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Side by side

American Crew Heavy Hold Pomade vs TRESemmé Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel

96% function match · 12 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 20%. American Crew Heavy Hold Pomade and TRESemmé Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel share 3 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
  • Your answers appear here

When each one is the right call

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

  • Heavy Hold Pomade — protein-sensitive hair
  • Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair 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 Heavy Hold Pomade — container, alternate view American Crew

Heavy Hold Pomade

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Protein-free
  • Strong hold
TRESemmé

Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$23–28 3 oz · $7.83/oz
$6.99 9 oz · $0.83/oz

Compared at different sizes — 9 oz against 3 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 51% of the 90 pastes we’ve priced
Lower cost than most gels $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 86% of the 155 gels we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Maximum A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Maximum 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 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 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 Same
Low The silicones here are the water-soluble kind. Your hair
Low The silicones here are the water-soluble kind. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Low Your hair
Low Your hair
Hold system Same
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. 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
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
None No fast-drying alcohol in the list. Your hair
None No fast-drying alcohol in the list. Your hair
Humidity resistance
—
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. 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
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Sulfate-free routinesit uses a sulfate detergent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
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
Stylerpaste
Stylergel
Where to buy
Brand website · Target · Ulta
TRESemmé · Target
Free of
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
—
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
maxUse for styles that require maximum hold and shine.
maxThe current Target listing explicitly calls this an Extra Hold Gel.
Finish
high-shine
shine
Humidity claim
—
Yes
How often
as needed
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

IngredientHeavy Hold PomadeExtra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
PVP
Holds
#3Leading
#9Below the 1% line
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#6Supporting
#12Below the 1% line
Oleth-20
Stabilizes
#7Supporting
#6Below the 1% line
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Shine
#10Secondary
#13Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#14Below the 1% line
#11Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#15Below the 1% line
#21Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#16Below the 1% line
#20Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#24Below the 1% line
#4Below the 1% line
Citronellol
Fragrance
#20Below the 1% line
#17Below the 1% line
Geraniol
Fragrance
#22Below the 1% line
#18Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Heavy Hold Pomade

Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel

Full ingredient list — Heavy Hold Pomade (26)
Full ingredient list — Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel (22)

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.

VerdictsHeavy Hold PomadeExtra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel
Supported
3
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
1
Potential conflict
0
1

Heavy Hold Pomade

  • maximum holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • high shineSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • water basedSupportedComes out in a normal wash.
  • easy removalStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel

  • extra holdStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • shineSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • 24-hour frizz controlSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • without stickiness or crunchPotential conflictExpect a cast you have to scrunch out.

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 a clean rinse-out. American Crew Heavy Hold Pomade draws complaints about dullness.

Heavy Hold Pomade

A parent of a child with tight curls at the hairline said the pomade kept his chosen style for about a day and helped tame those small curls.

parent styling a son's curly hairline

A verified buyer said it worked without leaving an obvious goopy residue in the hair.

verified buyer

A reviewer buying for her husband said this was the first pomade that did not leave his hair looking greasy and hard like prior ones.

spouse purchasing for her husband

One reviewer found that it sets like a hard clear gel; trying to restyle it broke up the product and took away its shine.

reviewer seeking a reworkable pomade

Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel

A verified buyer recommends it for slick backs because it works particularly well for that style.

Target verified-purchase review, July 2026

A reviewer using it straight from the shower reports soft, non-crunchy curls with frizz protection after combing and diffusing.

Target verified-purchase review, December 2025

A direct TRESemmé review says the gel gave brushable hold while keeping curls soft instead of sticky or crunchy.

TRESemmé written review displayed on Target, January 2026

One purchaser found the gel watery and more useful for light sculpting and frizz reduction than a truly extra-secure style.

Target verified-purchase review, October 2025

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.

$0.83/oz vs $7.83/oz — American Crew Heavy Hold Pomade costs about 9.4× more per ounce than TRESemmé Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel.

Heavy Hold Pomade

Against 90 pastes with a computable unit price.

Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel

Against 155 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readHeavy Hold PomadeExtra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for pastes per ounce.
Lower cost than most gelsCosts less per ounce than most gels 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.

Heavy Hold Pomade vs MITCH Original PomadePaul Mitchell · 100% function matchExtra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel vs Touchable Hold Hairspray with Frizz ControlHerbal Essences · 99% function matchHeavy Hold Pomade vs Salty Not Sorry Texturizing Salt Spray For Natural Undone HairstylesBed Head · 100% function matchExtra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel vs Salty Not Sorry Texturizing Salt Spray For Natural Undone HairstylesBed Head · 96% function matchHeavy Hold Pomade vs Texturising Salt SprayBed Head · 99% function matchExtra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel vs MITCH Original PomadePaul Mitchell · 96% function matchHeavy Hold Pomade vs Style Sexy Hair Blow It Up Volumizing Gel FoamSexy Hair · 96% function matchExtra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel vs Texturising Salt SprayBed Head · 95% function match

Heavy Hold Pomade · Extra Hold Alcohol-Free Hair Gel · All pastes 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.
  • 5 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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