moisturized, shiny, and long-lasting with flexible hold
Humectants or rich emollients sit in the first eight ingredients.
- Glycerin
- Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey
- PEG-12 Dimethicone
Supported
Helps hair feel hydrated.
Design Essentials
Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard
Styler / Curl cream, polymer-set
- Styler
- curl cream
- Sulfate-free
- Moisture-rich
- Curly-method
- Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size12 fl oz
Price$17–18 Good valuecommonly seen · 12 oz
Price / oz$1.48/ozat 12 oz
Where to buy5 stores · $16.19–18.39
Scent:
The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.
Manufacturer page: designessentials.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
Complete the consultation to see exactly how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 2,400+ products in our library we can match exactly the right products to you.
- In 10 minutes we can identify your exact hair condition and traits.
- Every product matched against your hair across the 22 factors we check.
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- Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.
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Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
Wavy–Coily
Not in your profile
Moisture level
High
Not in your profile
Hold system
High
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
High
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Medium
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 22 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
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Aerosol can
Pump or tube
Not in your profile
Needs heat to set
Not determined
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
None
Not in your profile
UV filter
None listed
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
22 ingredientsAbout average
Not in your profile
Price tier
Masstige
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
Brand website · Retail
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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Your avoid-list
Priced with its peers
$1.48/oz at 12 oz — less than 63% of the 105 curl creams , which mostly run $1.17–4/oz.
Great for
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
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
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
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 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
Medium
Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterDeionized Water | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Polysorbate 20Polysorbate-20 | solubilizer | Keeps oils dissolved in water | Stabilizes |
| Polyquaternium-37 | conditioning agent | Conditions and softens — this is what makes it comb through | Detangles |
| Polyquaternium-11 | film former | Lays down the film that holds a shape | Detangles |
| Glycerin | humectant | Pulls water into the hair | Moisturizes |
| Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey | conditioning agent | Conditions and softens — this is what makes it comb through | Detangles |
| PEG-12 Dimethicone | emollient | Softens and smooths the strand | Shine |
| Silk Amino Acids | protein | Firms up soft, over-stretchy hair | Protein |
| Fragrance | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Linalool | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates or drying alcohols. Fragrance is on the label.
Full ingredient list (22)
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
· Deionized Water
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 ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
Polysorbate 20
· Polysorbate-20
General function
Keeps fragrance and oils dissolved in a watery formula so it stays clear.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solubilizer
- emulsifier
-
3
Polyquaternium-37
General function
A thickening polymer that gives creams and curl products their bounce and helps them cling to the strand.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdCationic 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 hairA cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm 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
- thickener
-
4
Polyquaternium-11
General function
A styling and conditioning polymer that adds light hold and shine, common in mousses and setting sprays.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdCationic 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 hairA cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
- film former
- polymer
- conditioning agent
-
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.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
Scientific ReportsMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairHigh-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 hairBinds 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 hairWater moves both ways. Measured across concentrations, glycerin solutions give water up in some conditions and take it from the air in others. What it does for you depends on how much of it is there and on the air around it.
- humectant
-
6
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey
General function
Honey given a positive charge so it deposits on hair, combining moisture with slip.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA cationic conditioning agent: it binds to the damaged, negatively charged parts of the cuticle and lowers combing friction there.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairThe class that does the detangling in a conditioner. It deposits lubrication where the cuticle is worn.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSubstantive by design. A routine with no detergent wash gives it nothing to leave with.
- conditioning agent
- humectant
-
7
PEG-12 Dimethicone
General function
A water-soluble silicone that smooths without the build-up concern of standard silicones.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesThe 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 hairA 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 hairDelivers the slip and surface smoothing of a silicone without needing a detergent wash to remove it afterwards.
- emollient
- silicone
- water-soluble silicone
-
8
Silk Amino Acids
General function
Silk protein broken into amino acids, used for slip and shine rather than strength.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairAmino acids are the smallest protein fraction and bind water as well, so they add far less stiffness than a hydrolysed protein does.
DependsProtein-sensitive hairThe lightest option in the protein family, but still protein — worth watching if protein reliably stiffens your hair.
