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Side by side

Curlsmith Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz vs The Doux 808 Base Gel

89% function match · 10 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 44%. Curlsmith Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz and The Doux 808 Base 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.

  • Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz — protein-sensitive hair
  • 808 Base Gel — 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”.

Trait
Curlsmith Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz — brand photograph Curlsmith

Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
The Doux 808 Base Gel — 12 oz container The Doux

808 Base Gel

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$12.50 2 oz · $6.25/oz
about $17 12 oz · $1.42/oz

Compared at different sizes — 12 oz against 2 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 95% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 69% 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)
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. Your hair
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. 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
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 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
Natural gum Natural gums do the holding — softer, and it re-wets more easily. Your hair
Natural gum Natural gums do the holding — softer, and it re-wets more easily. 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 Differs
Rich Butters near the top: a heavy, softening formula. Your hair
Present, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. 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
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • 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 strong scent
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
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
Stylergel
Stylergel
Where to buy
Ulta · Brand website
The Doux · Target
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Vegan · brand states
—
Scent
Scented, not described
FruityStrong
Hold
strong8 - Strong hold (Curlsmith hold scale, product page)
mediumThe Doux and Target each explicitly call 808 a medium-hold gel.
Finish
shine
—
How often
as needed
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 Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz808 Base Gel
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#2Leading
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Stabilizes
#6Supporting
#4Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#23Below the 1% line
#12Below the 1% line
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Moisturizes
#12Secondary
#3Leading

What only one of them carries

Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz

808 Base Gel

Full ingredient list — Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz (28)
Full ingredient list — 808 Base Gel (18)

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 Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz808 Base Gel
Supported
3
4
Partly supported
0
1
Stated by brand
1
0
Potential conflict
0
0

Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz

  • Provides long lasting curlsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Locks in moistureSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Enhances shine and reduces frizzSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Formulated with Babassu Oil for moisturizing benefitsSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.

808 Base Gel

  • medium holdPartly supportedSoft structure, not firm hold.
  • curl definitionSupportedHolds a clump together.
  • frizz protectionSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • flexible holdSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • moisturizingSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.

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 frizz control and hold. Curlsmith Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz draws complaints about the scent and frizz.

Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz

A repeat purchase (bought at least 3 times) for reliable all-day curl hold and styling

Ulta reviewer

Best hair results ever, describing curls as gorgeous, voluminous, smooth, and frizz-free

Ulta reviewer, repeat purchaser

Formula seems to have changed and no longer creates a cast, leading to frizz and loss of definition

Ulta reviewer, long-time user

Consistency felt watery with no real hold and no cast formed on drying

Ulta reviewer

Scent is too strong and overpowering, described as irritating

Ulta reviewer

808 Base Gel

A 2C/3C reviewer in Gulf Coast humidity says it controlled frizz while leaving curls defined, soft, and free of crunch or cast.

Target verified-purchase review, July 2025

A reviewer with short 4C hair says its slip helped them form shiny comb coils that lasted without frizzing at the ends.

Target review originally posted on The Doux, March 2025

Another user reports that the gel left their hair dry and matted and flaked when layered with Mousse Def.

Target review originally posted on The Doux, October 2025

One 4C reviewer liked the definition, soft hold, and shine but found the grape-like fragrance too strong.

Target review originally posted on The Doux, November 2025

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.

$1.42/oz vs $6.25/oz — Curlsmith Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz costs about 4.4× more per ounce than The Doux 808 Base Gel.

$0.31/oz median $2.12/oz $10.59/oz $6.25/oz Curl Defining Strong-Hold $1.42/oz 808 Base Gel

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readCurl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz808 Base Gel
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
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.

Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz vs Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 8.0 ozCurlsmith · 100% function match808 Base Gel vs Curl Defining Gel for Wavy, Curly & Coily Hair with Flaxseed & AloeGinger Milk · 96% function matchCurl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz vs Curl Defining Styling SouffléCurlsmith · 100% function match808 Base Gel vs Wash and Go Flaxseed Gel for Curly HairCurlMix · 96% function matchCurl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz vs Wash and Go Flaxseed Gel for Curly HairCurlMix · 93% function match808 Base Gel vs Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 8.0 ozCurlsmith · 89% function matchCurl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz vs Elnett Anti-Frizz Slick Back Styling Cream for Flexible HoldL'Oréal · 93% function match808 Base Gel vs Curl Defining Styling SouffléCurlsmith · 89% function match

Curl Defining Strong-Hold Styling Gel Souffle - 2.0 oz · 808 Base Gel · All gels 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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