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Side by side

American Crew Forming Cream Gel vs Aveda Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray

81% function match · 8 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 1%. American Crew Forming Cream Gel and Aveda Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray 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.

  • Forming Cream Gel — protein-sensitive hair
  • Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray — curly-method routines

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 Forming Cream Gel — container, alternate view American Crew

Forming Cream Gel

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Aveda Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray — 8.2 oz container Aveda

Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$15–18 5 oz · $3.40/oz
$26.50 8.2 oz · $3.17/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a curl cream $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 66% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a hairspray $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 58% of the 97 hairsprays we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Straight–Wavy A light volumising formula — the lift it adds matters most on straighter hair. 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 (as stated)
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Light A light hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
Weight on hair Same
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Fragrance
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
Protein Differs
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Same
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Hold system Same
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Cast risk Same
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. Your hair
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. Your hair
Oil absorption Same
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
Oils and butters Same
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol Differs
Present Fast-drying alcohol is present — it speeds drying and can read dry on the hair. Your hair
High in the list Fast-drying alcohol in the first three ingredients. Your hair
Humidity resistance
—
Not claimed No humidity claim on the label. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Covers the core
Who should choose this
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a light scent
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
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
Styleraerosol
Where to buy
Brand website
Walmart · Amazon · Kroger …
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
—
Vegan · brand states
Cruelty-free
—
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
medium
lightAir Control Light Hold Hair Spray (product name); "light hold to keep hairstyles in place without weighing them down"
Finish
natural
natural
Humidity claim
—
No
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

$49.00 once, for your consultation and hair profile. No subscription, no required purchases.

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

IngredientForming Cream GelAir Control Light Hold Hair Spray
Fragrance
Fragrance
#11Below the 1% line
#10Below the 1% line
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
Buildup
#15Below the 1% line
#17Below the 1% line
Benzyl Salicylate
Fragrance
#25Below the 1% line
#4Below the 1% line
Citronellol
Fragrance
#26Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#32Below the 1% line
#13Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Forming Cream Gel

Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray

Full ingredient list — Forming Cream Gel (35)
Full ingredient list — Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray (21)

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.

VerdictsForming Cream GelAir Control Light Hold Hair Spray
Supported
0
3
Partly supported
0
1
Stated by brand
0
3
Potential conflict
0
0

Forming Cream Gel

No claims recorded for this product beyond the ones above.

Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray

  • Light hold to keep hairstyles in place without weighing them down or feeling stickySupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Maintains hair's movement and touchable feelSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Delivers effortlessly styled, manageable appearancePartly supportedA little slip, not a lot.
  • Eliminates staticStated by brandMay help, but not a primary focus.
  • Reduces flyawaysStated by brandMay help, but not a primary focus.
  • For all hair typesStated by brandSee the fit panel instead.
  • Cruelty-freeSupportedMatches our researched record.

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.

Aveda Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray draws complaints about the scent and hold.

Forming Cream Gel

Can cause sticky greasy appearance or texture if too much product is used.

Creates natural-looking flexible styling without stiffness or rigid gel appearance.

Requires only a small amount for strong hold lasting throughout the entire day.

Lightweight formula delivers strong hold without feeling sticky or greasy.

Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray

Gives just the right amount of hold without feeling stiff or sticky, and style stays in place all day while hair still feels soft and natural

Influenster reviewer

Leaves hair soft and shiny with no stiff or glue-like feeling

Influenster reviewer

Gives hold, but it's a movable hold rather than a stiff-hold hairspray

Influenster reviewer

For some users the hold is too light, feeling like it 'doesn't do anything other than smell amazing'

Influenster reviewer wanting a stronger hold

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.

$3.17/oz vs $3.40/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

Forming Cream Gel

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray

Against 97 hairsprays with a computable unit price.

Value readForming Cream GelAir Control Light Hold Hair Spray
Label
Upper-mid price for a curl creamSits in the middle of the range for curl creams per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a hairspraySits in the middle of the range for hairsprays 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.

Forming Cream Gel vs Argan Oil Curl ActivatorCreme of Nature · 99% function matchAir Control Light Hold Hair Spray vs Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining GelHairstory · 85% function matchForming Cream Gel vs Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl ActivatorCreme of Nature · 89% function matchAir Control Light Hold Hair Spray vs Argan Oil Curl ActivatorCreme of Nature · 83% function matchForming Cream Gel vs Chia Seed Clumping GelBounce Curl · 88% function matchAir Control Light Hold Hair Spray vs Ultra Fine Workable HairsprayKristin Ess · 81% function matchForming Cream Gel vs EIMI Nutricurls Soft Twirl Anti-Frizz Styling FoamWella · 85% function matchAir Control Light Hold Hair Spray vs Chainmail Thermal Protection Styling Spray 450F ProtectionR+Co · 80% function match

Forming Cream Gel · Air Control Light Hold Hair Spray · All curl creams 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.
  • 9 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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