Pureology vs Redken

Pureology and Redken are two of the leading haircare brands in the world. They both offer a range of hair repair products designed to restore and nourish damaged hair, but when it comes to Pureology vs Redken, which one is better for your hair?

Pureology offers a line of damaged hair repair products in their Strength Cure line, and Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate range of products works to repair and strengthen damaged hair.

Each brand offers shampoo, conditioner, intensive treatments, and leave-in treatments, so in this post, we’ll look at how the products compare in terms of ingredients, benefits, and results.

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Pureology vs Redken For Damaged Hair

The main difference between Pureology and Redken’s products for damaged hair is that Redken targets broken bonds with their Bonding Care Complex, and Pureology targets hair damage with a plant-based protein and antioxidants.

Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate products help rebuild your hair bonds to increase strength and reduce breakage, while Pureology’s plant-based protein blend nourishes and restores damaged hair.

While both brands offer high-end hair care products, Redken tends to be slightly less expensive than Pureology.

Let’s take a look at the main ingredients and philosophy behind each brand’s hair repair products.

Pureology Strength Cure

Pureology compares its Strength Cure products to a protein smoothie for your hair. The products are formulated to fortify and repair hair breakage, prevent hair damage, and improve hair strength in just one use.

They use a plant-based protein called Keravis to strengthen your hair and prevent damage.

The antioxidant astaxanthin (sometimes called super vitamin E for its potent antioxidant benefits) heals and repairs. This clinical study also noted its potential for improving hair growth.

Arginine is a natural hair nutrient that helps boost moisture and strength.

All Pureology products are sulfate-free and safe on color-treated hair.

Strength Cure shampoo and conditioner have sweet floral scents: a sweet raspberry and peach fragrance blended with fresh water flowers.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate products feature a four-step routine that consists of an intensive pre-shampoo treatment, shampoo, conditioner, and conditioning leave-in treatment.

The products are formulated with citric acid, an alpha hydroxy acid part of Redken’s concentrated Bonding Care Complex. Each product contains a different concentration of the Bonding Care Complex:

• Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment: 14% Bonding Care Complex
• Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo: 7% Bonding Care Complex
• Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner: 11% Bonding Care Complex
• Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment: 5% Conditioning Care Complex

This complex strengthens the weakened bonds of your hair while improving the strength and resilience of damaged tresses and reducing hair breakage and split ends.

The pH-balancing formulas are ideal for damaged, dry hair and suitable for colored hair. In fact, Acidic Bonding Concentrate products help protect from color fade. Plus, they’re sulfate-free.

The products have a bright, fresh scent. Redken describes the scent as a fresh citrus and floral fragrance containing top notes of orange, bergamot, and marine, middle notes of freesia, peach, and rose, and bottom notes of cedarwood, sandalwood, and amber.

The shampoo also contains a plant-derived protein, Keravis, to help build strength and prevent hair damage.

The antioxidant astaxanthin, derived from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, helps heal and repair damage, while arginine boosts moisture levels for long-lasting hydration.

Amodimethicone is a silicone that helps reduce frizz and gives your hair a smooth, soft feeling.

This Pureology product is suitable for all hair types and textures, including hair damaged from heat styling and/or overprocessing.

This peach-colored shampoo’s gentle yet luxe lather makes your hair feel smoother and healthier.

The complex reinforces weakened bonds while improving hair strength with citric acid. The pH-balancing shampoo has an acidic pH while helping protect your hair against the effects of heat stylers, hair coloring, and water.

Panthenol helps calm frizz, while amodimethicone, a silicone molecule, offers conditioning benefits.

Salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), helps remove product buildup while also exfoliating your scalp.

When used in conjunction with other Acidic Bonding Concentrate products, the result is smoother, healthier hair with less breakage and fewer visible split ends.

While the shampoo is suitable for all hair types and textures, this is the shampoo you want to reach for when you have damaged hair, including breakage, split ends, and dryness due to environmental factors, brushing, heat styling, or over-processing.

