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Side by side

Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray vs Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream

78% function match · 9 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray and Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream 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.

  • Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray — curly-method routines
  • Curl Talk Defining Cream — 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
Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray — container, alternate view Marc Anthony

Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream — 6 oz container Not Your Mother's

Curl Talk Defining Cream

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$6.68 6.76 oz · $1.11/oz
$9–11 6 oz · $1.69/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most volumizers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 98% of the 64 volumizers we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 58% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. 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
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. Your hair
Hold system Same
High Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
High 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
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. 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 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
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
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 Differs
Rich Butters near the top: a heavy, softening formula. Your hair
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol Differs
High in the list Fast-drying alcohol in the first three ingredients. 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
Covers the core
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear 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
  • Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Vegan and cruelty-freeour record does not support both claims here
  • Picking it up locallywe have it recorded in one channel only
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
Styler
Stylercream
Where to buy
—
Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
—
Not vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
—
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Finish
—
natural
Humidity claim
—
Yes
How often
—
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

IngredientStrictly Curls Curl It Up Volume SprayCurl Talk Defining Cream
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#16Below the 1% line
#17Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray

Curl Talk Defining Cream

Full ingredient list — Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray (21)
Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Defining Cream (21)

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.

VerdictsStrictly Curls Curl It Up Volume SprayCurl Talk Defining Cream
Supported
5
6
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
3
1
Potential conflict
0
0
Paraben-free
SupportedPreserved without parabens.
SupportedPreserved without parabens.
Sulfate-free
SupportedGentler on colour and coils.
SupportedGentler on colour and coils.

Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray

  • Extra holdStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Promotes long-lasting defined curlsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Moisturizes curlsSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Adds shineSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • Reduces frizzSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Phthalate-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Curl Talk Defining Cream

  • Maximizes curl definitionSupportedHolds a clump together.
  • Seals in moistureStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Controls frizzSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Silicone-freeSupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.
  • Drying-alcohol-freeSupportedNothing that flashes off dry.

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.

Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray

A minority of reviewers report the pump or nozzle dispenses an uneven direct stream rather than a fine mist, and one found the denatured alcohol smell and feel unpleasant.

Reviewers commonly reapply the spray on already-dry, previously styled hair -- misting lightly and scrunching -- to revive the curl pattern between wash days.

Many long-time users, some for over six years, say the spray defines curls and extends the style for two to three days without leaving hair crunchy or sticky.

Several reviewers say they can no longer find the product on store shelves and ask whether it has been discontinued.

Curl Talk Defining Cream

Does exactly what it says and smells great

brand-site reviewer, 5-star

Lightweight feel while still controlling frizz

brand-site reviewer, 5-star

Defines curls without leaving hair greasy or weighed down

brand-site reviewer, 5-star

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.

$1.11/oz vs $1.69/oz — Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream costs about 1.5× more per ounce than Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray.

Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray

Against 64 volumizers with a computable unit price.

Curl Talk Defining Cream

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Value readStrictly Curls Curl It Up Volume SprayCurl Talk Defining Cream
Label
Lower cost than most volumizersCosts less per ounce than most volumizers we have researched.
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for curl creams 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.

Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray vs 6-in-1 Styling CreamRizos Curls · 85% function matchCurl Talk Defining Cream vs Curl Talk To Go Mini Styling KitNot Your Mother's · 100% function matchStrictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray vs Manuka Honey & Yogurt Smooth & Hold Multi-Styling Hair MousseSheaMoisture · 81% function matchCurl Talk Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchStrictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray vs Luminous Hairspray Extra StrongMoroccanoil · 81% function matchCurl Talk Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchStrictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray vs Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 78% function matchCurl Talk Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Lasting Definition Flash Freeze GelNot Your Mother's · 89% function match

Strictly Curls Curl It Up Volume Spray · Curl Talk Defining Cream · 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.
  • 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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