Herbal Essences vs K18:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, K18 had more branded searches than Herbal Essences among shampoo brands in the United Kingdom. K18 had about 49,500 branded searches, while Herbal Essences had 6,600. K18 made up 16.6% of all shampoo brand searches we track, and Herbal Essences accounted for 2.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about shampoo brands, Herbal Essences appeared in one of the five answers and K18 in none.
Who do people search for more?
K18, about 8 searches for every 1 for Herbal Essences
Who does AI mention more?
Herbal Essences, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, K18 in 0
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Top shampoo brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Herbal Essences was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. K18 did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
L'Oréal Paris Elvive1st
Kérastase2nd
Redken3rd
Olaplex4th
Moroccanoil5th
Dove6th- Herbal Essences7th
Head & Shoulders8th- K18–
OGX–- +5 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- L'Oréal Paris Elvive4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Kérastase2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Redken2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Head & Shoulders2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Olaplex1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Moroccanoil1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Dove1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Herbal Essences1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- K180 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- OGX0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about shampoo brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which shampoo should I use in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best shampoo brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best shampoo for hair loss?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“shampoo”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best shampoo”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 26, 2026.
Is Herbal Essences or K18 more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Herbal Essences and K18 by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 shampoo brands we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for K18, Herbal Essences. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Kérastase | K18 | Olaplex | Moroccanoil | Redken | OGX | Philip Kingsley | Aussie | TRESemmé | Dove | Head & Shoulders | Herbal Essences | L'Oréal Paris Elvive | Pantene | Bumble and bumble |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 22.2% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 9.9% | 6.7% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 3% | 2.4% | 1.3% | 3% | 2% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 25% | 16.8% | 20.6% | 11.2% | 6.2% | 2.7% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1% |
| Dec 2025 | 24.4% | 16.3% | 19.9% | 10.9% | 6% | 3.3% | 4.9% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 25.7% | 17.2% | 17.2% | 9.4% | 6.3% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 25.2% | 16.8% | 16.8% | 9.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 23.5% | 15.7% | 19.2% | 10.5% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 21.4% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 9.6% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2% | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| May 2026 | 21.1% | 14.1% | 17.3% | 14.1% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 21.5% | 14.4% | 17.6% | 11.7% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.2% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 9.9% | 5.4% | 8.1% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3% | 3% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 25.2% | 16.8% | 13.8% | 9.2% | 6.2% | 5% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 24.8% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 4% | 4% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 0.97% |
How has the Herbal Essences and K18 comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- K18 was ahead of Herbal Essences in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Herbal Essences’ share of searches among shampoo brands in the United Kingdom moved from 2% to 2.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 6.6K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, K18’s share of searches among shampoo brands in the United Kingdom moved from 18.2% to 16.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 49.5K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom shampoo brands in September 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for K18 in the United Kingdom fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 49.5K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Herbal Essences’ and K18’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.
Herbal Essences
1 branded search term
- herbal essences
K18
1 branded search term
- k18
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