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Side by side

Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair Shampoo vs Wella Professionals Ultimate Smooth Shampoo

78% function match · 10 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 57%. Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair Shampoo and Wella Professionals Ultimate Smooth 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.

  • Ultimate Repair Shampoo — protein-sensitive hair
  • Ultimate Smooth Shampoo — 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
Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair Shampoo — 8.45 oz container Wella Professionals

Ultimate Repair Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Salon
  • Protein-free
Wella Professionals Ultimate Smooth Shampoo — 33.8 oz container Wella Professionals

Ultimate Smooth Shampoo

  • Shampoo
  • Salon
  • Silicone-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$23.10 8.45 oz · $3.44/oz
$70 33.8 oz · $2.07/oz

Compared at different sizes — 33.8 oz against 8.45 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 79% of the 817 shampoos we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a shampoo $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 63% 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
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
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
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 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
Moderate 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
Complete for its job
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
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • 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
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • 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
Ultimate Repair
—
Where to buy
Salons
Salons · Manufacturer B2b
Free of
  • protein-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
Vegan
Vegan · label states
—
Cruelty-free
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
FloralStrong

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

IngredientUltimate Repair ShampooUltimate Smooth Shampoo
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleanses
#3Leading
#2Leading
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleanses
#4Supporting
#3Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#8Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#23Below the 1% line
#17Below the 1% line
Sodium Xylenesulfonate
Stabilizes
#34Below the 1% line
#5Below the 1% line
Panthenol
Detangles
#9Below the 1% line
#6Below the 1% line
Sodium Benzoate
Stabilizes
#10Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Ultimate Repair Shampoo

Ultimate Smooth Shampoo

Full ingredient list — Ultimate Repair Shampoo (38)
Full ingredient list — Ultimate Smooth Shampoo (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.

VerdictsUltimate Repair ShampooUltimate Smooth Shampoo
Supported
1
1
Partly supported
1
0
Stated by brand
2
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Ultimate Repair Shampoo

  • Rich cream shampoo with a lightweight foaming formula that gently and effectively cleansesPartly supportedDepends how fine your hair is.
  • Formulated with Metal Purifier technology to detoxify and rebuild heat- and bleach-damaged hairSupportedResets a coated scalp.
  • 12x smoother hair and 99% less breakage when used as part of complete regimenStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Color safe, vegan, dermatologically testedStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.

Ultimate Smooth Shampoo

  • Achieve silky smooth hair in no time at all with Ultimate Smooth Shampoo by Wella Professionals.SupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Up to 85% smoother hair and 96 hours of frizz control when used as part of the Ultimate Smooth regimen.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.

Ultimate Repair Shampoo

Does not weigh hair down, called out as good for blowouts

stylists doing blowouts

Reviewers, including stylists, describe hair as noticeably softer, shinier, and smoother across all hair textures

salon clients, all hair textures

Reviewers with textured/ethnic hair report increased softness and manageability

textured hair

Stylists report recommending and repurchasing the line for balayage/color-treated clients, citing improved detangling

colorists, balayage clients

Several reviews were collected as part of a promotion and reference the paired Ultimate Repair Mask rather than the shampoo specifically -- pooled review content, noted for transparency

promotional reviewers, line-wide pool

Ultimate Smooth Shampoo

Several reviewers highlight a pleasant, long-lasting floral scent as a standout feature

general users

Multiple reviewers say it reduces frizz and flyaways without weighing hair down or feeling heavy

frizzy/curly-hair users

Reviewers commonly describe hair feeling noticeably softer and smoother immediately after the first wash

general users, including some with thick or curly hair

Reviewers note it cleanses thoroughly (some say squeaky-clean) while still feeling gentle and non-stripping

general users

A reviewer who normally needs a clarifying shampoo found this moisturizing formula an unexpected fit, suggesting it works better for non-oily/normal scalp types than very oily ones

reviewer with oil-prone scalp/hair history

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.

$2.07/oz vs $3.44/oz — Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair Shampoo costs about 1.7× more per ounce than Wella Professionals Ultimate Smooth Shampoo.

$0.00/oz median $1.47/oz $17.29/oz $3.44/oz Ultimate Repair Shampoo $2.07/oz Ultimate Smooth Shampoo

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

Value readUltimate Repair ShampooUltimate Smooth Shampoo
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
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.

Ultimate Repair Shampoo vs Invigo Nutri-Enrich Deep Nourishing ShampooWella Professionals · 96% function matchUltimate Smooth Shampoo vs Fall Defense ShampooNioxin · 100% function matchUltimate Repair Shampoo vs Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal 2-in-1 Shampoo + ConditionerPantene · 96% function matchUltimate Smooth Shampoo vs Oil Control ShampooAmerican Crew · 100% function matchUltimate Repair Shampoo vs Pro-V Smooth & Sleek ShampooPantene · 96% function matchUltimate Smooth Shampoo vs Boost Pre-Styling ShampooAmerican Crew · 100% function matchUltimate Repair Shampoo vs Pro-V Volume & Body 2in1 Shampoo + ConditionerPantene · 96% function matchUltimate Smooth Shampoo vs Surf Foam Wash Texturizing ShampooBumble and bumble · 100% function match

Ultimate Repair Shampoo · Ultimate Smooth 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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