Brandwave

K18 vs Redken:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, K18 had more branded searches than Redken among shampoo brands in the United States. K18 had about 110,000 branded searches, while Redken had 74,000. K18 made up 11.7% of all shampoo brand searches we track, and Redken accounted for 7.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about shampoo brands, Redken appeared in two of the five answers and K18 in none.

Among shampoo brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

K18, about 49% more searches than Redken

K18 110K searchesRedken 74K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Redken, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, K18 in 0

Redken in 2 of 5K18 in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Redken, the only one of the two named

Redken first in 2K18 never named

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Top shampoo brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Redken was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and 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.

  1. Pureology1st
  2. Redken2nd
  3. Olaplex3rd
  4. Herbal Essences4th
  5. Dove5th
  6. Kérastase6th
  7. Amika7th
  8. K18–
  9. Moroccanoil–
  10. Native–
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Olaplex3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pureology3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Redken2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Dove2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Kérastase1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Amika1 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
  • Moroccanoil0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Native0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about shampoo brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.

Is K18 or Redken more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for K18 and Redken 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 States.

K18 and Redken among shampoo brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for K18, Redken. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKérastaseOlaplexK18MoroccanoilRedkenNativeHead & ShouldersAmikaHerbal EssencesPureologyTRESemméDoveGarnierPanteneBriogeo
Oct 202521.1%14.2%9.5%9.5%7.8%5.2%5.2%4.3%3.5%4.3%2.8%3.5%3.5%2.8%2.8%
Nov 202523.1%18.9%10.4%10.4%8.4%3.1%3.8%3.8%2.5%4.6%1.7%2.1%2.1%2.1%3.1%
Dec 202521.6%17.7%9.7%11.9%8%3.6%3.6%4.3%2.9%4.3%2%2.4%2.4%2.9%2.9%
Jan 202622.6%15.2%10.1%10.1%8.3%3.7%4.6%3.7%3.7%3.7%2.5%2.5%3%3%3%
Feb 202621.5%14.4%11.7%9.7%7.9%4.3%4.3%4.3%3.5%4.3%2.4%2.9%2.9%2.9%2.9%
Mar 202619.8%16.2%10.8%8.9%8.9%4.9%4%4%4%4%2.7%2.7%3.3%3.3%2.7%
Apr 202625.1%13.8%11.2%9.2%7.5%4.1%4.1%4.1%4.1%3.4%2.3%2.8%2.8%2.8%2.8%
May 202621.3%14.3%11.7%9.6%7.9%4.3%4.3%4.3%3.5%4.3%2.4%2.9%2.9%3.5%2.9%
Jun 202623%12.6%10.3%10.3%8.5%4.6%4.6%3.8%3.8%4.6%2.5%2.5%3.1%3.1%2.5%
Jul 202621.3%14.3%11.6%9.6%7.8%5.2%4.3%4.3%3.5%4.3%2.9%2.9%2.9%2.9%2.3%
Aug 202620.2%13.6%13.6%9.1%7.4%5%4.1%4.1%4.1%4.1%3.3%2.7%3.3%3.3%2.2%
Sep 202621.5%14.4%11.7%9.7%7.9%5.3%4.3%3.5%3.5%3.5%3.5%2.9%2.9%2.9%2.4%

How has the K18 and Redken comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • K18 was ahead of Redken in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, K18’s share of searches among shampoo brands in the United States moved from 9.5% to 11.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 110K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Redken’s share of searches among shampoo brands in the United States moved from 7.8% to 7.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 74K.

How did search popularity change for United States shampoo brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Olaplex overtook K18 to rank 2nd among shampoo brands in the United States, with 14.4% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, K18 lost share of searches among shampoo brands in the United States, from 13.6% to 11.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using K18’s and Redken’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.

K18

1 branded search term

  • k18

Redken

1 branded search term

  • redken

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among shampoo brands

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