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Side by side

Pantene Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo vs Wella Professionals Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo

13 of 13 functions match Formula overlap 40%. Pantene Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo and Wella Professionals Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free 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.

  • Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo — colour-treated hair
  • Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free 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
Pantene Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo — 9.6 oz container Pantene

Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Wella Professionals Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo — 8.4 oz container Wella Professionals

Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$3.98 9.6 oz · $0.42/oz
$5.24 8.45 oz · $0.62/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most shampoos $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 93% of the 805 shampoos we’ve priced
Lower cost than most shampoos $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 84% 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
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Moisture level Same
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
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine 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
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. 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
Moderate An ordinary shampoo lather. Your hair
Moderate An ordinary shampoo lather. 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
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • 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 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
  • 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
Line
Nutrient Blends Illuminating Color Care
Ultimate Color
Where to buy
Brand website
Salons
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • 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
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

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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

IngredientIlluminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free ShampooUltimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleanses
#4Supporting
#3Leading
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Cleanses
#5Supporting
#5Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#6Below the 1% line
#6Below the 1% line
Panthenol
Detangles
#8Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Sodium Benzoate
Stabilizes
#13Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo

Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Full ingredient list — Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo (15)
Full ingredient list — Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo (39)

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.

VerdictsIlluminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free ShampooUltimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Supported
3
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo

  • Preserve and protect your vibrant color for clean, healthy-looking hair that shinesSupportedLess fade per wash.
  • Sulfate-free formula contains a blend of pro-vitamin B5 and biotinSupportedGentler on colour and coils.
  • 0% sulfated cleansers, silicones, parabens, mineral oil, and dyesStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Color-safe shampoo protects color-treated hair from premature fading and dullnessSupportedLess fade per wash.

Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo

  • Gentle cleansing to minimize color fade versus non-conditioning alternativesSupportedLess fade per wash.
  • Color vibrancy support for up to 10 weeks with complete regimen useStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Scalp-soothing formula with detoxifying properties targeting metal residueSupportedResets a coated scalp.
  • 73% consumer agreement on improved scalp comfort after first applicationStated 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 how it cleanses. Wella Professionals Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo draws complaints about the scent.

Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo

Gentle cleanse with satisfying lather

Exact current retailer reviewers

Helps maintain color and shine

Exact current retailer reviewers

Leaves hair soft rather than stripped

Exact current retailer reviewers

Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Stylists and colorists specifically call it out as effective for extending vibrancy without weighing hair down

stylists / colorists

Reviewers with hard water report reduced frizz and improved manageability

hard water areas

Mild, gentle lather with no residue noted after rinsing

general reviewers

Reviewers report color vibrancy holds well between salon visits, particularly on vivid/fashion tones like copper and red

color-treated hair, home and salon dye

Some reviewers report scent does not linger and noticed no measurable improvement in color-fade duration

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.

$0.42/oz vs $0.62/oz — Wella Professionals Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo costs about 1.5× more per ounce than Pantene Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo.

$0.00/oz median $1.47/oz $17.29/oz $0.42/oz Illuminating Color Care Bi $0.62/oz Ultimate Color Sulfate-Fre

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

Value readIlluminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free ShampooUltimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Label
Lower cost than most shampoosCosts less per ounce than most shampoos we have researched.
Lower cost than most shampoosCosts less per ounce than most shampoos we have researched.

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.

Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo vs Color Fresh ShampoodpHUE · 100% function matchUltimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo vs Gentle Brightening ShampoodpHUE · 100% function matchIlluminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo vs Gentle Brightening ShampoodpHUE · 100% function matchUltimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo vs Color Fresh ShampoodpHUE · 100% function matchIlluminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo vs Colour Shield Shampoo with Camu-Camu BerriesChristophe Robin · 98% function matchUltimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo vs Colour Shield Shampoo with Camu-Camu BerriesChristophe Robin · 98% function matchIlluminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo vs Full ShampooLiving Proof · 98% function matchUltimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo vs Perfect hair Day ShampooLiving Proof · 98% function match

Illuminating Color Care Biotin Sulfate Free Shampoo · Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free 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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