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Side by side

Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder

65% function match · 8 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 24%. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel and Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder 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 Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel — fragrance-free
  • Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder — protein-sensitive 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
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
Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder — 0.5 oz container Not Your Mother's

Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$9.35 6 oz · $1.56/oz
$6 0.5 oz · $20.99/oz

Compared at different sizes — 6 oz against 0.5 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs less than 65% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 92% of the 64 volumizers we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Straight–Wavy A light volumising formula — the lift it adds matters most on straighter hair. Your hair
Moisture level Same
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. 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
—
Slip / detangling Differs
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. Your hair
Weight on hair Same
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair. Your hair
Fragrance
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. 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 Differs
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. 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 Differs
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
High Absorbent powders or starches high in the list. 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
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Why you might skip it
  • 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
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Picking it up locallywe have it recorded in one channel only
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
Stylergel
Stylerpowder
Where to buy
Brand website · Ulta · Walmart
Ulta
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Scent
Unscented
Scented, not described
Hold
strong"Firm hold" with a "scunchable cast" that "dries firm for frizz control" — brand product page
—
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 Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting GelPlump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
VP/VA Copolymer
Holds
#3Leading
#4Supporting
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#11Below the 1% line
#6Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder

Full ingredient list — Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel (12)
Full ingredient list — Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder (15)

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 Sculpting GelPlump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder
Supported
6
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
2
Potential conflict
0
0

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.

Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder

  • immediate volumeSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • maximum lift and textureSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • talc-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • invisible powderStated 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 a clean rinse-out. Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder draws complaints about residue or cast and volume.

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

Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder

Gives good root lift with no visible buildup and is invisible in the hair; plans to repurchase

Ulta reviewer "Cheryl", 5 stars

Volumizes hair perfectly and reviewer loves the result

Ulta reviewer "lilliannanicole", Iowa, 5 stars

Left a sticky texture on both hair and fingers after rubbing it in, disappointing given expectations

Ulta reviewer "Ria", Houston TX, 1 star

On fine, pin-straight 1a hair the powder only made hair sticky with no volume payoff

Ulta reviewer "sam", Chicago IL, 1 star

First-time user says it took a few tries to figure out application before getting the full volumizing benefit

Ulta reviewer "Susan W", Las Vegas, 5 stars

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 $20.99/oz — Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder costs about 13× more per ounce than Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel.

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder

Against 64 volumizers with a computable unit price.

Value readCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting GelPlump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for gels per ounce.
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.

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 Sculpting Gel vs Pomegranate & Honey Air Dry Styler GelMielle Organics · 100% function matchPlump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder vs Matte Texture Hair Volumizing PowderREUZEL · 93% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Tea Tree Lemon Sage Thickening Spray - 6.8 ozPaul Mitchell · 100% function matchPlump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder vs EIMI Sugar Lift Sugar Spray for Voluminous TextureWella · 89% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Pomegranate & Honey Air Dry Styling LotionMielle Organics · 96% function matchPlump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder vs EIMI Sugar Lift Sugar Spray for Voluminous TextureWella Professionals · 89% function matchCurl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel vs Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 ozPaul Mitchell · 96% function matchPlump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder vs Pure Clean Styling GelGarnier Fructis · 85% function match

Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel · Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder · 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.
  • 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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