The bright, fresh sweet scent is a pleasant bonus! The concentrated shampoo creates a rich lather, rinses cleanly, and doesn’t weigh my hair down.

Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo vs Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo

Shampoo Similarities

Both shampoos target hair damage with sulfate-free formulas:

• Repair hair damage
• Color-fade protection
• Strengthen hair
• Hydrate and moisturize
• Smooth with amodimethicone
• Sulfate-free

Shampoo Differences

The shampoos use different active ingredients to achieve the same goal: stronger, healthier hair.

• Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo is formulated with the plant-derived protein, Keravis, plus antioxidant astaxanthin to help build strength and prevent damage.
• Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo uses a 7% concentration of their Bonding Care Complex with citric acid for strengthening and repairing damaged hair.

The 100% vegan formula, like the shampoo, contains Keravis, a plant-based protein, to fortify your hair and protect it from future breakage.

Vitamin E and olive fruit oil help nourish and condition hair without weighing it down. Camelina oil moisturizes with nourishing fatty acids.

Haematococcus pluvialis extract, a microalgae, is a rich source of astaxanthin. Astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant, repairs and protects hair from environmental stressors.

Amodimethicone coats your hair to reduce flyaways and keep it looking shiny and smooth.

The conditioner is formulated to target damaged areas of your hair and strengthen your hair with each use.

It improves the performance of your heat styling tools by creating a protective film over strands to help reduce breakage.

Plus, it reinforces color vibrancy with Pureology’s patented Antifade Complex, so you can keep that salon-fresh look longer.

The conditioner leaves my hair soft, full, and shiny.

The pH-balancing conditioner contains citric acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, in Redken’s Bonding Care Complex. The conditioner has an acidic pH to defend against hair damage and provide intense conditioning and color-fade protection.

The conditioner has a rich, nourishing texture that helps target split ends and weakened hair fibers within to strengthen bonds while repairing end-to-end damage.

Amodimethicone helps to smooth and protect the hair surface, while panthenol helps improve hair elasticity and prevents split ends.

Just like Acidic Bonding Concentrate shampoo, this conditioner is rich but never leaves my hair feeling heavy, but it does help tame frizz hair.

Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner vs Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner

Conditioner Similarities

Both products contain ingredients to repair damage and protect against environmental stressors like heat styling tools and environmental elements. They both offer the following benefits:

• Repair hair damage
• Color-fade protection
• Strengthen hair
• Smooth hair with amodimethicone
• Sulfate-free

Conditioner Differences

The main difference between Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner and Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner is their specialized ingredients. Pureology contains more active ingredients and moisturizing oils:

• Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner utilizes Keravis protein and antioxidant astaxanthin to strengthen hair. Pureology’s formula also includes Vitamin E, olive fruit oil, and camelina oil to nourish the hair without weighing it down.
• Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner has citric acid and an 11% Bonding Care Complex for intense conditioning and bond repair. Redken contains panthenol to smooth and protect the hair surface.

The lightweight leave-in mist repairs damage, strengthens, and moisturizes your hair while preventing future damage.

Xylose coats your hair and creates a protective barrier against heat styling. Coriander oil strengthens your hair, and chamomile extract provides moisture.

Coconut oil nourishes your hair, while Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects against environmental aggressors. Amodimethicone helps smooth and protect the hair surface.

A high concentration of vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, and the formula fills gaps in hair breakage.

The leave-in mist provides color protection with Pureology’s Antifade Complex, contains less than 1% of synthetic fragrances, and is 100% vegan.

The light scent combines pear and a soft, floral rose, plus a touch of sandalwood.

Related Post: Pureology Dupes

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment is Redken’s most concentrated Bonding Care Complex formula, as it contains a 14% concentration of their Bonding Care Complex.

It repairs and prevents breakage from color and chemical services, heat styling, and environmental factors.

This intensive treatment contains citric acid, an AHA that helps reinforce weakened bonds in your hair. The pH-balancing acidic formula helps restore your hair to a healthy pH.

