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Side by side

Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam vs Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

93% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 56%. Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam and Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel share 3 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.

  • Bouncy Strength Volume Foam — curly-method routines
  • Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting 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 Bouncy Strength Volume Foam — 7.5 oz container Curlsmith

Bouncy Strength Volume Foam

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel — 6 oz container Not Your Mother's

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$28 7.5 oz · $3.73/oz
$9.35 6 oz · $1.56/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a mouss $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 72% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 65% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily The brand’s own claims name curly or textured hair. 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)
Light A light hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Strong A strong 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
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. 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
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
Protein Differs
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. 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 Same
Likely Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out. 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 Same
None No oils or butters in the list. 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
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
  • 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
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Styles that must holdthe brand states a light hold at most
  • 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
Stylerfoam
Stylergel
Where to buy
Brand website · Ulta
Brand website · Ulta · Walmart
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Vegan · brand states
—
Scent
Scented, not described
Unscented
Hold
lightHold Level: 2 (Light Hold)
strong"Firm hold" with a "scunchable cast" that "dries firm for frizz control" — brand product page
How often
—
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

IngredientBouncy Strength Volume FoamCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#2Leading
VP/VA Copolymer
Holds
#3Leading
#3Leading
Laurtrimonium Chloride
Detangles
#17Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Bouncy Strength Volume Foam

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

Full ingredient list — Bouncy Strength Volume Foam (33)
Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel (12)

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.

VerdictsBouncy Strength Volume FoamCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel
Supported
3
6
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
0
Potential conflict
0
0

Bouncy Strength Volume Foam

  • Soft hold and volume while enhancing your natural curl patternSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • Ideal for extra volume, boosts strengthSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • Light bouncy curlsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Weightless, does not weigh hair downSupportedLess likely to weigh hair down.

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

  • CGM (Curly Girl Method) approvedSupportedClears the usual method test.
  • Fragrance-freeSupportedSafer for scent-sensitive scalps.
  • Protein-freeSupportedFine for protein-sensitive hair.
  • Silicone-freeSupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.
  • No drying alcoholsSupportedNothing that flashes off dry.
  • Long-lasting hold without flakingSupportedStructure that lasts the day.

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 clean rinse-out.

Bouncy Strength Volume Foam

Delivers the best crunch-free curls her hair type can achieve, holding all day

reviewer 'Shelley' on brand site

Leaves curls hydrated, bouncy, and defined with no crunch

reviewer 'Gabriela C.' on brand site

Makes curls noticeably lighter while adding great volume

reviewer 'Kari' on brand site

Keeps curls soft with minimal residue and doesn't weigh hair down

reviewer 'Sarah' on brand site

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

Fragrance-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free formula works well with only a small amount needed

5-star Ulta reviewer

Transformed their curl pattern from frizzy to defined curls

5-star Ulta reviewer

Adds structure that holds curls without weighing hair down when air dried

5-star Ulta reviewer

Glad it's fragrance-free so their perfume shows through instead of hair product scent

4-star Ulta reviewer

Held curl pattern well with little to no crunchy cast feeling

4-star 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.

$1.56/oz vs $3.73/oz — Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam costs about 2.4× more per ounce than Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel.

Bouncy Strength Volume Foam

Against 138 mousses with a computable unit price.

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readBouncy Strength Volume FoamCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel
Label
Upper-mid price for a moussSits in the middle of the range for mousses per ounce.
Priced with its peersSits 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.

Bouncy Strength Volume Foam vs Texturizing Sea Salt Spray - Sweet Lavender & RosemaryKitsch · 100% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Pomegranate & Honey Air Dry Styler GelMielle Organics · 100% function matchBouncy Strength Volume Foam vs BEE GIRL Honey Curl CustardThe Doux · 100% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Tea Tree Lemon Sage Thickening Spray - 6.8 ozPaul Mitchell · 100% function matchBouncy Strength Volume Foam vs Mousse Gel Extra-Firm Curl RetentionAG Care · 96% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Pomegranate & Honey Air Dry Styling LotionMielle Organics · 96% function matchBouncy Strength Volume Foam vs Beach Club High-Shine Texture FoamIGK · 94% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 ozPaul Mitchell · 96% function match

Bouncy Strength Volume Foam · Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel · All mousses 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.

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