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Side by side

Paul Mitchell Re-Works Styling Cream vs Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz

35% function match · 3 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. Paul Mitchell Re-Works Styling Cream and Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz share no ingredient among each other's most prominent — which does not stop them doing the same job.

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.

  • Re-Works Styling Cream — curl definition
  • Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 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 Re-Works Styling Cream — 5.1 oz container Paul Mitchell

Re-Works Styling Cream

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz — 2.5 oz container Paul Mitchell

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$26 5.1 oz · $5.10/oz
$10–12 2.5 oz · $4.29/oz

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

Value / price positioning
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 53% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs more than 87% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Straight–Curly Smoothing and thermal products span straight through curly hair. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. 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
Some Some slip, mostly from esters or silicones rather than conditioners. 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 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
Cast risk Differs
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. Your hair
Likely Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out. 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 Differs
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
None No oils or butters in the list. 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
  • 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
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • 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
  • Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
  • 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 · Salons · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Vegan
Vegan · label states
—
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
—
mediumProduces medium hold with flexible properties
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

IngredientRe-Works Styling CreamTea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Propylene Glycol
Moisturizes
#21Below the 1% line
#4Supporting
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#26Below the 1% line
#11Below the 1% line
Potassium Sorbate
Stabilizes
#28Below the 1% line
#12Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#30Below the 1% line
#14Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Re-Works Styling Cream

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz

Full ingredient list — Re-Works Styling Cream (39)
Full ingredient list — Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz (17)

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.

VerdictsRe-Works Styling CreamTea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz
Supported
2
3
Partly supported
1
1
Stated by brand
1
3
Potential conflict
0
0

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.

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz

  • Creates body + intense shinePartly supportedNeutral on lift.
  • Provides medium holdSupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • Versatile formula can be applied to wet or dry hairSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Ideal for all hair typesStated by brandSee the fit panel instead.
  • VeganStated by brandWorth checking on the label.
  • Paraben-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.
  • Gluten-freeStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

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 Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz draws complaints about dryness and residue or cast.

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

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz

Delivers strong hold without leaving a greasy feel

Ulta reviewer

Lightweight and easy to work through hair with a pleasant scent

Ulta reviewer

Checked all the boxes for curly hair styling with no flaking or buildup

Ulta reviewer with curly hair

Some found it left hair feeling sticky or drying

Ulta reviewer

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.

$4.29/oz vs $5.10/oz — Paul Mitchell Re-Works Styling Cream costs about 1.2× more per ounce than Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz.

Re-Works Styling Cream

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz

Against 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readRe-Works Styling CreamTea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz
Label
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for smoothing creams 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.

Re-Works Styling Cream vs Brews Molding PasteRedken · 85% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz vs Extra-Body Sculpting GelPaul Mitchell · 96% function matchRe-Works Styling Cream vs Curl Defining Hair MousseBumble and bumble · 85% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz vs Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting GelNot Your Mother's · 96% function matchRe-Works Styling Cream vs 60 Proof Medium Hold Styling WaxBlind Barber · 81% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz vs Pomegranate & Honey Air Dry Styler GelMielle Organics · 96% function matchRe-Works Styling Cream vs MATTE POMADESuavecito · 81% function matchTea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 oz vs Tea Tree Lemon Sage Thickening Spray - 6.8 ozPaul Mitchell · 96% function match

Re-Works Styling Cream · Tea Tree Styling Gel - 2.5 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.
  • 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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