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Side by side

American Crew Forming Cream vs Matrix Controller Gel

85% function match · 7 of the 9 functions we compared match Formula overlap 24%. American Crew Forming Cream and Matrix Controller Gel share 2 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
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When each one is the right call

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

  • Forming Cream — curl definition
  • Controller Gel — 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 — 3 oz container American Crew

Forming Cream

  • Styler
  • Masstige
Matrix Controller Gel — 6.8 oz container Matrix

Controller Gel

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$10.75 5.07 oz · $3.21/oz
$26 6.8 oz · $3.90/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most smoothing creams $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 82% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Priced above most gels $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 82% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Moisture level Same
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. Your hair
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. Your hair
Weight on hair Differs
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. 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
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. 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
Protein
—
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Hold system Same
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. 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
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
None No oils or butters in the list. 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
Cast risk
—
Likely Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Aerosol avoidancea pump or tube, not a pressurised can
  • A wide range of haira middle-of-the-range weight
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
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
Stylercream
Stylergel
Where to buy
Brand website · Grocery / mass
Ulta
Free of
—
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
Vegan
Not vegan · ingredient list
—
Cruelty-free
—
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
medium
strongStrong hold (Matrix/Ulta product listing hold-level attribute)
Finish
natural
shine
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

IngredientForming CreamController Gel
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
PVP
Holds
#7Supporting
#2Leading
Alcohol Denat.
Drying
#16Secondary
#4Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#21Below the 1% line
#10Below the 1% line
Benzyl Salicylate
Fragrance
#22Below the 1% line
#18Below the 1% line
VP/VA Copolymer
Holds
#11Secondary
#3Leading
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#10Secondary
#6Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#33Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#23Below the 1% line
#15Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Forming Cream

Controller Gel

Full ingredient list — Forming Cream (35)
Full ingredient list — Controller Gel (25)

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 CreamController Gel
Supported
0
3
Partly supported
1
0
Stated by brand
2
2
Potential conflict
1
1

Forming Cream

  • Water Based: Shampoos out easily without residuePotential conflictExpect to need a real cleanse.
  • Excellent pliabilityStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Natural shinePartly supportedA hint of gloss.
  • Makes hair look thickerStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Controller Gel

  • Strong holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • No stiffness or crunchPotential conflictExpect a cast you have to scrunch out.
  • Adds structure with shineSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • No flakingStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Vegan formulaStated by brandWorth checking on the label.
  • Applies clean, rinses out easilySupportedComes out in a normal wash.

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.

Both praised for hold. American Crew Forming Cream draws complaints about weight.

Forming Cream

A small amount lasts a long time making it economical despite the higher purchase price.

Multiple reviewers mentioned the product's efficiency and value proposition

Provides reliable, all-day hold for styling while delivering a polished appearance.

Frequent mentions from reviewers using it for sleek styles, curls, and professional looks

Has a pleasant fragrance that appeals to most users and enhances the overall experience.

Reviewers consistently mentioned appreciation for the scent quality and masculine character

Can feel overly greasy or leave a thick residue on certain hair types.

Some reviewers reported texture issues particularly when applied to fine or thin hair

Recent product reformulations have disappointed longtime customers who prefer the original formula.

Several long-term users noted the product has changed and no longer meets their expectations

Controller Gel

Holds firmly all day without the stiffness other gel brands leave behind

Ulta reviewer 'Earmando_g', 5 stars

Works well styling long ponytails and holds up through the day

Ulta reviewer 'Sierra', 5 stars

Solid, lightweight gel that doesn't leave residue

Ulta reviewer 'Ajumpshot' (NYC), 4 stars

Just the right amount of firmness when styling

Ulta reviewer 'zeroryuha' (Los Angeles, CA), 5 stars

Left a white, silicone-like flaky residue on hair for one user

Ulta customer review

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.

$3.21/oz vs $3.90/oz — Matrix Controller Gel costs about 1.2× more per ounce than American Crew Forming Cream.

Forming Cream

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Controller Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readForming CreamController Gel
Label
Lower cost than most smoothing creamsCosts less per ounce than most smoothing creams we have researched.
Priced above most gelsCosts more per ounce than most gels; nothing in our library matches it closely for less.

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 vs American Crew FiberAmerican Crew · 99% function matchController Gel vs Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling GelOuidad · 91% function matchForming Cream vs Fiber - 3.0 ozAmerican Crew · 99% function matchController Gel vs Texture Maker SpraySebastian · 81% function matchForming Cream vs Style Sexy Hair Frenzy Matte Texturizing PasteSexy Hair · 95% function matchController Gel vs MATTE POMADESuavecito · 81% function matchForming Cream vs Matte SeparationBed Head · 95% function matchController Gel vs Over Achiever 3-in-1 Cream PasteMatrix · 81% function match

Forming Cream · Controller Gel · All smoothing 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.
  • 6 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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