Side by side
Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream vs Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer - 8.0 oz
93% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 7%. Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream and Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer - 8.0 oz share 3 ingredients among each other's most prominent.
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
- In-Shower Style Fixer - 8.0 oz — 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”.
- 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
- Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
- Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
- Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
- Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
- 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
- Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
- Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
- Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
More facts about each one
- sulfate-free
- silicone-free
- fragrance-free
- protein-free
- curly-method compatible
- sulfate-free
- silicone-free
- protein-free
- curly-method compatible
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.
$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
What only one of them carries
Awestruck Definition Cream
Full ingredient list — Awestruck Definition Cream (19)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
- light ester
- emollient
-
3
Propanediol
- humectant
- solvent
-
4
VP/VA Copolymer
- film former
- polymer
-
5
Octyldodecanol
- fatty alcohol
- emollient
-
6
Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer
- conditioning agent
-
7
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
- starch
- thickener
- film former
-
8
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
9
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
- emollient
- sealant
-
10
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
11
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
12
Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
13
Polyporus Umbellatus Extract
- botanical extract
-
14
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
- botanical extract
- humectant
-
15
Chitosan
- film former
- polymer
- conditioning agent
-
16
Panthenol
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
- 17 Beta-Glucan
-
18
Sodium Hyaluronate
- humectant
-
19
Isohexadecane
- solvent
- emollient
Full ingredient list — In-Shower Style Fixer - 8.0 oz (30)
-
1
Water
- solvent
-
2
Polyquaternium-69
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
-
3
Glycerin
- humectant
-
4
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
- solubilizer
- emulsifier
-
5
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
- botanical extract
- humectant
-
6
Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
7
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
8
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
- humectant
- botanical extract
- gum
-
9
Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
- Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
10
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
- antioxidant
-
11
Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
-
12
Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) Seed Extract
- botanical extract
-
13
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
14
Carapa Guaianensis (Andiroba) Seed Oil
- oil
- emollient
-
15
Sodium Gluconate
- hard-water chelator
-
16
Carbomer
- thickener
- polymer
- film former
-
17
Butylene Glycol
- humectant
- solvent
-
18
Aminomethyl Propanol
- pH adjuster
-
19
Tocopherol
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
20
Ethylhexylglycerin
- preservative
- emollient
-
21
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
22
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
23
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
24
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
- preservative
-
25
Fragrance
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
26
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
27
Limonene
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
28
Linalool
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
29
Pinene
- fragrance
-
30
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
- fragrance
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.
Awestruck Definition Cream
5x frizz reduction for 3 days
Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.Defines and holds curls up to 72 hours
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.Thermal and UV protection
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.Soft, flexible cast
SupportedNatural movement without stiffness.Superior hold
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
In-Shower Style Fixer - 8.0 oz
Ultra-strong hold gel
SupportedStructure that lasts the day.Locks curls in place in high humidity
SupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.Enhances shine and reduces frizz
SupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.Free from sulfates, silicones, drying alcohols
SupportedGentler on colour and coils.Cruelty-free and vegan
SupportedMatches our researched record.Best for medium to coarse hair
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
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, the scent, and curl definition. Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer - 8.0 oz draws complaints about dryness and the scent.
Awestruck Definition Cream
Gives definition and volume together, avoiding stringy gel-look or heavy cream buildup
curly-hair reviewerScent described as pleasant and summery
reviewerStyle holds across multiple days without needing daily reapplication
multiple reviewersCuts frizz noticeably in humid conditions, holding up throughout the day
curly-hair reviewerLimited effectiveness reported on mature, long, silver/gray hair compared to younger hair types
reviewer with mature/silver hairIn-Shower Style Fixer - 8.0 oz
Smells great, gives really strong hold, and doesn't weigh down long hair
Curlsmith.com verified buyer, Hanna W.Gives the best definition and shine with long-lasting curls
Curlsmith.com verified buyer, ArpitaGreat hold applied right in the shower, soft shiny result once the cast is broken
Curlsmith.com verified buyer, PattiHold lasts for days rather than hours, with definition that isn't stiff
Ulta reviewer aggregateSome reviewers found it sticky and drying, and a few disliked the scent or price
Ulta reviewer aggregatePrice 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.
$3.50/oz vs $4.00/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.
Awestruck Definition Cream
Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.
In-Shower Style Fixer - 8.0 oz
Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.
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 · In-Shower Style Fixer - 8.0 oz · 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.
- 4 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
