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Side by side

Bumble and bumble Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Bumble and bumble Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse

33% function match · 2 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 1%. Bumble and bumble Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz and Bumble and bumble Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse 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
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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
  • Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse — protein-hungry 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 Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse — 5 oz container Bumble and bumble

Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Curly-method
Price, size & price per ounce
$37 8.5 oz · $4.35/oz
$35–38 5 oz · $7.40/oz
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 93% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. 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
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Weight on hair Differs
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. 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 Differs
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Prominent Protein high in the list — a strengthening formula, not a moisture one. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Differs
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Low The silicones here are the water-soluble kind. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Low Your hair
Hold system Differs
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Cast risk Differs
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. 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 Differs
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. 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
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
  • Protein-hungry hairthat stretches and stays stretched when wet
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • 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
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat goes stiff or straw-like on protein
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
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
Bumble And Bumble · Ulta
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-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
mediumThe current brand page names VP/VA Copolymer as providing light-to-medium hold; medium is the supported normalized tier.
Finish
shine
natural
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

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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

IngredientCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 ozThickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#35Below the 1% line
#34Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#39Below the 1% line
#35Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#38Below the 1% line
#36Below the 1% line
Citral
Fragrance
#36Below the 1% line
#37Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz

Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse

Full ingredient list — Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz (42)
Full ingredient list — Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse (46)

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 ozThickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse
Supported
5
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
2
Potential conflict
0
1

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.

Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse

  • volumeSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • bodySupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • heat protectionStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
  • soft cushiony feelStated by brandSubjective feel varies by hair.
  • crunch-free finishPotential conflictExpect a cast you have to scrunch out.

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.

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)

Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse

A customer with fine, thinning hair says it works better than alternatives they have tried, though they wait for a promotion because of the price.

Ulta customer review by Jan

A fine, wavy-haired reviewer says even a very small amount left their roots too stiff to run fingers through.

Ulta customer review by LC

A detailed critical review from a very-fine-haired user says this Soft version makes their hair lie flatter than the earlier product they preferred, despite liking that predecessor's fuller, non-tacky texture.

Ulta most-helpful critical review

One user says the mousse performed as advertised but reports substantial shedding after two uses; this is an individual review report, not a verified causal effect.

Ulta customer review by Michelle

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 $7.40/oz — Bumble and bumble Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse costs about 1.7× 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.

Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse

Against 138 mousses with a computable unit price.

Value readCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 ozThickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse
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 matchThickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse vs Thickening & Volumizing MousseVirtue · 96% function matchCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Styling Microweb FiberSebastian · 89% function matchThickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse vs Kenra Volume Mousse 12Kenra · 93% function matchCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Anti-Frizz CrèmeOUAI · 89% function matchThickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse vs Volume Mousse 12Kenra Professional · 93% function matchCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Healthy Sexy Hair Styling PasteSexy Hair · 89% function matchThickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse vs Big Volume Weightless Lift MousseMarc Anthony · 93% function match

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz · Thickening Full Form Soft Hair Mousse · 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.
  • 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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