Pureology vs Redken: Which Is BETTER for YOU?

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Keeping your hair in excellent condition is something you should never take for granted. This means you must be mindful of the haircare products you use and how you use them.

Among other things, you need to trust the brand behind any of your hair care products.

When it comes to shampoos are conditioners, there are few brands that you can compare to Pureology and Redken.

Depending on your hair type, style, and personal reference, there are different products from these brands that should be part of your hair care routine.

Redken vs Pureology Shampoos: How they Perform

Pureology has color-protecting qualities, which is something to consider if you have colored hair. Redken has a great line if you want to soften, de-frizz, and add shine to your hair.

Pureology is a vegan brand with less water content than Redken. Aside from that, Pureology is also sulfate- and cruelty-free.

If you care about animal welfare in general, you know the better brand to choose is Pureology. Personally, I’ll always go for the brand that is most ethical.

It also has a higher concentration than Redken, which is why it is more expensive.

Yes, Redken is cheaper, so if you’re looking for the more affordable of the two, then you probably want to go with Redken.

Most users not only choose Redken shampoos over Pureology because it is cheaper but also because the All Soft Shampoo is very effective and has been a best seller for quite a while.

Another area you might want to pay attention to is how both products smell. Most of the users that reviewed both state that Redken smells better than Pureology.

So, if you’re easily triggered by the scent in your shampoo, it might be safer to stick with Redken.

Verdict

Aside from the above, you also need to consider your hair type if you want to make an informed buying decision.

Most users also note that Redken is great for thin, wispy hair and some users mentioned their hairstylists recommend it for fine, thin hair. 

Pureology, on the other hand, is considered to be best for thick, coarse hair. So, if your hair needs more oil and moisture, then Pureology might be a better option for you.

Finally, don’t forget that Redken actually owns Pureology. The same company that makes both also makes Kerastase, which is also extremely popular.

However, they seem to be independent and operate separately. But just something worth pointing out!

Pureology Hydrate vs. Redken All Soft

Now, let’s look at specific shampoos from both brands. The most popular are the Pureology Hydrate and Redken All Soft lines. Let’s look at some differences between these lines:

Ingredient List for Pureology

Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth, Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl, Sarcosinat, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycereth-26, Decyl Glucoside, Coconut Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Isethionate, Parfum/Fragrance, Citric Acid, Ppg-5-Ceteth-20, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Amodimethicone, Coco-Betaine, Polyquaternium-10, Propylene Glycol, Peg-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Linalool, Carbomer, C11-15 Pareth-7, Benzoic Acid, Laureth-9, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limonene, Geraniol, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Trideceth-12, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract/Sunflower Seed Extract, Magnesium Nitrate, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Benzophenone-4, Tetrasodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Wheat Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Ci 60730/Ext. Violet 2, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sorbic Acid, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium Edta, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil/Sunflower Seed Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract.

Ingredient List for Redken

Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethicone, Parfum/Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Amodimethicone, Carbomer, Glycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-10, Salicylic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Glycol Distearate, Citric Acid, Mica, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-6, Trideceth-3, Potassium Dimethicone Peg-7 Panthenyl Phosphate, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Sarcosinate, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Coumarin, Linalool, Peg-45M, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Caramel, Acetic Acid, Fumaric Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract/Cactus Flower Extract, Glucose, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium Edta, BHT, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide.

Looking at the ingredient, you can see that both have tons of ingredients in them. However, Redken All Soft is slightly better since it has a lesser amount of ingredients.

Otherwise, both shampoos have very similar ingredients including silicone (dimethicone), parfum, etc. Only Pureology is sulfate-free. 

The rule of thumb has always been “The lesser the ingredient list, the better”. So, in this case, I’ll give it to Redken.

When I checked the price of both on Ulta, the Pureology Hydrate is twice the price of the Redken All Soft. It’ll probably be the same in other places, based on reviews from users.

So, definitely, Redken is a lot cheaper and more affordable.

Here is more information on their prices:

PRICE Comparison: How much are you willing to pay?

When buying any beauty product, you probably are motivated by the price. If you’re only willing to pay a few dollars, an expensive product is going to have to wait. No matter how good it is.

So, when you’re considering choosing Pureology or Redken, pricing takes the front seat.

While almost every product from Pureology and Redken are super-effective, they are all priced differently.

Depending on what you truly desire and the size of your budget, the prize can be a major factor when you have to choose between the two lines of products.

To some extent, Pureology products are more expensive than Redken products.

Considering that they lay a strong emphasis on color care and go the extra mile in making some of their products organic, this brings no surprise.

Redken color extend are also great for color care but their products are always a little less expensive when you compare them to those from their sister company.

Where to Buy Redken or Pureology 

I’ve mentioned above I checked Ulta, but there are a lot of places you can get either Pureology or Redken. Thanks to their popularity, they are easily accessible.

You can check Amazon, Ulta, Walmart, and CVS, as well as the official website of each brand to obtain your product. Try and avoid eBay as most sellers there inflate prices so you may end up paying more. 

How Well Do You Know these brands?

Are you currently trying to decide between the two? Here, we will briefly discuss the two and point you in the right direction about the perfect option for you, depending on some important factors.

In this section, we’ll look at the history of each brand and how far they’ve gone.

Different Beginnings in Different Times

The first thing to know about Pureology is that the company was founded by American hairstylist, Jim Markham, as PureOlogy Serious Color Care in 2001.

Jim Markham had no choice but to start the company when his friend was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find carcinogen-free beauty products.

The successful idea to develop a sulfate/carcinogen-free formula resulted in a company that passed the $25 million mark in just 3 years. It was later acquired by L’Oréal in 2017.

This is the same group that owns Redken.

For Redken, the journey started many years ago. It was founded in 1960 by Jheri Redding and Paula Kent, who were pioneers in the scientific approach to beauty.

The company revolutionized the salon business, introducing the concept of protein reconditioning among other things.

Sister Companies Releasing Different Great Products

While Pureology and Redken are under the same L’Oréal Group, their products differ to a large extent.

Many consider them to be good brands, independently launching products that tackle different hair issues.

When, for instance, you go to a stylist with unruly and frizzy hair, you will likely have to choose either Frizz Dismiss by Redken or Super Smooth Regimen by Pureology.

These are just two of several amazing products from the sister companies.

Recommendations

Coloring your hair definitely stresses it out. To take proper care of such hair, Pureology has several hair care products that can help so much.

Some are specifically formulated in a healthy manner to restore and protect color-treated hair.

If you generally want professional style and a healthy head of hair, Redken has several revolutionary products that can get the job done in a healthy manner.

Pureology and Redken are top brands in the haircare and beauty industry. They may have started as sulfate/carcinogen-free formulas and scientifically-based formulas but have done more over the years to improve their products.

Choose from their diverse range of products according to your specific needs and personal preference.

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