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Side by side

Olaplex No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner vs Virtue Curl Leave-In Butter

75% function match · 6 of the 10 functions we compared match Formula overlap 45%. Olaplex No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner and Virtue Curl Leave-In Butter 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.

  • No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner — heat styling
  • Curl Leave-In Butter — dry, thirsty 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
Olaplex No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner — 3.4 oz container Olaplex

No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner

  • Leave-in
  • Prestige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Virtue Curl Leave-In Butter — 5 oz container Virtue

Curl Leave-In Butter

  • Leave-in
  • Prestige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$26.99 3.3 oz · $8.48/oz
about $46 5 oz · $9.20/oz
Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Prestige tier · costs more than 91% of the 553 leave-ins we’ve priced
Priced above most leave-ins $$$$$ Prestige tier · costs more than 94% of the 481 leave-ins we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. 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
Oils and butters Same
High Butters near the top: a heavy, softening formula. Your hair
High Butters near the top: a heavy, softening formula. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
Weight on hair Same
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. 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 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
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
Heat protection
Stated to 450°F The brand states a protection temperature — a label claim, not a measurement. Your hair
—
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Covers the core
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
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
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
Leave-inlotion
Leave-incream
Where to buy
Brand website
Brand website · Specialty beauty
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
—
Cruelty-free · label states
Scent
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

IngredientNo.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In ConditionerCurl Leave-In Butter
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#2Leading
#2Leading
Propanediol
Moisturizes
#4Supporting
#3Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#6Supporting
#41Below the 1% line
Cetyl Alcohol
Softens
#7Supporting
#5Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#80Below the 1% line
#57Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner

Curl Leave-In Butter

Full ingredient list — No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner (85)
Full ingredient list — Curl Leave-In Butter (77)

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.

VerdictsNo.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In ConditionerCurl Leave-In Butter
Supported
1
0
Partly supported
1
0
Stated by brand
3
3
Potential conflict
0
0

No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner

  • Reparative leave-in to moisturize, seal split ends, and protect hairSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Immediately seals split endsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Continuously repairs and prevents styling damageStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Up to 88% split-end sealing after one useStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 450F/232C heat protectionPartly supportedSold for hot tools; untestable here.

Curl Leave-In Butter

  • 95% felt hair was immediately more resilient, silkier, and looked rejuvenatedStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 93% felt hair was more manageable, moisturized, nourished and shinier after 1 weekStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 96% saw reparative benefits and felt hair was healthier and softer after 2 weeksStated 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 frizz control and curl definition. Olaplex No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner draws complaints about how it cleanses; Virtue Curl Leave-In Butter draws complaints about dryness and dullness.

No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner

Hydrates and defines curls while reducing halo frizz

Ulta reviewers

Creamy non-greasy formula works in small amounts

Ulta reviewer

Some straight-hair users find the formula heavy or unclean

Ulta reviewer

Curl Leave-In Butter

Effectively controls frizz in humid conditions with a very small amount needed to prevent heaviness.

Reviewers in humid climates report frizz control while maintaining hair softness with minimal product.

Provides hold and curl definition while maintaining soft, touchable curls with proper dosing.

Multiple curly-haired reviewers report the product delivers hold and definition without crunchiness when the correct small amount is used.

Can leave hair feeling heavy, sticky, greasy, crunchy, or waxy-textured on some hair types despite using small amounts.

Multiple reviewers report the product left their hair feeling heavy, greasy, or with a waxy residue even with minimal application.

May leave hair feeling dry, dull, or gummy with uneven product distribution, or cause scalp itching.

Some reviewers experienced dryness, dullness, or scalp irritation despite positive descriptions on the product page.

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.

$8.48/oz vs $9.20/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

$0.01/oz median $2.46/oz $76.00/oz $8.48/oz No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & $9.20/oz Curl Leave-In Butter

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 553 leave-ins with a computable unit price.

Value readNo.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In ConditionerCurl Leave-In Butter
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
Priced above most leave-insCosts more per ounce than most leave-ins; 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.

No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner vs Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration & Care Leave-In ConditionerSheaMoisture · 89% function matchCurl Leave-In Butter vs Curl La La Thirst Trap Curl MilkAunt Jackie's · 79% function matchNo.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner vs Transform! Hydrating Leave-in ConditionerAunt Jackie's · 89% function matchCurl Leave-In Butter vs Hemp Multitasking SprayPaul Mitchell · 79% function matchNo.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner vs Curl La La Thirst Trap Curl MilkAunt Jackie's · 88% function matchCurl Leave-In Butter vs Hydrate & Plump Leave-InCurlsmith · 77% function matchNo.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner vs Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisturizing Leave-In ConditionerSheaMoisture · 85% function matchCurl Leave-In Butter vs Curl Nourish Knot Melter Anti-Breakage Detangling MilkGarnier Fructis · 77% function match

No.5LEAVE-IN Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner · Curl Leave-In Butter · All leave-ins 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.
  • 9 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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