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Side by side

Paul Mitchell MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream vs Paul Mitchell Quick Slip Styling Cream

71% function match · 8 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 27%. Paul Mitchell MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream and Paul Mitchell Quick Slip Styling Cream 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.

  • MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream — maximum slip
  • Quick Slip Styling 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
Paul Mitchell MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream — 2.5 oz container Paul Mitchell

MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Moisture-rich
Paul Mitchell Quick Slip Styling Cream — 5.1 oz container Paul Mitchell

Quick Slip Styling Cream

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$21–24 2.5 oz · $9.60/oz
$34.95 5.1 oz · $6.85/oz

Compared at different sizes — 5.1 oz against 2.5 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 86% of the 64 volumizers we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a smoothing cream $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 71% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Straight–Curly Smoothing and thermal products span straight through curly hair. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. Your hair
Hold system Same
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Mixed 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 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
Minor Protein appears, low enough to be a supporting ingredient. Your hair
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Same
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Hold (as stated)
—
Light A light hold, as stated by the brand. 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
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
None No oils or butters in the list. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol Differs
Present Fast-drying alcohol is present — it speeds drying and can read dry on the hair. 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
  • 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
  • Aerosol avoidancea pump or tube, not a pressurised can
  • 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
  • Soft-hold stylesthat should stay touchable
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • 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
Stylercream
Stylercream
Where to buy
Ulta · Brand website
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
—
lightsoft, flexible hold / touchable hold
Finish
—
natural
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

IngredientMITCH Calibrate Thickening CreamQuick Slip Styling Cream
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#2Leading
#11Secondary
Polyquaternium-37
Detangles
#4Supporting
#5Supporting
Caprylyl Glycol
Moisturizes
#14Below the 1% line
#25Below the 1% line
Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Buildup
#25Below the 1% line
#15Secondary
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#26Below the 1% line
#28Below the 1% line
Polyquaternium-11
Detangles
#21Below the 1% line
#6Supporting
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
Softens
#23Below the 1% line
#7Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#27Below the 1% line
#30Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream

Quick Slip Styling Cream

Full ingredient list — MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream (30)
Full ingredient list — Quick Slip Styling Cream (45)

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.

VerdictsMITCH Calibrate Thickening CreamQuick Slip Styling Cream
Supported
2
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
3
1
Potential conflict
0
0

MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream

  • Dries quickly for a fuller, long-lasting style without the weightStated by brandNot something a label can show.
  • Color SafeSupportedLess fade per wash.
  • VeganStated by brandWorth checking on the label.
  • Paraben FreeSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • Gluten FreeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Quick Slip Styling Cream

  • reduces drying timeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • delivers clean texture and soft, flexible holdSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • creates soft definition on curls and waves with touchable holdSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.

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. Paul Mitchell MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream draws complaints about residue or cast; Paul Mitchell Quick Slip Styling Cream draws complaints about the packaging.

MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream

Easy to apply from the squeeze-bottle packaging

general reviewer

Adds visible volume and thickness to flat, fine hair when applied to damp hair

reviewer with fine/flat hair

Works well for men with short hair, helps control frizz in humid weather

male reviewer, short hair

Left hair feeling sticky and gel-like, not well suited to longer hair lengths

reviewer with longer hair

Gentle on the scalp but didn't notice a thickening effect after about a week of use

reviewer trying it for thinning hair

Quick Slip Styling Cream

Defines hair without stickiness or a strong scent

Ulta reviewer

A good substitute for Paul Mitchell's discontinued Velvet cream

Ulta reviewer

Controls frizz without leaving a cast on hair

Ulta reviewer, 4 stars

Long-time users say it's the perfect amount of hold for wavy, frizzy hair

repeat Ulta reviewer since 2011

Frustrated that a packaging change shrank the size ~25% while raising per-ounce cost ~42%

Ulta reviewer, 2 stars, long-time buyer

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.

$6.85/oz vs $9.60/oz — Paul Mitchell MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream costs about 1.4× more per ounce than Paul Mitchell Quick Slip Styling Cream.

MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream

Against 64 volumizers with a computable unit price.

Quick Slip Styling Cream

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Value readMITCH Calibrate Thickening CreamQuick Slip Styling Cream
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
Upper-mid price for a smoothing creamSits 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.

MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream vs Keratin Healing Oil Bond Smoothing StylerL'anza · 90% function matchQuick Slip Styling Cream vs Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining CremeJohn Frieda · 87% function matchMITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream vs Fast Form Styling Cream GelPaul Mitchell · 88% function matchQuick Slip Styling Cream vs Agave & Lavender Blow-Dry & Style Primer - LavenderDesign Essentials · 84% function matchMITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream vs Clean Beauty Styling CreamPaul Mitchell · 86% function matchQuick Slip Styling Cream vs Curl Defining CreamMoroccanoil · 83% function matchMITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream vs Texture Maker SpraySebastian · 86% function matchQuick Slip Styling Cream vs Super Clean Sculpting GelPaul Mitchell · 81% function match

MITCH Calibrate Thickening Cream · Quick Slip Styling Cream · All volumizers 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.
  • 4 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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