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Side by side

Nioxin Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner vs Nioxin Scalp Relief Conditioner

50% function match · 3 of the 10 functions we compared match Formula overlap 53%. Nioxin Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner and Nioxin Scalp Relief Conditioner share 2 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.

  • Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner — fragrance-free
  • Scalp Relief Conditioner — 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
Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner — front of package Nioxin

Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner

  • Conditioner
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Fragrance-free
Nioxin Scalp Relief Conditioner — front of package Nioxin

Scalp Relief Conditioner

  • Conditioner
  • Prestige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$27 10.1 oz · $2.67/oz
$63 33.8 oz · $1.86/oz

Compared at different sizes — 33.8 oz against 10.1 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a conditioner $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 68% of the 689 conditioners we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a conditioner $$$$$ Prestige tier · costs more than 56% of the 689 conditioners 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 Differs
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. Your hair
Oils and butters Differs
Low Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
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
None listed No fragrance is listed. 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
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
High Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Hard-water defence Differs
Chelators present Chelators are present — they bind hard-water and pool minerals. Your hair
None No chelating agent in the list. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • A wide range of haira middle-of-the-range weight
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
  • Vegan and cruelty-freeour record does not support both claims here
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
Conditioner
Conditionercream
Where to buy
Ulta · Amazon
Brand website · Salons · Specialty beauty …
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • fragrance-free
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
—
Scented, not described
How often
—
every wash

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.

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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

IngredientNioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy ConditionerScalp Relief Conditioner
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Stearyl Alcohol
Softens
#2Leading
#5Below the 1% line
Cetyl Alcohol
Softens
#4Supporting
#2Leading
Benzyl Alcohol
Stabilizes
#6Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#9Below the 1% line
#4Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner

Scalp Relief Conditioner

Full ingredient list — Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner (34)
Full ingredient list — Scalp Relief Conditioner (26)

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.

VerdictsNioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy ConditionerScalp Relief Conditioner
Supported
1
0
Partly supported
0
1
Stated by brand
1
2
Potential conflict
0
1

Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner

  • Thickens and strengthens hair against breakage while providing color protectionSupportedLess fade per wash.
  • 8 out of 10 users saw thicker, fuller hair in 30 daysStated by brandNot something a label can show.

Scalp Relief Conditioner

  • Specially formulated to soothe and nourish an irritated scalpPartly supportedSome hydration, at a low level.
  • Soothes and Balances: The purifying formula soothes and balances the scalpPotential conflictToo gentle for real build-up.
  • Clinically proven to strengthen the natural scalp barrierStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Over 75% of consumers felt their scalp relieved and comfortedStated 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.

Nioxin Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner draws complaints about dryness and weight.

Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner

Some users report visibly thicker-feeling hair and reduced shedding within about a week of starting the System 3 kit, including new fine regrowth along the hairline.

multiple reviewers, several weeks of regular use

Reviewers note the products are concentrated -- only a small, pea-size amount is needed per use, making a bottle last a long time.

general reviewer feedback on value/usage amount

A recurring complaint is a strong, heavy perfume-like scent that lingers, even among reviewers who otherwise like the results.

reviewer using the full system regularly

At least one reviewer reported scalp dryness and increased hair breakage with weekly use, though they noted a confounding pre-existing thyroid condition.

reviewer with a self-reported thyroid condition, weekly use

Scalp Relief Conditioner

Results for hair thinning and regrowth are inconsistent with some seeing improvement and others seeing no effect.

The high price point creates debate about whether results justify the premium cost.

Reviewers report visible reduction in dandruff flaking and relief from itchy scalp symptoms.

The minty medicinal scent is highly polarizing among reviewers with strong preferences either way.

Some customers experience scalp burning or irritation when using this conditioner.

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.

$1.86/oz vs $2.67/oz — Nioxin Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner costs about 1.4× more per ounce than Nioxin Scalp Relief Conditioner.

$0.09/oz median $1.60/oz $56.25/oz $2.67/oz Nioxin System 3 Scalp Ther $1.86/oz Scalp Relief Conditioner

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 689 conditioners with a computable unit price.

Value readNioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy ConditionerScalp Relief Conditioner
Label
Upper-mid price for a conditionerSits in the middle of the range for conditioners per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a conditionerSits in the middle of the range for conditioners 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.

Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner vs Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 1 ConditionerNioxin · 100% function matchScalp Relief Conditioner vs Full ConditionerLiving Proof · 95% function matchNioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner vs Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System 2 ConditionerNioxin · 100% function matchScalp Relief Conditioner vs Volume Injection ConditionerRedken · 93% function matchNioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner vs Defy Damage Protective ConditionerJoico · 100% function matchScalp Relief Conditioner vs Full Rescue ConditionerBiolage · 93% function matchNioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner vs Colorful Anti-Fade ConditionerJoico · 100% function matchScalp Relief Conditioner vs Ultra-Gentle Conditioner with Oat MilkKlorane · 92% function match

Nioxin System 3 Scalp Therapy Conditioner · Scalp Relief Conditioner · All conditioners 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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