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Side by side

Nick Stenson Beauty Root Lifter Spray vs Nick Stenson Beauty Volume Créme

63% function match · 6 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 9%. Nick Stenson Beauty Root Lifter Spray and Nick Stenson Beauty Volume Créme share 3 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.

  • Root Lifter Spray — protein-sensitive hair
  • Volume Créme — protein-hungry 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
Nick Stenson Beauty Root Lifter Spray — brand photograph Nick Stenson Beauty

Root Lifter Spray

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Nick Stenson Beauty Volume Créme — brand photograph Nick Stenson Beauty

Volume Créme

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
about $36 6 oz · $6.00/oz
about $36 6 oz · $6.00/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a volumizer $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 65% of the 64 volumizers we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a volumizer $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 65% of the 64 volumizers 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 Differs
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. 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
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
Prominent Protein high in the list — a strengthening formula, not a moisture one. 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 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, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol Differs
Present Fast-drying alcohol is present — it speeds drying and can read dry on the hair. Your hair
None No fast-drying alcohol in the list. 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
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
  • Protein-hungry hairthat stretches and stays stretched when wet
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat goes stiff or straw-like on protein
  • 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
Stylerspray
Stylercream
Where to buy
Ulta · Brand website
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Finish
shine

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

IngredientRoot Lifter SprayVolume Créme
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Propanediol
Moisturizes
#3Leading
#22Below the 1% line
Panthenol
Detangles
#5Supporting
#9Secondary
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Neutral
#6Supporting
#15Below the 1% line
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Stabilizes
#7Below the 1% line
#16Below the 1% line
Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
Stabilizes
#8Below the 1% line
#17Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#16Below the 1% line
#33Below the 1% line
Hexyl Cinnamal
Fragrance
#17Below the 1% line
#35Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#18Below the 1% line
#37Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Full ingredient list — Root Lifter Spray (22)
Full ingredient list — Volume Créme (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.

VerdictsRoot Lifter SprayVolume Créme
Supported
4
2
Partly supported
0
1
Stated by brand
4
3
Potential conflict
0
0
heat protection
Stated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
Stated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
color-safe
SupportedLess fade per wash.
SupportedLess fade per wash.
vegan
Stated by brandWorth checking on the label.
Stated by brandWorth checking on the label.
BPA-free
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Root Lifter Spray

  • instantaneous lift to the hairSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • maximum volumeSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • builds body with a soft finishSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • gluten-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Volume Créme

  • adds maximum fullness and shineSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • go-to for volume, lift and shinePartly supportedNeutral on lift.

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.

Nick Stenson Beauty Volume Créme draws complaints about volume.

Root Lifter Spray

Became a game-changer staple in her routine, liked that the formula is gluten-free and color-safe

top-rated reviewer, 5-star

Applying near the roots (something she'd never done before) changed her styling routine for the better

reviewer 'Haley', Scottsdale AZ, wavy hair, 5-star

Wanted a root lifter that isn't crunchy or overly fragranced and this one actually works, will keep repurchasing

reviewer 'Austinmom', Austin TX, 5-star

Not a fan, saw no results at all

reviewer 'slc_sweets', Clearfield, 2-star

Saw no change in her hair and will be returning the product

reviewer 'Cocobean', Kingsport TN, 1-star

Volume Créme

Gives her thick, pin-straight hair the voluminous look she struggles to get otherwise

reviewer 'Gigi', Dallas TX, straight hair, 5-star

Worked wonders on her flat hair, part of a volumizing routine she raves about

reviewer 'Rachel', Danville CA, straight hair, 5-star

Feels slippery going on but grips hair for volume and shine once blow-dried

reviewer from California, wavy hair, 5-star ('salon quality results at home')

Solved a persistent widow's-peak flatness problem and now keeps that area fuller and straighter

reviewer 'Cddny', New York NY, wavy hair, 5-star

Paired it with the matching shampoo and conditioner and got no extra volume at all, preferred Biolage and Moroccanoil instead

reviewer 'slc_sweets', Clearfield, 1-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.

$6.00/oz vs $6.00/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

$0.83/oz median $4.39/oz $107.14/oz $6.00/oz Root Lifter Spray $6.00/oz Volume Créme

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 64 volumizers with a computable unit price.

Value readRoot Lifter SprayVolume Créme
Label
Upper-mid price for a volumizerSits in the middle of the range for volumizers per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a volumizerSits in the middle of the range for volumizers 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.

Root Lifter Spray · Volume Créme · 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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