Brandwave

Olaplex vs Pantene:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Olaplex had more branded searches than Pantene among shampoo and haircare brands in New Zealand. Olaplex had about 4,720 branded searches, while Pantene had 4,230. Olaplex made up 10.1% of all shampoo and haircare brand searches we track, and Pantene accounted for 9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about shampoo and haircare brands, Olaplex and Pantene each appeared in two of the five answers. Olaplex and Pantene were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.

Among shampoo and haircare brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Olaplex, about 12% more searches than Pantene

Olaplex 4.7K searchesPantene 4.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

Olaplex in 2 of 5Pantene in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Olaplex first in 2Pantene first in 2

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Top shampoo and haircare brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Olaplex was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Pantene was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Olaplex and Pantene were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Redken1st
  2. ecostore2nd
  3. Ethique3rd
  4. L'Oréal Paris Elvive4th
  5. Kérastase5th
  6. ELEVEN Australia6th
  7. Nak Hair7th
  8. Pantene8th
  9. Olaplex9th
  10. Head & Shoulders10th
  11. +3 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Redken5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • L'Oréal Paris Elvive3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Kérastase2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Olaplex2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Pantene2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ecostore2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ethique2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Nak Hair2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • ELEVEN Australia2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • OGX1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+3 more

See every answer about shampoo and haircare brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Olaplex or Pantene more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Olaplex and Pantene by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 shampoo and haircare brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Olaplex and Pantene among shampoo and haircare brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Olaplex, Pantene. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKérastaseGarnierOlaplexRedkenPanteneL'Oréal Paris ElviveOGXTRESemméecostoreHead & ShouldersEthiqueNak HairELEVEN Australia
Oct 202526.4%12.1%10.8%9.6%7.6%8.1%4.5%5.4%6.4%2.9%4.5%1.6%0.25%
Nov 202530.5%11.1%9.7%9.8%6.6%7.9%4.8%4.7%6.8%2.3%3.8%1.7%0.22%
Dec 202532%11.5%11.7%9.3%6.9%7%5.1%4.6%5.6%2%2.5%1.5%0.17%
Jan 202628%11.6%9.5%9.1%9.2%8.2%5.4%5.2%5.7%2.3%3.2%2.1%0.22%
Feb 202628.8%12.3%10.2%8.4%7.8%9.4%4.6%4.8%6%2.5%3.4%1.5%0.18%
Mar 202627.6%12.9%9.8%10.1%7.9%8.1%5.2%4.9%5.5%2.7%3.9%1.2%0.22%
Apr 202629.9%11.4%9.6%10%8.4%8.6%5.7%4.5%5.6%2.4%2.4%1.4%0.22%
May 202628.4%12.9%9.6%9.4%7.6%8.5%5.2%5.1%5.7%2.7%3.2%1.5%0.17%
Jun 202628.3%12.9%9.7%10%6.8%9.3%5.4%5.6%5.4%2.7%2.4%1.4%0.21%
Jul 202630.8%13%8.4%9.1%7.8%8.7%5.2%4.8%4.5%3%2.8%1.6%0.15%
Aug 202629.2%12.5%8.3%8.5%9%8.7%6.6%5.1%4.9%2.9%2.7%1.5%0.14%
Sep 202626.1%13.9%10.1%9.4%9%8.7%6.1%5%4.6%3.6%2.1%1.3%0.15%

How has the Olaplex and Pantene comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Pantene took it in August 2026, Olaplex took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Olaplex’s share of searches among shampoo and haircare brands in New Zealand moved from 10.8% to 10.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.9K to 4.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pantene’s share of searches among shampoo and haircare brands in New Zealand moved from 7.6% to 9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.7K to 4.2K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand shampoo and haircare brands in September 2026?

3 changes
  1. In September 2026, Olaplex overtook Pantene and 2 others to rank 3rd among shampoo and haircare brands in New Zealand, with 10.1% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Redken overtook Pantene and L'Oréal Paris Elvive to rank 4th among shampoo and haircare brands in New Zealand, with 9.4% of the searches.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Pantene in New Zealand rose 55.5% over 12 measured months, from 2.7K to 4.2K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

19 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Olaplex’s and Pantene’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Olaplex

9 branded search terms

  • olaplex
  • olaplex bonding oil
  • olaplex conditioner
  • olaplex hair
  • olaplex hair oil
  • olaplex hair treatment
  • olaplex oil
  • olaplex shampoo
  • olaplex treatment

Pantene

10 branded search terms

  • hair oil pantene
  • pantene
  • pantene clarifying shampoo
  • pantene conditioner
  • pantene hair
  • pantene miracle
  • pantene miracle rescue
  • pantene shampoo
  • pantene volume
  • pantene volume shampoo

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among shampoo and haircare brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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