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Side by side

REUZEL Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold vs REUZEL Red Water Based Pomade

59% function match · 8 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 0%. REUZEL Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold and REUZEL Red Water Based Pomade 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.

  • Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold — protein-sensitive hair
  • Red Water Based Pomade — 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
REUZEL Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold — 3.38 oz container REUZEL

Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
REUZEL Red Water Based Pomade — 3.38 oz container REUZEL

Red Water Based Pomade

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$16.50 3.38 oz · $5.03/oz
$11–13 3.38 oz · $3.25/oz
Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most pastes $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 80% of the 90 pastes we’ve priced
Lower cost than most pastes $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 90% of the 90 pastes we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily A heavy formula: coarse, curlier strands carry it without flattening. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. 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 (as stated)
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Medium A medium hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
Little Nothing here is built to reduce combing force. 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
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. 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 system Differs
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
None found No hold polymer, gum, or wax found in the list. 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 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
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
Covers the core
Who should choose this
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Fine hairthat flattens under most products
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
  • Styles that must holdno hold polymer, gum, or wax was found
  • 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
Stylerpaste
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
Vegan
Not vegan · label states
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · brand states
Cruelty-free · brand states
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
medium6/10 (Medium/Pliable Hold)
mediumHOLD: 5/10 (Reuzel product page)
Finish
matte
high-shine
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

IngredientMatte Styling Paste Flexible HoldRed Water Based Pomade
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#14Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#15Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold

Red Water Based Pomade

Full ingredient list — Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold (15)
Full ingredient list — Red Water Based Pomade (18)

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.

VerdictsMatte Styling Paste Flexible HoldRed Water Based Pomade
Supported
1
2
Partly supported
1
0
Stated by brand
1
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold

  • 6/10 hold (Medium/Pliable Hold)SupportedStructure that lasts the day.
  • 1/10 shine (Matte, no shine)Stated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • seals in moisture, smooths frizzPartly supportedSome hydration, at a low level.

Red Water Based Pomade

  • water-soluble, rinses out easily without buildupStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.
  • keeps high shine and flexible hold all daySupportedNatural movement without stiffness.
  • veganSupportedMatches our researched record.

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 hold. REUZEL Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold draws complaints about residue or cast.

Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold

Described as lightweight with a decent hold that layers well with other products

general Ulta reviewer

Praised for a natural, non-heavy look that suits fine or thick hair alike

general Ulta reviewer

One reviewer found it tacky when used alone and preferred it mixed with another product or on shorter hair

general Ulta reviewer

Generally recommended for all-day style maintenance despite only moderate hold strength

general Ulta reviewer

Red Water Based Pomade

Long-time user (5 years) says it's the best pomade they've used and will keep using it

long-term repeat customer

Smells amazing, hold is just perfect, and it washes out nicely

general reviewer

Hold and shine are good but the scent makes them nauseous when applying

general 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.

$3.25/oz vs $5.03/oz — REUZEL Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold costs about 1.5× more per ounce than REUZEL Red Water Based Pomade.

$1.50/oz median $7.92/oz $73.33/oz $5.03/oz Matte Styling Paste Flexib $3.25/oz Red Water Based Pomade

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 90 pastes with a computable unit price.

Value readMatte Styling Paste Flexible HoldRed Water Based Pomade
Label
Lower cost than most pastesCosts less per ounce than most pastes we have researched.
Lower cost than most pastesCosts less per ounce than most pastes we have researched.

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.

Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold vs Blue Extreme Hold Matte PomadeREUZEL · 100% function matchRed Water Based Pomade vs Salty Waves Texture Beachy SprayPacifica · 100% function matchMatte Styling Paste Flexible Hold vs Axe Urban Messy Look Epic Hold Matte Hair WaxAxe · 96% function matchRed Water Based Pomade vs Texturizing Surf Spray - 4.2 ozBumble and bumble · 100% function matchMatte Styling Paste Flexible Hold vs Dove Men+Care Medium Hold Hair Styling PasteDove Men+Care · 96% function matchRed Water Based Pomade vs Whipped Vanilla Cream Edge GelDONNA'S RECIPE · 96% function matchMatte Styling Paste Flexible Hold vs Men+Care Medium Hold Molding PasteDove Men+Care · 96% function matchRed Water Based Pomade vs Strong Hold High Shine Sculpting Pomade - 2.6 ozMoroccanoil · 93% function match

Matte Styling Paste Flexible Hold · Red Water Based Pomade · All pastes 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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