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Side by side

American Crew Forming Cream Gel vs Creme of Nature Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator

89% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 89%. American Crew Forming Cream Gel and Creme of Nature Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator share 4 ingredients 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
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When each one is the right call

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

  • Forming Cream Gel — protein-sensitive hair
  • Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator — 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 Forming Cream Gel — container, alternate view American Crew

Forming Cream Gel

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Creme of Nature Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator — 10.5 oz container Creme of Nature

Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$15–18 5 oz · $3.40/oz
$5.88 10.5 oz · $0.56/oz

Compared at different sizes — 10.5 oz against 5 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a curl cream $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 66% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Lower cost than most curl creams $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 94% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. 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
—
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
Weight on hair Differs
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. 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
Protein Same
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Differs
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Low Your hair
Hold system Same
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Moderate 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 Same
Present Fast-drying alcohol is present — it speeds drying and can read dry on the hair. Your hair
Present Fast-drying alcohol is present — it speeds drying and can read dry on the hair. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Complete for its job
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
  • 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
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 scent
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • 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
Stylercream
Where to buy
Brand website
Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
medium
—
Finish
natural
—

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 GelPure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#2Leading
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#3Leading
#3Leading
Behentrimonium Chloride
Detangles
#4Supporting
#6Supporting
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#5Supporting
#5Supporting
Cetyl Alcohol
Softens
#6Supporting
#7Supporting
Citric Acid
pH balancer
#8Below the 1% line
#23Below the 1% line
Isopropyl Alcohol
Drying
#10Below the 1% line
#22Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#11Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Forming Cream Gel

Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator

Full ingredient list — Forming Cream Gel (35)
Full ingredient list — Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator (28)

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 GelPure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator
Supported
0
1
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Forming Cream Gel

No claims recorded for this product beyond the ones above.

Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator

  • Defines & Elongates Curls & CoilsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Creates Bouncy Soft CurlsStated by brandSubjective feel varies by hair.
  • Moisturizes & Adds ShineSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.

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.

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.

Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator

Several reviewers specifically praise it for reducing shrinkage and helping curls hang with more visible length.

reviewers on the brand's own PDP widget

Reviewers note curls staying defined for multiple days between washes without frizzing out.

reviewers on the brand's own PDP widget

The light honey scent comes up repeatedly as pleasant and not overpowering.

reviewers on the brand's own PDP widget

Reviewers frequently credit the product with well-defined, bouncy curl formation that holds its shape.

reviewers on the brand's own PDP widget

Many reviewers say the activator leaves curls feeling soft and well-moisturized without any greasy or heavy residue.

reviewers on the brand's own PDP widget

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.

$0.56/oz vs $3.40/oz — American Crew Forming Cream Gel costs about 6.1× more per ounce than Creme of Nature Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator.

$0.26/oz median $2.08/oz $14.55/oz $3.40/oz Forming Cream Gel $0.56/oz Pure Honey Shrinkage Defen

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Value readForming Cream GelPure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator
Label
Upper-mid price for a curl creamSits in the middle of the range for curl creams per ounce.
Lower cost than most curl creamsCosts less per ounce than most curl creams we have researched.

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 matchPure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator vs Hydrating Curl CreamRedken · 93% function matchForming Cream Gel vs Chia Seed Clumping GelBounce Curl · 88% function matchPure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator vs Sleek Styling Cream + Taming WandRizos Curls · 93% function matchForming Cream Gel vs EIMI Nutricurls Soft Twirl Anti-Frizz Styling FoamWella · 85% function matchPure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator vs All Eyes On Me 3-in-1 Hair Styling Cream - 5.5 ozNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchForming Cream Gel vs Coco Crème Curl Shaping Cream Gel with Coconut OilCarol's Daughter · 85% function matchPure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator vs All Eyes On Me 3-in-1 Styling Cream Anti-FrizzNot Your Mother's · 90% function match

Forming Cream Gel · Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl Activator · 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.
  • 7 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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