Skip to main content

Side by side

Blind Barber 101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade vs UNITE Hair EXPANDA Volume

96% function match · 12 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 18%. Blind Barber 101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade and UNITE Hair EXPANDA Volume 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.

  • 101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade — protein-sensitive hair
  • EXPANDA Volume — 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
Blind Barber 101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade — 2.5 oz container Blind Barber

101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
UNITE Hair EXPANDA Volume — 21 oz container UNITE Hair

EXPANDA Volume

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$23–24 2.5 oz · $9.60/oz
$33 21 oz · $1.62/oz

Compared at different sizes — 21 oz against 2.5 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a paste $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 71% of the 90 pastes we’ve priced
Lower cost than most volumizers $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 92% of the 64 volumizers we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Straight–Wavy A light volumising formula — the lift it adds matters most on straighter hair. Your hair
Moisture level Same
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Strong 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
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
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
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
High Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. 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
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
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • 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
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a light 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
  • Aerosol avoidancethis is a pressurised can
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
Styleraerosol
Where to buy
Ulta · Brand website
Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
—
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · brand states
Cruelty-free · label states
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
strongStrong Hold Pomade / "Maximum hold" (brand product name and site copy)
—
Finish
shine
—
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

Ingredient101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold PomadeEXPANDA Volume
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
PVP
Holds
#4Supporting
#12Below the 1% line
Polysorbate 20
Stabilizes
#5Supporting
#13Below the 1% line
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#6Supporting
#9Below the 1% line
Caprylyl Glycol
Moisturizes
#7Below the 1% line
#11Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#11Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#12Below the 1% line
#14Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#14Below the 1% line
#19Below the 1% line
VP/VA Copolymer
Holds
#9Below the 1% line
#5Supporting
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Fragrance
#17Below the 1% line
#15Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade

EXPANDA Volume

Full ingredient list — 101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade (22)
Full ingredient list — EXPANDA Volume (23)

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.

Verdicts101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold PomadeEXPANDA Volume
Supported
3
3
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
2
Potential conflict
0
0

101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade

  • Maximum hold and a high sheen finish you can still run your hands throughSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Water-based formula that rinses out easilySupportedComes out in a normal wash.
  • Contains hops extractStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Paraben-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-freeSupportedGentler on colour and coils.

EXPANDA Volume

  • Adds lift, volume, and root liftSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • Delivers medium to strong holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Provides thermal protectionStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
  • Safe for extensions and chemically-treated hairStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Paraben free, vegan, cruelty-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.

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. Blind Barber 101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade draws complaints about the scent and hold.

101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade

A reviewer says it gives the right amount of hold with low shine and a pleasant light scent, and rinses out easily.

reviewer 'AJ L.'

A reviewer says it holds well throughout the day, is easy to apply, and has a subtle scent.

reviewer 'John R.'

A reviewer says the hold is amazing and that their partner prefers it on them, and they'd buy it again.

reviewer 'Madelline'

A reviewer who works at a brewery says the pomade holds through heat and humidity and keeps their hair looking good all day.

reviewer identified as 'Brewer'

A reviewer likes the hold but says the fragrance is overpowering and lingers even after showering.

unnamed reviewer

EXPANDA Volume

Reviewers with fine or baby-fine hair say it lifts the roots and gives noticeable volume where other volumizing products failed.

reviewers who describe their own hair as fine, very fine, or baby-fine

Long-time users say they tried many competing volumizing products first and this is the only one that kept working for them.

repeat customers comparing it to other brands they had tried

Several reviewers say the volume lasts through the day and even carries into second-day hair rather than going flat.

general reviewers

Multiple reviewers say the finished result is not sticky or stiff and stays workable through the day.

general reviewers

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 $9.60/oz — Blind Barber 101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade costs about 5.9× more per ounce than UNITE Hair EXPANDA Volume.

101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade

Against 90 pastes with a computable unit price.

EXPANDA Volume

Against 64 volumizers with a computable unit price.

Value read101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold PomadeEXPANDA Volume
Label
Upper-mid price for a pasteSits in the middle of the range for pastes per ounce.
Lower cost than most volumizersCosts less per ounce than most volumizers we have researched.

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.

101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade vs Blue Pomade Strong HoldREUZEL · 100% function matchEXPANDA Volume vs Firm Hold Styling CreamAmerican Crew · 99% function match101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade vs Beach Babe Texturizing FoamNot Your Mother's · 100% function matchEXPANDA Volume vs Castor Oil Curly Styling GelMixed Chicks · 96% function match101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade vs Castor Oil Curly Styling GelMixed Chicks · 100% function matchEXPANDA Volume vs Curled Curl Defining Jellygot2b · 96% function match101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade vs Curled Curl Defining Jellygot2b · 100% function matchEXPANDA Volume vs Beach Babe Texturizing FoamNot Your Mother's · 96% function match

101 Proof Classic Natural Shine Strong Hold Pomade · EXPANDA Volume · All pastes 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.
  • 9 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.

Still unsure? Take your consultation or browse more products.

Your personalized hair plan

Tell us what’s going on with your hair, see what we understand, and get a plan built around it — with the reason behind every recommendation.

Free to start · $49.00 for your consultation and hair profile · No subscription · Nothing you must buy

Start your consultation