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Side by side

Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Hairspray vs Paul Mitchell Wax Works Hair Gel

41% function match · 4 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 16%. Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Hairspray and Paul Mitchell Wax Works Hair Gel 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.

  • Extra-Body Hairspray — protein-hungry hair
  • Wax Works Hair Gel — 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
Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Hairspray — 9.5 oz container Paul Mitchell

Extra-Body Hairspray

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Moisture-rich
Paul Mitchell Wax Works Hair Gel — size line-up Paul Mitchell

Wax Works Hair Gel

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$26–28 9.5 oz · $2.95/oz
$26 5.1 oz · $5.10/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a hairspray $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 54% of the 96 hairsprays we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 93% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Hold system Same
High Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
High Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. 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
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. 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
Prominent Protein high in the list — a strengthening formula, not a moisture one. Your hair
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Differs
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Low 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 Same
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
Oils and butters Differs
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
Present, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol Differs
High in the list Fast-drying alcohol in the first three ingredients. 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-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
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • 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
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat goes stiff or straw-like on protein
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
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
Styleraerosol
Styler
Where to buy
Brand website
Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described

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

IngredientExtra-Body HairsprayWax Works Hair Gel
Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Holds
#3Leading
#6Supporting
Water
Neutral
#4Supporting
#1Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#11Below the 1% line
#16Below the 1% line
Amyl Cinnamal
Fragrance
#12Below the 1% line
#18Below the 1% line
Benzyl Benzoate
Fragrance
#14Below the 1% line
#19Below the 1% line
Hexamethylindanopyran
Fragrance
#15Below the 1% line
#28Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Extra-Body Hairspray

Wax Works Hair Gel

Full ingredient list — Extra-Body Hairspray (16)
Full ingredient list — Wax Works Hair Gel (34)

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.

VerdictsExtra-Body HairsprayWax Works Hair Gel
Supported
0
3
Partly supported
2
0
Stated by brand
2
0
Potential conflict
0
0

Extra-Body Hairspray

  • Volumizing hairspray delivers all-day, flexible hold with texture, shine and humidity resistancePartly supportedNeutral on lift.
  • Fast-drying formula dries instantly without flaking or stickinessStated by brandSoothing, not an active treatment.
  • Contains panthenol and hydrolyzed wheat protein to build body and add volumePartly supportedNeutral on lift.
  • Humidity-resistant and frizz-fightingStated by brandMay help, but not measurable here.

Wax Works Hair Gel

  • High-definition hair gel creates bold texture and definitionSupportedHolds a clump together.
  • Delivers extreme styles with shineSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • Enhances luminosity for super shiny stylesSupportedReflects light for visible shine.

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.

Extra-Body Hairspray

Spray nozzle frequently clogs after use despite rinsing after each application

Excellent choice for fine and thin hair where most other sprays are too heavy

Offers long-lasting hold throughout the day with just a small application amount

Provides strong hold and volume without making hair feel stiff or sticky

Wax Works Hair Gel

Effective for taming and controlling unruly and curly hair types

Delivers lift texture shine and body to hair with an all-day hold

Light formula that does not weigh down hair while maintaining styling definition

Recent formula change makes the product feel greasier and lacks body compared to original

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.

$2.95/oz vs $5.10/oz — Paul Mitchell Wax Works Hair Gel costs about 1.7× more per ounce than Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Hairspray.

Extra-Body Hairspray

Against 96 hairsprays with a computable unit price.

Wax Works Hair Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readExtra-Body HairsprayWax Works Hair Gel
Label
Upper-mid price for a hairspraySits in the middle of the range for hairsprays 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.

Extra-Body Hairspray vs Enviro 54 Firm Hold Hair SprayCHI · 96% function matchWax Works Hair Gel vs Volumizing Hair SprayRizos Curls · 96% function matchExtra-Body Hairspray vs Enviro 54 Natural Hold Hair SprayCHI · 93% function matchWax Works Hair Gel vs Moisture Lock Extreme Hold GelOuidad · 96% function matchExtra-Body Hairspray vs Healing Volume Final EffectsL'anza · 89% function matchWax Works Hair Gel vs Pomegranate & Honey Maximum Hold Gel StylerMielle Organics · 96% function matchExtra-Body Hairspray vs Hard Head Hairspray for Extra Strong HoldBed Head · 85% function matchWax Works Hair Gel vs Rosemary Mint Daily Styling CremeMielle · 96% function match

Extra-Body Hairspray · Wax Works Hair Gel · All hairsprays 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.
  • 11 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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