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Side by side

Herbal Essences Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control vs Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse

93% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 30%. Herbal Essences Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control and Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse 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.

  • Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control — protein-sensitive hair
  • Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse — 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
Herbal Essences Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control — 6 oz container Herbal Essences

Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse — brand photograph Sexy Hair

Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$5.99 6 oz · $1.00/oz
$18–22 10 oz · $2.10/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most gels $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 81% of the 155 gels we’ve priced
Lower cost than most volumizers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 84% 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
Straight–Wavy A light volumising formula — the lift it adds matters most on straighter hair. Your hair
Moisture level Same
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. Your hair
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. 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
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. Your hair
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. 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
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
Hold (as stated)
—
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. 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
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
  • 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
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Silicone-free routinesit does contain silicones — the water-soluble kind
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • 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
Grocery / mass
Ulta
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · label states
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
—
mediummedium hold
Humidity claim
—
Yes
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

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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

IngredientStrong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz ControlBig Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
PVP
Holds
#2Leading
#6Supporting
Carbomer
Holds
#7Below the 1% line
#13Secondary
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Shine
#8Below the 1% line
#7Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#9Below the 1% line
#15Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control

Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse

Full ingredient list — Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control (11)
Full ingredient list — Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse (29)

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.

VerdictsStrong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz ControlBig Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse
Supported
6
3
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control

  • all-day-strong holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • humidity-protection and frizz control up to 24 hoursSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • PETA cruelty-freeSupportedMatches our researched record.
  • paraben-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • mineral-oil-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • color-safeSupportedLess fade per wash.
  • dye-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • pH-balancedSupportedBrought to an acidic pH.

Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse

  • Long-Lasting Hold up to 48 HoursSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • medium holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • humidity resistance up to 72 hoursStated by brandMay help, but not measurable here.
  • thermal protection to 450°FStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
  • all-over body & fullnessSupportedLeaves room for lift.

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.

Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse draws complaints about weight and residue or cast.

Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control

Several loyal customers report difficulty finding this product on store shelves and having to order it online instead.

Multiple reviewers say the scent is mild and fruity, though one described the reformulated version as smelling like glue.

A large cluster of longtime users say a reformulation made the gel thin and watery with little to no hold or frizz control, a sharp regression from the product they used for years.

Long-time users with wavy to 3b/3c curly hair say it enhances curl definition and controls frizz with all-day hold and little crunch to scrunch out.

Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse

Roots that had been flat and impossible to lift for years finally got noticeable volume with this spray mousse

Ulta reviewer, 4 stars

Called it the only product that has ever actually given real volume after trying many others, and repurchases it every time it runs out

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars (with a second 4-star reviewer confirming repeat purchase for root volume)

Left hair feeling heavy and sticky rather than lifted, so the reviewer would not repurchase

Ulta reviewer, 2 stars

Bottle's spray nozzle arrives clogged and won't spray when ordered online, and the product didn't live up to the brand hype

two separate Ulta reviewers, 2 stars each

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.

$1.00/oz vs $2.10/oz — Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse costs about 2.1× more per ounce than Herbal Essences Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control.

Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control

Against 155 gels with a computable unit price.

Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse

Against 64 volumizers with a computable unit price.

Value readStrong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz ControlBig Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse
Label
Lower cost than most gelsCosts less per ounce than most gels we have researched.
Lower cost than most volumizersCosts less per ounce than most volumizers 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.

Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control vs Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray MousseSexyHair · 93% function matchBig Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse vs Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray MousseSexyHair · 100% function matchStrong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control vs Texturising Salt SprayBed Head · 90% function matchBig Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse vs Bigwigg Root VolumizerAG Care · 93% function matchStrong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control vs Touchable Hold Hairspray with Frizz ControlHerbal Essences · 90% function matchBig Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse vs Root Lifting Spray 13Kenra Professional · 93% function matchStrong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control vs Thermal Setting SprayBiolage · 90% function matchBig Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse vs Style Sexy Hair Blow It Up Volumizing Gel FoamSexy Hair · 93% function match

Strong Hold Curl Scrunching Gel with Frizz Control · Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse · 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.
  • 5 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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