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Side by side

Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold vs Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

61% function match · 7 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 3%. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold and Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream 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 Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold — protein-hungry hair
  • 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 Spray Gel Strong Hold — 6 oz container Not Your Mother's

Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold

  • 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
$10–11 6 oz · $1.76/oz
$9–11 6 oz · $1.69/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 58% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ 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 Differs
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. 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
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. 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
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
Prominent Protein high in the list — a strengthening formula, not a moisture one. 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 system Same
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. 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 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
  • Protein-hungry hairthat stretches and stays stretched when wet
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
  • 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
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat goes stiff or straw-like on protein
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • 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
Stylerspray
Stylercream
Where to buy
Brand website · Grocery / mass
Brand website · Ulta · Walmart
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Scent
Scented, not described
Unscented
Hold
strong
medium"Flexible firm hold" (flake-free) — brand product page and Ulta listing
Finish
shine
—
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.

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 Spray Gel Strong HoldCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Ethylhexylglycerin
Softens
#11Below the 1% line
#10Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#12Below the 1% line
#11Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold

Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold (18)
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 Spray Gel Strong HoldCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream
Supported
6
5
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold

  • Lightweight spray enhances definition without weighing curls downSupportedLess likely to weigh hair down.
  • Controls frizzSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Boosts volumeSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • Strong hold without a gel castSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Never sticky, no buildupStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Formulated with Rice Curl Complex – a blend of rice, keratin amino acids, and enzymesSupportedThe named ingredient is really there.
  • Infused with a Superfood Oil Blend to hydrate curls and add shineSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.

Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

  • Silicone-freeSupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.
  • Alcohol-freeSupportedNothing that flashes off dry.
  • Paraben-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • Sulfate-freeSupportedGentler on colour and coils.
  • 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.

Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream draws complaints about frizz and curl definition.

Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold

Multiple reviewers say the spray gel holds curls without the stiff, crunchy cast typical of gels, keeping curls feeling natural.

Several reviewers report the spray/pump mechanism sticking, clogging, or dispensing unevenly, making it hard to apply enough product for a real hold.

A recurring complaint, especially from reviewers with thicker or very curly/coily hair, is that the hold is too weak or short-lived and curls fall flat within hours.

Reviewers with looser wave or curl patterns (2C-3A) more often report the strong-hold claim holds up, with curls springing up nicely without added stiffness.

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 $1.76/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Value readCurl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong HoldCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for gels 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 Spray Gel Strong Hold vs Firm Hold Styling CreamAmerican Crew · 99% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 100% function matchCurl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold vs Texturizing Sea Salt Spray for Tousled StylesOdele · 96% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchCurl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold vs Lavender Aloe Smoothing GelEden BodyWorks · 96% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream vs Curl Talk To Go Mini Styling KitNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchCurl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold vs Kids Sensitive Hair Style FoamSoCozy · 96% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream vs Whipped Vanilla Cream Curl Enhancing GelDONNA'S RECIPE · 89% function match

Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold · Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream · 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.
  • 6 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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