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Side by side

Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream vs Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel

85% function match · 9 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream and Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel 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.

  • Awestruck Definition Cream — fragrance-free
  • Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel — fragrance-free

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
Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream — 8 oz container Curlsmith

Awestruck Definition Cream

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel — container, alternate view Curlsmith

Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
about $32 8 oz · $4.00/oz
$21–25 8 oz · $2.80/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a curl cream $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 74% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a gel $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 59% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Moisture level Same
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Weight on hair Differs
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Fragrance
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
None listed No fragrance is listed. 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
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
Humidity resistance
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. Your hair
—
Oil absorption Differs
Some Absorbents appear, low in the list. 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
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label
  • Unscentedfree of strong smells
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Why you might skip it
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
  • If scent matters to younothing is added here
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
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
Stylergel
Where to buy
Brand website · Ulta · Sephora
Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Vegan · brand states
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
—
Cruelty-free · label states
Scent
Unscented
—
Hold
mediumbrand categorizes product as 'Styler Cream' with 'Medium Hold' (hold rated 6 on brand's numeric scale)
strong
Finish
shine
shine
Humidity claim
Yes
—
How often
every wash
—

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

IngredientAwestruck Definition CreamFragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading

What only one of them carries

Awestruck Definition Cream

Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel

Full ingredient list — Awestruck Definition Cream (19)
Full ingredient list — Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel (15)

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.

VerdictsAwestruck Definition CreamFragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel
Supported
1
4
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
4
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Awestruck Definition Cream

  • 5x frizz reduction for 3 daysStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Defines and holds curls up to 72 hoursStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Thermal and UV protectionStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Soft, flexible castSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Superior holdStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel

  • Level 9 holdStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Non-sticky curl cast that defines, fights frizz, and amplifies shineSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Fragrance-freeSupportedSafer for scent-sensitive scalps.
  • VeganSupportedMatches our researched record.
  • Cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny certified)SupportedMatches our researched record.
  • Dermatologically testedStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.

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 the scent, frizz control, and a clean rinse-out.

Awestruck Definition Cream

Gives definition and volume together, avoiding stringy gel-look or heavy cream buildup

curly-hair reviewer

Scent described as pleasant and summery

reviewer

Style holds across multiple days without needing daily reapplication

multiple reviewers

Cuts frizz noticeably in humid conditions, holding up throughout the day

curly-hair reviewer

Limited effectiveness reported on mature, long, silver/gray hair compared to younger hair types

reviewer with mature/silver hair

Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel

Reviewers describe strong, long-lasting hold that keeps curls defined and frizz-free through humidity or workouts.

general reviewers, including one describing an hour of HIIT exercise

Reviewers with fragrance sensitivity or scalp irritation specifically sought this gel out for being fragrance-free, and some say switching stopped itching or hair loss they attribute to scented products.

reviewers with fragrance intolerance or scalp sensitivity

The gel forms a hard cast that reviewers scrunch out once dry, leaving curls soft and flexible rather than stiff.

reviewers using the cast-and-scrunch technique

Several reviewers caution that only a small, pea-size amount is needed and using too much can be counterproductive.

reviewers describing dosage

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.

$2.80/oz vs $4.00/oz — Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream costs about 1.4× more per ounce than Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel.

Awestruck Definition Cream

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readAwestruck Definition CreamFragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel
Label
Upper-mid price for a curl creamSits in the middle of the range for curl creams per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a gelSits in the middle of the range for gels 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.

Awestruck Definition Cream vs Rose Water Hydrating Curl Creamtgin · 96% function matchFragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel vs A Curl Can Dream Light Hold GelMatrix · 100% function matchAwestruck Definition Cream vs Rosewater Hydrating Curl Creamtgin · 96% function matchFragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel vs Touchable Hold Hair Styling Spray GelHerbal Essences · 100% function matchAwestruck Definition Cream vs Whipped Vanilla Cream Curl Enhancing GelDONNA'S RECIPE · 93% function matchFragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel vs Curled Flexible Curl Foamgot2b · 96% function matchAwestruck Definition Cream vs Food For Soft XXL Volumizing MousseMatrix · 93% function matchFragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel vs Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer - 6.7 ozColor Wow · 96% function match

Awestruck Definition Cream · Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel · All curl 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.
  • 6 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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