AG Care

Liquid Effects Medium-Hold Weightless Styling Gel

Styler / Gel, medium-hold

Styler
gel
Sulfate-free
Curly-method
Lightweight
Vegan · label states
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed

Size8 fl oz

Price$24seen at one store · 8 oz

Price / oz$3.00/ozat 8 oz

Where to buy2 stores · $24.00–24.00

Scent:

The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.

Manufacturer page: us.ag.care

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

Factor Your profile Fit

Best for hair types Wavy–Coily Not in your profile

Moisture level High Not in your profile

Hold (as stated) Medium Not in your profile

Slip / detangling High Not in your profile

Weight on hair Light Not in your profile

Fragrance Present Not in your profile

Protein Minor Not in your profile

Silicone / wax buildup Low Not in your profile

Clarifying wash needed Low Not in your profile

Parabens / preservatives None of these listed Not in your profile

Show all 23 factors we check

The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.

Essential oils None listed Not in your profile

Fast-drying alcohol None Not in your profile

Vegan / cruelty-free Vegan · label statesCruelty-free · PETA-listed Not in your profile

Animal-derived ingredients Vegan · label states Not in your profile

Aerosol can Pump or tube Not in your profile

Needs heat to set Air-sets Not in your profile

Humidity resistance High Not in your profile

Heavy humectants Heavy Not in your profile

Hard-water defence High Not in your profile

UV filter Present Not in your profile

Ingredient list 32 ingredientsA long list Not in your profile

Price tier Masstige Not in your profile

Where to buy it AG Care · Ulta Not in your profile

The consultation builds your hair profile, then reads every factor in this table against it — and tells you where this product fits, or what to use instead.

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Upper-mid price for a gel

$3.00/oz at 8 oz — more than 63% of the 157 gels , which mostly run $1.18–3.50/oz. The cost less.

Price and stores

Great for

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

Fine hairthat flattens under most products

Humid climatesthe brand claims humidity resistance

Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list

Maybe skip if

this 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

Silicone-free routinesit does contain silicones — the water-soluble kind

Whether this hold level is right for you depends on your density, porosity, and how long your style has to last — that is what the consultation works out.

What the formula actually does

Read from the label, not the marketing

Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.

Hold (as stated) Medium

A medium hold, as stated by the brand.

Hold system Synthetic polymer

Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems.

Cast risk Likely

Film formers without much softening them — expect a cast to scrunch out.

Weight on the hair Light

Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.

Humidity resistance Claimed

The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it.

Oil absorption None

No absorbent powders or starches.

Oils and butters None

No oils or butters in the list.

Fast-drying alcohol None

No fast-drying alcohol in the list.

Needs detergent to remove Rinses with water

The silicones here are the water-soluble kind.

Fragrance Present

Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.

from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.

Ingredients that matter

The ingredients that change a decision

The workhorse ingredients plus anything lower down that changes a decision. These chips name what an ingredient does — they are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.

Ingredient	What it does	Why it matters	Chip
WaterAqua (Water/Eau)	solvent	The base everything else is dissolved in	Neutral
Polyquaternium-4	conditioning agent	Conditions and softens — this is what makes it comb through	Detangles
Propylene Glycol	humectant	Pulls water into the hair	Moisturizes
PVP	film former	Lays down the film that holds a shape	Holds
Glycerin	humectant	Pulls water into the hair	Moisturizes
Phenoxyethanol	preservative	Keeps the product from spoiling	Stabilizes
Caprylyl Glycol	preservative	Keeps the product from spoiling	Moisturizes
Polysorbate 20	solubilizer	Helps dissolve the oils	Stabilizes
FragranceParfum (Fragrance)	fragrance	The scent	Fragrance
PEG-12 Dimethicone	emollient	A softening touch, low in the list	Shine
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein	film former	A supporting film former	Protein
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein	film former	A supporting film former	Protein

What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates or drying alcohols. Contains fragrance. Chelators for hard water. Recorded as vegan and cruelty-free.

Full ingredient list (32)

US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Annotations keep three readings separate: the ingredient's general function, its role in this product type, and what its position can support.

1 Water · Aqua (Water/Eau)

General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.

Leading ingredient
Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
2 Polyquaternium-4

General function
A cellulose-based hold polymer used in gels and sprays for flexible set.

Leading ingredient
Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

May suitCurls or waves needing flexible hold
Cationic polymers hold a curl loosely and stay soft, which is why they turn up in definition products rather than firm-hold ones.

May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair
A cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.

May suitMaximum-hold styling
Film formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
- conditioning agent
- film former
- polymer
3 Propylene Glycol

General function
A small humectant and solvent that keeps formulas stable and helps active ingredients spread.

Leading ingredient
Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

May suitFine or easily flattened hair
Light and water-binding rather than oily, so it hydrates without contributing weight.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
A small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.

DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair
A humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.

PubChem
- humectant
- solvent
4 PVP

General function
A classic hairspray polymer. It gives firm hold but attracts moisture, so humidity can soften the set.

Supporting ingredient
Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

May suitMaximum-hold styling
Synthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.

DependsBuild-up-sensitive routines
Some acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.

