Skip to main content

Side by side

Redken Hydrating Curl Cream vs Redken Pliable Styling Paste

37% function match · 5 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 26%. Redken Hydrating Curl Cream and Redken Pliable Styling Paste 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.

  • Hydrating Curl Cream — protein-sensitive hair
  • Pliable Styling Paste — dry, thirsty 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
Redken Hydrating Curl Cream — 6.8 oz container Redken

Hydrating Curl Cream

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Redken Pliable Styling Paste — 5 oz container Redken

Pliable Styling Paste

  • Styler
  • Salon
  • Sulfate-free
  • Moisture-rich
Price, size & price per ounce
$34–35 6.8 oz · $5.00/oz
$26–28 5 oz · $5.60/oz
Value / price positioning
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Salon tier · costs more than 88% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
Priced with its peers $$$$$ Salon tier · costs less than 74% of the 90 pastes we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. 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 Differs
Moderate Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
High Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems. Your hair
Slip / detangling Differs
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Moderate Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list. 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
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
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
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
  • 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
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
  • Aerosol avoidancea pump or tube, not a pressurised can
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a strong scent
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • 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
Stylercream
Where to buy
Ulta
Salons · Brand website · Grocery / mass
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
Cruelty-free
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Citrus · Amber & spice
Finish
natural
—
Humidity claim
Yes
—
How often
every wash
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

IngredientHydrating Curl CreamPliable Styling Paste
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#2Leading
#4Supporting
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#9Below the 1% line
#11Below the 1% line
Fragrance
Fragrance
#13Below the 1% line
#13Below the 1% line
Hexyl Cinnamal
Fragrance
#19Below the 1% line
#19Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Hydrating Curl Cream

Pliable Styling Paste

Full ingredient list — Hydrating Curl Cream (28)
Full ingredient list — Pliable Styling Paste (30)

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.

VerdictsHydrating Curl CreamPliable Styling Paste
Supported
2
2
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
3
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Hydrating Curl Cream

  • Defines and enhances curls for up to 72 hoursStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • Hydrates curls for 72 hoursSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Reduces frizz up to 81%Stated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Heat protection up to 450FStated by brandOnly lab testing can show this.
  • Formulated without silicones, parabens, and mineral oilsSupportedNothing that needs a strong wash.

Pliable Styling Paste

  • Leaves hair looking moist and pliable without stiffness, flakiness or build upSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Stays flexible so you can rearrange the styleSupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • Shampoos out easilyStated 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.

Redken Hydrating Curl Cream draws complaints about dryness and the scent.

Hydrating Curl Cream

Curls stay soft and hydrated, and a small amount goes a long way without weighing hair down

curly-haired reviewer

Left 4a/4b coily hair dry and caused white flakes/clumping even when applied generously

reviewer with coily/textured hair (4a/4b)

Dislikes the strong fragrance, calling the scent unpleasant

reviewer sensitive to fragrance

Performs better on looser curl patterns than on tightly coiled textures

reviewer comparing across curl types

Pliable Styling Paste

Excellent for styling and holding short hair styles throughout the day, with many reviewers reporting years of repeat use for this specific hair length.

Reviewers report the product formula has been changed or watered down, no longer performing as effectively as the original Rewind 06 version that was discontinued.

A small amount of the product provides effective styling and texture with good longevity, making it economical to use and long-lasting.

Too heavy, sticky, or ineffective for fine or thin hair, often leaving hair feeling greasy, limp, or coated without providing the desired hold.

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.

$5.00/oz vs $5.60/oz — within about the same cost per ounce.

Hydrating Curl Cream

Against 105 curl creams with a computable unit price.

Pliable Styling Paste

Against 90 pastes with a computable unit price.

Value readHydrating Curl CreamPliable Styling Paste
Label
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.
Priced with its peersSits in the middle of the range for pastes 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.

Hydrating Curl Cream vs Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl ActivatorCreme of Nature · 93% function matchPliable Styling Paste vs 30 Proof Light Hold Styling CreamBlind Barber · 96% function matchHydrating Curl Cream vs Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 2.5 ozOUAI · 93% function matchPliable Styling Paste vs Potion Miracle Styling PotionIt's a 10 · 96% function matchHydrating Curl Cream vs Frizz-Free Curl Cream - 8.0 ozOUAI · 93% function matchPliable Styling Paste vs Details Defining CreamAG Care · 93% function matchHydrating Curl Cream vs Defining Custard - 2.5 ozRizos Curls · 89% function matchPliable Styling Paste vs Texture PasteRedken · 93% function match

Hydrating Curl Cream · Pliable Styling Paste · All curl 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.
  • 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.

Still unsure? Take your consultation or browse more products.

Your personalized hair plan

Tell us what’s going on with your hair, see what we understand, and get a plan built around it — with the reason behind every recommendation.

Free to start · $49.00 for your consultation and hair profile · No subscription · Nothing you must buy

Start your consultation