Before washing your hair, apply the treatment to wet hair, lather, leave in 5-10 minutes, and then rinse. The treatment has a lightweight texture that rinses out cleanly without weighing your hair down.

Pureology Strength Cure Miracle Filler Leave-In Conditioner vs Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment

Intensive Treatment Similarities

Both Pureology Strength Cure Miracle Filler Leave-In Conditioner and Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment are designed to help repair and strengthen your hair.

Both leave-in treatments offer the following:

• Heat protection
• Smooth hair
• Reduce breakage
• Color-fade protection

Intensive Treatment Differences

Redken is formulated specifically to reinforce weakened bonds in your hair, while Pureology repairs and strengthens hair cuticles, yet it is not specifically formulated to repair broken bonds.

Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment is a rinse-out treatment, while Pureology Strength Cure Miracle Filler Leave-In Conditioner is a leave-in mist.

Each intensive treatment uses different ingredients to repair hair damage:

• Pureology uses xylose and plant-based ingredients like coriander oil and chamomile extract to strengthen hair cuticles.
• Redken’s treatment contains citric acid in their Bonding Care Complex (14% concentration).

The leave-in spray primes, protects, and perfects with 21 benefits, including moisturizing, strengthening, protecting, and repairing your hair.

The spray protects from heat damage, offers color protection with Pureology’s Antifade Complex, smooths frizz, boosts shine, is an effective detangler, and repairs damage.

The leave-in spray contains camelina oil, an omega-3-rich oil for strength and hydration. Olive oil is chock full of fatty acids for improved shine and softer hair.

Coconut oil, a popular plant oil for nourishing your hair, is included to help protect and add moisture. Glycerin moisturizes, and amodimethicone works as a hair-smoothing ingredient.

While excellent for dry, colored hair, this leave-in is suitable for all hair textures and types, including wavy, coily, straight, and curly hair.

The floral, warm, and spicy fragrance is a rose and floral ginger mixed with cedarwood.

Apply the spray to damp and clean hair after shampooing and conditioning your hair.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-in Treatment (shown above in the smaller 1 oz. tube) is a leave-in-conditioner that strengthens your hair with Redken’s Citric Acid + 5% Conditioning Care Complex.

This leave-in treatment conditions and offers Redken’s color-fade protection and heat protection up to 450 degrees.

The leave-in concentrate also reduces frizz and breakage and boosts shine.

The AHA citric acid reinforces weakened bonds in your hair that lead to breakage and damage. Amodimethicone provides conditioning benefits, while glycerin moisturizes.

Plus, the creamy texture is lightweight and never leaves your hair feeling heavy or greasy.

Pureology Color Fanatic Leave-In Hair Treatment Spray vs Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-in Treatment

Leave-in Treatment Similarities

Both leave-in treatments target hair damage:

• Heat protection
• Reduce frizz
• Reduce breakage
• Boost shine
• Color-fade protection
• Contain glycerin and smoothing silicones

Leave-in Treatment Differences

Pureology’s leave-in treatment comes in a convenient spray, while Redken is a cream.

• Redken’s treatment is specifically formulated to treat damaged hair with citric acid.
• Pureology contains multiple plant oils to address multiple hair concerns.

Pureology offers many reparative benefits, particularly for dry, color-treated hair, including repairing hair damage, while Redken is targeted specifically at damaged hair.

The Bottom Line

Whether you choose Pureology or Redken, it is important to look for products that contain ingredients that specifically address your hair needs.

When it comes to Pureology vs Redken, personally, I see better results with Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate products for my frizzy, damaged hair.

Yet I also love Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner (excellent for dry hair), so you may consider mixing and matching brands to get the best results.

By combining the right products for your hair type and damage level, you can ensure that your hair gets all the nourishment it needs to look and feel its healthiest.

For another helpful comparison of haircare for damaged hair, check out my post on K18 vs Olaplex.

Thanks for reading!