Refill pouches at Hairhouse are marketed mainly as the eco-friendly choice, using less plastic than a brand-new bottle every time. Run the numbers per millilitre, though, and the bigger win is financial: across every major brand that offers one, a refill works out 15 to 25% cheaper per mL than buying a fresh bottle, and in Biolage's case, the refill actually holds 100mL more product for exactly the same price.
Why Are Refills Marketed as an Environmental Choice?
The standard pitch for a refill pouch is packaging, not price: a flexible pouch uses meaningfully less plastic than a rigid bottle and pump manufactured from scratch, so choosing one genuinely does cut down on waste. That environmental framing is accurate, and it's the reason most brands lead with it on pack.
What that framing conveniently leaves out is that pouches are also cheaper to manufacture and ship than a full bottle, since there's no pump mechanism and less packaging bulk involved. Brands pass at least some of that saving on, which is why refills consistently land at a lower cost per mL than the equivalent bottle, on top of the packaging benefit.
How Much Does Each Brand's Refill Actually Save You?
Expert Tip: Hairhouse stylists recommend comparing cost per mL rather than the sticker price when deciding between a bottle and a refill. A refill can look more expensive at checkout simply because it holds more product, so the per-mL figure is the only fair way to see the actual saving.
Kérastase: the Chronologiste Oil 75ml bottle is $135.00 ($1.80/mL). The Chronologiste Oil Refill 75ml is $104.00 ($1.39/mL), a 23% saving per mL for the exact same volume.
L'Oréal Professionnel: the Absolut Repair Shampoo 300ml bottle is $44.00 ($0.147/mL). The Absolut Repair Shampoo 500ml Refill Pouch is $56.00 ($0.112/mL), a 24% saving per mL. The Vitamino Color Shampoo 300ml bottle and its 500ml Refill Pouch work out to the same 24% saving.
Biolage: the Color Last Shampoo 400ml bottle is $42.00 ($0.105/mL). The Color Last Shampoo Refill 500ml is also $42.00 ($0.084/mL), a 20% saving per mL for literally no extra cost, since the refill simply holds 100mL more.
Redken: the All Soft Shampoo 300ml bottle is $47.00 ($0.157/mL). The All Soft Shampoo Refill 500ml is $59.00 ($0.118/mL), a 25% saving per mL, and still around 8% cheaper per mL than Redken's own 500ml bottle at $64.00.
Matrix: Matrix doesn't currently offer a refill pouch. Its Total Results Mega Sleek Shampoo 300ml bottle is $35.80 ($0.119/mL), while the 1L bulk bottle is $75.50 ($0.076/mL), a 37% saving per mL, the biggest in this comparison, even without a pouch format.
Pureology: Pureology doesn't currently offer a refill or bulk size at Hairhouse. Its Hydrate Shampoo comes only in a 266ml bottle at $61.50 ($0.231/mL), which makes it the highest per-mL cost of the six brands here, with no format-based way to bring that down yet.
Which Refill Saves You the Most?
Matrix's 1L bulk bottle delivers the single biggest per-mL saving in this comparison at 37%, though it's worth noting that's a bulk bottle rather than a true refill pouch. Among the brands that offer an actual refill pouch, Redken's All Soft Refill saves the most at around 25%, followed closely by L'Oréal Professionnel at 24%, Kérastase at 23%, and Biolage at 20%, which uniquely charges the same price for the larger pouch rather than a discounted one. Pureology is the outlier with no refill or bulk option at all right now, so it's the one brand here where format alone won't lower your cost per wash.
How to Actually Use a Refill Properly (Pro Tips)
Keep your original pump bottle rather than tossing it. Refill pouches are designed to top up an existing bottle, not replace its dispenser.
Decant into a fully emptied, clean bottle to avoid mixing old and new formula, especially with actives like colour-protecting or bond-building ingredients.
Check the refill matches your exact product line and variant. A shampoo refill won't fit a conditioner bottle's labelling or dosage expectations, even from the same range.
If you're trying a range for the first time, buy the bottle and the refill together, so you already have the right bottle on hand when it runs low.
If your brand doesn't offer a refill, like Pureology currently, ask a Hairhouse stylist about the largest available bottle size instead, since bigger formats are usually still cheaper per mL even without a pouch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are haircare refills actually cheaper, or just better for the environment?
Both. Across Kérastase, L'Oréal Professionnel, Biolage, Redken and Matrix, refills or bulk sizes work out 20 to 37% cheaper per millilitre than a standard bottle, on top of using less packaging than a brand-new bottle and pump.
Which brand's refill offers the biggest saving?
Matrix's 1L Total Results bottle delivers the biggest per-mL saving at 37%, though it's a bulk bottle rather than a pouch. Among true refill pouches, Redken's All Soft Refill saves the most, at around 25% per mL.
Does Pureology offer a refill?
Not currently at Hairhouse. Every Pureology product is sold in its standard 266ml bottle, so there's no refill or bulk-size discount available on this brand yet.
Do I need to buy a new bottle every time I use a refill?
No. Refill pouches are designed to top up your existing bottle. You only need the original pump bottle once, then keep reusing it each time you buy a refill.
Is the plastic-saving claim on refills accurate?
Yes. A flexible pouch uses meaningfully less plastic than manufacturing a new rigid bottle and pump each time, so the environmental claim holds up. It just isn't the only, or even the biggest, reason to choose one.
Ready to switch to refills and cut your cost per wash? Shop the refill and bulk sizes above at Hairhouse, where orders over $70 also qualify for free shipping, or ask our in-store team which of your go-to products come in a refill pouch.