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Side by side

As I Am Curling Jelly vs JVN Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz

93% function match · 12 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. As I Am Curling Jelly and JVN Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz share no ingredient among each other's most prominent — which does not stop them doing the same job.

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.

  • Curling Jelly — protein-sensitive hair
  • Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz — 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

Curling Jelly

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
JVN Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz — 5 oz container JVN

Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$3.99 3 oz · $1.48/oz
$28 5 oz · $5.60/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 67% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a texture spray $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 68% of the 58 texture sprays we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Straight–Wavy A light volumising formula — the lift it adds matters most on straighter hair. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Medium A medium 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
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
None listed No fragrance is listed. 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
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
Natural gum Natural gums do the holding — softer, and it re-wets more easily. Your hair
Natural gum Natural gums do the holding — softer, and it re-wets more easily. 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
Humidity resistance
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. 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
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
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label
  • Unscentedfree of strong smells
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
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
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
  • If scent matters to younothing is added here
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
Stylerspray
Where to buy
As I Am · Target
Ulta
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Vegan · label states
—
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
—
Scent
Scented, not described
Unscented
Hold
strongTarget lists the product's Beauty Purpose as 'Strong Hold.'
mediummedium, buildable hold (brand product description)
Finish
shine
natural
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

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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

IngredientCurling JellyAir Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading

What only one of them carries

Curling Jelly

Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz

Full ingredient list — Curling Jelly (19)
Full ingredient list — Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz (6)

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.

VerdictsCurling JellyAir Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz
Supported
2
3
Partly supported
1
0
Stated by brand
3
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Curling Jelly

  • strong holdPartly supportedSoft structure, not firm hold.
  • defines coils and curlsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • minimizes frizzSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • reduces shrinkage and enhances stretchStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • locks in moistureSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • 72% curl retention after five hours in high humidityStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.

Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz

  • 12-hour volume & natural-looking wavesSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • lightweight, salt-free textureSupportedLess likely to weigh hair down.
  • medium, buildable holdStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • nourishing & hydratingStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • UV protection against color fadeSupportedLess fade per 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 curl definition. As I Am Curling Jelly draws complaints about dryness and curl definition.

Curling Jelly

One curl-and-wave reviewer liked the definition without dryness, residue, or flakes and preferred its gentler cast over a very hard cast.

curl and wave definition user

A reviewer with 2B/2C hair says the jelly gives definition without weighing curls down, so the result stays soft.

2B/2C hair prone to product weight

Some reviewers report that, despite initial definition, their curls became dry, stiff, and flaky by the next day.

next-day wear concern

A 4B/4C user says water plus the jelly defined their curls without flakes, but notes that longer hair could need a lot of product from the small container.

4B/4C hair; short-hair user

Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz

Adds volume without leaving hair feeling weighed down

Ulta reviewer

Described as 'a true game changer' for adding volume to fine, thinning hair

fine/thinning-hair Ulta reviewer

Produces good wave definition on wavy (2A-2C) hair whether air-dried or blow-dried

wavy-hair Ulta reviewer

Felt sticky and too firm-holding when used on very fine hair

very-fine-hair Ulta reviewer

Took some trial and error with amount used to fit into an existing styling routine

Ulta reviewer

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.

$1.48/oz vs $5.60/oz — JVN Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz costs about 3.8× more per ounce than As I Am Curling Jelly.

Curling Jelly

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz

Against 58 texture sprays with a computable unit price.

Value readCurling JellyAir Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for gels per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a texture spraySits in the middle of the range for texture sprays 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.

Curling Jelly vs Thickening Therapy SprayBondi Boost · 96% function matchAir Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz vs Original Curling Custard Natural Styling GelKinky-Curly · 93% function matchCurling Jelly vs I Create Volume Styling Gel - Orange BlossomInnersense Organic Beauty · 96% function matchAir Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz vs Thickening Therapy SprayBondi Boost · 89% function matchCurling Jelly vs Original Curling Custard Natural Styling GelKinky-Curly · 96% function matchAir Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz vs I Create Volume Styling Gel - Orange BlossomInnersense Organic Beauty · 89% function matchCurling Jelly vs Pattern Pusha Hair Styling GelCurl Junkie · 94% function matchAir Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz vs Pattern Pusha Hair Styling GelCurl Junkie · 88% function match

Curling Jelly · Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray - 5.0 oz · 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.
  • 3 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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