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Side by side

Kenra Professional Clear Paste 20 vs Kenra Professional Curl Defining Creme 5

41% function match · 4 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. Kenra Professional Clear Paste 20 and Kenra Professional Curl Defining Creme 5 share no ingredient among each other's most prominent — which does not stop them doing the same job.

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.

  • Clear Paste 20 — protein-sensitive hair
  • Curl Defining Creme 5 — dry, thirsty 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
Kenra Professional Clear Paste 20 — 2 oz container Kenra Professional

Clear Paste 20

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Kenra Professional Curl Defining Creme 5 — container, alternate view Kenra Professional

Curl Defining Creme 5

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Moisture-rich
Price, size & price per ounce
$18–20 2 oz · $9.00/oz
about $20 3.4 oz · $5.88/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a paste $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 65% of the 90 pastes we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 92% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Moisture level Same
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
—
Slip / detangling Differs
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. 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
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
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Low Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Hold system Differs
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Cast risk Differs
Likely Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out. 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 Differs
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. 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
  • 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
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Humid climatesthe brand claims humidity resistance
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
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
Stylerpaste
Stylercream
Where to buy
Ulta · Salons
Ulta · Salons
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
strongFirm hold (maximum control) per Ulta product description
—
Finish
high-shine
natural
Humidity claim
—
Yes
How often
as needed
every wash

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

IngredientClear Paste 20Curl Defining Creme 5
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#4Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#14Below the 1% line
#24Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Clear Paste 20

Curl Defining Creme 5

Full ingredient list — Clear Paste 20 (14)
Full ingredient list — Curl Defining Creme 5 (24)

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.

VerdictsClear Paste 20Curl Defining Creme 5
Supported
1
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
2
Potential conflict
0
1

Clear Paste 20

  • Maximizes styling controlStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • clean, intense gloss finishStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • water-soluble, shampoo-soluble without buildupSupportedComes out in a normal wash.

Curl Defining Creme 5

  • Refines and separates curls & wavesStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • provides style control & shine with a soft, touchable finishSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • tames frizz & flyawaysStated by brandMay help, but not a primary focus.
  • helps resist humiditySupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • paraben-freePotential conflictA paraben is on the label.

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 the scent and frizz control. Kenra Professional Clear Paste 20 draws complaints about hold and dullness.

Clear Paste 20

Lightweight, non-greasy, and smells great, cited by a large share of reviewers

multiple Ulta reviewers

Only product that got rid of frizz and gave a smooth, sleek straight look

Ulta reviewer with frizz-prone hair

A small amount goes a long way and leaves hair shiny and healthy without weighing it down, preferred over heavier pastes

Ulta reviewer comparing to other styling products

A smaller group found it gave insufficient shine or hold for their hair type

Ulta reviewers

Noticed the product was no longer clear with liquid separated at the bottom, a formula/consistency change

Ulta reviewer reporting a changed batch

Curl Defining Creme 5

Really brings out her natural curl pattern

Ulta reviewer, curly hair

Manages frizzy, wavy hair and lets her actually work with and style it

Ulta reviewer with wavy/frizzy hair

Easy to apply with a pleasant scent and lightweight feel

Ulta reviewers

Weighed her hair down and left it straight, did not curl her hair at all

Ulta reviewer

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.

$5.88/oz vs $9.00/oz — Kenra Professional Clear Paste 20 costs about 1.5× more per ounce than Kenra Professional Curl Defining Creme 5.

Clear Paste 20

Against 90 pastes with a computable unit price.

Curl Defining Creme 5

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Value readClear Paste 20Curl Defining Creme 5
Label
Upper-mid price for a pasteSits in the middle of the range for pastes per ounce.
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.

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.

Clear Paste 20 vs Curl Shaper Take Shape Plumping Defining CreamOuidad · 100% function matchCurl Defining Creme 5 vs Coil Infusion Give A Boost Styling + Shaping Gel CreamOuidad · 96% function matchClear Paste 20 vs MITCH High Hold PomadePaul Mitchell · 100% function matchCurl Defining Creme 5 vs Blow Dry Styler for Smoothing, Frizz Control + Humidity ResistanceOdele · 94% function matchClear Paste 20 vs Smoothing GelAs I Am · 100% function matchCurl Defining Creme 5 vs Super Clean Sculpting GelPaul Mitchell · 93% function matchClear Paste 20 vs Hydro Style Flexi Defining Curl Gel - 8.0 ozCurlsmith · 100% function matchCurl Defining Creme 5 vs Blow Dry StylerOdele · 93% function match

Clear Paste 20 · Curl Defining Creme 5 · All pastes 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.
  • 3 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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