May not suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair
The film takes up water from the air. The patent work that produced the VP/VA copolymers describes a PVP film turning sticky after time in a humid atmosphere, and being dependable only where humidity is low — so hold and feel both move with the weather.

PubChem
- film former
- polymer
5 Glycerin

General function
A small water-loving molecule that draws moisture into the hair and holds it there. It is the most common softening ingredient in conditioners and leave-ins.

Role in this product type
In styling gel, glycerin helps retain moisture as the product dries, supporting a softer, more flexible finish. The hold itself comes from the formula's film-forming polymers.

Supporting ingredient
Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair
May suit hair that benefits from added water retention and a softer, more flexible gel finish.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
Binds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.

DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair
Consider the climate and the complete formula: prominent humectants can behave differently in very dry air and on frizz-prone hair in high humidity.

Cosmetic Ingredient Review
- humectant
▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
6 Phenoxyethanol

General function
The most common modern preservative; it keeps the product free of bacteria and mould. It sits well below 1% of the formula.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChem
- preservative
7 Caprylyl Glycol

General function
A gentle preservative helper that also holds a little moisture.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
Humectants bind water into the strand, and water — not oil — is what makes dry hair flexible instead of brittle.

DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair
A humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.

PubChem
- preservative
- humectant
8 Polysorbate 20

General function
Keeps fragrance and oils dissolved in a watery formula so it stays clear.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
- solubilizer
- emulsifier
9 Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

General function
A biodegradable hard-water chelator used in place of EDTA.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines
Binds the calcium and magnesium in hard water, which is what stops mineral deposits accumulating on the strand wash after wash.

May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hair
Copper and iron carried in tap water deposit on the strand and read as a dull, warm cast on gray or light hair. A chelator holds those metals in solution so the wash carries them off.

PubChem
- hard-water chelator
10 Fragrance · Parfum (Fragrance)

General function
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines
Declared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
11 PEG-12 Dimethicone

General function
A water-soluble silicone that smooths without the build-up concern of standard silicones.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines
The PEG- and PPG-modified silicones disperse in water, so ordinary washing carries them off instead of leaving a film to accumulate.

May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair
A surface film slows how quickly humidity reaches the cortex, which is what limits swelling-driven frizz in damp air.

May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair
Delivers the slip and surface smoothing of a silicone without needing a detergent wash to remove it afterwards.
- emollient
- silicone
- water-soluble silicone
12 Sodium PCA

General function
A moisture-binding ingredient that occurs naturally in hair and skin.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair
High-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
Binds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.

DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair
A humectant moves water in whichever direction the air allows: it holds moisture in humid conditions and can pull it back out of hair in very dry ones.

PubChem
- humectant
13 Panthenol

General function
Provitamin B5. It draws in water and penetrates the strand a little, which is why it is the standard ingredient for softness and shine claims.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitFine or easily flattened hair
It hydrates without adding oil or a film, which is the combination fine hair usually needs.

May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair
Deposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
A humectant that also penetrates the cuticle, so it holds water inside the strand rather than only on the surface.

PubChem
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
14 Hydrolyzed Pea Protein

General function
A plant protein used for strength claims in vegan formulas.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair
Filling surface gaps evens out the cuticle, which is part of what makes damaged hair comb and reflect light more like undamaged hair.

May suitMaximum-hold styling
Film formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
Hydrolysed fragments are small enough to sit in the gaps of a worn cuticle for a wash or two, temporarily restoring stiffness and cutting breakage in combing.
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
15 Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

General function
A general plant protein blend used for strength and body; the silanetriol form binds more firmly.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair
Filling surface gaps evens out the cuticle, which is part of what makes damaged hair comb and reflect light more like undamaged hair.

May suitMaximum-hold styling
Film formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
Hydrolysed fragments are small enough to sit in the gaps of a worn cuticle for a wash or two, temporarily restoring stiffness and cutting breakage in combing.
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
16 Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract
- botanical extract
17 Keratin Amino Acids · Keratin Amino Acids (Plant-Derived)

General function
Keratin broken all the way down to individual amino acids. Small enough to sit inside the cuticle, used for softness rather than firmness.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
Amino acids are the smallest protein fraction and bind water as well, so they add far less stiffness than a hydrolysed protein does.

DependsProtein-sensitive hair
The lightest option in the protein family, but still protein — worth watching if protein reliably stiffens your hair.
- protein
- amino acid
18 Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract
- botanical extract
19 Linalool

General function
A floral fragrance component listed separately as a recognised contact allergen.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines
One of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.

PubChem
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
20 Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol

General function
A UV absorber used to protect the formula and hair colour from fading in light.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hair
Sunlight oxidises hair pigment, and on gray, silver or lightened hair that shows up as yellowing. A UV filter on the label absorbs some of the light that drives it.
- UV filter
- antioxidant
21 Achillea Millefolium Extract
- botanical extract
22 Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
- botanical extract
23 Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
- botanical extract
24 Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
- botanical extract
25 Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract
- botanical extract
26 Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
27 Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Bark Extract
- botanical extract
28 Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
- antioxidant
29 Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
30 Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract
- botanical extract
31 Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase
- active
32 Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate

What the whole list adds up to

12 botanical extracts
5 humectants
4 film formers
3 proteins
2 solvents
2 polymers
2 preservatives
2 fragrances
2 hydrolysed proteins
2 antioxidants
1 conditioning agent
1 solubilizer
1 emulsifier
1 hard-water chelator

Ingredient list captured 2026-08-26. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 8 oz

Seen at $24 1 store · checked Aug 26

Good value under $21 Under $2.60/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 8 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $21 line; products that do this job typically go for about $21 at this size.

