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Side by side

Paul Mitchell Foaming Pomade vs Paul Mitchell Re-Works Styling Cream

33% function match · 3 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. Paul Mitchell Foaming Pomade and Paul Mitchell Re-Works Styling Cream 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.

  • Foaming Pomade — protein-sensitive hair
  • Re-Works Styling Cream — curl definition

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 Foaming Pomade — 8.5 oz container Paul Mitchell

Foaming Pomade

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Silicone-free
  • Protein-free
Paul Mitchell Re-Works Styling Cream — 5.1 oz container Paul Mitchell

Re-Works Styling Cream

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$30 8.5 oz · $3.53/oz
$26 5.1 oz · $5.10/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a mouss $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 66% of the 138 mousses we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 53% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. Your hair
Straight–Curly Smoothing and thermal products span straight through curly hair. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
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
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
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. 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 system Differs
Synthetic polymer Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. 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
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
Some Absorbents appear, low in the list. Your hair
Oils and butters Differs
Present, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. 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
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
  • Vegan and cruelty-freeour researched record has it as both
  • Aerosol avoidancea pump or tube, not a pressurised can
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Sulfate-free routinesit uses a sulfate detergent
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • 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
Stylerfoam
Stylercream
Where to buy
Ulta · Brand website
Brand website
Free of
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
Vegan
—
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
lightDelivers light control with shine and reflection
—
Finish
shine
—
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.

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

IngredientFoaming PomadeRe-Works Styling Cream
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Ethylhexylglycerin
Softens
#7Below the 1% line
#20Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#13Below the 1% line
#30Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Foaming Pomade

Re-Works Styling Cream

Full ingredient list — Foaming Pomade (27)
Full ingredient list — Re-Works Styling Cream (39)

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.

VerdictsFoaming PomadeRe-Works Styling Cream
Supported
3
2
Partly supported
0
1
Stated by brand
0
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Foaming Pomade

  • Enhances textured hair while fighting frizzSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Delivers light control with shine and reflectionSupportedReflects light for visible shine.
  • Smooths, softens, and conditionsSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.

Re-Works Styling Cream

  • Pliable styling cream for easy restylingSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Allows you to easily style and restyle any lookStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Can be used on wet hair for natural finish or dry hair for bold texturePartly supportedSome hydration, at a low level.
  • Vegan, paraben-free, color-safe, gluten-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.

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 Foaming Pomade draws complaints about weight.

Foaming Pomade

Works great in Houston's humidity and only a small amount is needed

reviewer named Rosalyn in Houston, Texas

Applied to damp hair after washing/conditioning, leaves curls more defined and moisturized without crunch

curly-hair reviewer using as part of wash routine

Smooths down frizz instantly without stiffness or crunch; hold is described as soft and flexible

general reviewer

Lightweight feel with no heavy or greasy buildup, gives a soft natural finish, a little goes a long way

general reviewer

Called it the worst Paul Mitchell product tried, hair looks greasy no matter how it's applied

reviewer who used the product for months across different application methods

Re-Works Styling Cream

Does not flake or leave hair crispy while still providing soft flexible hold

Highly economical requiring only a very small dime-sized amount per application

Excellent for fine thin hair adding texture and volume without stiffness or frizz

Works best for curly and wavy hair providing hold without crispy texture

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.

$3.53/oz vs $5.10/oz — Paul Mitchell Re-Works Styling Cream costs about 1.4× more per ounce than Paul Mitchell Foaming Pomade.

Foaming Pomade

Against 138 mousses with a computable unit price.

Re-Works Styling Cream

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Value readFoaming PomadeRe-Works Styling Cream
Label
Upper-mid price for a moussSits in the middle of the range for mousses per ounce.
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for smoothing creams 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.

Foaming Pomade vs African Pride Moisture Miracle Rose Water & Argan Oil Curl MousseAfrican Pride · 89% function matchRe-Works Styling Cream vs Brews Molding PasteRedken · 85% function matchFoaming Pomade vs Root BoostMoroccanoil · 87% function matchRe-Works Styling Cream vs Curl Defining Hair MousseBumble and bumble · 85% function matchFoaming Pomade vs Avocado & Tamanu Anti-Frizz Curl PerfectorMielle Organics · 87% function matchRe-Works Styling Cream vs 60 Proof Medium Hold Styling WaxBlind Barber · 81% function matchFoaming Pomade vs Curl Talk Fragrance Free Defining CreamNot Your Mother's · 87% function matchRe-Works Styling Cream vs MATTE POMADESuavecito · 81% function match

Foaming Pomade · Re-Works Styling Cream · All mousses 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.
  • 8 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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