All about Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and its Alternatives

Pureology Hydrate Shampoo is the top searched shampoo on SKINSKOOL.

Published on September 26, 2023

Updated on January 31, 2024

By Terry

Introduction

Pureology Hydrate Shampoo is the popular hydrating Pureology Shampoo designed specifically for color-treated hair. It's known for its sulfate-free formula that aims to cleanse the hair without stripping color. Users of SKINSKOOL can’t get enough of this shampoo and it’s one of the most searched on our platform. What makes it so special? Let’s explore some of its main claims.

Pureology Hydrate Shampoo.

What are the main claims of Pureology Hydrate Shampoo?

  • Color Preservation: Being a product from Pureology, it is designed with color-treated hair in mind. The shampoo is formulated to protect the vibrancy of colored hair and prevent it from fading.
  • Sulfate-Free: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo is sulfate-free, which is often preferred for color-treated hair because sulfates can strip the color and natural oils from hair.
  • Moisturizing: As the name suggests, the "Hydrate" line is designed to provide hydration to dry hair. The shampoo has moisturizing properties to help combat dryness often associated with color treatments.
  • Ingredients: It includes various beneficial ingredients that can provide moisture and promote hair health. These may include botanical extracts and oils.
  • Aromatherapy Blend: Like many Pureology products, the Hydrate Shampoo often features a signature aromatherapy blend, which enhances the hair-washing experience.
  • Eco-Friendly: Pureology places a focus on sustainability, and many of their products, including the Hydrate Shampoo, are made with recyclable packaging and are produced under eco-friendly practices.
  • Concentrated Formula: The shampoo is typically concentrated, meaning a small amount can go a long way, making the product last longer.

The Ingredients

Overall, the ingredient list of the Pureology Hydrate Shampoo reflects a product designed to cleanse gently, condition deeply, and protect color-treated hair from potential damage and color fade. The shampoo is formulated with a blend of mild surfactants, making it a gentler choice for color-treated hair compared to those with harsher detergents. The presence of various proteins and amino acids suggests a focus on strengthening and repairing hair. Antioxidants like tocopherol and sunflower seed extract can help protect hair from environmental stressors, which is beneficial for maintaining color integrity. Conditioning agents and silicones ensure that the hair is left feeling soft, smooth, and tangle-free.

Let's break down some of the notable ingredients in the Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and deduce their roles:

  1. Aqua / Water / Eau: The primary solvent in most cosmetic products.
  2. Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate: These are all surfactants, which help to cleanse the hair by allowing oil and water to mix. Being sulfate-free, they're generally milder than traditional sulfates, which is beneficial for color-treated hair.
  3. Glycol Distearate: Provides a pearlescent appearance to the shampoo and also acts as a conditioning agent.
  4. Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Another mild surfactant that also provides some conditioning benefits.
  5. Glycereth-26, Glycerin: Humectants that attract and retain moisture in the hair.
  6. Decyl Glucoside: A gentle, non-ionic surfactant used in many natural shampoos.
  7. Parfum / Fragrance: Adds a pleasant scent to the product.
  8. Divinyldimethicone/dimethicone Copolymer, Amodimethicone: Silicones that can provide smoothing and conditioning effects, leaving hair with a sleek finish.
  9. Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10: Conditioning agents that also help with detangling and reducing static.
  10. Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol: Components of fragrance, which also have aromatic properties.
  11. Tocopherol (Vitamin E): An antioxidant that can help protect hair from environmental damage.
  12. Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract / Sunflower Seed Extract: Can provide antioxidant benefits and may also protect color-treated hair from fading.
  13. Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Wheat Amino Acids: Proteins and amino acids derived from wheat that can help strengthen and condition hair.
  14. Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-propyl Silanetriol: A protein that can provide strengthening and conditioning to the hair.
  15. Hydrolyzed Soy Protein: Another protein that can condition and possibly strengthen hair.
  16. Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract: Green tea extract, known for its antioxidant properties.
  17. Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract: These extracts are often used for their soothing and conditioning properties.

What are we looking for in an alternative to Pureology Hydrate Shampoo?

