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Paul Mitchell

Awapuhi Wild Ginger Texturizing Sea Spray

Styler / Texture spray, polymer-free

  • Styler
  • texture spray
  • spray
  • Sulfate-free
  • Lightweight
  • Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size5.1 fl oz
Price$27.50seen at one store · 5.1 oz
Price / oz$5.39/ozat 5.1 oz

Scent:

Reviewers describe it as fresh, tropical.

Listing used for research: ulta.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

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Upper-mid price for a texture spray

$5.39/oz at 5.1 oz — more than 67% of the 58 texture sprays , which mostly run $3.32–5.98/oz. The cost less.

Price and stores

Great for

Protein-hungry hairthat stretches and stays stretched when wet
Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
Sun and colour fadea UV filter is in the list
Aerosol avoidancea pump or tube, not a pressurised can

Maybe skip if

this product carries a scent
Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
Protein-sensitive hairthat goes stiff or straw-like on protein
Styles that must holdno hold polymer, gum, or wax was found
Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers

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 None found

No hold polymer, gum, or wax found in the list.

Cast risk Unlikely

Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely.

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 Yes

Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them.

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.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
WaterAqua (Water, Eau) solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Magnesium Sulfate salt Thickens the formula Stabilizes
PPG-5-Ceteth-20 emulsifier Keeps oil and water mixed Stabilizes
Isoceteth-20 emulsifier Keeps oil and water mixed Stabilizes
Hedychium Coronarium (White Ginger) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract botanical extract A plant extract, marketed as much as functional Neutral
Oxidized Keratin protein Firms up soft, over-stretchy hair Protein
Keratin protein Firms up soft, over-stretchy hair Protein
Hydrolyzed Keratin film former Lays down the film that holds a shape Protein
Triethyl Citrate pH adjuster Fine-tunes the pH pH balancer
Phenoxyethanol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Caprylyl Glycol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Moisturizes
Potassium Sorbate preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates or drying alcohols. Protein sits high: this is a strengthening step rather than a moisture one. Fragrance is on the label. Water-insoluble silicones — needs a detergent wash to remove.
Full ingredient list (25)

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 Magnesium Sulfate
    General function

    Epsom salt, used to adjust the thickness of a liquid formula.

    Leading ingredient

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

    PubChem
    • salt
  • 3 PPG-5-Ceteth-20
    General function

    A solubiliser that keeps oils and fragrance dissolved in clear liquids.

    Leading ingredient

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

    • emulsifier
    • solubilizer
  • 4 Isoceteth-20
    General function

    An emulsifier that keeps oils dispersed in water-based formulas.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    • emulsifier
    • solubilizer
  • 5 Hedychium Coronarium (White Ginger) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
    General function

    An extract from the leaf/stem of White Ginger (Hedychium Coronarium). Plant extracts are used across a wide range of levels, and label order is the best guide to how much is here.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    • botanical extract
  • 6 Oxidized Keratin
    General function

    Keratin treated to make it water-soluble so it can be formulated. It deposits on damaged areas and firms the feel for a few washes.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    May not suitProtein-sensitive hair

    A large surface-depositing protein. If protein reliably makes your hair feel rigid, this is the form most likely to do it.

    DependsVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Unhydrolysed protein is too large to enter the strand. It sits on the surface, which is a coating effect rather than internal reinforcement.

    • protein
  • 7 Keratin
    General function

    The protein hair is made of. On the outside of the strand it fills gaps and firms up the feel for a few washes.

    Supporting ingredient

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

    May not suitProtein-sensitive hair

    A large surface-depositing protein. If protein reliably makes your hair feel rigid, this is the form most likely to do it.

    DependsVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Unhydrolysed protein is too large to enter the strand. It sits on the surface, which is a coating effect rather than internal reinforcement.

    • protein
  • 8 Hydrolyzed Keratin
    General function

    Fragments of the same protein hair is made of. They fill gaps on damaged strands and make hair feel firmer for a few washes.

    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

    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

    Size decides where it goes. In fibre testing, fractions around 221 and 2,577 Da reached the cortex while a 75,440 Da fraction stayed on the surface. A label prints the name, never the size, so a protein line is a claim about the ingredient rather than about the depth.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science
    • film former
    • protein
    • hydrolysed protein
  • 9 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.

    Secondary ingredient

    Lower in the ordered portion of the list, it is more likely playing a supporting role than defining the formula.

    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
  • Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
  • 10 Triethyl Citrate
    General function

    A citrate ester used to stabilise fragrance and support the preservative system.

    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.

    DependsFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    pH adjusters are how a formula is brought to a chosen acidity, and an acidic formula keeps the cuticle lying flatter than an alkaline one. Which way this one moves the pH depends on the formula, and the finished pH is not on the label.

    PubChem
    • pH adjuster
    • preservative
  • 11 Phenoxyethanol
    • preservative
  • 12 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
  • 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 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

    Holds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.

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

    The 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 hair

    Where a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.

    International Journal of Trichology
    • pH adjuster
    • hard-water chelator
  • 14 Potassium Sorbate
    • preservative
  • 15 Hexylene Glycol
    General function

    A solvent that keeps other ingredients dissolved and helps preservatives work.

