The secret to body without the burden
A mid-weight formula: it will not flatten fine hair, but lift is not its main job.
- Hydrolyzed Keratin
Partly supported
Neutral on lift.
Nexxus
Scalp Inergy Ultra-Light Conditioner
Conditioner / Everyday rinse-out, detangling
- Conditioner
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Curly-method
Size8.45 fl oz
Price$8.57seen at one store · 8.45 oz
Price / oz$1.69/ozat 8.45 oz
Where to buy3 stores · $8.57–19.99
Scent:
The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.
Manufacturer page: sleekshop.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
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Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
All types
Not in your profile
Moisture level
Moderate
Not in your profile
Oils and butters
None
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
High
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Medium
Not in your profile
Fragrance
Prominent
Not in your profile
Protein
Minor
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
None
Not in your profile
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate
Not in your profile
Parabens / preservatives
Present
Not in your profile
Show all 21 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
Essential oils
None listed
Not in your profile
Fast-drying alcohol
None
Not in your profile
Vegan / cruelty-free
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Not heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
None
Not in your profile
UV filter
None listed
Not in your profile
pH adjusted
Adjusted
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
13 ingredientsA short list
Not in your profile
Price tier
Masstige
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
Grocery / massOne channel
Not in your profile
The consultation builds your hair profile, then reads every factor in this table against it — and tells you where this product fits, or what to use instead.
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Your avoid-list
Upper-mid price for a conditioner
$1.69/oz at 8.45 oz — more than 53% of the 689 conditioners , which mostly run $0.91–3.10/oz. The cost less.
Great for
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
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
Cuticle-smoothing pHa pH adjuster brings it to the acidic range hair prefers
A wide range of haira middle-of-the-range weight
Maybe skip if
this product carries a scent
Picking it up locallywe have it recorded in one channel only
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Slip and detangling
High
Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula.
Oils and butters
None
No oils or butters in the list.
Weight on the hair
Medium
Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair.
Water-binding (humectants)
Moderate
Humectants in the working part of the formula.
Protein
Minor
Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient.
Needs detergent to remove
No
Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.
Hard-water defence
None
No chelating agent in the list.
Fragrance
Prominent
Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula.
from the formula
stated by the brand
reported by reviewers
Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients plus anything lower down that changes a decision. These chips name what an ingredient does — they are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Cetearyl Alcohol | fatty alcohol | Thickens and conditions — not a drying alcohol | Softens |
| Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine | conditioning agent | Conditions and softens — this is what makes it comb through | Detangles |
| Cetyl Esters | light ester | Light slip without much weight | Softens |
| Fragrance | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Phenoxyethanol | preservative | Keeps the product from spoiling | Stabilizes |
| Methylparaben | paraben | — | Stabilizes |
| Propylparaben | paraben | — | Stabilizes |
| Hydrolyzed Keratin | film former | A supporting film former | Protein |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Fragrance is on the label.
Full ingredient list (13)
US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Annotations keep three readings separate: the ingredient's general function, its role in this product type, and what its position can support.
-
1
Water
General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
Cetearyl Alcohol
General function
A waxy fatty alcohol - nothing like drying alcohol. It gives conditioners their body and leaves a soft, smoothing film on the hair.
Role in this product typeIn conditioner, cetearyl alcohol gives the emulsion its creamy structure and helps it spread evenly through the hair. Its emollient layer adds slip and a smoother feel.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
BASFMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairMay suit dry, coarse, or high-porosity hair that benefits from added slip and a more substantial conditioning film.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits with the cationic conditioners and helps them lie flat along the strand, which is where the detangling actually comes from.
DependsFine or easily flattened hairConsider if hair is fine or easily flattened: a formula built heavily around fatty alcohols can feel richer than a lightweight conditioner.
- fatty alcohol
- emollient
- thickener
-
3
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
General function
A gentle conditioning agent activated by the acid in the formula. It smooths the cuticle without much build-up.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA cationic conditioning agent: it binds to the damaged, negatively charged parts of the cuticle and lowers combing friction there.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairThe class that does the detangling in a conditioner. It deposits lubrication where the cuticle is worn.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSubstantive by design. A routine with no detergent wash gives it nothing to leave with.
