Lightweight spray enhances definition without weighing curls down
Light silicones and low wax content help it avoid visible residue.
- Water
- Isopentyldiol
Supported
Less likely to weigh hair down.
Not Your Mother's
Curl Talk Defining Spray Gel Strong Hold
Styler / Gel, strong-hold
- Styler
- gel
- spray
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Strong hold
Size6 fl oz
Price$10–11commonly seen · 6 oz
Price / oz$1.76/ozat 6 oz
Where to buy5 stores · $8.74–10.99
Scent:
The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.
“Citrus Jasmine Scent” — Brand page
Manufacturer page: notyourmothers.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
Moderate
Not in your profile
Hold (as stated)
Strong
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
Little
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Light
Not in your profile
Fragrance
Present
Not in your profile
Protein
Prominent
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
None
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
Not yet verified
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
Not heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
High
Not in your profile
UV filter
None listed
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
18 ingredientsAbout average
Not in your profile
Price tier
Drugstore
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
Brand website · Grocery / mass
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
$1.76/oz at 6 oz — less than 58% of the 155 gels , which mostly run $1.19–3.51/oz. The cost less.
Great for
Protein-hungry hairthat stretches and stays stretched when wet
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Stretching wash daysnothing here needs a detergent to remove
Maybe skip if
this product carries a scent
Protein-sensitive hairthat goes stiff or straw-like on protein
Anyone who dislikes a castthe film formers here can set firm
Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
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)
Strong
A strong 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.
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
No
Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterWater (Aqua) (Eau) | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| PVP | film former | Lays down the film that holds a shape | Holds |
| Polysorbate 20 | solubilizer | Keeps oils dissolved in water | Stabilizes |
| Keratin Amino Acids | protein | Firms up soft, over-stretchy hair | Protein |
| Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract | botanical extract | A plant extract, marketed as much as functional | Neutral |
| Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase | active | The over-the-counter active | Active |
| Isopentyldiol | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Moisturizes |
| Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract | botanical extract | A plant extract, marketed as much as functional | Neutral |
| FragranceFragrance (Parfum) | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Linalool | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Limonene | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Hydroxycitronellal | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Protein-forward — a strengthening formula, not a moisture one. Contains fragrance. Chelators for hard water.
Full ingredient list (18)
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
· Water (Aqua) (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 ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
PVP
General function
A classic hairspray polymer. It gives firm hold but attracts moisture, so humidity can soften the set.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
PubChemMay suitMaximum-hold stylingSynthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSome 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 hairThe 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.
- film former
- polymer
-
3
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
-
4
Keratin Amino Acids
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.
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
-
5
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract
General function
A rice extract used at low levels, usually alongside rice protein or rice bran oil.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- botanical extract
-
6
Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase
General function
An enzyme included at trace levels in scalp-positioned products. Evidence for an effect applied topically to hair is limited.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- active
-
7
Isopentyldiol
General function
A light solvent and humectant used to dissolve extracts and improve feel.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairLight and water-binding rather than oily, so it hydrates without contributing weight.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA 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.
- solvent
- humectant
-
8
Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract
General function
Fermented tomato, used at low levels for antioxidant and conditioning claims.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- botanical extract
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
9
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
- preservative
-
10
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
General function
A biodegradable hard-water chelator used in place of EDTA.
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 suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesBinds 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 hairCopper 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.
- hard-water chelator
-
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
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
13
Citric Acid
General function
Used to bring the product to a slightly acidic pH, which helps the cuticle lie flat. It is almost always near the end of the list.
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.
International Journal of TrichologyMay suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesHolds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairThe acid side of pH adjustment, and the reason it matters is measured: alkaline formulas raise the fibre's surface negative charge, increase friction between strands and lift the scales, while lower-pH ones do the reverse.
May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hairWhere a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.
- pH adjuster
- hard-water chelator
-
14
Fragrance
· Fragrance (Parfum)
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
-
15
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
-
16
Limonene
General function
A citrus-smelling fragrance component that EU rules require to be named separately because some people react to 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.
