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Side by side

Bumble and bumble Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Verb Medium Hold Sculpting Clay

85% function match · 10 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 33%. Bumble and bumble Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz and Verb Medium Hold Sculpting 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
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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
  • Medium Hold Sculpting Clay — maximum slip

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
Verb Medium Hold Sculpting Clay — 2 oz container Verb

Medium Hold Sculpting Clay

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$37 8.5 oz · $4.35/oz
$22 2 oz · $11.00/oz

Compared at different sizes — 8.5 oz against 2 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 69% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 78% of the 90 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
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. 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 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 Differs
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. 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
Mixed 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 Same
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
Oils and butters Same
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. 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
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
  • Soft-hold stylesthat should stay touchable
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
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
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
Stylercream
Where to buy
Ulta
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
lightprovides soft hold
mediumMedium Hold Sculpting Clay (product name)
Finish
shine
—
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 ozMedium Hold Sculpting Clay
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#16Below the 1% line
Petrolatum
Heavy
#4Supporting
#2Leading
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#5Supporting
#8Supporting
Ceteareth-20
Stabilizes
#7Supporting
#26Below the 1% line
Phenyl Trimethicone
Buildup
#26Below the 1% line
#17Below the 1% line
PVP
Holds
#29Below the 1% line
#7Supporting

What only one of them carries

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz

Medium Hold Sculpting Clay

Full ingredient list — Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz (42)
Full ingredient list — Medium Hold Sculpting Clay (51)

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 ozMedium Hold Sculpting Clay
Supported
5
3
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
0
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.

Medium Hold Sculpting Clay

  • Pliable pomade that provides hold, frizz control, natural texture and pliability to re-shape hair throughout the daySupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Paraben-free, gluten-free, no harmful sulfatesSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • PETA certified cruelty-freeSupportedMatches our researched record.

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 and a clean rinse-out. 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)

Medium Hold Sculpting Clay

Holds updos in place on fine hair; performs the same as pricier alternatives they switched from

Ulta reviewer

Good hold and texture without feeling sticky or greasy

brand-site reviewer

Adds texture and body throughout the day for fine, straight hair

brand-site reviewer

A knuckle-sized scoop goes a long way for a messy, texturized look and tames flyaways

Ulta reviewer

Not sticky, very workable, easy to reshape during the day

Ulta reviewer

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 $11.00/oz — Verb Medium Hold Sculpting Clay costs about 2.5× 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.

Medium Hold Sculpting Clay

Against 90 pastes with a computable unit price.

Value readCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 ozMedium Hold Sculpting 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 matchMedium Hold Sculpting Clay vs Curl Defining CreamMoroccanoil · 94% function matchCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Styling Microweb FiberSebastian · 89% function matchMedium Hold Sculpting Clay vs Thickening Great Body Volumizing Blow Dry CreamBumble and bumble · 90% function matchCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Anti-Frizz CrèmeOUAI · 89% function matchMedium Hold Sculpting Clay vs 60 Proof Medium Hold Styling WaxBlind Barber · 85% function matchCurl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz vs Healthy Sexy Hair Styling PasteSexy Hair · 89% function matchMedium Hold Sculpting Clay vs Coil Infusion Give A Boost Styling + Shaping Gel CreamOuidad · 83% function match

Curl Defining Hair Styling Cream - 8.5 oz · Medium Hold Sculpting 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.
  • 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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