Extreme CAT Anti-Damage Protein Reconstructing Rinse-Off Treatment
Mask / Light treatment, lean
- Mask / treatment
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Curly-method
- Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent:
The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.
Listing used for research: ulta.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
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- Every product matched against your hair across the 21 factors we check.
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Show all 21 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
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Your avoid-list
Upper-mid price for a treatment
$5.00/oz at 6.8 oz — more than 67% of the 341 masks and treatments , which mostly run $1.63–5.59/oz. The cost less.
Great for
Maybe skip if
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.
No oils or butters in the list.
Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.
Protein high in the list — a strengthening formula, not a moisture one.
Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here.
Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula.
Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.
Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterAqua/Water/Eau | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein | conditioning agent | Conditions and softens — this is what makes it comb through | Protein |
| Magnesium Sulfate | salt | Thickens the formula | Stabilizes |
| Laureth-23 | emulsifier | Keeps oil and water mixed | Stabilizes |
| Taurine | amino acid | Small protein fragments that bind water | Protein |
| Sodium Benzoate | preservative | Keeps the product from spoiling | Stabilizes |
| FragranceParfum/Fragrance | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine | amphoteric cleanser | — | Cleanses |
| Salicylic Acid | active | A secondary active | Active |
| Linalool | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Hexyl Cinnamal | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Citronellol | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
Full ingredient list (16)
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
· Aqua/Water/Eau
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
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
General function
A wheat protein given a positive charge so it sticks to damaged areas. It conditions and adds temporary strength in one ingredient.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
May 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 suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairHydrolysed fragments are small enough to sit in the gaps of a worn cuticle for a wash or two, temporarily restoring stiffness and cutting breakage in combing.
- conditioning agent
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
3
Magnesium Sulfate
General function
Epsom salt, used to adjust the thickness of a liquid formula.
Leading ingredientPubChemListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- salt
-
4
Laureth-23
General function
A water-loving emulsifier, normally paired with a lower-numbered laureth to balance a cream.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
5
Taurine
General function
An amino acid used for moisture binding in scalp and conditioning formulas.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- amino acid
- humectant
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
6
Sodium Benzoate
General function
A food-grade preservative that works only in acidic formulas, which is why it usually appears alongside citric acid.
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
Fragrance
· Parfum/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
-
8
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
General function
A mild coconut-derived co-cleanser that boosts foam and softens the effect of stronger detergents. It appears in most shampoos, gentle or not.
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.
Indian Journal of DermatologyMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairMild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.
May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesThe mildest detergents are also the least complete: a routine that deposits films needs something stronger periodically.
DependsVery dry or highly damaged hairAmong the mildest detergents in use — it is what baby shampoos are built on — but it is almost always the second detergent in a formula. How much a wash strips is still decided by the primary detergent listed above it.
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
9
Salicylic Acid
- active
- exfoliant
-
10
Polyquaternium-10
General function
A cellulose-based conditioning polymer that leaves a thin, static-reducing film. Very common in shampoos as the ingredient that keeps them from stripping.
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 suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdCationic polymers hold a curl loosely and stay soft, which is why they turn up in definition products rather than firm-hold ones.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
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 Lysine Hydrochloride/Lysine Hcl
-
13
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
14
Linalool
General function
A floral fragrance component listed separately as a recognised contact allergen.
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 not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
15
Hexyl Cinnamal
General function
A jasmine-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.
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 not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
16
Citronellol
General function
A rose-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.
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 not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
What the whole list adds up to
- 4 fragrances
- 3 named fragrance allergens
- 2 conditioning agents
- 2 film formers
- 2 amino acids
- 2 humectants
- 2 preservatives
- 1 solvent
- 1 protein
- 1 hydrolysed protein
- 1 salt
- 1 emulsifier
- 1 solubilizer
- 1 declared fragrance
Ingredient list captured 2026-09-15. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 6.8 oz
Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $14 line; products that do this job typically go for about $17 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it2 listings · 1 store
-
Ulta Beauty (ulta.com)
$34.006.8 oz · $5.00/ozSep 15Lowest per oz
-
Ulta Beauty (ulta.com)
$34.006.8 oz · $5.00/ozSep 15
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
- 6.8 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 $34 is the price we have observed for the 6.8 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
- Good value under $14 comes from the 7 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.05/oz; at 6.8 oz that is $14. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $17 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 6.8 oz.
Formula
Nothing separates this from the middle of the range for masks and treatments, on formula or on cost per ounce.
How the score is counted
- 4 products that do the same job cost less per ounce
- Costs more per ounce than 67% of the 341 masks and treatments we’ve priced
- No rich emollients in the formula
- Salon tier, sold at Ulta
- Rich emollientsThe depth a treatment step is built around.3 pts
- Conditioning agents up frontWhat makes wet hair comb through.2 pts
- Protein or amino acidsThe strengthening side of a treatment.2 pts
- A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
- A stated dwell timeThe brand says how long to leave it on.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.
- Quick
- Budget
- Widely sold
- Function
- Also
- Protein
- Curly method
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
- 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?
Good for the right personSoft, over-stretchy hair who want protein high in the formula and real detangling slip
Not ideal for anyone sensitive to fragrance, hair that stiffens on protein, or very dry or very humid climates
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.
Reviewers
What people report
Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.
Many long-time users, including those with bleached, highlighted or over-processed hair, describe the treatment as restoring strength and manageability after years of visible damage.
Several reviewers report noticing no difference at all after use, describing the product as feeling like plain water sprayed into their hair.
A handful of longtime users report the product was reformulated at some point and are unhappy with the new scent or ingredient list compared to the version they had used for years.
Some reviewers caution that overusing the protein treatment without following with a moisturizing conditioner or mask can leave hair feeling hard, brittle or overly tangled.
A recurring complaint is that the spray-pump bottle is awkward to grip and dispense while wet in the shower, forcing some reviewers to spray it into their hands first.
More from Redken
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.
- 4 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 0 retailer, 4 editorial), last checked 2026-09-16.
- Ingredient references are linked for 5 of 8 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 2026-09-16.