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Side by side

Kenra Professional Curl Defining Creme 5 vs Kenra Professional Volume Mousse Extra 17

41% function match · 3 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 4%. Kenra Professional Curl Defining Creme 5 and Kenra Professional Volume Mousse Extra 17 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.

  • Curl Defining Creme 5 — dry, thirsty hair
  • Volume Mousse Extra 17 — 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
Kenra Professional Curl Defining Creme 5 — container, alternate view Kenra Professional

Curl Defining Creme 5

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Moisture-rich
Kenra Professional Volume Mousse Extra 17 — 8 oz container Kenra Professional

Volume Mousse Extra 17

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Strong hold
Price, size & price per ounce
about $20 3.4 oz · $5.88/oz
$19–21 8 oz · $2.63/oz

Compared at different sizes — 8 oz against 3.4 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 92% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a mouss $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 50% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. Your hair
Hold system Differs
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. 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 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 Differs
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Low The silicones here are the water-soluble kind. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Low Your hair
Hold (as stated)
—
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. 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
Humidity resistance
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. 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
Covers the core
Who should choose this
  • 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
  • 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
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong 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
Ulta · Salons
Ulta · Salons
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • sulfate-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
—
strongKenra hold scale: "Extra 17" (firm hold, extra strength tier)
Finish
natural
natural
Humidity claim
Yes
—
How often
every wash
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

IngredientCurl Defining Creme 5Volume Mousse Extra 17
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Polyquaternium-11
Detangles
#15Below the 1% line
#2Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#24Below the 1% line
#10Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Curl Defining Creme 5

Volume Mousse Extra 17

Full ingredient list — Curl Defining Creme 5 (24)
Full ingredient list — Volume Mousse Extra 17 (15)

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.

VerdictsCurl Defining Creme 5Volume Mousse Extra 17
Supported
2
3
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
1
Potential conflict
1
0

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.

Volume Mousse Extra 17

  • Firm hold styling control without stiffness or stickinessSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Maximum body & fullnessSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • Tames frizz & conditionsSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Thermal protection up to 450°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.

Both praised for frizz control. Kenra Professional Volume Mousse Extra 17 draws complaints about weight.

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

Volume Mousse Extra 17

Works great on fine, thin hair for added body

fine/thin-hair Ulta reviewer

Curls come out smooth and defined but still soft, with a bit of hold and no crunchy feel

curly-hair Ulta reviewer

Best frizz-control mousse she's tried, better than others in the category

Ulta reviewer comparing against other mousses

Too heavy for fine hair even in a small amount, weighs hair down

fine-hair Ulta reviewer

Lightweight feel and pleasant fragrance are frequently mentioned alongside strong hold

aggregated theme across many Ulta reviewers

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.

$2.63/oz vs $5.88/oz — Kenra Professional Curl Defining Creme 5 costs about 2.2× more per ounce than Kenra Professional Volume Mousse Extra 17.

Curl Defining Creme 5

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Volume Mousse Extra 17

Against 138 mousses with a computable unit price.

Value readCurl Defining Creme 5Volume Mousse Extra 17
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
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.

Curl Defining Creme 5 vs Coil Infusion Give A Boost Styling + Shaping Gel CreamOuidad · 96% function matchVolume Mousse Extra 17 vs Kenra Volume Mousse Extra 17Kenra Professional · 100% function matchCurl Defining Creme 5 vs Blow Dry Styler for Smoothing, Frizz Control + Humidity ResistanceOdele · 94% function matchVolume Mousse Extra 17 vs Kenra Volume Mousse 12Kenra · 93% function matchCurl Defining Creme 5 vs Super Clean Sculpting GelPaul Mitchell · 93% function matchVolume Mousse Extra 17 vs Volume Mousse 12Kenra Professional · 93% function matchCurl Defining Creme 5 vs Blow Dry StylerOdele · 93% function matchVolume Mousse Extra 17 vs Big Volume Weightless Lift MousseMarc Anthony · 93% function match

Curl Defining Creme 5 · Volume Mousse Extra 17 · 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.
  • 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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