- conditioning agent
-
4
Cetyl Esters
General function
A waxy ester blend that replaces spermaceti in creams. It thickens and leaves a smooth, non-greasy finish.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA light emollient: it softens the surface with noticeably less weight than an oil or a butter.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairSpreads thin and lowers friction between strands without the heaviness of a fixed oil.
- light ester
- emollient
- thickener
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
5
Fragrance
General function
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
6
Phenoxyethanol
General function
The most common modern preservative; it keeps the product free of bacteria and mould. It sits well below 1% of the formula.
Estimated lower-concentration zonePubChemIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- preservative
-
7
Methylparaben
General function
A long-established preservative. Many brands have replaced parabens with newer systems for marketing rather than safety reasons.
Estimated lower-concentration zonePubChemIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- paraben
- preservative
-
8
Propylparaben
General function
A long-established preservative. Many brands have replaced parabens for marketing rather than safety reasons.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- paraben
- preservative
-
9
Panthenol
General function
Provitamin B5. It draws in water and penetrates the strand a little, which is why it is the standard ingredient for softness and shine claims.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairIt hydrates without adding oil or a film, which is the combination fine hair usually needs.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA humectant that also penetrates the cuticle, so it holds water inside the strand rather than only on the surface.
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
10
Hydrolyzed Keratin
General function
Fragments of the same protein hair is made of. They fill gaps on damaged strands and make hair feel firmer for a few washes.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
International Journal of Cosmetic ScienceMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairFilling surface gaps evens out the cuticle, which is part of what makes damaged hair comb and reflect light more like undamaged hair.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
DependsCurls or waves needing flexible holdHow rigid the finish is depends on which polymer it is and what the formula pairs with it, not on there being one.
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
11
Arginine
General function
An amino acid that holds water and carries a positive charge, so it is drawn to damaged spots on the strand.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitVery dry or highly damaged hairAmino acids are the smallest protein fraction and bind water as well, so they add far less stiffness than a hydrolysed protein does.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
DependsProtein-sensitive hairThe lightest option in the protein family, but still protein — worth watching if protein reliably stiffens your hair.
- amino acid
- humectant
-
12
Citric Acid
General function
Used to bring the product to a slightly acidic pH, which helps the cuticle lie flat. It is almost always near the end of the list.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
International Journal of TrichologyMay suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesHolds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairThe acid side of pH adjustment, and the reason it matters is measured: alkaline formulas raise the fibre's surface negative charge, increase friction between strands and lift the scales, while lower-pH ones do the reverse.
May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hairWhere a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
13
Sodium Hydroxide
General function
A strong base used in trace amounts to raise pH; fully neutralised in the finished product.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
International Journal of TrichologyDependsFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairThe alkali half of a pH-adjusting pair, used in small amounts to bring a formula up to its target rather than to make it alkaline. Alkaline conditions raise the fibre's surface charge and lift the scales — but the finished pH is not on the label.
- pH adjuster
What the whole list adds up to
- 3 preservatives
- 2 emollients
- 2 thickeners
- 2 parabens
- 2 humectants
- 2 pH adjusters
- 1 solvent
- 1 fatty alcohol
- 1 conditioning agent
- 1 light ester
- 1 fragrance
- 1 declared fragrance
- 1 conditioning agent
- 1 vitamin
Ingredient list captured 2026-09-04. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 8.45 oz
Seen at
$8.57
Good value under
$6
Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $6 line; products that do this job typically go for about $7 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it2 listings · 2 stores
-
Sleekshop.com
$8.578.45 oz · $1.01/ozSep 5Lowest per oz
-
Target
$19.998.45 oz · $2.37/ozSep 5Sale · was $25.00
Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.
How we work this out
- 8.45 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
- Seen at $8.57 is the price we have observed for the 8.45 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
- Good value under $6 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.66/oz; at 8.45 oz that is $6. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $7 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 8.45 oz.
Formula
9
Formula score
9 of 10
A complete read of the format at an ordinary price: mid-range per ounce among conditioners, with the working systems present.
