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Side by side

Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard vs Keranique Volumize & Protect Style Duo

91% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 36%. Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard and Keranique Volumize & Protect Style Duo share 2 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
  • Volumize & Protect Style Duo — 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
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
Keranique Volumize & Protect Style Duo — 2 oz container Keranique

Volumize & Protect Style Duo

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Fragrance-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$17–18 12 oz · $1.48/oz
$27 3.4 oz · $7.94/oz

Compared at different sizes — 12 oz against 3.4 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 63% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 81% of the 64 volumizers 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
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
Low The silicones here are the water-soluble kind. Your hair
Low The silicones here are the water-soluble kind. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Low Your hair
Low 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
Humidity resistance
—
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. 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
  • 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
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Silicone-free routinesit does contain silicones — the water-soluble kind
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
Styleraerosol
Where to buy
Brand website · Retail
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
—
Scent
Scented, not described
Unscented
Humidity claim
—
Yes
How often
—
every wash

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 CustardVolumize & Protect Style Duo
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Polysorbate 20
Stabilizes
#2Leading
#4Supporting
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Shine
#7Supporting
#6Supporting

What only one of them carries

Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard

Volumize & Protect Style Duo

Full ingredient list — Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard (22)
Full ingredient list — Volumize & Protect Style Duo (10)

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 CustardVolumize & Protect Style Duo
Supported
1
0
Partly supported
0
1
Stated by brand
0
4
Potential conflict
0
1

Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard

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

Volumize & Protect Style Duo

  • Provides Lift and VolumePartly supportedNeutral on lift.
  • Reduces hair loss from breakage by 64%Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Mends 96% of split endsStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Protects Against Heat Damage up to 450FStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
  • Reduces frizz in high humidity for up to 24 hoursStated by brandMay help, but not measurable here.
  • Keratin Amino ComplexPotential conflictNot in the ingredient list.

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. Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard draws complaints about dryness and residue or cast; Keranique Volumize & Protect Style Duo draws complaints about tangling and weight.

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

Volumize & Protect Style Duo

Keeps frizz under control while adding shine

reviewer with wavy hair, 5-star

Gives strong volume boost on fine hair while protecting from heat

reviewer Ashley from Las Vegas, fine hair, 5-star

Hair looks healthier and feels thicker within days of use

reviewer Mariah from Arizona, wavy hair, 5-star

Hair looks and feels amazing, gets compliments on shine

reviewer Candy from NJ, 5-star

Left hair feeling dull and heavy rather than voluminous, hard to comb through

reviewer with very thin, sparse hair, 2-star

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 $7.94/oz — Keranique Volumize & Protect Style Duo costs about 5.4× 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.

Volumize & Protect Style Duo

Against 64 volumizers with a computable unit price.

Value readAlmond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming CustardVolumize & Protect Style Duo
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for curl creams per ounce.
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.

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 matchVolumize & Protect Style Duo vs Wavetech Wave Extra Hold FoamXMONDO · 96% function matchAlmond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard vs Liquid Effects Medium-Hold Weightless Styling GelAG Care · 91% function matchVolumize & Protect Style Duo vs Wavetech Wave Foam - OriginalXMONDO · 96% function matchAlmond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard vs Wavetech Wave Foam - OriginalXMONDO · 87% function matchVolumize & Protect Style Duo vs Liquid Effects Medium-Hold Weightless Styling GelAG Care · 93% function matchAlmond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard vs Wavetech Wave Extra Hold FoamXMONDO · 87% function matchVolumize & Protect Style Duo vs Compositions Foaming Wrap LotionDesign Essentials · 87% function match

Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard · Volumize & Protect Style Duo · 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.
  • 8 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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