Show the price ladder

Price for 8 ozlower is better

Where we’ve seen it2 listings · 2 stores

8 ozmost listedBest per ounce

Ulta Beauty
$24.00

8 oz · $3.00/oz

Aug 26Lowest per oz

Ulta
$24.00

Aug 25

Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.

How we work this out

8 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
Seen at $24 is the price we have observed for the 8 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
Good value under $21 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.60/oz; at 8 oz that is $21. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
About $21 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 8 oz.

Formula

Formula score

10 of 10

The formula carries the systems a gel is built around, and it sits in the middle of the range for gels per ounce.

How the score is counted

1 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
Costs more per ounce than 63% of the 157 gels we’ve priced
Covers 6 of the 6 things a gel should do
Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs

A hold systemThe polymer, gum, or wax that holds the shape.3 pts
Softeners alongside the holdWhat keeps a film flexible instead of brittle.2 pts
No drying alcohol in the first threeFast drying without leading on alcohol.2 pts
A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
A humidity claim with a mechanismThe claim has a film former or silicone behind it.1 pt
Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score is completeness for the job: the share of the systems this product type is normally built around that we can find in this list, weighted. It is not efficacy, not quality, and it never compares across product types.

Does the same job, for less

Same derived functions — what it cleans, conditions, coats or holds — at a lower cost per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy it can still differ.

Design EssentialsLowest cost per oz Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard $1.48/oz $1.52/oz less

Curly method
Alcohol-free
No aerosol

· Close function

Function: Film formers
Weight on the hair
Also: 12 oz bottle

Compare

See more alternatives in the product library

These are functional neighbours, not personal recommendations — they are close on formula, not chosen for anyone. Get the one that fits your hair, routine, and budget

Final decision

Should you buy it?

A solid pick for the hair it suits

Best user

People who want maximum slip who want real detangling slip and a curly-method-compatible formula

Biggest tradeoff

Not ideal for anyone sensitive to fragrance, anyone who will not scrunch out a cast, or very dry or very humid climates

Best alternative if not

Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard — for similar results at a lower price

We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.

Claims check

What the brand says, against what the formula shows

Claims are quoted from the brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when the ingredient list actually speaks to it; everything else stays "stated by the brand", which is not a criticism — most claims simply cannot be read off a label.

SupportedBacked by ingredients

Partly supportedSome supporting logic

Stated by brandNo clear evidence

Potential conflictFormula works against claim

medium hold

Synthetic hold polymers are present.

Polyquaternium-4
PVP
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein

Supported

Structure that lasts the day.

high shine

The formula carries a recognised shine system — silicone, oil, or light ester.

PEG-12 Dimethicone

Supported

Reflects light for visible shine.

long-lasting hold

Synthetic hold polymers are present.

Polyquaternium-4
PVP
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein

Supported

Structure that lasts the day.

humidity resistance

Humidity resistance is measured in a lab, not read off a label; film formers can help.

Polyquaternium-4
PVP
PEG-12 Dimethicone

Stated by brand

May help, but not measurable here.

curl definition

Film formers or natural gums are present, which is what holds a clump together.

Polyquaternium-4
PVP
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein

Supported

Holds a clump together.

protein infused

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

How to read this

We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula — not marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.

Reviewers

What people report

Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.

A recent purchaser says it enhances and retains their curls while keeping frizz down.

Ulta customer review from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, August 2026

A fine, long, bleached wavy-curly-haired Floridian says the gel protects against outdoor humidity, leaves soft shiny waves for days, and refreshes with water and scrunching without layering other stylers.

Ulta most-helpful positive review of the exact gel

One customer has not yet found the right amount and says the gel can leave their hair crunchy.

Verified syndicated Ulta review from a US customer, June 2026

A fine type-3-haired reviewer finds that a small amount stretches and separates curls with a soft, shiny finish, but reports weak performance in humidity.

Ulta customer review from Detroit, Michigan, August 2026

How this page was made

Everything above is generated from our researched product record — identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. No part of this page is written per product.
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.
Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
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.
2 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-26.
Ingredient references are linked for 8 of 15 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are conditional formulation guidance, not a conclusion about the finished product or about you.
We have not tested this product in a lab and we do not physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list; behaviour claims are labelled as the brand's.
Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice.
Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
Formula readings: derivation v22. Record last updated 2026-08-27.

Liquid Effects Medium-Hold Weightless Styling Gel

Is this right for you?

Read from the label, not the marketing

The ingredients that change a decision

What the whole list adds up to

Should you buy it?

What the brand says, against what the formula shows

What people report

More from AG Care

How this page was made

Your personalized hair plan