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Side by side

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

76% function match · 9 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream and Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel share no ingredient among each other's most prominent — which does not stop them doing the same job.

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 & Protein Free Defining Cream — fragrance-free
  • Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel — 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 & Protein Free Defining Cream — 6 oz container Not Your Mother's

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream

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

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$9–11 6 oz · $1.69/oz
$9.35 6 oz · $1.56/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 65% of the 157 gels 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
None found No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair. 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
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 Differs
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. Your hair
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. 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 Differs
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. 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
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
  • Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
  • If scent matters to younothing is added here
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
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
Stylergel
Where to buy
Ulta · Brand website
Brand website · Ulta · Walmart
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
strongFlake-free, flexible firm hold
strong"Firm hold" with a "scunchable cast" that "dries firm for frizz control" — brand product page
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 Fragrance & Protein Free Defining CreamCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading

What only one of them carries

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream (12)
Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel (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 & Protein Free Defining CreamCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel
Supported
4
6
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
0
Potential conflict
0
0

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.

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

  • CGM (Curly Girl Method) approvedSupportedClears the usual method test.
  • Fragrance-freeSupportedSafer for scent-sensitive scalps.
  • Protein-freeSupportedFine for protein-sensitive hair.
  • Silicone-freeSupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.
  • No drying alcoholsSupportedNothing that flashes off dry.
  • Long-lasting hold without flakingSupportedStructure that lasts the day.

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, frizz control, and curl definition. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream draws complaints about hold and curl definition.

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

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

Fragrance-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free formula works well with only a small amount needed

5-star Ulta reviewer

Transformed their curl pattern from frizzy to defined curls

5-star Ulta reviewer

Adds structure that holds curls without weighing hair down when air dried

5-star Ulta reviewer

Glad it's fragrance-free so their perfume shows through instead of hair product scent

4-star Ulta reviewer

Held curl pattern well with little to no crunchy cast feeling

4-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.

$1.56/oz vs $1.69/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining CreamCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel
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 gels 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 & Protein Free Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 100% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Pomegranate & Honey Air Dry Styler GelMielle Organics · 100% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream vs Curl Talk Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Tea Tree Lemon Sage Thickening Spray - 6.8 ozPaul Mitchell · 100% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream vs Curl Talk To Go Mini Styling KitNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Pomegranate & Honey Air Dry Styling LotionMielle Organics · 96% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream vs Whipped Vanilla Cream Curl Enhancing GelDONNA'S RECIPE · 89% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 ozPaul Mitchell · 96% function match

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream · Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel · 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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