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Side by side

Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard vs Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion

81% function match · 10 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 62%. Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard and Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion share 4 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 Honey Curl Forming Custard — maximum slip
  • Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion — maximum slip

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 Honey Curl Forming Custard — 12 oz container Design Essentials

Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Moisture-rich
Design Essentials

Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Moisture-rich
Price, size & price per ounce
$17–18 12 oz · $1.48/oz
$14.99 8 oz · $1.87/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 63% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a lotion $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 64% of the 12 lotions 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
High 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 Same
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse 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
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Differs
Low The silicones here are the water-soluble kind. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Low Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Cast risk Differs
Likely Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out. 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
None No oils or butters in the list. 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
  • 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
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • 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
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
  • 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
Styler
Styler
Where to buy
Brand website · Retail
Brand website · Retail
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described

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

IngredientAlmond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming CustardAlmond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Polysorbate 20
Stabilizes
#2Leading
#3Leading
Polyquaternium-11
Detangles
#4Supporting
#2Leading
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Shine
#7Supporting
#5Supporting
Silk Amino Acids
Protein
#8Supporting
#20Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#21Below the 1% line
#21Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#22Below the 1% line
#23Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#9Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Benzoic Acid
Stabilizes
#10Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard

Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion

Full ingredient list — Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard (22)
Full ingredient list — Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion (23)

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 Honey Curl Forming CustardAlmond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion
Supported
1
0
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
0
Potential conflict
0
0

Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard

  • moisturized, shiny, and long-lasting with flexible holdSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.

Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion

No claims recorded for this product beyond the ones above.

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, hold, and curl definition. Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard draws complaints about dryness and residue or cast.

Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard

Customers praise the product for leaving hair soft, moisturized, and nourished while providing styling hold and frizz control

customers describing product effects on hair texture and appearance

Multiple reviewers report the product provides excellent curl definition, hold, and longevity, with curls staying defined and bouncy for extended periods

customers describing styling results and curl performance

Several customers report the product makes their hair dry, crunchy, or creates buildup and matting after it dries, particularly noting a formula change from the original

customers describing product performance decline and texture issues

Some reviewers report the product has a heavy, sticky consistency similar to corn syrup that adds significant weight to hair and does not wash out easily

customers noting texture and cleansing difficulty

Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion

Customers report the product brings out curl definition and provides moisture while maintaining a light feel that works for multiple styling techniques

customers describing versatile styling uses

Several reviewers mention enjoying the pleasant fruity fragrance and the ease of application the product provides

customers describing sensory experience

Multiple reviewers praise the product for providing lightweight hold with shine that works well for twist sets, locs, and other protective styles

customers using product for structured styling

Some customers report the product leaves hair feeling hard, tacky, or overly stiff, and does not work well for wash-and-go styles or all hair types

customers noting texture issues or limited applications

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.

$1.48/oz vs $1.87/oz — Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion costs about 1.3× more per ounce than Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard.

Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion

Against 12 lotions with a computable unit price.

Value readAlmond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming CustardAlmond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for curl creams per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a lotionSits in the middle of the range for lotions 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 Honey Curl Forming Custard vs Compositions Foaming Wrap LotionDesign Essentials · 96% function matchAlmond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion vs Curl Glaze Mousse 13Kenra · 83% function matchAlmond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard vs Volumize & Protect Style DuoKeranique · 91% function matchAlmond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion vs Medium Hold Spray GelAmerican Crew · 83% function matchAlmond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard vs Liquid Effects Medium-Hold Weightless Styling GelAG Care · 91% function matchAlmond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion vs Almond & Avocado Curl Enhancing MousseDesign Essentials · 81% function matchAlmond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard vs Wavetech Wave Foam - OriginalXMONDO · 87% function matchAlmond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion vs Almond & Avocado Curling CrèmeDesign Essentials · 81% function match

Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard · Almond & Avocado Twist & Set Setting Lotion · 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.
  • 11 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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