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Side by side

American Crew Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz vs The Doux Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel

93% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 40%. American Crew Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz and The Doux Bananas Xtreme Hold 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.

  • Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz — protein-sensitive hair
  • Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel — 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 Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz — brand photograph American Crew

Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
The Doux Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel — 12 oz container The Doux

Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$13.44 8.4 oz · $1.99/oz
$17–18 12 oz · $1.42/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 53% of the 155 gels we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 69% of the 155 gels 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 Differs
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Light A light hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Maximum A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Weight on hair Same
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse 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
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
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
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
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
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
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
  • Stretching wash daysnothing here needs a detergent to remove
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Styles that must holdthe brand states a light hold at most
  • Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • 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
Stylergel
Stylergel
Where to buy
Ulta · Brand website
The Doux · Target
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
lightLight hold
maxThe product is explicitly named Xtreme Hold, and Target calls it Strongest Extreme Hold.
Finish
high-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

IngredientLight Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 ozBananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
PVP
Holds
#3Leading
#2Leading
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Holds
#4Supporting
#9Below the 1% line
Panthenol
Detangles
#8Below the 1% line
#13Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#16Below the 1% line
#21Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz

Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel

Full ingredient list — Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz (20)
Full ingredient list — Bananas Xtreme Hold 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.

VerdictsLight Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 ozBananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel
Supported
4
1
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
4
Potential conflict
0
0

Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz

  • Light holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • High shineSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • Non-flaking formulaStated by brandSoothing, not an active treatment.
  • Alcohol-freeSupportedNothing that flashes off dry.
  • Non-drying to scalpSupportedNothing in it flashes off dry.

Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel

  • extreme holdStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • water-reactive wearStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • 7-day wear formulaStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • curl definitionSupportedHolds a clump together.
  • humidity resistanceStated by brandMay help, but not measurable here.

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.

The Doux Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel draws complaints about hold and the packaging.

Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz

Lightweight application that doesn't weigh hair down or feel heavy

repeat Ulta buyer

Non-flaking formula holds up to the claim, no white residue after it dries

Ulta reviewer

Fragrance is pleasant and not overpowering

Ulta reviewer

One reviewer described the gel as goopy and said it didn't work well for their hair

dissatisfied Ulta reviewer

Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel

A reviewer says the Bananas and Chief Rocka pairing remained non-stiff through the seventh day of a wash-and-go.

Target review originally posted on The Doux, 2026

One user reports a very strong but still moldable hold that kept their style intact for roughly two weeks when paired with Chief Rocka.

Target review originally posted on The Doux, 2026

Multiple users praise the gel's hold but say the rigid bottle is difficult to squeeze, sometimes requiring a transfer to a jar.

Target reviews from January through April 2026

A reviewer found it holds well but did not get enough definition when they used it by itself.

Target review originally posted on The Doux, March 2026

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.

$1.42/oz vs $1.99/oz — American Crew Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz costs about 1.4× more per ounce than The Doux Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel.

$0.31/oz median $2.12/oz $10.59/oz $1.99/oz Light Hold Styling Gel - 1 $1.42/oz Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair G

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 155 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readLight Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 ozBananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for gels per ounce.
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for gels 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.

Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz vs American Crew Firm Hold Styling GelAmerican Crew · 100% function matchBananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel vs Curl La La Hold Me Down Styling GelAunt Jackie's · 96% function matchLight Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz vs 121 Proof Thickening Style GelBlind Barber · 93% function matchBananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel vs Olive Oil Gel - 32.0 ozEco Style · 96% function matchLight Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz vs Rose Water Curl Defining Styling GelTGIN · 93% function matchBananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel vs Olive Oil Styling GelECO STYLE · 96% function matchLight Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz vs Style Curl Shape Defining Spray GelGarnier Fructis · 93% function matchBananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel vs Rosemary Mint GelEco Style · 96% function match

Light Hold Styling Gel - 13.1 oz · Bananas Xtreme Hold Hair Gel · 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.
  • 4 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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