Skip to main content

Side by side

Bumble and bumble Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Bumble and bumble Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay

65% function match · 7 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 31%. Bumble and bumble Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz and Bumble and bumble Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay share 4 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.

  • Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz — protein-sensitive hair
  • Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay — 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
Bumble and bumble Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz — 8.5 oz container Bumble and bumble

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Bumble and bumble Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay — container, alternate view Bumble and bumble

Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$37 8.5 oz · $4.35/oz
$37 1.5 oz · $24.67/oz

Compared at different sizes — 8.5 oz against 1.5 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 69% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 98% of the 92 pastes we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. Your hair
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Light A light hold, as stated by the brand. 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 Same
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. 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 system Same
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Cast risk Same
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. Your hair
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. Your hair
Oil absorption Differs
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
Some Absorbents appear, low in the list. Your hair
Oils and butters Differs
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. 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
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
  • 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
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • 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
Stylerpaste
Where to buy
Ulta
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
—
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
lightprovides soft hold
—
Finish
shine
matte
How often
every wash
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

IngredientCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 ozSumoclay Matte Texture Clay
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#9Secondary
Cetyl Alcohol
Softens
#3Leading
#5Supporting
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#5Supporting
#7Supporting
PVP
Holds
#29Below the 1% line
#6Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#35Below the 1% line
#21Below the 1% line
Geraniol
Fragrance
#37Below the 1% line
#22Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#38Below the 1% line
#24Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz

Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay

Full ingredient list — Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz (42)
Full ingredient list — Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay (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.

VerdictsCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 ozSumoclay Matte Texture Clay
Supported
5
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz

  • Defines curls and reduces frizzSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Leaves hair shiny with soft holdSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Deeply hydrates hairSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Provides UV protectionSupportedA real filter is listed.
  • Formulated without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, formaldehydeSupportedPreserved without parabens.

Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay

  • Gritty, matte lookSupportedTexture without gloss.
  • Moldable holdStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Texturizes and bulks hairSupportedTexture without gloss.

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.

Bumble and bumble Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz draws complaints about curl definition; Bumble and bumble Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay draws complaints about hold.

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz

"Really defines my curls. It works well and doesn't make my hair feel weighed down"

reviewer with wavy hair (Kristen)

"Results are excellent, minimal frizz, excellent shine, no crunch and soft touchable curls"

reviewer with thick, dry 3B curls, marked most-helpful review

Helped define loose curls

reviewer with loose curls (Diana)

"Didn't seem to do anything for me", preferred a Paul Mitchell lavender product instead

reviewer with mixed 2b/3a/3b curls (Bridget)

"Not for me...leaves my hair feeling coated and dirty and does not provide any definition"

reviewer with wavy hair (Kelly)

Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay

Applies more smoothly than cheaper clays and requires less product per use

male reviewer describing use on thick hair (relayed by his partner)

Gives noticeable extra volume and control

reviewer with fine hair

Go-to daily product for short, straight hair

daily user with straight hair

Adds some texture but not as much hold as expected for a pixie cut

reviewer with a pixie cut wanting stronger hold

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.

$4.35/oz vs $24.67/oz — Bumble and bumble Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay costs about 5.7× more per ounce than Bumble and bumble Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz.

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay

Against 92 pastes with a computable unit price.

Value readCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 ozSumoclay Matte Texture Clay
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for smoothing creams 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.

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs MITCH Construction PastePaul Mitchell · 93% function matchSumoclay Matte Texture Clay vs Bryce Harper Hair ClayBlind Barber · 96% function matchCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Styling Microweb FiberSebastian · 89% function matchSumoclay Matte Texture Clay vs Finishing PasteTricoci · 93% function matchCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Anti-Frizz CrèmeOUAI · 89% function matchSumoclay Matte Texture Clay vs Manipulator Matte Hair Wax Paste With Strong HoldBed Head · 93% function matchCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Healthy Sexy Hair Styling PasteSexy Hair · 89% function matchSumoclay Matte Texture Clay vs Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer - Orange BlossomInnersense Organic Beauty · 91% function match

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz · Sumoclay Matte Texture Clay · 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.

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