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Side by side

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel vs Rizos Curls Defining Custard - 2.5 oz

89% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 22%. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel and Rizos Curls Defining Custard - 2.5 oz share 3 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.

  • Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel — protein-sensitive hair
  • Defining Custard - 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 Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel — 6.8 oz container Paul Mitchell

Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Rizos Curls Defining Custard - 2.5 oz — 2.5 oz container Rizos Curls

Defining Custard - 2.5 oz

  • Styler
  • Drugstore
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
about $24 6.8 oz · $3.53/oz
$11 2.5 oz · $4.40/oz

Compared at different sizes — 6.8 oz against 2.5 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 76% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Drugstore tier · costs more than 90% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. 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
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 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
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 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
Humidity resistance
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. 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
Present, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. Your hair
Rich Butters near the top: a heavy, softening formula. 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
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • 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
Stylergel
Stylergel cream
Where to buy
Ulta · Brand website
Ulta · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
FloralStrong
Scented, not described
Hold
—
mediumMedium flexible hold
Finish
shine
shine
Humidity claim
Yes
—
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

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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

IngredientTea Tree Lavender Mint Defining GelDefining Custard - 2.5 oz
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Polyquaternium-11
Detangles
#3Leading
#4Supporting
Ethylhexylglycerin
Softens
#14Below the 1% line
#6Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#18Below the 1% line
#16Below the 1% line
Potassium Sorbate
Stabilizes
#23Below the 1% line
#14Below the 1% line
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Holds
#15Below the 1% line
#3Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#28Below the 1% line
#15Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#31Below the 1% line
#19Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#30Below the 1% line
#20Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel

Defining Custard - 2.5 oz

Full ingredient list — Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel (39)
Full ingredient list — Defining Custard - 2.5 oz (23)

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.

VerdictsTea Tree Lavender Mint Defining GelDefining Custard - 2.5 oz
Supported
4
0
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
0
5
Potential conflict
0
0

Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel

  • Combats frizz, adds shine and defines textureSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Locks out humidity and provides deep hydrationSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Defines curls without stiffness or weightSupportedHolds a clump together.
  • Color safe, paraben-free, gluten-freeSupportedPreserved without parabens.

Defining Custard - 2.5 oz

  • 97% agree enhanced curl definitionStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 94% agree helped shape hairstyles easilyStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 88% agree product felt moisturizingStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 85% agree reduced frizzStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 85% agree enhanced shineStated 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.

Both praised for frizz control and a clean rinse-out. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel draws complaints about weight; Rizos Curls Defining Custard - 2.5 oz draws complaints about curl definition and residue or cast.

Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel

Feels light and natural rather than crunchy, with curls that stay defined and pliable

curly-hair reviewer

Shapes curls softly without stiffness, and holds while still looking natural

reviewer describing texture/hold tradeoff

Cuts frizz and boosts shine on curly/coily hair

curly/coily hair reviewers

Lavender scent is too strong/heavy for some users' taste

scent-sensitive reviewer

One reviewer reported skin breakouts on face, neck, and back they attributed to the product

reviewer reporting skin reaction

Defining Custard - 2.5 oz

Applied on damp hair, curls came out defined and results described as beautiful and transformative for curl pattern

5-star Ulta reviewer

Used with a leave-in conditioner, left curls very defined and touchably soft with minimal flaking

5-star Ulta reviewer

Worked well across different curl types, described as amazing and manageable with no frizz

5-star Ulta reviewer

Dries flaky, leaving dandruff-like residue that shows up on clothing

2-star Ulta reviewer

Caused scalp irritation within hours despite pleasant scent and good curl definition

2-star 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.

$3.53/oz vs $4.40/oz — Rizos Curls Defining Custard - 2.5 oz costs about 1.2× more per ounce than Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel.

$0.31/oz median $2.12/oz $10.59/oz $3.53/oz Tea Tree Lavender Mint Def $4.40/oz Defining Custard - 2.5 oz

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 157 gels with a computable unit price.

Value readTea Tree Lavender Mint Defining GelDefining Custard - 2.5 oz
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
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.

Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel vs Defining CustardRizos Curls · 89% function matchDefining Custard - 2.5 oz vs Defining CustardRizos Curls · 100% function matchTea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel vs Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Air Dry Hair Styling CreamBriogeo · 89% function matchDefining Custard - 2.5 oz vs Sleek Styling Cream + Taming WandRizos Curls · 89% function matchTea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel vs Sleek Styling Cream + Taming WandRizos Curls · 85% function matchDefining Custard - 2.5 oz vs Butter Blend & Flaxseed Double Duty Curl Definer & BoosterCreme of Nature · 89% function matchTea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel vs Rice Water & Aloe Vera Braid Set FoamMielle Organics · 85% function matchDefining Custard - 2.5 oz vs Guava Cream Hair GelCantu · 89% function match

Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel · Defining Custard - 2.5 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.
  • 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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