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Side by side

Paul Mitchell MITCH Clean Cut vs Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

36% function match · 2 of the 8 functions we compared match Formula overlap 3%. Paul Mitchell MITCH Clean Cut and Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 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.

  • MITCH Clean Cut — curl definition
  • Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 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
Paul Mitchell MITCH Clean Cut — container, alternate view Paul Mitchell

MITCH Clean Cut

  • Styler
  • Masstige
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz — 5.1 oz container Paul Mitchell

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$24 3 oz · $8.00/oz
about $19 5.1 oz · $3.63/oz
Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 82% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Priced above most gels $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 79% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. 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 Differs
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. 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
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. Your hair
Weight on hair Differs
Rich Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients. 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
None listed No fragrance is listed. 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
Hold (as stated)
—
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Protein
—
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Oil absorption Same
None No absorbent powders or starches. 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
Cast risk
—
Likely Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out. Your hair
Humidity resistance
—
Not claimed No humidity claim on the label. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol
—
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
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
  • Fragrance-freeno fragrance (parfum) on the label — scented
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • 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
  • Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
  • Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
  • 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
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
Stylergel
Where to buy
Brand website
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
—
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • fragrance-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
—
Hold
—
mediummedium hold
Finish
—
shine
Humidity claim
—
No
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

IngredientMITCH Clean CutTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#9Secondary
#5Supporting
VP/VA Copolymer
Holds
#14Secondary
#6Supporting

What only one of them carries

MITCH Clean Cut

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

Full ingredient list — MITCH Clean Cut (41)
Full ingredient list — Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz (10)

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 Clean CutTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz
Supported
1
4
Partly supported
1
0
Stated by brand
2
1
Potential conflict
0
0

MITCH Clean Cut

  • Provides smooth, lasting control with a semi-matte finish and medium holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Leaves hair soft and manageablePartly supportedA little slip, not a lot.
  • Suitable for all hair types, short to medium lengthsStated by brandSee the fit panel instead.
  • Ideal for creating messy, textured tops and crew cutsStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

  • Creates body and intense shineSupportedLeaves room for lift.
  • Medium holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Versatile for wet or dry hair applicationSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Color safe and paraben-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • 100% Australian tea tree oil, certified responsible sourcingStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.

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.

MITCH Clean Cut

Works well on multiple hair types including straight and Asian hair

Delivers all-day hold throughout the day without leaving hair feeling stiff

Provides clean fresh styling look that is easy to apply and easy to wash out

Product can give a wet look with medium hold that washes out very easily

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

Uses it every morning for a secure, shining feel; likes the aloe plus tea tree combination

verified buyer

Gives maximum hold and shine that lasts all day at work

professional stylist, verified buyer

Wasn't too thick, easy to apply, held all day; works well layered after a curl souffle

reviewer with transitioned/combo hair, self-described Paul Mitchell loyalist

Product itself is lightweight and gives bouncy curls, but the specific order arrived with used-looking product and no way to check the fill level

reviewer with very curly hair

Loves the gel's cast and flake-free results, but wishes there were a clear version without added dyes

reviewer with curly hair

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.

$3.63/oz vs $8.00/oz — Paul Mitchell MITCH Clean Cut costs about 2.2× more per ounce than Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz.

MITCH Clean Cut

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readMITCH Clean CutTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
Priced above most gelsCosts more per ounce than most gels; nothing in our library matches it closely for less.

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 Clean Cut vs Matte SeparationBed Head · 99% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz vs Smoothing GelAs I Am · 100% function matchMITCH Clean Cut vs Brews Texture PomadeRedken · 99% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz vs 40 Proof Sea Salt Textured Hold SprayBlind Barber · 100% function matchMITCH Clean Cut vs Forming CreamAmerican Crew · 94% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz vs Hydro Style Flexi Defining Curl Gel - 8.0 ozCurlsmith · 100% function matchMITCH Clean Cut vs Axe Urban Messy Look Epic Hold Matte Hair WaxAxe · 94% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz vs Hydro Style Flexi JellyCurlsmith · 100% function match

MITCH Clean Cut · Tea Tree Styling Gel - 5.1 oz · All smoothing creams 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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