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Side by side

John Frieda Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray vs Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray

96% function match · 12 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 79%. John Frieda Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray and Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray share 4 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.

  • Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray — curl definition
  • Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray — curl definition

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 Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray — brand photograph John Frieda

Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Strong hold
Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray — container, alternate view Sexy Hair

Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Strong hold
Price, size & price per ounce
$9–10 12 oz · $0.83/oz
$10 10 oz · $1.00/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most hairsprays $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 89% of the 97 hairsprays we’ve priced
Lower cost than most hairsprays $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 86% of the 97 hairsprays we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. 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 (as stated)
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. Your hair
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. 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
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. Your hair
Protein Same
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Same
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Hold system Same
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. 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
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
None No oils or butters in the list. 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
Humidity resistance
—
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Covers the core
out of 10
Covers the core
Who should choose this
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Vegan and cruelty-freeour researched record has it as both
  • A wide range of haira middle-of-the-range weight
  • Tight budgetsit sits in the lower price tiers
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Humid climatesthe brand claims humidity resistance
  • A wide range of haira middle-of-the-range weight
  • Short ingredient listsfifteen ingredients or fewer
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
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
Stylerspray
Styleraerosol
Where to buy
Grocery / mass
Ulta
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • sulfate-free
Vegan
Vegan · brand states
—
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
strong
strongProduct name states 'Firm Volumizing Hairspray'; Ulta product comparison chart lists hold rating 8 of 10
Finish
shine
shine
Humidity claim
—
Yes
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

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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

IngredientFrizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold HairsprayBig Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray
Alcohol Denat.
Drying
#1Leading
#1Leading
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
Neutral
#2Leading
#2Leading
Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Holds
#3Leading
#4Supporting
Phenyl Trimethicone
Buildup
#6Below the 1% line
#9Below the 1% line
Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate
Softens
#7Below the 1% line
#3Leading
Triethyl Citrate
pH balancer
#8Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#14Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray

Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray

Full ingredient list — Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray (16)
Full ingredient list — Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray (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.

VerdictsFrizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold HairsprayBig Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray
Supported
2
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
3
Potential conflict
0
0

Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray

  • 24-hour firm hold with humidity protectionSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Locks out moisture as you lock in styleStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Boosts shine with a quick-drying formulaSupportedReflects light for visible shine.

Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray

  • Up to 120 hours lasting holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Up to 10x volume and liftStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Up to 72 hours humidity resistanceStated by brandMay help, but not measurable here.
  • Flake-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Shine finishSupportedReflects light for visible shine.

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. John Frieda Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray draws complaints about the scent.

Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray

Many reviewers describe a firm, all-day hold that keeps styles in place through humid or windy weather without feeling stiff or sticky

reviewers who received a full-size can through a product-sampling program (Topbox)

Several reviewers warn that using too much product leaves hair feeling crunchy, stiff or coated, so a light application works best

reviewers describing overapplication

A batch of 2026 reviewers report the hairspray was reformulated, with weaker hold and an unpleasant new scent that several want reverted

long-time users comparing the current can to an earlier formula

Reviewers repeatedly call the scent pleasant and salon-like rather than overpowering, though a minority find it too strong or floral

general reviewers commenting on fragrance

Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray

Long-time user of several years who likes both the hold and the scent

Ulta reviewer, repeat purchaser

Works well and seems to keep hair from getting oily as a side benefit

Ulta reviewer

Calls it the best volumizing spray they've ever used, praising strong hold

Ulta reviewer

Believes the formula was changed to add water and is unhappy with the resulting quality

Ulta reviewer, long-time buyer noting a perceived reformulation

The last two bottles purchased left a white, net-like film residue in the hair

Ulta reviewer, repeat purchaser noting recent 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.

$0.83/oz vs $1.00/oz — Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray costs about 1.2× more per ounce than John Frieda Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray.

$0.50/oz median $2.85/oz $12.22/oz $0.83/oz Frizz Ease Moisture Barrie $1.00/oz Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 97 hairsprays with a computable unit price.

Value readFrizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold HairsprayBig Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray
Label
Lower cost than most hairspraysCosts less per ounce than most hairsprays we have researched.
Lower cost than most hairspraysCosts less per ounce than most hairsprays 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 Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray vs Texas Hold 'Em Big Hold HairsprayColor Wow · 93% function matchBig Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray vs Travel Size Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing HairspraySexy Hair · 93% function matchFrizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray vs Travel Size Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing HairspraySexy Hair · 89% function matchBig Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray vs Texas Hold 'Em Big Hold HairsprayColor Wow · 89% function matchFrizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray vs glued Blasting Freeze HairspraySchwarzkopf got2b · 89% function matchBig Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray vs Style Sexy Hair Protect Me Hot Tool Protection SpraySexy Hair · 89% function matchFrizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray vs Style Sexy Hair Protect Me Hot Tool Protection SpraySexy Hair · 85% function matchBig Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray vs Hard Head Hairspray for Extra Strong HoldBed Head · 85% function match

Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray · Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray · All hairsprays 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.
  • 7 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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