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Side by side

Matrix A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo vs Nioxin Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo

96% function match · 12 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 44%. Matrix A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo and Nioxin Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 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.

  • A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo — protein-sensitive hair
  • Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo — fragrance-free

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
Matrix A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo — container, alternate view Matrix

A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Masstige
  • Silicone-free
  • Protein-free
Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo — front of package Nioxin

Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Salon
  • Silicone-free
  • Fragrance-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$22 10.1 oz · $2.18/oz
$19–28 10.14 oz · $2.33/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a shampoo $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 65% of the 817 shampoos we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a shampoo $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 66% 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
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. Your hair
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. 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
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Weight on hair
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. 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
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
Protein Differs
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. 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
Covers the core
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
  • Hard waterand swimmers dealing with mineral deposit
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
  • Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
  • Hard waterand swimmers dealing with mineral deposit
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Sulfate-free routinesit uses a sulfate detergent
  • Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Sulfate-free routinesit uses a sulfate detergent
  • 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
—
System 1
Where to buy
Grocery / mass · Brand website
Ulta · Manufacturer · Amazon
Free of
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
Vegan
Not vegan · ingredient list
—
Cruelty-free
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Sweet & vanilla
Mint & herbalStrong

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

IngredientA Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing ShampooNioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleanses
#2Leading
#2Leading
Sodium Chloride
Stabilizes
#5Supporting
#8Below the 1% line
Citric Acid
pH balancer
#8Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Sodium Benzoate
Stabilizes
#10Below the 1% line
#6Below the 1% line
Salicylic Acid
Active
#14Below the 1% line
#9Below the 1% line
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleanses
#12Below the 1% line
#4Supporting

What only one of them carries

A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo

Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo

Full ingredient list — A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo (21)
Full ingredient list — Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo (42)

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.

VerdictsA Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing ShampooNioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo
Supported
2
0
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
3
Potential conflict
0
0

A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo

  • Deep cleansing shampoo perfect for wash day to remove build upSupportedResets a coated scalp.
  • Infused with Manuka honey extractStated by brandCheck the position, not the name.
  • Silicone and paraben freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.

Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo

  • 85% of consumers noticed a thickening effectStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 80% noticed an increase in hair densityStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 80% noticed an increase in hair fullness (230-person, 2016 survey)Stated 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 and how it cleanses. Matrix A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo draws complaints about the packaging; Nioxin Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo draws complaints about dryness.

A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo

Curly-hair reviewers report a little product goes a long way, sudsing and cleansing well without the excessive dryness they experienced from other clarifying shampoos.

curly-hair reviewers comparing to prior clarifying shampoos

Frequently praised for scent and for leaving hair soft and shiny after rinsing.

general reviewers

Multiple long-term users say it thoroughly cleans scalp and hair without leaving curls feeling stripped, and describe it as revitalizing coils/curl definition.

repeat/long-term users with curly or coily hair

A shipping/packaging complaint recurs: bottle cap arriving open and leaking into the box.

reviewers describing damaged shipments

Some reviewers note the clean feels very strong/squeaky rather than moisturizing, consistent with its clarifying rather than daily-moisture positioning.

reviewers expecting a moisturizing shampoo

Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo

Perceived to balance oily scalp/hair and leave hair feeling clean with added volume

oily-scalp users

Reviewers, many identifying as stylists, report visible hair thickening/growth and reorder for salon clients

stylist/salon users, repeat buyers

Some reviewers with scalp eczema or sensitivity report it calms irritation without over-drying, and less menthol-forward than other Nioxin-type products

sensitive/eczema-prone scalp users

A minority report drying effects or increased shedding, especially those with fine hair

fine-hair users

Strong minty/eucalyptus-menthol scent noted, described as refreshing by most but off-putting to some

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.

$2.18/oz vs $2.33/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

$0.00/oz median $1.48/oz $17.29/oz $2.18/oz A Curl Can Dream Deep Clea $2.33/oz Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thicke

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

Value readA Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing ShampooNioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo
Label
Upper-mid price for a shampooSits in the middle of the range for shampoos per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a shampooSits 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.

A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo vs Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 2 ShampooNioxin · 96% function matchNioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo vs Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 2 ShampooNioxin · 100% function matchA Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo vs Pro-V Sheer Volume ShampooPantene · 96% function matchNioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo vs DHS Tar ShampooPerson & Covey · 95% function matchA Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo vs DHS Tar ShampooPerson & Covey · 95% function matchNioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo vs Pro-V Sheer Volume ShampooPantene · 93% function matchA Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo vs Herbal Essences Classic Clarifying Shampoo (Tea Tree)Herbal Essences · 93% function matchNioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 Shampoo vs Mane 'n Tail Original Formula ShampooMane 'n Tail · 93% function match

A Curl Can Dream Deep Cleansing Shampoo · Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 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.
  • 13 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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