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Side by side

OUAI Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz vs Redken Hydrating Curl Cream

93% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 62%. OUAI Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz and Redken Hydrating Curl Cream share 3 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.

  • Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz — protein-sensitive hair
  • Hydrating Curl Cream — 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
OUAI Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz — 8 oz container OUAI

Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Redken Hydrating Curl Cream — 6.8 oz container Redken

Hydrating Curl Cream

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$32 8 oz · $4.00/oz
$34–35 6.8 oz · $5.00/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a curl cream $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 74% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 88% 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 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 system Same
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. 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
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 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
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 Differs
Some Absorbents appear, low in the list. Your hair
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
Oils and butters Same
Present, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. Your hair
Present, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol Same
Present Fast-drying alcohol is present — it speeds drying and can read dry on the hair. Your hair
Present Fast-drying alcohol is present — it speeds drying and can read dry on the hair. Your hair
Humidity resistance
—
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. 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
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
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
Ulta
Ulta
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Vegan · label states
—
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · brand states
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Finish
shine
natural
Humidity claim
—
Yes
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

IngredientFrizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 ozHydrating Curl Cream
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#2Leading
#2Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#3Leading
#3Leading
Behentrimonium Chloride
Detangles
#6Supporting
#4Supporting
Isopropyl Alcohol
Drying
#19Below the 1% line
#12Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#28Below the 1% line
#13Below the 1% line
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Fragrance
#29Below the 1% line
#21Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#30Below the 1% line
#20Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#26Below the 1% line
#9Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz

Hydrating Curl Cream

Full ingredient list — Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz (34)
Full ingredient list — Hydrating Curl Cream (28)

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.

VerdictsFrizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 ozHydrating Curl Cream
Supported
3
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
2
3
Potential conflict
0
0

Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz

  • Silicone-freeSupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.
  • Enhances, defines and shapes curlsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Reduces frizz and adds shineSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Hydrates and softens curlsSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Tames fly-awaysStated by brandMay help, but not a primary focus.

Hydrating Curl Cream

  • Defines and enhances curls for up to 72 hoursStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Hydrates curls for 72 hoursSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Reduces frizz up to 81%Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Heat protection up to 450FStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
  • Formulated without silicones, parabens, and mineral oilsSupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.

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.

Redken Hydrating Curl Cream draws complaints about dryness and the scent.

Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz

Curls define instantly on application, barely needing any finger-combing

long-term curly-hair user on Ulta

Loves the scent and the overall end result after 21+ years of trying curl products

longtime curl-product user on Ulta

Didn't notice much difference — hair looked about the same as without it

3c curl-pattern reviewer on Ulta

Weighed fine, very curly hair down no matter how little was used, preventing curls from forming

fine/very-curly-hair reviewer on Ulta

Works great on dry coily hair but left fine, highlighted hair limp and greasy

reviewer comparing coily vs. fine highlighted hair on Ulta

Hydrating Curl Cream

Curls stay soft and hydrated, and a small amount goes a long way without weighing hair down

curly-haired reviewer

Left 4a/4b coily hair dry and caused white flakes/clumping even when applied generously

reviewer with coily/textured hair (4a/4b)

Dislikes the strong fragrance, calling the scent unpleasant

reviewer sensitive to fragrance

Performs better on looser curl patterns than on tightly coiled textures

reviewer comparing across curl types

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.

$4.00/oz vs $5.00/oz — Redken Hydrating Curl Cream costs about 1.3× more per ounce than OUAI Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz.

$0.26/oz median $2.08/oz $14.55/oz $4.00/oz Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8. $5.00/oz Hydrating Curl Cream

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Value readFrizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 ozHydrating Curl Cream
Label
Upper-mid price for a curl creamSits in the middle of the range for curl 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.

Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz vs Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 2.5 ozOUAI · 100% function matchHydrating Curl Cream vs Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl ActivatorCreme of Nature · 93% function matchFrizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz vs Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl ActivatorCreme of Nature · 85% function matchHydrating Curl Cream vs Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 2.5 ozOUAI · 93% function matchFrizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz vs RING TONE Curl Defining GelR+Co · 81% function matchHydrating Curl Cream vs Defining Custard - 2.5 ozRizos Curls · 89% function matchFrizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz vs Defining Custard - 2.5 ozRizos Curls · 81% function matchHydrating Curl Cream vs Defining CustardRizos Curls · 89% function match

Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 oz · Hydrating Curl 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.
  • 2 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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