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Side by side

Hairstory Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel vs Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray

89% function match · 10 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 10%. Hairstory Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel and Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray 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.

  • Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel — fragrance-free
  • Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray — 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
Hairstory Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel — container, alternate view Hairstory

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray — brand photograph Kristin Ess

Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$34–41 8 oz · $4.25/oz
about $15 6.7 oz · $2.24/oz
Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 85% of the 159 gels we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 64% of the 101 hairsprays we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Straight–Wavy A light volumising formula — the lift it adds matters most on straighter hair. 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 system Same
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
Weight on hair Same
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Fragrance
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. 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
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
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
High in the list Fast-drying alcohol in the first three ingredients. Your hair
High in the list Fast-drying alcohol in the first three ingredients. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Covers the core
Who should choose this
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
  • 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
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • 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
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • 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
Stylergel
Stylerspray
Where to buy
Brand website · Ulta
Grocery / mass
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
—
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
—
Cruelty-free · label states
Scent
—
Scented, not described
How often
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

IngredientStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining GelUltra Fine Workable Hairspray
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#3Leading
Alcohol Denat.
Drying
#3Leading
#2Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#4Supporting
#9Below the 1% line
Triethyl Citrate
pH balancer
#25Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray

Full ingredient list — Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel (31)
Full ingredient list — Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray (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.

VerdictsStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining GelUltra Fine Workable Hairspray
Supported
2
5
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
4
Potential conflict
0
1

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

  • Flexible, flake-free holdSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Long-lasting controlStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Touchable, not stiff or crunchySupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Curl-definingStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray

  • Light + layerable formulaStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Brushable textureSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Heat protecting up to 450°FStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
  • Zip-Up Technology: a proprietary strengthening complex designed to "zip-up" split endsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Sulfate-freeSupportedGentler on colour and coils.
  • Paraben-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • Phthalate-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Cruelty freeSupportedMatches our researched record.
  • VeganSupportedMatches our researched record.
  • Color + keratin safePotential 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 hold. Hairstory Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel draws complaints about frizz and the price; Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray draws complaints about hold.

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

Reviewer says it thickens and defines with a very natural feel and holds curls for days

customer named POTEET

Reviewer calls it better than any other styling gel on the market for curly hair after waiting for a product like this

customer named Karen, curly hair

Reviewer with fine, wavy hair prone to frizz says the gel produced thick, curvy, soft, shiny waves that lasted several days

customer named Katherine, fine/wavy hair

Reviewer says the gel dries crunchy and didn't justify its price versus cheaper alternatives

customer named Stephanie

Reviewer with frizz-prone hair says the gel just stiffened hair where applied rather than smoothing it, unlike what they hoped

unnamed reviewer, frizz concerns

Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray

Several reviewers used it before heat styling and credited it with helping the style, including curls, hold through the next day.

reviewers using it as a pre-heat-styling spray

Reviewers described the hold as flexible and light, avoiding a stiff or crunchy 1980s-style hairspray feel.

general reviewers on the brand's Bazaarvoice corpus

One reviewer found the spray left hair crunchy despite the brand's light-hold description.

one reviewer

Several reviewers with straight or fine hair said the hold was too minimal to keep heat-styled curls from dropping within minutes.

reviewers with straight or fine hair styling curls

Reviewers with thicker or coarser hair said the sprayer nozzle required firmer pressing and felt slightly resistant when brushing through afterward.

reviewers with thicker or coarser hair

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.

$2.24/oz vs $4.25/oz — Hairstory Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel costs about 1.9× more per ounce than Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray.

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel

Against 159 gels with a computable unit price.

Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray

Against 101 hairsprays with a computable unit price.

Value readStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining GelUltra Fine Workable Hairspray
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 hairsprays 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.

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel vs High Rise Root Lifting MistEva Nyc · 89% function matchUltra Fine Workable Hairspray vs Style Flex 2-In-1 Adjustable HairsprayMarc Anthony · 89% function matchStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel vs Coil Defining JellyAs I Am · 88% function matchUltra Fine Workable Hairspray vs Lifestyler Volume & Texture SprayR+Co Bleu · 87% function matchStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel vs Undressed Salt-Free Texturizing Spray with UV ProtectionHairstory · 86% function matchUltra Fine Workable Hairspray vs Rising Star Volumizing Finishing Spray - 5.3 ozamika · 87% function matchStyling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel vs Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl ActivatorCreme of Nature · 85% function matchUltra Fine Workable Hairspray vs Rising Star Volumizing Finishing Sprayamika · 87% function match

Styling Gel Flexible Frizz Control and Curl-Defining Gel · Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray · 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.
  • 6 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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