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Side by side

As I Am Coil Defining Jelly vs Hairstory Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

88% function match · 6 of the 8 functions we compared match Formula overlap 25%. As I Am Coil Defining Jelly and Hairstory Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining 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
  • 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.

  • Coil Defining Jelly — curl definition
  • Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel — fragrance-free

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
As I Am Coil Defining Jelly — 8 oz container As I Am

Coil Defining Jelly

  • Styler
  • Masstige
Hairstory Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel — container, alternate view Hairstory

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$12.95 8 oz · $1.62/oz
$34–41 8 oz · $4.25/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 64% of the 155 gels we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 86% 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 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 system Same
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
Fragrance
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
None listed No fragrance is listed. 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
Weight on hair
—
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Protein
—
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
Cast risk Differs
Likely Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out. 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 Differs
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol
—
High in the list Fast-drying alcohol in the first three ingredients. 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
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • 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
Stylerjelly
Stylergel
Where to buy
Specialty beauty
Brand website · Ulta
Free of
—
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
—
Scent
Scented, not described
—
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

IngredientCoil Defining JellyStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#4Supporting

What only one of them carries

Coil Defining Jelly

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

Full ingredient list — Coil Defining Jelly (20)
Full ingredient list — Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel (31)

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.

VerdictsCoil Defining JellyStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel
Supported
1
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Coil Defining Jelly

  • No-flake formulaStated by brandSoothing, not an active treatment.
  • Designed for easy coil definition, added softness, hydration and sheenSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Not recommended for twists and twist-outsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

  • Flexible, flake-free holdSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Long-lasting controlStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Touchable, not stiff or crunchySupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Curl-definingStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

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.

Coil Defining Jelly

No review themes researched for this product yet.

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

Reviewer says it thickens and defines with a very natural feel and holds curls for days

customer named POTEET

Reviewer calls it better than any other styling gel on the market for curly hair after waiting for a product like this

customer named Karen, curly hair

Reviewer with fine, wavy hair prone to frizz says the gel produced thick, curvy, soft, shiny waves that lasted several days

customer named Katherine, fine/wavy hair

Reviewer says the gel dries crunchy and didn't justify its price versus cheaper alternatives

customer named Stephanie

Reviewer with frizz-prone hair says the gel just stiffened hair where applied rather than smoothing it, unlike what they hoped

unnamed reviewer, frizz concerns

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.

$1.62/oz vs $4.25/oz — Hairstory Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel costs about 2.6× more per ounce than As I Am Coil Defining Jelly.

$0.31/oz median $2.12/oz $10.59/oz $1.62/oz Coil Defining Jelly $4.25/oz Styling Gel Flexible Frizz

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

Value readCoil Defining JellyStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for gels per ounce.
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.

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.

Coil Defining Jelly vs Wavy Hair Zero Gravity Styling MousseFunction of Beauty · 99% function matchStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel vs Ultra Fine Workable HairsprayKristin Ess · 89% function matchCoil Defining Jelly vs Thickening High Drama Styling Hair Foam for Thinning Hair - 1.5 ozBumble and bumble · 99% function matchStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel vs High Rise Root Lifting MistEva Nyc · 89% function matchCoil Defining Jelly vs Thickening High Drama Styling Hair Foam for Thinning Hair - 5.0 ozBumble and bumble · 99% function matchStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel vs Undressed Salt-Free Texturizing Spray with UV ProtectionHairstory · 86% function matchCoil Defining Jelly vs Curl Keeper Ultimate Frizz ControlCurl Keeper · 99% function matchStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel vs Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl ActivatorCreme of Nature · 85% function match

Coil Defining Jelly · Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining 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.
  • 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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