Aveda vs Living Proof (The Definitive Guide)

Two of the most popular haircare brands you can find on the shelves at your local drugstore today are Aveda and Living Proof. Both brands offer luxurious products packed with efficacious actives that aim to treat broken hair and restore shine.

Today, we will be comparing their best-selling shampoos, conditioners, and mask treatments, before providing a final verdict as to which products we believe are best for you and your hair.

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Aveda vs Living Proof Treatment

For anyone with damaged locks (that’s most of us), it’s a good idea to address the damage every once in a while with a hair treatment. Even better, though, would be to stay on top of it by treating your hair regularly.

For a simple at-home treatment, you have loads of options. Some products you put in your hair multiple times a week, and some products you only use once a month, sometimes less. Two great treatments to address damage are the Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-in Treatment and the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-in.

Firstly, we have Aveda’s Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-in Treatment. This silky smooth formula can be used to repair, condition, detangle, and protect your hair from heat styling.

To use the Aveda Leave-in Treatment, apply to freshly washed hair and brush through gently before blow-drying as normal. Despite being left in your hair (no rinsing, no washing it out), it leaves no residue of any kind - not even oiliness!

The formula is rich in plant-based oils such as Avocado oil, Green Tea Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil, and Sacha Inchi Oil. The combination of nourishing oils helps to restore strength and provide deep conditioning to the hair.

For those who enjoy relaxing scents and a bit of aromatherapy, you'll be pleased to hear that this treatment features a heavenly blend of rose, ylang-ylang, and other flower essences.

Strictly speaking, the Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In is classed as more of a conditioner than a treatment, but it is no less fantastic for this purpose, and still goes toe-to-toe with Aveda's.

This citrus-smelling product repairs, hydrates, and offers mild sun protection. Thanks to the inclusion of Silk Proteins, the 'treatment' smooths the hair and makes brushing easier. To use, simply apply 1-2 pumps of the treatment to damp hair before blow drying. (Again, no rinsing required!)

The product includes Living Proof’s patented Healthy Hair Molecule which works by protecting and nourishing your hair follicles. The formula also features Tucuma Seed Butter for conditioning, as well as Orange Peel Oil and Bergamot Fruit Oil.

The Living Proof treatment is available in one size - a 118 ml bottle - for $31. Meanwhile, you can purchase Aveda's leave-in treatment in a 100ml tube for ~$40.

Aveda vs Living Proof Shampoo

When you have damaged hair, it’s important that you are addressing it with every step of your hair care routine. You shouldn’t rely on just a single treatment to do all the heavy lifting - your shampoo and conditioner should be pulling their weight, too.

That’s why we love that so many brands - such as Aveda and Living Proof - boast multi-step systems that make it incredibly easy to *fully* address your hair-care concerns. Speaking of which, the first steps of their bond-repair ranges are the Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Shampoo and the Living Proof Restore Shampoo.

The Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Shampoo is perfect for addressing *any* type of hair damage (from the aftermath of color-treatment, or even just from daily stressors). This strengthening shampoo utilizes organic ingredients to deliver hydration and replenish damaged hair.

The ingredients list features a nourishing blend of Green Tea Oil and Sacha Inchi Oil which soothe the scalp. The formula also includes Avocado oil, which is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids which help to repair and moisturize.

The nutrient-rich formula is made from 94% natural ingredients and is free from parabens, sulfates, and silicone. The product is also Vegan and cruelty-free for animal-conscious customers.

There are three size options with the Aveda Shampoo. You could get a 200ml bottle for ~$30, or a 1-liter bottle for ~$75.

The Living Proof Restore Shampoo uses an emollient-based formula to reinforce the strength in your hair and reverse damage caused by heat, dye, and the sun. The bottle’s pink packaging provides a cute, feminine aesthetic for your bathroom. It also has a handy pump which is perfect for those of us who struggle to squeeze larger bottles.

Some key ingredients are a Glutamic Acid-based emollient which reduces breakage, along with Marine Algae which protects the hair against environmental pollution. The clean formula is free from parabens, sulfates, and silicone and is also color-safe for dyed hair.

You can pick up a 236ml bottle for $34, or a 710ml bottle for $67. This makes it a *much* cheaper alternative to the Aveda Shampoo.

Aveda vs Living Proof Conditioner

No good hair care system is complete without a conditioner. I'm personally a fan of mixing and matching my shampoos and conditioners to address multiple different needs. For example, when using a clarifying shampoo, you don’t necessarily also need a clarifying conditioner. *But* when it comes to damaged hair, it is definitely wise to complete the full multi-step routine to ensure you get the expected results.

Let’s compare the Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Conditioner and the Living Proof Restore Conditioner.

Our final Aveda product is the Botanical Repair Strengthening Conditioner. It uses botanical goodness to rebuild broken bonds and restore shine and body to dull hair. It works wonders on all hair types.

Just like the rest of the range, the formula includes nutrient-rich and natural ingredients like Avocado Oil, Sacha Inchi Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, and Green Tea Seed Oil. This heavenly combination of oils injects hydration and heals weakened hair follicles.

This conditioner contains no Silicone, Parabens, or Mineral Oil, which are common haircare ingredients that cause brittleness over time.

There are three sizes available: a 200ml bottle for $37, or a 1-liter bottle for ~$80.

And our final Living Proof product is the Restore Conditioner. This rich, smooth conditioner aims to prevent 70% of hair damage when used in conjunction with the Restore Shampoo. This conditioner has seen huge success on TikTok as countless influencers have raved about how this luxurious product has quickly healed their hair.

The formula features a Glutamic Acid-based Emollient and a Biomimetic Emollient Blend which work together to refortify and soften the hair. Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Hemisqualane are also present as they seal hair cuticles and provide deep conditioning.

The Restore conditioner is available to purchase as a 236ml bottle for $34 or a 710ml bottle for $67.

Aveda vs Living Proof Conclusion

In conclusion, we feel that for a shampoo and conditioner, you should opt for Living Proof's Restore range. Their formulas boast impressive bond-building technology that has generated a *lot* of (well-earned) online hype. Also, they just cost a good chunk less than the Aveda alternatives.

For a mask treatment, we prefer the Aveda Botanical Repair Leave-in Treatment. It has a natural, clean ingredients list and has even won an award for its restorative results. Also, the smell is very calming and there is an affordable travel-size option available.

To round off our review, here are our recommendations for the best-selling ranges and products that Aveda and Living Proof offer.

Aveda Best-Sellers

For smoothness:
Try Smooth Infusion

For color-treated hair:
Try Color Conserve

For hair growth:
Try Invati Advanced

Living Proof Best-Sellers

For improved hair:
Try the Perfect Hair Day Range

For volume:
Try the Full Range

For color-treated hair:
Try the Color Care Range

This article was originally published on December 9th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on February 26th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.