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Side by side

John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme vs John Frieda Kickstarter Thickening Mousse

36% function match · 2 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 3%. John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme and John Frieda Kickstarter Thickening Mousse share 1 ingredient 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.

  • Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme — protein-sensitive hair
  • Kickstarter Thickening Mousse — 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
John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme — 5 oz container John Frieda

Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
John Frieda

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$20.90 5 oz · $4.18/oz
$9.99 7.5 oz · $1.33/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced above most curl creams $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 79% of the 106 curl creams we’ve priced
Lower cost than most volumizers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 97% of the 66 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 Differs
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. Your hair
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. 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 Differs
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Differs
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Low Your hair
Hold system Differs
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Cast risk Differs
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. 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 Differs
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. 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
Complete for its job
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
  • Vegan and cruelty-freeour researched record has it as both
  • 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
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
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
Stylercream
Styleraerosol
Where to buy
Brand website · Specialty beauty
Brand website · Drugstore
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Vegan · label states
—
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · label states
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
medium
strongThe current official John Frieda product page for the 200 ml equivalent calls this a strong-hold Level 4 formula.
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

IngredientFrizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining CremeKickstarter Thickening Mousse
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#25Below the 1% line
#16Below the 1% line
Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Detangles
#11Below the 1% line
#8Supporting

What only one of them carries

Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse

Full ingredient list — Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme (29)
Full ingredient list — Kickstarter Thickening Mousse (19)

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.

VerdictsFrizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining CremeKickstarter Thickening Mousse
Supported
4
2
Partly supported
2
0
Stated by brand
3
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme

  • Shapes and softens curls for lasting, touchable definitionSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Locks in moisture and shields from frizzPartly supportedSome hydration, at a low level.
  • All-day definitionSupportedHolds a clump together.
  • Up to 24 hours of holdStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Hydrates hair while helping to define and maintain the natural shapePartly supportedSome hydration, at a low level.
  • Controls frizz with flexible texture, no stiffness or residueSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Safe for dyed or chemically treated hairStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Vegan formulaSupportedMatches our researched record.
  • Not heat activated - air-dry or diffuseStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse

  • adds volume and ultra-light bodySupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • plumps hair for a fuller lookStated by brandNot something a label can show.
  • strong hold formula (Level 4)SupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • heat protection up to 420°FStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.

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.

John Frieda Kickstarter Thickening Mousse draws complaints about volume.

Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme

reviewers say it tames frizz and keeps curl definition looking fresh through the day, with some saying it gave them confidence to wear their natural texture

curly/wavy-haired reviewers on an editorial review-aggregator page

a little of this cream goes a long way, and reviewers call it quick and easy to work through curls without feeling sticky or crispy afterward

curly/wavy-haired reviewers on an editorial review-aggregator page

using too much makes hair feel heavy or stiff, so reviewers with thick or coarse hair say they had to experiment to find the right amount

reviewers with thick or coarse curly hair

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse

Another reviewer says it makes their hair look fuller and performs as promised.

volume-seeking user

One repeat user says the mousse gives lift during blow-drying and has not disappointed over years of use.

longtime blow-dry styling user

A recent long-time user with fine hair says the new formula gives noticeably less lift and volume than the version they had used for years.

fine-hair repeat user comparing the new formula

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.

$1.33/oz vs $4.18/oz — John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme costs about 3.1× more per ounce than John Frieda Kickstarter Thickening Mousse.

Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme

Against 106 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse

Against 66 volumizers with a computable unit price.

Value readFrizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining CremeKickstarter Thickening Mousse
Label
Priced above most curl creamsCosts more per ounce than most curl creams; nothing in our library matches it closely for less.
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.

Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme vs Quick Slip Styling CreamPaul Mitchell · 87% function matchKickstarter Thickening Mousse vs VOLUME Texturizing MousseMONDAY Haircare · 96% function matchFrizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme vs MATTE POMADESuavecito · 87% function matchKickstarter Thickening Mousse vs TRESemmé Extra Hold MousseTRESemmé · 93% function matchFrizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme vs Rich Kid Coconut Oil GelIGK · 86% function matchKickstarter Thickening Mousse vs Total Volume Plumping MousseTRESemme · 93% function matchFrizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme vs Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balmamika · 84% function matchKickstarter Thickening Mousse vs Platinum Thickening Mousse 12Kenra Professional · 93% function match

Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Creme · Kickstarter Thickening Mousse · 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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