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
-
17
Hydroxycitronellal
General function
A soft floral fragrance component named separately as a recognised 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
-
18
Citronellol
General function
A rose-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised 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
- 5 fragrances
- 4 named fragrance allergens
- 3 preservatives
- 2 solvents
- 2 botanical extracts
- 2 hard-water chelators
- 1 film former
- 1 polymer
- 1 solubilizer
- 1 emulsifier
- 1 protein
- 1 amino acid
- 1 active
- 1 humectant
Ingredient list captured 2026-09-05. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 6 oz
Commonly seen
$10–11
Good value under
$9
Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $9 line; products that do this job typically go for about $10 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it5 listings · 5 stores
-
Walmart
$8.746 oz · $1.46/ozSep 5Lowest per oz
-
Target
$10.296 oz · $1.72/ozSep 5
-
CVS
$10.796 oz · $1.80/ozSep 5
-
Not Your Mother's (notyourmothers.com)
$10.996 oz · $1.83/ozSep 5
-
Ulta Beauty
$10.996 oz · $1.83/ozSep 5
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. and 1 listing we don’t count — grey-market or unverified sellers.
How we work this out
- 6 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 6 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 $9 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $1.42/oz; at 6 oz that is $9. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $10 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 6 oz.
Formula
10
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
- 2 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
- Costs less per ounce than 58% of the 155 gels we’ve priced
- Covers 6 of the 6 things a gel should do
- Drugstore tier, sold at Brand website and Grocery / mass
- 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.
Eden BodyWorksClosest function
Lavender Aloe Smoothing Gel
$1.18/oz $0.58/oz less
- Protein
- Curly method
- Lightweight
- Function
- Also
Herbal EssencesLowest cost per oz
Texturing Hair Styling Spray Gel for Wavy Hair
$1.05/oz $0.71/oz less
- Budget
- 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
Soft, over-stretchy hair — for protein high in the formula and a curly-method-compatible formula
Biggest tradeoff
Not ideal for anyone sensitive to fragrance, hair that stiffens on protein, or anyone who will not scrunch out a cast
Best alternative if not
Eden BodyWorks Lavender Aloe Smoothing Gel, 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.
6
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
1
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Controls frizz
Silicones or film formers smooth the cuticle, which is the usual mechanism.
- PVP
Supported
Smoother strands, less frizz.
Boosts volume
It reads light on the strand, which is what volume claims depend on.
- PVP
- Keratin Amino Acids
Supported
Leaves room for lift.
Strong hold without a gel cast
Synthetic hold polymers are present.
- PVP
Supported
Structure that lasts the day.
Never sticky, no buildup
This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.
—
Stated by brand
Can’t be confirmed from label.
Formulated with Rice Curl Complex – a blend of rice, keratin amino acids, and enzymes
A protein or amino acid appears in the ingredient list.
- Keratin Amino Acids
Supported
The named ingredient is really there.
Infused with a Superfood Oil Blend to hydrate curls and add shine
Humectants or rich emollients sit in the first eight ingredients.
- Isopentyldiol
- Ethylhexylglycerin
Supported
Helps hair feel hydrated.
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.
Multiple reviewers say the spray gel holds curls without the stiff, crunchy cast typical of gels, keeping curls feeling natural.
Several reviewers report the spray/pump mechanism sticking, clogging, or dispensing unevenly, making it hard to apply enough product for a real hold.
A recurring complaint, especially from reviewers with thicker or very curly/coily hair, is that the hold is too weak or short-lived and curls fall flat within hours.
Reviewers with looser wave or curl patterns (2C-3A) more often report the strong-hold claim holds up, with curls springing up nicely without added stiffness.
More from Not Your Mother's
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.
- 4 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 2 editorial), last checked 2026-09-05.
- Ingredient references are linked for 9 of 11 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 2026-09-05.