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Keranique

Volumize & Protect Style Duo

Styler / Volumizer, polymer-set

  • Styler
  • volumizer
  • aerosol
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Size3.4 fl oz
Price$27seen at one store · 3.4 oz
Price / oz$7.94/ozat 3.4 oz
Where to buy1 store · $27.00–27.00

Scent:

No added fragrance, no scenting essential oils, and no declared fragrance allergens on the list.

Listing used for research: ulta.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

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Same job for less elsewhere

$7.94/oz at 3.4 oz — more than 81% of the 64 volumizers , which mostly run $3–6.80/oz.

View alternatives

Great for

no fragrance (parfum) on the label
free of strong smells
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

Maybe skip if

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
Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
If scent matters to younothing is added here

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 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.

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 None listed

No fragrance is listed.

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.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
Water solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Propanediol humectant Pulls water into the hair Moisturizes
VP/VA Copolymer film former Lays down the film that holds a shape Holds
Polysorbate 20 solubilizer Keeps oils dissolved in water Stabilizes
Polyquaternium 77 conditioning agent Conditions and softens — this is what makes it comb through Detangles
PEG-12 Dimethicone emollient Softens and smooths the strand Shine
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate emulsifier Keeps oil and water mixed Softens
Caprylyl Glycol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Moisturizes
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, drying alcohols, or fragrance. Protein-free: this is built for moisture rather than for strengthening.
Full ingredient list (10)

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
    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 Propanediol
    General function

    A corn-derived humectant and solvent, often chosen as a lighter-feeling alternative to propylene glycol.

    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
  • 3 VP/VA Copolymer
    General function

    A hold polymer that dries to a clear film. It sets the style and washes out with water.

    Leading ingredient

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

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.

    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.

    • film former
    • polymer
  • 4 Polysorbate 20
    General function

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

    Supporting ingredient

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

    • solubilizer
    • emulsifier
  • 5 Polyquaternium 77
    General function

    A positively charged conditioning polymer that leaves a thin film to cut static and ease combing.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    • conditioning agent
    • film former
    • polymer
  • 6 PEG-12 Dimethicone
    General function

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

    Supporting ingredient

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

    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
  • 7 PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
    General function

    A coconut-derived emulsifier that softens a cleanser and reduces the stripped feeling.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Emollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.

    • emulsifier
    • emollient
  • ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
  • 8 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
  • 9 Sodium Chloride
    • salt
    • thickener
  • 10 Sodium Benzoate
    • preservative

What the whole list adds up to

  • 2 solvents
  • 2 humectants
  • 2 film formers
  • 2 polymers
  • 2 emulsifiers
  • 2 emollients
  • 2 preservatives
  • 1 solubilizer
  • 1 conditioning agent
  • 1 silicone
  • 1 water-soluble silicone
  • 1 salt
  • 1 thickener

Ingredient list captured 2026-08-27. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 3.4 oz

Seen at $27 1 store · checked Aug 27
Good value under $6 Under $1.81/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 $6 line; products that do this job typically go for about $9 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it2 listings · 1 store

3.4 ozmost listedBest per ounce

  • Ulta
    $27.00
    3.4 oz · $7.94/oz
    Aug 27Lowest per oz
  • Ulta
    $27.00
    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
  1. 3.4 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.
  2. Seen at $27 is the price we have observed for the 3.4 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $6 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $1.81/oz; at 3.4 oz that is $6. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $9 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 3.4 oz.

Formula

Formula score
10 of 10

The formula carries what a volumizer is built around, and 7 products we score as close matches cost at least a quarter less per ounce. The difference is buying the label, not a different formula.

How the score is counted
  • 7 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs more per ounce than 81% of the 64 volumizers we’ve priced
  • Covers 6 of the 6 things a volumizer should do
  • Reviewers mention 4 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.

XMONDOClosest function Wavetech Wave Foam - Original $4.33/oz $3.61/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Curly method
  • Alcohol-free
Function
  • Water-binding (humectants)
Compare
AG CareLighter feel Liquid Effects Medium-Hold Weightless Styling Gel $3.00/oz $4.94/oz less
  • Curly method
  • Lightweight
  • Humidity
· Close function
Function
  • Weight on the hair
  • Protein
Also
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan
  • Masstige tier
Compare
Design EssentialsLowest cost per oz Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard $1.48/oz $6.46/oz less
  • Curly method
  • Alcohol-free
  • No aerosol
· Close function
Function
  • Film formers
  • Protein
Also
  • Cruelty-free
  • Masstige tier
  • 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

Suits every hair pattern

Final decision

Should you buy it?

Good for the right person, not the lowest cost
Best user

People sensitive to fragrance, looking for a formula with no added fragrance and a product with no scent

Biggest tradeoff

Worth skipping for anyone who will not scrunch out a cast, very dry or very humid climates, or silicone-free routines

Best alternative if not

XMONDO Wavetech Wave Foam - Original — 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.

0
SupportedBacked by ingredients
1
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
4
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
1
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Provides Lift and Volume

A mid-weight formula: it will not flatten fine hair, but lift is not its main job.

  • VP/VA Copolymer
  • Polyquaternium 77
Partly supported

Neutral on lift.

Reduces hair loss from breakage by 64%

A brand-run study. We report it as stated and do not repeat the number as fact.

—

Stated by brand

Only the brand’s testing shows this.

Mends 96% of split ends

A brand-run study. We report it as stated and do not repeat the number as fact.

—

Stated by brand

Only the brand’s testing shows this.

Protects Against Heat Damage up to 450F

Heat protection is a performance claim; an ingredient list cannot confirm it.

  • VP/VA Copolymer
  • Polyquaternium 77
  • PEG-12 Dimethicone
Stated by brand

Only lab testing can show this.

Reduces frizz in high humidity for up to 24 hours

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

  • VP/VA Copolymer
  • Polyquaternium 77
  • PEG-12 Dimethicone
Stated by brand

May help, but not measurable here.

Keratin Amino Complex

No protein or amino acid appears in the ingredient list.

—

Potential conflict

Not in the ingredient list.

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.

Keeps frizz under control while adding shine

reviewer with wavy hair, 5-star

Gives strong volume boost on fine hair while protecting from heat

reviewer Ashley from Las Vegas, fine hair, 5-star

Hair looks healthier and feels thicker within days of use

reviewer Mariah from Arizona, wavy hair, 5-star

Hair looks and feels amazing, gets compliments on shine

reviewer Candy from NJ, 5-star

Left hair feeling dull and heavy rather than voluminous, hard to comb through

reviewer with very thin, sparse hair, 2-star

More from Keranique

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.
  • 1 source consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-27.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 2 of 5 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.

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