How the score is counted
- 5 products that do the same job cost less per ounce
- Costs more per ounce than 53% of the 689 conditioners we’ve priced
- Covers 5 of the 6 things a conditioner should do
- Reviewers mention 3 recurring complaints
- Conditioning agents up frontWhat makes wet hair comb through.3 pts
- Oils or butters in the working zoneSoftens the strand rather than just coating it.2 pts
- Slip for detanglingReduces the force it takes to comb wet hair.2 pts
- A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
- A pH adjusterBrings the formula to the acidic pH hair prefers.1 pt
- Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt
The formula score is completeness for the job: the share of the systems this product type is normally built around that we can find in this list, weighted. It is not efficacy, not quality, and it never compares across product types.
Does the same job, for less
Same derived functions — what it cleans, conditions, coats or holds — at a lower cost per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy it can still differ.
MatrixClosest function
High Amplify Conditioner
$0.99/oz $0.70/oz less
- Curly method
- Silicone-free
- Medium weight
- Function
- Also
NativeClose function
Native Daily Clean Conditioner - Santal & Leather
$0.67/oz $1.02/oz less
- Protein-free
- Curly method
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
NativeLowest cost per oz
Native Full & Thick Conditioner - Sandalwood & Coconut
$0.64/oz $1.05/oz less
- Protein-free
- Curly method
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
See more alternatives in the product library
These are functional neighbours, not personal recommendations — they are close on formula, not chosen for anyone. Get the one that fits your hair, routine, and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
A solid pick for the hair it suitsBest user
People who want maximum slip, looking for real detangling slip and a curly-method-compatible formula
Biggest tradeoff
Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance or anyone who wants to pick it up locally
Best alternative if not
Consider Matrix High Amplify Conditioner, for similar results at a lower price
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Claims check
What the brand says, against what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when the ingredient list actually speaks to it; everything else stays "stated by the brand", which is not a criticism — most claims simply cannot be read off a label.
1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
2
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
1
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
ProteinFusion blend of Wheat Protein and Ginger Root
A named-ingredient story. What matters is where those sit in the list — see the ingredients table.
- Panthenol
- Hydrolyzed Keratin
Stated by brand
Check the position, not the name.
Plant-based, silicone-free, and paraben-free
No silicones appear in the ingredient list.
—
Supported
Nothing that needs a strong wash.
Ultra-lightweight volume for thin, fragile, or fine hair
A mid-weight formula: it will not flatten fine hair, but lift is not its main job.
- Hydrolyzed Keratin
Partly supported
Neutral on lift.
How to read this
We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula — not marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
Reviewers
What people report
Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.
Reviewers with fine, limp or fragile hair say the conditioner is genuinely lightweight and leaves hair soft and moved without any heaviness or residue.
reviewers who received the product free through influenster.com for testing, describing fine or fragile hairSome reviewers with fine or oily hair said it still weighed hair down and left residue, contradicting the product's weightless/lightweight positioning.
reviewers with fine, limp, and oily hairMultiple reviewers were surprised by a strong, heavy perfume-like scent, with a couple reporting fragrance sensitivity or allergy concerns.
reviewers sensitive to fragranceSeveral reviewers with dry, damaged or thick/coarse hair say it didn't moisturize enough, leaving hair feeling dry, flat, or under-conditioned even after use.
reviewers with damaged, color-treated, or thick fine-stranded hairA few reviewers described the formula as unusually thin and watery, running out of the bottle quickly and requiring extra product to feel effective.
reviewers commenting on the conditioner's texture and consistencyMore from Nexxus
- Clean & Pure Detox Conditioner
- Hy-Volume Conditioner
- HydraLight Weightless Moisture Conditioner for Oily Hair (Hydra-Light Conditioner)
- Nexxus Amino Bond Repair Conditioner (Bond Repair, Hydrolink Bonder with Amino5 Complex)
- Nexxus Clean & Pure Nourishing Detox Conditioner with Elastin Protein and Marine Minerals
- Nexxus Color Assure Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair with Elastin Protein and Quinoa
How this page was made
- Everything above is generated from our researched product record — identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. No part of this page is written per product.
- 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.
- Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
- 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.
- 5 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 5 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-09-04.
- Ingredient references are linked for 7 of 9 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are conditional formulation guidance, not a conclusion about the finished product or about you.
- We have not tested this product in a lab and we do not physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list; behaviour claims are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v22. Record last updated 2026-09-05.