Redken All Soft Vs. Redken Frizz Dismiss: In-depth Difference

When you’re standing in the professional hair care aisle, staring at those iconic gold and red bottles, the main question is whether you need to fix the texture of your hair or the behavior of your strands.

I have spent months analyzing the chemical compositions and real-world performance of these two lines to bring you this definitive Redken All Soft vs. Frizz Dismiss comparison.

My intent is to show you exactly how each formula interacts with your hair’s cuticle so you can stop guessing and start seeing results.

You should choose based on whether your hair feels like straw or acts like an electric cloud in humidity.

Comparison Table: Redken All Soft Vs. Redken Frizz Dismiss

My experience with All Soft and Frizz Dismiss

I remember the first time I realized that “moisture” and “smoothing” weren’t the same thing; it was during a week-long trip to a coastal city where the humidity was nearly 90 percent.

I am someone who has lived by the Redken All Soft line for years because my hair is naturally dry and can feel like a bale of hay if I don’t treat it right.

At home in my dry, inland climate, All Soft is my holy grail.

It makes my hair feel like silk, and the argan oil gives it a weight and suppleness that I haven’t found in any other professional line.

But on that humid trip, my “soft” hair became a massive, shapeless puff the second I stepped out of the hotel.

That is when I swapped my gold bottles for the red Frizz Dismiss collection, and the difference in behavior was night and day.

While All Soft focuses on the “feeling” of the hair by pumping it full of hydration, Frizz Dismiss focuses on the “seal.”

The Frizz Dismiss shampoo is sulfate-free, which felt gentler on my scalp during daily washes.1

I found that the Babassu oil in Frizz Dismiss didn’t necessarily make my hair feel as “pillowy” as All Soft did, but it kept the strands aligned and sleek even when the air was heavy with moisture.

From an analytical perspective, I noticed that All Soft is a “structural” moisturizer—it gets into the core of the hair to fix brittleness.2

Frizz Dismiss is more of an “environmental” protector—it acts as a shield against the outside world.3

When I use All Soft, I am fixing hair that is damaged from the inside out.

When I use Frizz Dismiss, I am managing hair that reacts to the atmosphere.

Nowadays, I actually keep both in my shower.

I use All Soft when my hair feels crunchy and needs a drink, but I switch to Frizz Dismiss the moment the weather forecast shows rain or whenever I am planning to do a sleek, heat-styled look that I need to last all night.

Maintenance and tips for your Redken routine

To maximize your results with these professional systems, you should adapt your application to your specific hair needs.

• The “Emulsify” Trick: Because Redken formulas are so concentrated, never apply them directly to your head. Rub the shampoo between your wet palms for five seconds until it starts to foam. This ensures you aren’t wasting product and helps the ingredients distribute evenly across your scalp.
• Temperature Matters: When rinsing All Soft, use lukewarm water rather than hot. Hot water can strip away the argan oil you just applied. A cooler rinse at the end helps “lock in” the moisture and increases the shine of your final style.
• Focus the Conditioner: For both lines, only apply the conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends. Your scalp produces its own natural oils, so putting heavy moisture or smoothing agents at the roots can lead to limp hair and an oily scalp.
• Mix and Match: You don’t have to stay in one lane. If you have a dry scalp but frizzy ends, try using the All Soft shampoo for the hydration and the Frizz Dismiss conditioner for the smoothing finish. This “cocktailing” is exactly what professional stylists do in the salon.
• Microfiber Only: To keep frizz away after using Frizz Dismiss, stop using traditional terrycloth towels. Squeeze the excess water out with a microfiber towel or an old cotton T-shirt. This prevents you from “ruffling” the hair cuticle and undoing the smoothing work of the products.

Also Read: My Experience With Garnier Whole Blends Shampoo

Pros and Cons of Redken All Soft

Pros of Redken All Soft

• Unrivaled Softness: This line is famous for a reason; the argan oil-enriched formula transforms “straw-like” hair into something that feels incredibly supple and touchable.
• Deep Moisture Complex: It targets the three levels of the hair strand (root, core, and tip) to ensure that hydration is delivered where it is needed most.
• Great for Coarse Hair: If you have hair that feels naturally thick and “hard,” All Soft provides the necessary lubrication to make it flexible and easy to style.
• Immediate Detangling: The conditioner provides incredible “slip,” allowing you to comb through knots in the shower without causing breakage or frustration.
• High Concentration: You only need a small amount of product to see results, meaning the 10.1 oz bottle lasts significantly longer than cheaper alternatives.

Cons of Redken All Soft

• Contains Sulfates: While this provides a great lather, it might be too harsh for those with specific chemical treatments or extremely sensitive scalps: always check if your specific treatment allows for sulfates.
• Can Be Heavy for Fine Hair: If you have very thin hair, the intense moisture of All Soft can sometimes weigh it down, making it look a bit flat by the end of the day.
• Not a Frizz Specialist: While it helps by moisturizing, it doesn’t have the same specialized humidity-blocking ingredients as the red line, so it may fail you in a tropical storm.

Pros and Cons of Redken Frizz Dismiss

Pros of Redken Frizz Dismiss

• Superior Humidity Defense: It is specifically engineered to stop the hair from swelling in moist air, making it the ultimate choice for coastal living or summer months.
• Sulfate-Free and Sodium Chloride-Free: This makes it much safer for those with keratin treatments or very sensitive color-treated hair that needs a gentle cleanse.
• Weightless Smoothing: Unlike some anti-frizz products that rely on heavy waxes, Frizz Dismiss uses light Babassu oil to tame flyaways without making the hair look flat or greasy.
• Versatile for All Hair Types: Whether you have fine hair with static or thick hair with volume issues, this formula is balanced enough to work for everyone.
• Heat Protection Built-In: Many of the styling products in this line, like Rebel Tame, offer high-level thermal protection, simplifying your routine.

Cons of Redken Frizz Dismiss

• Lacks Deep Hydration for Brittle Hair: If your hair is physically breaking because it is too dry, Frizz Dismiss might feel a bit “surface-level” and not provide the deep repair you actually need.
• Lower Lather Experience: Because it is sulfate-free, the shampoo doesn’t produce that “mountain of bubbles” some users expect, which can lead to over-using product.
• Texture Preference: Some users who are used to the “slippery” feel of All Soft might find that Frizz Dismiss feels slightly more “coated” due to the smoothing complexes.

Also Read: My Experience With Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Thoughts

Deciding between Redken All Soft and Frizz Dismiss is essentially a choice between “feel” and “function.”

I have found that All Soft is the gold standard for anyone who wants their hair to feel luxurious, soft, and healthy to the touch.

However, you should buy Frizz Dismiss if your main frustration is hair that grows and poofs the moment you step outside into a humid day.

I believe that understanding whether your hair is truly dry or just environmentally sensitive is the key to finally loving your mane again.

You deserve to have a “good hair day” every day, and choosing the right Redken bottle is the first step toward making that happen.