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Side by side

Matrix Controller Gel vs Sebastian Texture Maker Spray

81% function match · 9 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 40%. Matrix Controller Gel and Sebastian Texture Maker Spray 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
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When each one is the right call

What each formula is built for, from its own ingredient list.

  • Controller Gel — protein-sensitive hair
  • Texture Maker Spray — 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
Matrix Controller Gel — 6.8 oz container Matrix

Controller Gel

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Sebastian Texture Maker Spray — 5.1 oz container Sebastian

Texture Maker Spray

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Moisture-rich
Price, size & price per ounce
$26 6.8 oz · $3.90/oz
$18–21 5.1 oz · $3.55/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced above most gels $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 82% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 68% of the 58 texture sprays 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
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. 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
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. Your hair
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. 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
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 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
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. 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
Present Fast-drying alcohol is present — it speeds drying and can read dry on the hair. Your hair
Present Fast-drying alcohol is present — it speeds drying and can read dry on the hair. 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
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Aerosol avoidancea pump or tube, not a pressurised can
  • A wide range of haira middle-of-the-range weight
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Soft-hold stylesthat should stay touchable
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
Stylergel
Stylerspray
Where to buy
Ulta
Ulta
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
Cruelty-free
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
strongStrong hold (Matrix/Ulta product listing hold-level attribute)
medium"Level 4" hold, described as "reworkable control"
Finish
shine
matte
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

IngredientController GelTexture Maker Spray
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
PVP
Holds
#2Leading
#4Supporting
Alcohol Denat.
Drying
#4Supporting
#35Below the 1% line
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#6Below the 1% line
#19Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#7Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#10Below the 1% line
#12Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#15Below the 1% line
#29Below the 1% line
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Holds
#11Below the 1% line
#6Supporting
Linalool
Fragrance
#19Below the 1% line
#17Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Controller Gel

Texture Maker Spray

Full ingredient list — Controller Gel (25)
Full ingredient list — Texture Maker Spray (39)

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.

VerdictsController GelTexture Maker Spray
Supported
3
0
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
4
Potential conflict
1
0

Controller Gel

  • Strong holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • No stiffness or crunchPotential conflictExpect a cast you have to scrunch out.
  • Adds structure with shineSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • No flakingStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Vegan formulaStated by brandWorth checking on the label.
  • Applies clean, rinses out easilySupportedComes out in a normal wash.

Texture Maker Spray

  • reworkable controlStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • tousled textureStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • matte finishStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • salt crystalsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from 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 a clean rinse-out. Sebastian Texture Maker Spray draws complaints about dullness.

Controller Gel

Holds firmly all day without the stiffness other gel brands leave behind

Ulta reviewer 'Earmando_g', 5 stars

Works well styling long ponytails and holds up through the day

Ulta reviewer 'Sierra', 5 stars

Solid, lightweight gel that doesn't leave residue

Ulta reviewer 'Ajumpshot' (NYC), 4 stars

Just the right amount of firmness when styling

Ulta reviewer 'zeroryuha' (Los Angeles, CA), 5 stars

Left a white, silicone-like flaky residue on hair for one user

Ulta customer review

Texture Maker Spray

Gave hair nice shine and made it more manageable while styling

Ulta reviewer

Reduces frizz noticeably when used before curling with a wand

Ulta reviewer

Adds great volume without leaving hair stiff, heavy, or sticky

Ulta reviewer

Made hair oily with no noticeable softness or shine

Ulta reviewer

Left hair feeling hard and crunchy

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.

$3.55/oz vs $3.90/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

Controller Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Texture Maker Spray

Against 58 texture sprays with a computable unit price.

Value readController GelTexture Maker Spray
Label
Priced above most gelsCosts more per ounce than most gels; nothing in our library matches it closely for less.
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for texture sprays 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.

Controller Gel vs Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling GelOuidad · 91% function matchTexture Maker Spray vs Chia Seed Clumping GelBounce Curl · 91% function matchController Gel vs Forming CreamAmerican Crew · 85% function matchTexture Maker Spray vs Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling GelOuidad · 91% function matchController Gel vs MATTE POMADESuavecito · 81% function matchTexture Maker Spray vs Fast Form Styling Cream GelPaul Mitchell · 90% function matchController Gel vs Over Achiever 3-in-1 Cream PasteMatrix · 81% function matchTexture Maker Spray vs TexturizerSebastian · 89% function match

Controller Gel · Texture Maker Spray · All gels 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.
  • 2 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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