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Side by side

OUAI Anti-Frizz Crème vs OUAI Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam

63% function match · 7 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 9%. OUAI Anti-Frizz Crème and OUAI Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam share 2 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
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When each one is the right call

What each formula is built for, from its own ingredient list.

  • Anti-Frizz Crème — protein-sensitive hair
  • Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam — protein-hungry 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
OUAI

Anti-Frizz Crème

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
OUAI Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam — 4 oz container OUAI

Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$30 6 oz · $5.00/oz
$30 4 oz · $7.50/oz
Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 58% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 93% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Hold system Differs
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. Your hair
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. Your hair
Weight on hair Differs
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. Your hair
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Fragrance
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
Protein Differs
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Prominent Protein high in the list — a strengthening formula, not a moisture one. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Same
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Hold (as stated)
—
Light A light hold, as stated by the brand. 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
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
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
  • Protein-hungry hairthat stretches and stays stretched when wet
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Soft-hold stylesthat should stay touchable
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat goes stiff or straw-like on protein
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
Stylerfoam
Where to buy
Brand website · Sephora · Ulta
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
Vegan
Vegan · label states
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · brand states
Cruelty-free · brand states
Scent
Scented, not described
FloralStrong
Hold
—
lightsoft, touchable hold
Finish
—
shine
Humidity claim
Yes
—
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

IngredientAnti-Frizz CrèmeHeat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#5Supporting
#10Secondary
Fragrance
Fragrance
#20Below the 1% line
#15Below the 1% line
Polysorbate 20
Stabilizes
#14Below the 1% line
#5Supporting

What only one of them carries

Anti-Frizz Crème

Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam

Full ingredient list — Anti-Frizz Crème (30)
Full ingredient list — Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam (21)

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.

VerdictsAnti-Frizz CrèmeHeat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam
Supported
3
1
Partly supported
0
1
Stated by brand
2
0
Potential conflict
0
2

Anti-Frizz Crème

  • immediate frizz reductionSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • up to 72-hour frizz controlSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • heat protection up to 450°FStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
  • moisturizes and hydrates hairSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • reduces and helps repair split endsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam

  • Enhances natural waves with soft, touchable holdPotential conflictExpect a cast you have to scrunch out.
  • Eliminates frizz and adds shineSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Never gets crunchyPotential conflictExpect a cast you have to scrunch out.
  • Kale extract blend provides moisturizationPartly supportedSome hydration, at a low level.

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.

OUAI Anti-Frizz Crème draws complaints about weight and frizz; OUAI Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam draws complaints about curl definition and how it cleanses.

Anti-Frizz Crème

Reviewers often praise soft, silky, easy-to-brush hair and a pleasant fragrance.

OUAI/Ulta site reviewers

Many reviewers report useful frizz and flyaway control without the greasy feel of heavier creams.

OUAI/Ulta site reviewers

Some reviewers find the cream too heavy, make hair look dirty, or insufficiently effective against frizz.

OUAI/Ulta site reviewers

Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam

Formula stays soft and flexible all day, never turns crunchy or stiff

general reviewer

Works well on fine and wavy hair, delivering soft waves without weighing hair down

reviewer with fine/wavy hair

On curlier hair the foam produces soft waves rather than defined curls, which some found underwhelming

reviewer with curly hair

Frizz control is inconsistent — works for some but thicker-textured hair still frizzes

reviewer with thicker hair texture

The North Bondi floral/rose scent is either a favorite or considered overpowering

general 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.

$5.00/oz vs $7.50/oz — OUAI Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam costs about 1.5× more per ounce than OUAI Anti-Frizz Crème.

Anti-Frizz Crème

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam

Against 138 mousses with a computable unit price.

Value readAnti-Frizz CrèmeHeat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for smoothing creams 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.

Anti-Frizz Crème vs Styling Microweb FiberSebastian · 100% function matchHeat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam vs Miracle Whipped Styling BalmIt's a 10 · 89% function matchAnti-Frizz Crème vs Healthy Sexy Hair Styling PasteSexy Hair · 100% function matchHeat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam vs Hair Thickening GelNioxin · 85% function matchAnti-Frizz Crème vs Platinum Whipped Taffy 20 Matte Defining PasteKenra · 99% function matchHeat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam vs After Party Super Smoothing Cream - 3.38 ozBed Head · 83% function matchAnti-Frizz Crème vs Platinum Texturizing Taffy 13Kenra Professional · 96% function matchHeat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam vs Un-Frizz Hair Styling & Smoothing CreamVirtue · 82% function match

Anti-Frizz Crème · Heat-Free Air Dry Styling Foam · All smoothing 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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