SKINSKOOL is all about helping you find viable alternatives. When searching for an objective alternative to Pureology Hydrate Shampoo, especially for color-treated hair, you'll want to ensure that the alternative product is gentle on the hair and scalp, preserves color, provides adequate hydration, and includes protective elements. Here are the key ingredients and characteristics to look for:

Key Ingredients:

  • Mild Surfactants: Such as Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, or Decyl Glucoside. These gently cleanse without stripping the hair's natural oils or color.
  • Moisturizing Agents: Ingredients like Glycerin, Aloe Vera, or Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) to ensure the hair remains hydrated.
  • Proteins & Amino Acids: Such as Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, or other vegetable-derived proteins to strengthen and condition the hair.
  • Silicones or Conditioning Agents: Amodimethicone, Dimethicone, or other alternatives can provide smoothness and manageability.
  • Antioxidants: To protect color-treated hair from environmental stressors and fading. Examples include Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sunflower Seed Extract, and Green Tea Extract.
  • Natural Oils & Extracts: Such as Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, or Camellia Oil, which can provide added nourishment and shine.
  • UV Protectors: Ingredients like Benzophenone-4 or Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, which can shield hair from the sun's rays, helping to prolong color life.

Characteristics to Look For:

  • Sulfate-Free: Sulfates can be harsh on color-treated hair, potentially causing fading or drying.
  • Color-Safe: Explicitly mentioned as safe for color-treated hair.
  • Moisturizing or Hydrating: Given that the Pureology shampoo aims to hydrate, you'd want a similar emphasis on moisturization.
  • Protective: Offers some form of protection against environmental stressors, including UV rays.
  • Paraben-Free: Many people look for shampoos without parabens due to potential health concerns.
  • Gentle: It should be suitable for daily or frequent use without causing dryness or irritation.

Verb Ghost Shampoo vs. Pureology Hydrate Shampoo

You might have noticed that the top match identified by our SKINSKOOL INCI list similarity tracker is the Verb Ghost Shampoo. Out of all the other shampoos on the market, there's good reason this one stands out as the top comparable. What's also great, there is a price advantage with the Verb shampoo. Let's take a deep dive into the Verb Ghost Shampoo based on the above criteria we already identified that should be present in a great Pureology alternative:

Verb Ghost Shampoo.

Key Ingredients Similar to Pureology Hydrate Shampoo:

  1. Mild Surfactants: Ingredients like Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate are mild surfactants present in the formula.
  2. Moisturizing Agents: Jojoba Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, and Aloe Vera Leaf Juice offer moisturizing properties to the hair.
  3. Proteins & Amino Acids: The shampoo contains Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, and Hydrolyzed Quinoa which serve to strengthen and condition the hair.
  4. Silicones or Conditioning Agents: Silicone Quaternium-8 and other conditioning agents provide smoothness and manageability.
  5. Antioxidants: Sunflower Seed Extract and Tocopherol (Vitamin E) act as antioxidants.
  6. Natural Oils & Extracts: With Jojoba Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, and various botanical extracts, this shampoo provides added nourishment.
  7. UV Protectors: While the shampoo contains sunflower seed extract which has natural UV protective properties, it doesn't have typical UV protective ingredients.

Characteristics Similar to Pureology:

  1. Sulfate-Free: The shampoo is free from sulfates.
  2. Color-Safe: The presence of mild surfactants and absence of sulfates suggest that it's color-safe, and the brand does specifically mention color-safe on the bottle.
  3. Moisturizing or Hydrating: The various oils and botanical extracts provide hydration.
  4. Protective: With antioxidants and some natural UV protective properties, it offers protection against environmental stressors.
  5. Paraben-Free: There are no parabens in the list.
  6. Gentle: The combination of mild surfactants and nourishing ingredients suggest that it's suitable for frequent use.

Upon a deeper dive, the Verb Ghost Shampoo ticks a lot of boxes when you're looking for an alternative to the Pureology Hydrate Shampoo. It's got a bunch of hydrating and nourishing goodies, like jojoba oil, moringa oil, and a lineup of proteins to strengthen hair. While it doesn't have the typical sun blockers, sunflower seed extract does give some UV love. It looks like it’s gentle and protective, so if you're hunting for a good shampoo, this one is in the running! We also love the price advantage it offers. Verb is priced at $20 for 12 fl.oz versus $36 for 9 fl.oz of Pureology.

Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo vs. Pureology Hydrate Shampoo

When scouting for a solid alternative to the renowned Pureology Hydrate Shampoo, our second potential option is the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo. Not only does it echo the luxury and efficacy of its Pureology counterpart, but a deep dive into its ingredient list also reveals that it boasts the crucial components and attributes sought after in a top-tier shampoo. With a blend of mild surfactants, moisturizing elements, and other hair-loving ingredients, this shampoo stands tall as a potential favorite for those venturing beyond the realms of Pureology. Let's see how Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo measures up based on the required criteria:

Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo.

Key Ingredients Similar to Pureology Hydrate Shampoo:

  1. Mild Surfactants: Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate and Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine are mild surfactants present in the formula, gently cleansing the hair.
  2. Moisturizing Agents: Glycerin provides moisture, and Argan Kernel Oil, a hallmark of Moroccanoil products, nourishes the hair.
  3. Proteins & Amino Acids: The list doesn’t seem to contain traditional proteins or amino acids.
  4. Silicones or Conditioning Agents: While not silicones per se, Polyquaternium-7 acts as a conditioning agent.
  5. Antioxidants: Argan Kernel Oil has antioxidant properties. Additionally, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) and Retinyl Palmitate provide antioxidant protection.
  6. Natural Oils & Extracts: The star here is Argan Kernel Oil, well known for its nourishing and smoothing properties.
  7. UV Protectors: No explicit UV protective ingredients are noted.

Characteristics Similar to Pureology:

  1. Sulfate-Free: The shampoo doesn’t list sulfates, so it appears to be sulfate-free.
  2. Color-Safe: The mild surfactants and absence of sulfates suggest that it’s likely safe for color-treated hair. However, explicit mention would offer more confidence.
  3. Moisturizing or Hydrating: Ingredients like Argan Kernel Oil and Glycerin indicate hydration.
  4. Protective: The Argan Kernel Oil and various sea plant extracts (like Chondrus Crispus Extract) can provide protective properties, though UV protection is not explicitly mentioned.
  5. Paraben-Free: The list doesn’t include parabens.
  6. Gentle: Given its mild surfactants and hydrating agents, the shampoo is likely gentle enough for regular use.

In a nutshell, the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo fits a lot of the criteria laid out as a potential alternative to the Pureology Hydrate Shampoo. While it’s missing explicit UV protection and proteins, it’s got a rich blend of moisturizing and conditioning ingredients. As always, if there’s a deficiency in the shampoo, complementary products in one’s haircare routine can help fill the gap. It looks like another good contender in the lineup of alternatives! This one offers a small price advantage to Pureology selling at $26 for 8.5 fl.oz versus the $36 for 9 fl.oz for Pureology.

Next Steps

Choosing the right shampoo, especially when seeking alternatives, hinges not just on popularity but also on a careful match of key ingredients and desired characteristics. The popular Pureology Hydrate Shampoo is holding its place in the limelight on SKINSKOOL, revered for its unmatched performance. If you're eager to dive into its magic, find Pureology Hydrate Shampoo here. For the budget-conscious yet discerning consumer, the Ghost Verb Shampoo emerges as a strong contender, aligning with the essential ingredients and attributes of a top-tier shampoo. Find out more about Ghost Verb Shampoo here. If you lean towards a blend of luxury and efficacy, the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo aligns perfectly, offering both key ingredients and the hallmarks of a premium product. Venture into the world of Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo here. Either route you pick, you'll be on your way to healthier hair.

You should also read:

We cover things that we think are interesting and you might, too. If you purchase through an external link here, we may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you). We are also an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!

Terry

Co-Founder of SKINSKOOL, the world’s first & only IP-protected, tech-driven beauty marketplace dedicated to empowering consumer discovery, comparison and purchasing based on objective ingredient and pricing information.