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Side by side

Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Curling Crème vs Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

93% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 18%. Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Curling Crème and Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz 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.

  • Almond & Avocado Curling Crème — protein-sensitive hair
  • Sculpting Foam - 6.7 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”.

Trait
Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Curling Crème — 12 oz container Design Essentials

Almond & Avocado Curling Crème

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz — 6.7 oz container Paul Mitchell

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$13–14 12 oz · $1.17/oz
about $18 6.7 oz · $2.69/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most curl creams $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 75% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a mouss $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 54% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. 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 system Same
High Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. 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
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
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 (as stated)
—
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. 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
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Aerosol avoidancethis is a pressurised can
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
Stylerfoam
Where to buy
Brand website · Beauty supply
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
—
mediumFlexible Hold: shapeable, workable hold
Finish
shine
natural
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

IngredientAlmond & Avocado Curling CrèmeSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#18Below the 1% line
Polyquaternium-11
Detangles
#5Supporting
#3Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#25Below the 1% line
#28Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Almond & Avocado Curling Crème

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

Full ingredient list — Almond & Avocado Curling Crème (30)
Full ingredient list — Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz (32)

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.

VerdictsAlmond & Avocado Curling CrèmeSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz
Supported
4
4
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
2
Potential conflict
0
0
adds shine
SupportedReflects light for visible shine.
SupportedReflects light for visible shine.

Almond & Avocado Curling Crème

  • lasting moistureSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • curl and coil definitionSupportedHolds a clump together.
  • flexible holdSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • for wash-and-gos and twist-outsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

  • adds bodySupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • defines textureStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • minimizes frizz and flyawaysStated by brandMay help, but not a primary focus.
  • leaves hair soft and full of bodySupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • balances moistureSupportedHelps 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 moisture, the scent, and shine. Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz draws complaints about weight and how it cleanses.

Almond & Avocado Curling Crème

A twist-out user praises defined, shiny curls without buildup and says the consistency works well for twisting.

twist-out styling

A high-density, low-porosity reviewer says the cream left their hair lush and moisturized while smelling beautiful.

high-density, low-porosity hair

A type-4, high-porosity user reports that layering it with a leave-in and gel produced a soft, defined twist-out that lasted six days.

type 4, high-porosity hair using a layered twist-out routine

A thick, curly-haired reviewer says the cream gives their hard-to-manage curls better definition and more control.

thick, curly hair

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

Longtime user (20+ years) glad the product came back and hopes the formula is unchanged

repeat Ulta reviewer

Smells amazing and keeps curls shiny without crunch or stickiness

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars, curly hair

Only mousse found that tames very thick, curly, dry, unruly hair

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars, curly hair

Considers it a holy-grail styling product

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars

Made straight, fine hair feel too soft/limp, and a can from Ulta had foam that disintegrated instantly

Ulta reviewers, 2-star reviews

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.

$1.17/oz vs $2.69/oz — Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz costs about 2.3× more per ounce than Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Curling Crème.

Almond & Avocado Curling Crème

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

Against 138 mousses with a computable unit price.

Value readAlmond & Avocado Curling CrèmeSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz
Label
Lower cost than most curl creamsCosts less per ounce than most curl creams we have researched.
Upper-mid price for a moussSits in the middle of the range for mousses 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.

Almond & Avocado Curling Crème vs All In One Multi-Benefit Magic Styling CreamSuave · 90% function matchSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz vs Hair MousseSACHAJUAN · 89% function matchAlmond & Avocado Curling Crème vs Miracle Curls 2nd Day Curl ActivatorAussie · 89% function matchSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz vs This is a Curl Moisturizing MousseDavines · 87% function matchAlmond & Avocado Curling Crème vs This Is A Curl Building SerumDavines · 89% function matchSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz vs Air Dry Crème 6Kenra Platinum · 87% function matchAlmond & Avocado Curling Crème vs Platinum Thickening Glaze Density Building CrèmeKenra Professional · 89% function matchSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz vs Brazilian Curly Cocktail Curl MousseMielle · 85% function match

Almond & Avocado Curling Crème · Sculpting Foam - 6.7 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.

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