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Side by side

John Frieda Kickstarter Thickening Mousse vs Kenra Professional Platinum Thickening Mousse 12

93% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 32%. John Frieda Kickstarter Thickening Mousse and Kenra Professional Platinum Thickening Mousse 12 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.

  • Kickstarter Thickening Mousse — maximum slip
  • Platinum Thickening Mousse 12 — 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
John Frieda

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Kenra Professional Platinum Thickening Mousse 12 — 6.7 oz container Kenra Professional

Platinum Thickening Mousse 12

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$9.99 7.5 oz · $1.33/oz
$12–25 6.7 oz · $3.36/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most volumizers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 97% of the 64 volumizers we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a mouss $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 64% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Straight–Wavy A light volumising formula — the lift it adds matters most on straighter hair. 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
Light A light hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. 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
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
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. 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
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
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
Covers the core
Who should choose this
  • 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
  • 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
  • Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Styles that must holdthe brand states a light hold at most
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
Styleraerosol
Stylerfoam
Where to buy
Brand website · Drugstore
Ulta · Amazon · Beauty supply …
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
strongThe current official John Frieda product page for the 200 ml equivalent calls this a strong-hold Level 4 formula.
lightFlexible, light hold lasts up to 24 hours
Finish
—
natural
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.

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$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

IngredientKickstarter Thickening MoussePlatinum Thickening Mousse 12
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Isobutane
Neutral
#2Leading
#4Supporting
Propane
Neutral
#4Supporting
#7Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#16Below the 1% line
#10Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#14Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse

Platinum Thickening Mousse 12

Full ingredient list — Kickstarter Thickening Mousse (19)
Full ingredient list — Platinum Thickening Mousse 12 (11)

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.

VerdictsKickstarter Thickening MoussePlatinum Thickening Mousse 12
Supported
2
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
2
Potential conflict
0
1

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.

Platinum Thickening Mousse 12

  • Plumps each strand of hair by up to 150%Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Resists humidity for up to 48 hoursSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Flexible, light hold lasts up to 24 hoursSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Thermal protection up to 428 degrees FStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
  • Non-flaking, brushable finishPotential conflictExpect a cast you have to scrunch out.

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.

Kenra Professional Platinum Thickening Mousse 12 draws complaints about weight and hold.

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

Platinum Thickening Mousse 12

Reviewer with very fine hair said this was the first volumizing product that actually worked for them

Ulta reviewer, fine hair

Reviewer repeatedly repurchases, switching from the regular (non-Platinum) Kenra mousse to this one and keeps one can after another

Ulta reviewer, repeat buyer

Reviewer with fine hair said it made hair feel immediately greasy and did not add fullness

Ulta reviewer, fine hair

Reviewer with very thin/fine hair found it too heavy, weighing hair down despite the 'light hold' label claim

Ulta reviewer, very fine/thin 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.

$1.33/oz vs $3.36/oz — Kenra Professional Platinum Thickening Mousse 12 costs about 2.5× more per ounce than John Frieda Kickstarter Thickening Mousse.

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse

Against 64 volumizers with a computable unit price.

Platinum Thickening Mousse 12

Against 138 mousses with a computable unit price.

Value readKickstarter Thickening MoussePlatinum Thickening Mousse 12
Label
Lower cost than most volumizersCosts less per ounce than most volumizers we have researched.
Upper-mid price for a moussSits in the middle of the range for mousses 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.

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse vs VOLUME Texturizing MousseMONDAY Haircare · 96% function matchPlatinum Thickening Mousse 12 vs TRESemmé Extra Hold MousseTRESemmé · 93% function matchKickstarter Thickening Mousse vs TRESemmé Extra Hold MousseTRESemmé · 93% function matchPlatinum Thickening Mousse 12 vs Total Volume Plumping MousseTRESemme · 93% function matchKickstarter Thickening Mousse vs Total Volume Plumping MousseTRESemme · 93% function matchPlatinum Thickening Mousse 12 vs Full Volume Mousse Maximum Body & LiftRedken · 89% function matchKickstarter Thickening Mousse vs Speed Dry Blow-Dry SprayColor Wow · 90% function matchPlatinum Thickening Mousse 12 vs VOLUME Texturizing MousseMONDAY Haircare · 89% function match

Kickstarter Thickening Mousse · Platinum Thickening Mousse 12 · All volumizers 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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