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Side by side

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

13 of 13 functions match Formula overlap 100%. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream and Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein 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 Fragrance Free Defining Cream — fragrance-free
  • Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein 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 Fragrance Free Defining Cream — 6 oz container Not Your Mother's

Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream

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

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein 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 $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 58% of the 107 curl creams we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 58% of the 107 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 (as stated)
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. 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 Same
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. Your hair
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. Your hair
Fragrance
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
Protein Same
None No protein or amino acids in the list. 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 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 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • If scent matters to younothing is added here
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
  • 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 · Ulta · Walmart
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Scent
Unscented
Unscented
Hold
medium"Flexible firm hold" (flake-free) — brand product page and Ulta listing
strongFlake-free, flexible firm hold
How often
as needed
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

IngredientCurl Talk Fragrance Free Defining CreamCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Polyacrylamide
Holds
#2Leading
#2Leading
C13-14 Isoalkane
Softens
#3Leading
#3Leading
Polyquaternium-10
Detangles
#4Supporting
#4Supporting
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Heavy
#5Supporting
#5Supporting
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
Softens
#6Supporting
#6Supporting
Pg-Hydroxyethylcellulose Cocodimonium Chloride
Detangles
#7Supporting
#7Supporting
Laureth-7
Stabilizes
#8Supporting
#8Supporting
Ethylhexylglycerin
Softens
#10Below the 1% line
#10Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#11Below the 1% line
#11Below the 1% line
Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream (12)
Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein 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 Fragrance Free Defining CreamCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream
Supported
5
4
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
0
Potential conflict
0
0

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.

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream

  • Flake-free, flexible firm holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Maximizes definitionSupportedHolds a clump together.
  • Controls frizzSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Fragrance and protein freeSupportedFine for protein-sensitive hair.

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 moisture, the scent, and frizz control. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining Cream draws complaints about frizz; Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream draws complaints about hold.

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

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream

Appreciates that the fragrance-free formula doesn't clash with personal perfume or scent preferences

Ulta reviewer sensitive to added fragrance

Defines and de-frizzes curls with excellent curl definition and moisture sealing

Ulta reviewer with curly hair

Product seemed to disappear into the hair strands without leaving hold or visible definition behind

Ulta reviewer

Found it lacked effectiveness on tighter curl patterns (3a and beyond), not providing enough definition for that texture

Ulta reviewer with type 3a+ curls

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 Fragrance Free D $1.69/oz Curl Talk Fragrance & Prot

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 107 curl creams with a computable unit price.

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

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