently clarifyingSupportedResets a coated scalp.
  • Provides moistureSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Shine-enhancingStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Sulfate-freeSupportedGentler on colour and coils.
  • Color-safeSupportedLess fade per wash.
  • Paraben-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • Phthalate-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Silicone-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.

Kristin Ess Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo draws complaints about frizz and how it cleanses.

Strengthening Shampoo

A number of reviewers did not notice any added strength, thickness, or reduced breakage despite the product's name.

Many reviewers say the shampoo lathers well and leaves hair feeling clean without heavy residue.

Several reviewers find the thick, gel-like texture difficult to squeeze out of the bottle.

Reviewers consistently praise the fragrance as pleasant and long-lasting after washing.

Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo

Many reviewers say the shampoo leaves their hair noticeably softer and smoother after just a few washes.

general reviewers, mostly gifted-product Influenster testers

Several reviewers love the light coconut-forward scent that lingers after the hair dries.

general reviewers

A recurring complaint is that the shampoo barely lathers or feels thin and watery even with a generous amount.

general reviewers

Multiple reviewers with curly or thick type 3-4 hair report the shampoo left their hair drier and frizzier instead of softer.

reviewers with curly or coily hair

Some reviewers say the sulfate-free formula is appreciated but trades away lather and a strong clean feeling.

general reviewers

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 $1.24/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

$0.00/oz median $1.47/oz $17.29/oz $1.24/oz Strengthening Shampoo $1.20/oz Ultra Rich Softening Shamp

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

Value readStrengthening ShampooUltra Rich Softening Shampoo
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for shampoos per ounce.
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.

Strengthening Shampoo vs Kristin Ess The One Signature ShampooKristin Ess · 93% function matchUltra Rich Softening Shampoo vs Nexxus Ultralight Smooth ShampooNexxus · 100% function matchStrengthening Shampoo vs Extra Love ShampooIGK Hair · 91% function matchUltra Rich Softening Shampoo vs Super Smooth ShampooPaul Mitchell · 98% function matchStrengthening Shampoo vs Olive Oil Sulfate-Free Hydrating ShampooORS · 89% function matchUltra Rich Softening Shampoo vs Hydralight Hydrating ShampooNexxus · 98% function matchStrengthening Shampoo vs Extra Strength Damage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil ShampooOGX · 87% function matchUltra Rich Softening Shampoo vs Shampoo Moisture RepairSuave · 98% function match

Strengthening Shampoo · Ultra Rich Softening 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.
  • 11 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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