Side by side
Verb Curl Shampoo vs Verb Ghost Shampoo
70% function match · 7 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 17%. Verb Curl Shampoo and Verb Ghost Shampoo share 4 ingredients among each other's most prominent.
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.
- Curl Shampoo — colour-treated hair
- Ghost 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”.
- Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
- Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
- Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
- Hard waterand swimmers dealing with mineral deposit
- Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
- Fast-oiling scalpsthat need a real reset wash
- Hard waterand swimmers dealing with mineral deposit
- Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
- Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
- Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
- Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
- Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
- Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
- Dry or damaged haira strong detergent system strips as it cleans
More facts about each one
- sulfate-free
- protein-free
- sulfate-free
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.
$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
What only one of them carries
Curl Shampoo
Full ingredient list — Curl Shampoo (54)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
3
Sorbitol
- humectant
-
4
Lauryl Betaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
5
Glycol Distearate
- opacifier
- emollient
-
6
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
- emollient
- light ester
- oil
- wax
-
7
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
8
Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Oil
- oil
- emollient
- antioxidant
-
9
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
10
Helianthus Annuus Flower Extract
- botanical extract
-
11
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract
- botanical extract
- antioxidant
-
12
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Sprout Extract
- botanical extract
-
13
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
- conditioning agent
- film former
- starch
-
14
Maltodextrin/VP Copolymer
- film former
- polymer
- 15 Mannitol
-
16
PVP
- film former
- polymer
-
17
Panthenol
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
18
PEG-150 Distearate
- thickener
- emulsifier
-
19
PEG-12 Dimethicone
- emollient
- silicone
- water-soluble silicone
-
20
Peg-12 Allyl Ether
- emulsifier
-
21
Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate
- light ester
- emollient
-
22
Silicone Quaternium-16/Glycidoxy Dimethicone Crosspolymer
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
- silicone
-
23
Polyquaternium-7
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
24
Polyquaternium-10
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
25
Quaternium-80
- silicone
- conditioning agent
- film former
-
26
Amodimethicone
- silicone
- conditioning agent
- film former
-
27
Xanthan Gum
- gum
- thickener
- film former
-
28
Glycerin
- humectant
-
29
Ethylhexylglycerin
- preservative
- emollient
-
30
Fragrance
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
31
Decyl Glucoside
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
32
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
33
Isopropyl Alcohol
- drying alcohol
- solvent
-
34
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
- conditioning agent
-
35
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
36
Cetrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- cleanser
-
37
Trideceth-12
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
38
Undeceth-11
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
39
Undeceth-5
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
40
Sodium Chloride
- salt
- thickener
-
41
Sorbitan Laurate
- light ester
- emollient
-
42
Sodium Citrate
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
43
Fumaric Acid
- pH adjuster
-
44
Propylene Glycol
- humectant
- solvent
-
45
Butylene Glycol
- humectant
- solvent
-
46
Sodium Acetate
- salt
- pH adjuster
-
47
Gluconolactone
- humectant
- exfoliant
- hard-water chelator
-
48
Calcium Gluconate
- hard-water chelator
- salt
-
49
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
50
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
51
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
52
Hydroxycitronellal
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
53
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
54
Linalool
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
Full ingredient list — Ghost Shampoo (56)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- olefin sulfonate cleanser
- cleanser
-
3
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
4
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
5
Glycol Distearate
- opacifier
- emollient
-
6
Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
7
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
8
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
- emollient
- light ester
- oil
- wax
-
9
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
10
Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract
- botanical extract
-
11
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
12
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
13
Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
14
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
- botanical extract
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
15
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract
- botanical extract
- antioxidant
-
16
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
- botanical extract
-
17
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
- botanical extract
-
18
Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
- antioxidant
-
19
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
- humectant
- botanical extract
- gum
-
20
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
- conditioning agent
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
21
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
22
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
23
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
24
Panthenol
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
25
Ethylhexylglycerin
- preservative
- emollient
-
26
Glycerin
- humectant
-
27
Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
28
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
29
Sodium Sarcosinate
- cleanser
-
30
Ppg-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide
- emulsifier
-
31
Fragrance
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
32
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
- mild anionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
33
Glyceryl Oleate
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
34
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
35
Laureth-4
- emulsifier
-
36
Sodium Chloride
- salt
- thickener
-
37
Sodium Sulfate
- salt
-
38
Coco-Glucoside
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
39
Silicone Quaternium-8
- silicone
- film former
- conditioning agent
-
40
Polyquaternium-7
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
41
Laureth-3
- emulsifier
-
42
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
- hard-water chelator
-
43
Polyquaternium-44
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
44
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
- light ester
- emollient
-
45
Sodium Laurate
- light ester
- emollient
-
46
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
47
Hydrogen Peroxide
- active
-
48
Benzoic Acid
- preservative
-
49
Anhydroxylitol
- humectant
-
50
Disodium EDTA
- hard-water chelator
-
51
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
52
EDTA
- hard-water chelator
-
53
Benzyl Alcohol
- preservative
- solvent
-
54
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
55
Hydroxycitronellal
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
56
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
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.
Curl Shampoo
reduces frizz by 84%
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.increases curl retention by 20%
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.gently cleanses, adds moisture, and enhances definition
SupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
Ghost Shampoo
Clinically proven to reduce frizz by 79% when used with the complete Ghost system
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.Weightless cleanse that smooths frizz and promotes shine
SupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
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 the scent. Verb Curl Shampoo draws complaints about how it cleanses; Verb Ghost Shampoo draws complaints about the price.
Curl Shampoo
Curly/wavy-haired reviewers report soft, bouncy hair and good curl definition
curly/wavy hair, some multi-generational household useRepeat-purchase/staple-product framing common ("always have a bottle on hand")
Scent is repeatedly praised as pleasant, though one long-time buyer noted the fragrance became more prominent than in a prior purchase (possible reformulation)
A minority of reviewers report poor lather, with texture closer to a curl cream than a shampoo
Ghost Shampoo
Long-term repeat-purchase loyalty, described as a staple product
Praised for excellent lather, pleasant fragrance, and leaving hair soft and shiny
Cleanses without adding weight or stripping hair
reviewers with fine or limp hairSome price-point/marketing skepticism relative to drugstore alternatives
Mixed opinions on scalp cleansing effectiveness
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.
$1.83/oz vs $1.83/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.
Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 817 shampoos with a computable unit price.
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.
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.
- 8 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.
Still unsure? Take your consultation or browse more products.
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