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Side by side

Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Styling Gel vs Garnier Fructis Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste

52% function match · 6 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Styling Gel and Garnier Fructis Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste share no ingredient among each other's most prominent — which does not stop them doing the same job.

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

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When each one is the right call

What each formula is built for, from its own ingredient list.

  • Pure Clean Styling Gel — protein-sensitive hair
  • Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste — 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
Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Styling Gel — 6.8 oz container Garnier Fructis

Pure Clean Styling Gel

  • Styler
  • Value
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Garnier Fructis Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste — 3.4 oz container Garnier Fructis

Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$4.79 6.8 oz · $1.39/oz
$5.99 3.4 oz · $1.91/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Value tier · costs less than 70% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Lower cost than most pastes $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 99% of the 90 pastes we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Maximum A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Weight on hair Differs
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. Your hair
Fragrance
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. 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 Differs
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. 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
Hold system Same
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. 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 Differs
High Absorbent powders or starches high in the list. 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
Covers the core
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • 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
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
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
Stylerpaste
Where to buy
Brand website · Target
Brand website · Target
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Scent
Fresh & airy
Amber & spice
Hold
maxThe current Target listing explicitly calls it an extra-strong-hold gel with up to 24-hour clean hold.
strongThe current product listing states all-day strong hold.
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

$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

IngredientPure Clean Styling GelSurfer Hair Styling Power Paste
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#7Below the 1% line
#10Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#9Below the 1% line
#14Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#11Below the 1% line
#16Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Pure Clean Styling Gel

Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste

Full ingredient list — Pure Clean Styling Gel (15)
Full ingredient list — Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste (24)

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.

VerdictsPure Clean Styling GelSurfer Hair Styling Power Paste
Supported
1
1
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
3
Potential conflict
1
0

Pure Clean Styling Gel

  • up to 24 hours of clean holdStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • extra strong holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • non-sticky, non-flaky, non-crunchyPotential conflictExpect a cast you have to scrunch out.
  • adds shine without residueStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste

  • windblown surfer lookStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • all-day strong holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Fruit Micro WaxesStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • non-flaking textureStated by brandSoothing, not an active treatment.

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.

Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Styling Gel draws complaints about hold and residue or cast; Garnier Fructis Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste draws complaints about the scent.

Pure Clean Styling Gel

One repeat user says the gel keeps frizz down in regular use.

frequent-use reviewer

Several negative reviews describe an unexpectedly sticky or unclean-looking result and little hold on their hair.

reviewers dissatisfied with feel or hold

Some buyers like the clean scent and value but find the hold too weak for a style needing very firm control.

strong-hold shoppers

Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste

A long-time user says it gives substantial volume and beach-like texture after application to damp hair and blow-drying.

user seeking a surfer-texture look

A fine, wavy-haired reviewer says the product leaves their hair fuller and softer without a sticky, crunchy, or greasy feel.

fine, wavy hair

Recent reviewers repeatedly complain that a newer container smelled smoky or tobacco-like and no longer held as well as earlier purchases.

long-time users comparing newer formula or batches

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.

$1.39/oz vs $1.91/oz — Garnier Fructis Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste costs about 1.4× more per ounce than Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Styling Gel.

Pure Clean Styling Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste

Against 90 pastes with a computable unit price.

Value readPure Clean Styling GelSurfer Hair Styling Power Paste
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for gels per ounce.
Lower cost than most pastesCosts less per ounce than most pastes we have researched.

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.

Pure Clean Styling Gel vs Matte Texture Hair Volumizing PowderREUZEL · 93% function matchSurfer Hair Styling Power Paste vs Kristin Ess+ Peptide Boost Volumizing Serum SprayKRISTIN ESS HAIR · 89% function matchPure Clean Styling Gel vs Coily Custard - Curl RefresherMiss Jessie's · 89% function matchSurfer Hair Styling Power Paste vs Dove Men+Care Medium Hold Hair Styling PasteDove Men+Care · 85% function matchPure Clean Styling Gel vs Pomegranate & Honey Curl SmoothieMielle Organics · 89% function matchSurfer Hair Styling Power Paste vs Men+Care Medium Hold Molding PasteDove Men+Care · 85% function matchPure Clean Styling Gel vs Pomegranate & Honey Coil Sculpting CustardMielle · 89% function matchSurfer Hair Styling Power Paste vs Brews Texture PomadeRedken · 85% function match

Pure Clean Styling Gel · Surfer Hair Styling Power Paste · 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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