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Side by side

As I Am Smoothing Gel vs Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

13 of 13 functions match Formula overlap 0%. As I Am Smoothing Gel and Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 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
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When each one is the right call

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

  • Smoothing Gel — protein-sensitive hair
  • Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 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 Smoothing Gel — 8 oz container As I Am

Smoothing Gel

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz — 5.1 oz container Paul Mitchell

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$5.11 8 oz · $0.82/oz
about $19 5.1 oz · $3.63/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most gels $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 87% of the 155 gels we’ve priced
Priced above most gels $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 79% 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
High Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. 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 (as stated)
—
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. 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
—
Not claimed No humidity claim on the label. 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 — scented
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • 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
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • 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
Stylergel
Stylergel
Where to buy
As I Am · Target
Ulta · Brand website
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
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
—
Hold
—
mediummedium hold
Finish
shine
shine
Humidity claim
—
No
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

IngredientSmoothing GelTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading

What only one of them carries

Smoothing Gel

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

Full ingredient list — Smoothing Gel (15)
Full ingredient list — Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz (10)

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.

VerdictsSmoothing GelTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz
Supported
4
4
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Smoothing Gel

  • secure holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • moisturizesSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • adds shineStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • rinses easilySupportedComes out in a normal wash.
  • non-drying formulaSupportedNothing in it flashes off dry.

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

  • Creates body and intense shineSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • Medium holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Versatile for wet or dry hair applicationSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Color safe and paraben-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • 100% Australian tea tree oil, certified responsible sourcingStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.

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 and shine. As I Am Smoothing Gel draws complaints about frizz and irritation.

Smoothing Gel

A slick-back and edge-styling reviewer says it left hair very smooth and shiny without product buildup.

slick-back and edge styling

A reviewer with 4B coils reports that it kept a slick-back bun in place all day without troublesome flaking.

4B hair; slick-back bun

A 3C/4A-haired purchaser says it laid their hair down beautifully and had a pleasant scent.

3C/4A hair; smoothing use

One purchaser reports that the gel increased frizz and did not give the finished look they wanted.

frizz-sensitive user

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

Uses it every morning for a secure, shining feel; likes the aloe plus tea tree combination

verified buyer

Gives maximum hold and shine that lasts all day at work

professional stylist, verified buyer

Wasn't too thick, easy to apply, held all day; works well layered after a curl souffle

reviewer with transitioned/combo hair, self-described Paul Mitchell loyalist

Product itself is lightweight and gives bouncy curls, but the specific order arrived with used-looking product and no way to check the fill level

reviewer with very curly hair

Loves the gel's cast and flake-free results, but wishes there were a clear version without added dyes

reviewer with curly hair

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.

$0.82/oz vs $3.63/oz — Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz costs about 4.4× more per ounce than As I Am Smoothing Gel.

$0.31/oz median $2.12/oz $10.59/oz $0.82/oz Smoothing Gel $3.63/oz Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1

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

Value readSmoothing GelTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz
Label
Lower cost than most gelsCosts less per ounce than most gels 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.

Smoothing Gel vs Curl Shaper Take Shape Plumping Defining CreamOuidad · 100% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz vs 40 Proof Sea Salt Textured Hold SprayBlind Barber · 100% function matchSmoothing Gel vs MITCH High Hold PomadePaul Mitchell · 100% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz vs Hydro Style Flexi Defining Curl Gel - 8.0 ozCurlsmith · 100% function matchSmoothing Gel vs EIMI Pearl Styler Styling Hair GelWella Professionals · 100% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz vs Hydro Style Flexi JellyCurlsmith · 100% function matchSmoothing Gel vs Clear Paste 20Kenra Professional · 100% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz vs Clear Paste 20Kenra Professional · 100% function match

Smoothing Gel · Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 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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