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Side by side

American Crew Fiber Gel vs Nexxus HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam

88% function match · 7 of the 8 functions we compared match Formula overlap 8%. American Crew Fiber Gel and Nexxus HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam share 1 ingredient among each other's most prominent.

Based on your consultation

Which of these fits your hair?

We check your pattern, moisture need, scalp, fragrance tolerance, weight sensitivity and more against each formula — and say which one lines up.

Your profile at a glance

  • Your answers appear here
  • Your answers appear here
  • Your answers appear here
  • Your answers appear here

When each one is the right call

What each formula is built for, from its own ingredient list.

  • Fiber Gel — maximum slip
  • HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam — protein-sensitive hair

Side by side

Every trait, aligned

One row per trait, read from each product’s own ingredient list and record. A dash means we have not researched that field for that product — it is not a “no”.

Trait
American Crew Fiber Gel — container, alternate view American Crew

Fiber Gel

  • Styler
  • Masstige
Nexxus HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam — 5.5 oz container Nexxus

HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$15.86 5 oz · $3.40/oz
$19–20 5.5 oz · $3.64/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a gel $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 71% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a mouss $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 68% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Moisture level Same
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Hold system Same
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Fragrance
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Same
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Low Your hair
Low Your hair
Weight on hair
—
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Protein
—
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Cast risk Same
Likely Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out. Your hair
Likely Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out. Your hair
Oil absorption Same
Some Absorbents appear, low in the list. Your hair
Some Absorbents appear, low in the list. Your hair
Oils and butters Same
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
Humidity resistance
—
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol
—
None No fast-drying alcohol in the list. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Covers the core
Who should choose this
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
More facts about each one
Type
Stylergel
Stylerfoam
Where to buy
Brand website
Ulta · Target
Free of
—
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Finish
—
shine
Humidity claim
—
Yes
How often
—
as needed

Facts as we recorded them. A dash means we have not researched that field for that product — it is not a "no".

The bottom line

The bottom line depends on your hair

Which of these two suits you is a question about your hair, not about them. The consultation answers it — and tells you what your routine needs around it.

Take the consultation

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The detail behind the table

Where the readings above come from: the ingredient lists themselves, each brand’s claims checked against them, what owners report, and cost per ounce in context.

Shared and distinct ingredients

Shared and distinct ingredients

Computed from the ingredient lists as printed. "Shared" means both lists carry it; where it sits on each label is stated, because position is what tells you how much.

What both formulas carry

IngredientFiber GelHY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Citral
Fragrance
#20Below the 1% line
#18Below the 1% line
Citronellol
Fragrance
#21Below the 1% line
#19Below the 1% line
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Stabilizes
#11Below the 1% line
#3Leading
Sodium Benzoate
Stabilizes
#16Below the 1% line
#6Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#27Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line
Geraniol
Fragrance
#24Below the 1% line
#21Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Fiber Gel

HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam

Full ingredient list — Fiber Gel (29)
Full ingredient list — HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam (24)

Claims check

What each brand says, against what each formula shows

Claims are quoted from each brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when that product’s ingredient list actually speaks to it.

VerdictsFiber GelHY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam
Supported
1
3
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
1
Potential conflict
0
1

Fiber Gel

  • Reworkable, touchable finish with medium hold, no flaking or build-upSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • 83% naturally derived ingredientsStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Best used with American Crew Fiber Pre-Styling CleanserStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam

  • 3X weightless, healthy volume vs. untreated hairStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 48-hour gravity-defying volumeSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • Flexible hold with healthy movement, no stiffnessPotential conflictExpect a cast you have to scrunch out.
  • Humidity and heat protectionSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Alcohol-freeSupportedNothing that flashes off dry.

What owners say

What people report

Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings, and we never balance one product’s themes against another’s by inventing them.

Nexxus HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam draws complaints about tangling and dryness.

Fiber Gel

Multiple reviewers describe a non-greasy application that dries down to a slightly stiff, crunchy medium hold rather than staying slick or wet-looking

Reviewers across the US and international markets repeatedly single out a pleasant fragrance alongside reliable, controllable hold

Several reviewers say the gel behaves like an ordinary clear styling gel rather than a distinct fiber-textured product, undercutting the 'Fiber Gel' name

HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam

A game-changer for thin, limp hair — delivers real volume while still feeling lightweight

Ulta verified buyer, 5 stars, titled 'The best'

On fine, wavy hair it noticeably increased apparent thickness and length, enough that people asked if she had extensions

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars, titled 'Incredible for fine hair!'

Made hair sticky, thick, and heavy instead of giving volume

Target reviewer

Turned hair crusty and didn't do anything noticeable

Target reviewer

Dried hair out and made it feel brittle, with unexpected tangling and a dull look even when used as directed with a blow-dry brush

Ulta reviewer, 1 star, titled 'Dried my hair out'

Price check

Cost per ounce, in context

Cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in. Value labels are computed from that percentile and from how many products that do the same job cost less; they are comparisons, not judgements about a brand.

$3.40/oz vs $3.64/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

Fiber Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam

Against 138 mousses with a computable unit price.

Value readFiber GelHY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam
Label
Upper-mid price for a gelSits in the middle of the range for gels per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a moussSits in the middle of the range for mousses per ounce.

Computed from cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced, and from how many products that do the same job cost less. It is a comparison, not a judgement about the brand.

Compare with something else

Close formulas to each of these, as their own comparison pages.

Fiber Gel vs Texturizing + Thickening SprayOars + Alps · 94% function matchHY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam vs Super Sculpt Styling GlazePaul Mitchell · 89% function matchFiber Gel vs Thickening SprayOuai · 88% function matchHY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam vs Miracle Styling Multi-Use Setting Foamtgin · 89% function matchFiber Gel vs Blow-Out CremeSEEN · 88% function matchHY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam vs Thickening SprayOuai · 89% function matchFiber Gel vs SEEN Blow-Out Creme, Fragrance FreeSEEN · 88% function matchHY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam vs Blow-Out CremeSEEN · 89% function match

Fiber Gel · HY-VOLUME Lift Cloud Foam · All gels in the library

How this page was made

  • This page is assembled from the same researched records the individual product pages render: identity, each ingredient list as printed, each brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. Nothing on it is written per comparison.
  • We do not rank these against each other. Which of them suits you depends on your hair, and that is what the consultation works out.
  • The formula similarity percentage is a stored, precomputed number: position-weighted overlap of the two ingredient lists blended with agreement on the attributes we derive. It measures how alike two formulas are, not how well either works.
  • The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 8 sources were consulted across the products on this page.
  • Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice. We do not sell these products and take no placement fees.
  • This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.

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