    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

    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
    • solvent
    • humectant
  • 16 Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
    General function

    A conditioning agent that binds to hair and is also used to help shield it from sun exposure.

    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

    A cationic conditioning agent: it binds to the damaged, negatively charged parts of the cuticle and lowers combing friction there.

    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.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    The class that does the detangling in a conditioner. It deposits lubrication where the cuticle is worn.

    • conditioning agent
    • UV filter
  • 17 Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl PG-Propyl Dimethicone
    General function

    An amino silicone used in heat-protection and smoothing products for a durable film.

    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 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

    Lays a smooth film along the cuticle, which lowers combing friction and flattens the surface irregularities that read as frizz.

    • silicone
    • conditioning agent
  • 18 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
  • 19 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
  • 20 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 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
  • 21 Benzyl Salicylate
    General function

    A soft floral fragrance component listed separately as a recognised 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
  • 22 Hexyl Cinnamal
    General function

    A jasmine-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised 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
  • 23 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
  • 24 Eugenol
    General function

    A clove-scented fragrance component listed separately as a recognised 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
  • 25 Benzyl Benzoate
    General function

    A fragrance component with a faint balsamic scent, named separately on the label because it is 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

What the whole list adds up to

  • 7 fragrances
  • 6 named fragrance allergens
  • 4 preservatives
  • 3 proteins
  • 3 humectants
  • 2 solvents
  • 2 emulsifiers
  • 2 solubilizers
  • 2 conditioning agents
  • 2 pH adjusters
  • 2 silicones
  • 1 salt
  • 1 botanical extract
  • 1 film former

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

Price · 5.1 oz

Seen at $27.50 1 store · checked Aug 30
Good value under $16 Under $3.15/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 7 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $16 line; products that do this job typically go for about $18 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it3 listings · 2 stores

5.1 ozmost listedBest per ounce

  • Ulta
    $27.50
    5.1 oz · $5.39/oz
    Aug 27Lowest per oz
  • onstagehairsalon
    $27.50
    5.1 oz · $5.39/oz
    Aug 30
  • Ulta
    $27.50
    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. 5.1 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 $27.50 is the price we have observed for the 5.1 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $16 comes from the 7 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $3.15/oz; at 5.1 oz that is $16. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $18 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 5.1 oz.

Formula

Formula score
5 of 10

Nothing separates this from the middle of the range for texture sprays, on formula or on cost per ounce.

How the score is counted
  • 3 products that do the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs more per ounce than 67% of the 58 texture sprays we’ve priced
  • No hold system in the formula
  • 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.

Not Your Mother'sLowest cost per oz Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray - 8.0 oz $1.25/oz $4.14/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Lightweight
  • Alcohol-free
· Close function
Function
  • Slip and detangling
  • Protein
Also
  • Vegan
  • Drugstore tier
  • 8 oz bottle
Compare
Mielle OrganicsClose function Pomegranate & Honey Super Hold Edge Gel $3.45/oz $1.94/oz less
  • Lightweight
  • Alcohol-free
  • No aerosol
Function
  • Slip and detangling
  • Water-binding (humectants)
  • Protein
Also
  • Drugstore tier
  • 2 oz bottle
Compare
Not Your Mother'sClose function Beat the Heat Thermal Styling Spray $3.33/oz $2.06/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Lightweight
  • Alcohol-free
Function
  • Slip and detangling
  • Water-binding (humectants)
  • Protein
Also
  • Drugstore tier
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

Built for straight to wavy hair

Final decision

Should you buy it?

A solid pick for the hair it suits
Best user

Soft, over-stretchy hair who want protein high in the formula and defined, clumped curls

Biggest tradeoff

Less suited to anyone sensitive to fragrance, curly-method routines, or hair that stiffens on protein

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.

4
SupportedBacked by ingredients
1
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
0
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Adds lush body, volume, and texture

It reads light on the strand, which is what volume claims depend on.

  • Oxidized Keratin
  • Keratin
  • Hydrolyzed Keratin
Supported

Leaves room for lift.

Balances moisture with awapuhi extract

Humectants and emollients are present, but lower in the list than the claim implies.

  • Panthenol
  • Caprylyl Glycol
  • Hexylene Glycol
Partly supported

Some hydration, at a low level.

Touchable movement

Softening ingredients sit alongside the hold polymers, which is what keeps a film flexible.

  • Hydrolyzed Keratin
  • PEG-12 Dimethicone
Supported

Natural movement without stiffness.

Color-safe

It avoids sulfate detergents, which are the usual cause of fast fade.

  • Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Supported

Less fade per wash.

Paraben-free

No parabens appear in the ingredient list.

Supported

Preserved without parabens.

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.

Creates effortless beachy waves with a fresh tropical scent

Ulta customer reviewer

Texture feels natural rather than gritty or dried-out

Ulta customer reviewer

Gives definition and frizz control without any crunch or stickiness

Ulta customer reviewer

Delivers unbelievable body and volume for the amount of product used

Ulta customer reviewer

Needs generous, repeated spraying to see an effect and the bottle empties quickly as a result

Ulta customer reviewer

More from Paul Mitchell

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 12 of 18 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.