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Side by side

Bed Head After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz vs Bed Head Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold

37% function match · 5 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. Bed Head After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz and Bed Head Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold 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.

  • After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz — protein-sensitive hair
  • Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold — 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
Bed Head After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz — 3.38 oz container Bed Head

After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Bed Head Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold — 2.57 oz container Bed Head

Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$16–19 3.38 oz · $5.43/oz
$22 2.57 oz · $8.56/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a smoothing cream $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 51% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a paste $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 57% of the 90 pastes we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Straight–Curly Smoothing and thermal products span straight through curly hair. Your hair
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Hold system Differs
High Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Wax Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Weight on hair Differs
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. 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
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Hold (as stated)
—
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. 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, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. 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
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
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
Stylercream
Stylerwax
Where to buy
Ulta
Ulta
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
—
strongStrong hold
Finish
shine
—
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

IngredientAfter Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 ozHair Wax Stick For Strong Hold
Fragrance
Fragrance
#10Below the 1% line
#9Below the 1% line
Benzyl Salicylate
Fragrance
#24Below the 1% line
#14Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz

Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold

Full ingredient list — After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz (34)
Full ingredient list — Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold (20)

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.

VerdictsAfter Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 ozHair Wax Stick For Strong Hold
Supported
2
2
Partly supported
1
1
Stated by brand
0
1
Potential conflict
0
0

After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz

  • Anti-frizz smoothingSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Shine enhancementSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • Lightweight formulaPartly supportedDepends how fine your hair is.

Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold

  • strong holdPartly supportedSoft structure, not firm hold.
  • texture and definitionSupportedHolds a clump together.
  • separationStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • smooth, frizz-free finishSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.

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 light feel. Bed Head After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz draws complaints about frizz; Bed Head Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold draws complaints about residue or cast.

After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz

Frizz dropped by more than half after starting to use it, hair looks shinier and healthier without feeling greasy

Ulta 5-star reviewer

Overall rating trends strongly positive (4.5/5 across 340 reviews, 96% would recommend)

Aggregate Ulta review data

Hair still ends up frizzy even with regular use, and fine hair can't tolerate more than a small amount before it feels weighed down

Ulta 2-star reviewer with fine hair

Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold

Only product that gives definition, shine, and hold without a crunchy hard finish; husband can run fingers through hair afterward

unnamed reviewer

Great product for wavy hair

reviewer Emily, Hickory NC

Greases hair down and holds it slicked back well on thick hair

reviewer Ang, Florida

Left hair feeling greasier than ever and caused a sticky, tacky residue on hands that took about an hour to wash off

reviewer 'Buttercream', Wichita KS

Doesn't fully tame flyaways and isn't a substitute for a good gel; also disliked the scent

reviewer 'V', Chicago

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.

$5.43/oz vs $8.56/oz — Bed Head Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold costs about 1.6× more per ounce than Bed Head After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz.

After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold

Against 90 pastes with a computable unit price.

Value readAfter Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 ozHair Wax Stick For Strong Hold
Label
Upper-mid price for a smoothing creamSits in the middle of the range for smoothing creams per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a pasteSits in the middle of the range for pastes 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.

After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz vs Foxy Curls Contour Curl Cream for Increased DefinitionBed Head · 89% function matchHair Wax Stick For Strong Hold vs Miracle Styling Smooth & Sleek Wax StickTGIN · 99% function matchAfter Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz vs Texture PasteRedken · 89% function matchHair Wax Stick For Strong Hold vs All Eyes On Me 3-in-1 Hair Wax StickNot Your Mother's · 96% function matchAfter Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz vs Details Defining CreamAG Care · 89% function matchHair Wax Stick For Strong Hold vs Men Waves PomadeSheaMoisture · 96% function matchAfter Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz vs Pliable Styling PasteRedken · 89% function matchHair Wax Stick For Strong Hold vs Green Grease Pomade Oil-Based Medium HoldREUZEL · 91% function match

After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 oz · Hair Wax Stick For Strong Hold · All smoothing creams 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.
  • 2 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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