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Side by side

Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Gel vs Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

52% function match · 5 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Gel and Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz 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 Sculpting Gel — protein-sensitive hair
  • Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz — 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 Sculpting Gel — brand photograph Paul Mitchell

Extra-Body Sculpting Gel

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz — 6.7 oz container Paul Mitchell

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$16 5.1 oz · $3.14/oz
about $18 6.7 oz · $2.69/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a gel $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 67% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a mouss $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 54% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. 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
High Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. Your hair
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Weight on hair Differs
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Light Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine 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 Differs
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Low Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Hold (as stated)
—
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. 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, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. 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
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Aerosol avoidancethis is a pressurised can
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
Stylerfoam
Where to buy
Brand website
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
—
mediumFlexible Hold: shapeable, workable hold
Finish
—
natural
How often
—
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.

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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 Sculpting GelSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#5Supporting
#23Below the 1% line
Ethylhexylglycerin
Softens
#8Below the 1% line
#17Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#14Below the 1% line
#28Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Extra-Body Sculpting Gel

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

Full ingredient list — Extra-Body Sculpting Gel (16)
Full ingredient list — Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz (32)

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 Sculpting GelSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz
Supported
0
4
Partly supported
3
0
Stated by brand
1
2
Potential conflict
0
0

Extra-Body Sculpting Gel

  • Non-flaking thickening gelPartly supportedNeutral on lift.
  • Builds body with flexible control and touchable finishPartly supportedNeutral on lift.
  • Creates voluminous styles and brushed-out setsPartly supportedNeutral on lift.
  • Delivers fullness to fine hair without stickiness or flakingStated by brandSoothing, not an active treatment.

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

  • adds bodySupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • defines textureStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • minimizes frizz and flyawaysStated by brandMay help, but not a primary focus.
  • leaves hair soft and full of bodySupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • balances moistureSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • adds shineSupportedReflects 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.

Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz draws complaints about weight and how it cleanses.

Extra-Body Sculpting Gel

Reviewers with fine or thinning hair say it adds volume and hold without feeling sticky or stiff.

Several reviewers with curly hair use it for defined, non-crunchy curl hold and long-term repurchase.

A minority of reviewers report the gel drying hair out or leaving it feeling sticky, especially with coarser or curlier textures.

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

Longtime user (20+ years) glad the product came back and hopes the formula is unchanged

repeat Ulta reviewer

Smells amazing and keeps curls shiny without crunch or stickiness

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars, curly hair

Only mousse found that tames very thick, curly, dry, unruly hair

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars, curly hair

Considers it a holy-grail styling product

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars

Made straight, fine hair feel too soft/limp, and a can from Ulta had foam that disintegrated instantly

Ulta reviewers, 2-star reviews

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.

$2.69/oz vs $3.14/oz — Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Gel costs about 1.2× more per ounce than Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz.

Extra-Body Sculpting Gel

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Sculpting Foam - 6.7 oz

Against 138 mousses with a computable unit price.

Value readExtra-Body Sculpting GelSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz
Label
Upper-mid price for a gelSits in the middle of the range for gels per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a moussSits in the middle of the range for mousses per ounce.

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 Sculpting Gel vs Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 ozPaul Mitchell · 96% function matchSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz vs Almond & Avocado Curling CrèmeDesign Essentials · 93% function matchExtra-Body Sculpting Gel vs Tea Tree Firm Hold Gel - 5.1 ozPaul Mitchell · 96% function matchSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz vs Hair MousseSACHAJUAN · 89% function matchExtra-Body Sculpting Gel vs Style Flash Me Quicky Blow Dry SpraySexy Hair · 95% function matchSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz vs This is a Curl Moisturizing MousseDavines · 87% function matchExtra-Body Sculpting Gel vs Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting GelNot Your Mother's · 93% function matchSculpting Foam - 6.7 oz vs Air Dry Crème 6Kenra Platinum · 87% function match

Extra-Body Sculpting Gel · Sculpting Foam - 6.7 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.
  • 6 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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