- protein
- amino acid
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
9
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
10
Benzoic Acid
- preservative
-
11
Ethylhexylglycerin
General function
A preservative booster that also adds a little softness. Almost always paired with phenoxyethanol.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- preservative
- emollient
-
12
Glycereth-2 Cocoate
General function
A coconut-derived emulsifier that softens a cleansing base.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt 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 hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
13
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
- botanical extract
-
14
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
15
Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
16
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Leaf Extract
- botanical extract
-
17
Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract
- botanical extract
-
18
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract
- botanical extract
-
19
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract
- botanical extract
-
20
Aleuriteus Moluccanus (Kukui) Seed Extract
- botanical extract
-
21
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 zoneIt 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 routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
22
Linalool
General function
A floral fragrance component listed separately as a recognised contact allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne 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.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
What the whole list adds up to
- 8 botanical extracts
- 3 conditioning agents
- 3 emollients
- 3 preservatives
- 2 emulsifiers
- 2 film formers
- 2 polymers
- 2 humectants
- 2 fragrances
- 1 solvent
- 1 solubilizer
- 1 thickener
- 1 silicone
- 1 water-soluble silicone
Ingredient list captured 2026-09-12. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 12 oz
Commonly seen
$17–18
Good value under
$28
Usually a good value. Most stores sell it under the $28 line, and products that do this job typically go for about $34 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it5 listings · 5 stores
-
JCPenney
$16.1912 oz · $1.35/ozSep 12Lowest per ozSale · was $17.99
-
Walmart
$17.4712 oz · $1.46/ozSep 12
-
Design Essentials (designessentials.com)
$17.9912 oz · $1.50/ozSep 12
-
Design Essentials
$17.9912 oz · $1.50/ozSep 12
-
Target
$18.3912 oz · $1.53/ozSep 12
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
- 12 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.
- Commonly seen is the middle half of current prices for the 12 oz at recognised stores — the cheapest quarter and the dearest quarter are left out, so one sale or one overpriced listing can’t move it.
- Good value under $28 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.34/oz; at 12 oz that is $28. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $34 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 12 oz.
Formula
10
Formula score
10 of 10
A complete read of the format at an ordinary price: mid-range per ounce among curl creams, with the working systems present.
How the score is counted
- Costs less per ounce than 63% of the 105 curl creams we’ve priced
- Covers 6 of the 6 things a curl cream should do
- Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs
- Masstige tier, sold at Brand website and Retail
- 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
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
Compositions Foaming Wrap Lotion
$1.60/oz $0.12/oz more
- Curly method
- Alcohol-free
- No aerosol
- Function
- Also
KeraniqueFragrance-free
Volumize & Protect Style Duo
$7.94/oz $6.46/oz more
- Fragrance-free
- Unscented
- Protein-free
- Function
- Also
AG CareLighter feel
Liquid Effects Medium-Hold Weightless Styling Gel
$3.00/oz $1.52/oz more
- Curly method
- Lightweight
- Humidity
- Function
- Also
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 suitsBest user
People who want maximum slip who want real detangling slip and moisture that stays in
Biggest tradeoff
Less suited to anyone sensitive to fragrance, anyone who will not scrunch out a cast, or very dry or very humid climates
Best alternative if not
Nothing in our library matches it closely 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.
1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
0
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
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.
Customers praise the product for leaving hair soft, moisturized, and nourished while providing styling hold and frizz control
customers describing product effects on hair texture and appearanceMultiple reviewers report the product provides excellent curl definition, hold, and longevity, with curls staying defined and bouncy for extended periods
customers describing styling results and curl performanceSeveral customers report the product makes their hair dry, crunchy, or creates buildup and matting after it dries, particularly noting a formula change from the original
customers describing product performance decline and texture issuesSome reviewers report the product has a heavy, sticky consistency similar to corn syrup that adds significant weight to hair and does not wash out easily
customers noting texture and cleansing difficultyMore from Design Essentials
- Agave & Lavender Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner
- Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner
- Almond Butter Express Instant Moisturizing Conditioner
- Milk & Honey 6N1 Reconstructive Conditioner
- Peppermint & Aloe Soothing Scalp Care Conditioner
- Rosemary & Mint Stimulating Super Moisturizing Conditioner
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.
- 7 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 2 retailer, 5 editorial), last checked 2026-09-12.
- Ingredient references are linked for 3 of 10 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 2026-09-12.