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Side by side

Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream vs Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

93% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 61%. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream and Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream share 4 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.

  • Curl Talk Defining Cream — maximum slip
  • Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream — fragrance-free

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
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
Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream — 6 oz container Not Your Mother's

Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$9–11 6 oz · $1.69/oz
$9–11 6 oz · $1.69/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 58% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 58% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Moisture level Same
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. 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
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. 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
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. Your hair
Fragrance
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
Protein Differs
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
None No protein or amino acids in the list. 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
Hold (as stated)
—
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. 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
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 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
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
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • 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
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label
  • Unscentedfree of strong smells
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
Why you might skip it
  • 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
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • If scent matters to younothing is added here
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
Stylercream
Where to buy
Brand website
Brand website · Ulta · Walmart
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Not vegan · label states
—
Scent
Scented, not described
Unscented
Hold
—
medium"Flexible firm hold" (flake-free) — brand product page and Ulta listing
Finish
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 Talk Defining CreamCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Polyacrylamide
Holds
#2Leading
#2Leading
C13-14 Isoalkane
Softens
#3Leading
#3Leading
Polyquaternium-10
Detangles
#5Supporting
#4Supporting
Ethylhexylglycerin
Softens
#15Below the 1% line
#10Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#16Below the 1% line
#11Below the 1% line
Pg-Hydroxyethylcellulose Cocodimonium Chloride
Detangles
#11Below the 1% line
#7Supporting
Laureth-7
Stabilizes
#12Below the 1% line
#8Supporting

What only one of them carries

Curl Talk Defining Cream

Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Defining Cream (21)
Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream (12)

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 Talk Defining CreamCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream
Supported
6
5
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
1
Potential conflict
0
0
Sulfate-free
SupportedGentler on colour and coils.
SupportedGentler on colour and coils.
Silicone-free
SupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.
SupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.
Paraben-free
SupportedPreserved without parabens.
SupportedPreserved without parabens.

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.
  • Drying-alcohol-freeSupportedNothing that flashes off dry.

Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

  • Alcohol-freeSupportedNothing that flashes off dry.
  • Fragrance-freeSupportedSafer for scent-sensitive scalps.
  • Flake-freeStated 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 the scent and frizz control. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream draws complaints about frizz and curl definition.

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

Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

Surprised a protein-free formula still worked well for their curls

5-star Ulta reviewer

Controls frizz and adds shine without the fragrance clashing with perfume

5-star Ulta reviewer

Good moisturizer they plan to repurchase

4-star Ulta reviewer

Curls come out defined and bouncy after use

5-star Ulta reviewer

Kept frizz under control but didn't deliver curl definition on their hair type

2-star 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.

$1.69/oz vs $1.69/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

$0.26/oz median $2.08/oz $14.55/oz $1.69/oz Curl Talk Defining Cream $1.69/oz Curl Talk Fragrance Free D

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Value readCurl Talk Defining CreamCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for curl creams per ounce.
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.

Curl Talk Defining Cream vs Curl Talk To Go Mini Styling KitNot Your Mother's · 100% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 100% function matchCurl Talk Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream vs Curl Talk To Go Mini Styling KitNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchCurl Talk Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Lasting Definition Flash Freeze GelNot Your Mother's · 89% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream vs Whipped Vanilla Cream Curl Enhancing GelDONNA'S RECIPE · 89% function matchCurl Talk Defining Cream vs Whipped Vanilla Cream Curl Enhancing GelDONNA'S RECIPE · 89% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream vs Platinum Thickening Mousse 12Kenra Professional · 89% function match

Curl Talk Defining Cream · Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream · 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.
  • 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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