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Side by side

PATTERN Palo Santo Curl Gel vs PATTERN Styling Cream - 15.0 oz

56% function match · 7 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 57%. PATTERN Palo Santo Curl Gel and PATTERN Styling Cream - 15.0 oz 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.

  • Palo Santo Curl Gel — protein-hungry hair
  • Styling Cream - 15.0 oz — 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
PATTERN

Palo Santo Curl Gel

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
PATTERN Styling Cream - 15.0 oz — 15 oz container PATTERN

Styling Cream - 15.0 oz

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$29 9.8 oz · $2.96/oz
about $49 15 oz · $3.27/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a gel $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 62% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Lower cost than most smoothing creams $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 80% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. 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)
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Light A light 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
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Weight on hair Differs
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. Your hair
Fragrance
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. Your hair
None listed No fragrance is listed. Your hair
Protein Differs
Prominent Protein high in the list — a strengthening formula, not a moisture one. Your hair
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. 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
Natural gum Natural gums do the holding — softer, and it re-wets more easily. Your hair
None found No hold polymer, gum, or wax found in the list. 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 Differs
Present, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. Your hair
Rich Butters near the top: a heavy, softening formula. 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
Covers the core
Who should choose this
  • Protein-hungry hairthat stretches and stays stretched when wet
  • 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
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label
  • 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
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat goes stiff or straw-like on protein
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Styles that must holdno hold polymer, gum, or wax was found
  • Styles that must holdthe brand states a light hold at most
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
Stylercream
Where to buy
Brand website
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Vegan · label states
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Woody & earthy
—
Hold
mediummedium hold
lightDescribed as 'soft, crunch-free, touchable hold' and 'thick enough to provide hold, but never crunchy'
Finish
shine
—
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

IngredientPalo Santo Curl GelStyling Cream - 15.0 oz
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#2Leading
#4Supporting
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#3Leading
#3Leading
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Moisturizes
#4Supporting
#15Below the 1% line
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
Softens
#5Supporting
#7Supporting
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Stabilizes
#14Below the 1% line
#6Supporting

What only one of them carries

Palo Santo Curl Gel

Styling Cream - 15.0 oz

Full ingredient list — Palo Santo Curl Gel (47)
Full ingredient list — Styling Cream - 15.0 oz (16)

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.

VerdictsPalo Santo Curl GelStyling Cream - 15.0 oz
Supported
2
3
Partly supported
1
1
Stated by brand
3
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Palo Santo Curl Gel

  • medium holdPartly supportedSoft structure, not firm hold.
  • 4X curl definitionStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 6X shineStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • touchable and flexible stylesSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • non-flakingStated by brandSoothing, not an active treatment.
  • non-dryingSupportedNothing in it flashes off dry.

Styling Cream - 15.0 oz

  • Superior moisture penetrationSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Ideal oil-rich, touchable holdSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Thick enough to provide hold but never crunchySupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Clinically proven to curl & style hair for long-lasting definitionStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Flexible to prevent breakagePartly supportedSupports the surface, not a treatment.
  • Formulated for hair types 3B-4CStated 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 frizz control. PATTERN Styling Cream - 15.0 oz draws complaints about residue or cast and the price.

Palo Santo Curl Gel

Reviewers repeatedly describe defined, springy curls that stay soft rather than turning crunchy.

Curly and coily users seeking touchable definition

Several reviews credit the gel with controlling frizz while avoiding flakes or sticky residue.

Wash-and-go and natural-style users

The Palo Santo fragrance is a recurring positive, although scent preference is inherently personal.

Scent-sensitive and fragrance-positive reviewers

Styling Cream - 15.0 oz

Makes 4C fine hair curls 'pop' and keeps moisture for several days

4C-hair reviewer on brand site

Hair felt silky and frizz was controlled

curly-hair reviewer on Ulta

Curls look hydrated and defined after use

curly-hair reviewer on Ulta

Product is expensive for the size

value-focused reviewer on Ulta

Left a noticeable white cast on hair after application

reviewer on Ulta

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.

$2.96/oz vs $3.27/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

Palo Santo Curl Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Styling Cream - 15.0 oz

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Value readPalo Santo Curl GelStyling Cream - 15.0 oz
Label
Upper-mid price for a gelSits in the middle of the range for gels per ounce.
Lower cost than most smoothing creamsCosts less per ounce than most smoothing creams we have researched.

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.

Palo Santo Curl Gel vs Curl Gel - 9.8 ozPATTERN · 100% function matchStyling Cream - 15.0 oz vs Styling CreamPATTERN · 96% function matchPalo Santo Curl Gel vs Curl GelPATTERN · 100% function matchStyling Cream - 15.0 oz vs Coconut & Hibiscus with Silk Protein & Neem Oil Curl & Style MilkSheaMoisture · 93% function matchPalo Santo Curl Gel vs The Texturizing Air Dry MousseCrown Affair · 96% function matchStyling Cream - 15.0 oz vs Hydrating Curl CreamOCOA · 93% function matchPalo Santo Curl Gel vs Guava Slip Heavy On Hold Extreme GelCamille Rose · 85% function matchStyling Cream - 15.0 oz vs Pure Honey Hair Food Smoothing & Frizz Control Curl Defining CreamCreme of Nature · 89% function match

Palo Santo Curl Gel · Styling Cream - 15.0 oz · 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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