Brand comparison
Ouidad vs Cantu: Which Curl Brand Is Right for You?
A humidity-fighting salon gel against a budget cream for thick hair. They solve different problems and suit different curls.
| Compared | Ouidad | Cantu |
|---|---|---|
| What reviewers think | Mostly positive: A cult gel. Not for everyone. | Divides opinion: Great value. Heavy for fine hair. |
| Curl Score | 3.9 Good | 3.7 Good |
| People with an opinion | 107 | 68 |
| Best-liked product | Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel | Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream |
| More promising for | Curls that frizz in heat and humidity, and anyone who wants soft, touchable hold that lasts for days. | Thick, dense or coily hair, children's curls, and anyone starting out on a budget. |
| Think twice if | You want a hard cast or very strong hold, your hair is fine and builds up easily, or you're sensitive to strong scents. | Your hair is fine, wavy or low porosity, or you're sensitive to strong fragrance. |
Ouidad and Cantu have little in common. Ouidad is a salon curl specialist known for one gel that fights frizz in humidity. Cantu is one of the cheapest brands on the shelf, known for rich creams for thick curls and coils. Ouidad has the higher Curl Score.
Because the two brands don't make the same products, the decision comes down to what your hair needs most.
Each brand's best products
Ouidad's Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel is a long-time holy grail for frizz in heat and humidity, giving soft, touchable curls that last for days. A sizeable minority get no cast or a sticky finish.
Cantu's Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream gives soft, shiny, defined curls and is hydrating without being sticky. Its Curl Cream is best under a gel on medium to thick curls.
The two can work together, with a Cantu cream for moisture and Ouidad's gel on top for hold.
The main difference
Hair type: Cantu suits thick, dense and coily hair, and is too heavy for most fine or wavy hair. Ouidad's gel is used on waves and curls, though it builds up on some fine hair.
Price: Cantu is very cheap and sold almost everywhere. Ouidad is expensive at full price, but often half price at TJ Maxx and Marshalls.
Scent: both brands get complaints. Ouidad's leave-ins are described as strong, and Cantu's added fragrance is strong.
Which to choose
Choose Ouidad if humidity is what undoes your curls, and you want hold that lasts for days.
Choose Cantu if your hair is thick, dry or coily and needs softness and moisture, or you're starting out on a budget.
The verdict
These brands answer different questions. If you're fighting frizz in humid weather, buy Ouidad's gel. If your thick curls need softness and shine, Cantu's Curl Activator Cream is the cheap place to start.
Which suits your hair
What reviewers with each kind of hair report.
Fine or wavy hair
Ouidad
Opinion splits. Reviewers with fine 2C, 3A and 3B curls call the gel amazing and say a little goes a long way on soaking wet hair.
Cantu
This is where Cantu gets most of its bad reviews. Reviewers with fine 2C to 3A hair say every product is way too heavy, or that it left their hair looking wet.
Thick, dense or coily hair
Ouidad
Reviewers don't single out Ouidad for this.
Cantu
This is what the brand suits best. Reviewers say it's very good for hair that needs heavier products, a parent's 4A child thrives on it, and a reviewer with dense curls says it keeps their hair looking good for a whole week.
Try Curl Cream
Strong hold
Ouidad
The original gel gives soft, touchable hold with no hard cast, and several reviewers wanting a crunchy cast found it too weak. The Advanced Climate Control (red label) is stronger, and its fans say it gives a cast other gels haven't, but others still found it weak or sticky once the cast was broken.
Cantu
Reviewers don't single out Cantu for this.
Humid weather
Ouidad
This is what the Climate Control gel is for, and reviewers in Texas, Florida and Savannah say it keeps their curls defined through humid weeks. It isn't universal: reviewers in Miami, humid Georgia and very humid sea-level climates got no cast and frizz within hours.
Cantu
Reviewers don't single out Cantu for this.
Sensitive scalp or scent-sensitive
Ouidad
The leave-ins draw the most complaints: reviewers describe the Moisture Lock leave-in as strong, lemony and chemical, or a stale perfume they threw away. Others say the range smells low and neutral, and one uses the shampoo and conditioner as a fragrance-free option, so experiences vary by product.
Cantu
Reviewers don't single out Cantu for this.
Starting out or on a budget
Ouidad
Reviewers don't single out Ouidad for this.
Cantu
Reviewers call it a great introduction to curly care at an amazing price. Start with the Curl Activator Cream, the most-reviewed product, or the Curl Cream under a gel.
Based on what commenters with similar hair reported. Hair varies.
What reviewers like and dislike
Ouidad
- Praised: Frizz control in heat and humidity
- Praised: Soft, touchable curls that last for days
- Praised: Decades of loyal use from some reviewers
- Praised: Often cheap at TJ Maxx and Marshalls
- Praised: A big bottle that lasts
- Complaint: No cast or hold for some reviewers
- Complaint: A sticky or heavy finish on some hair
- Complaint: Expensive at full price
- Complaint: Strong scents, especially the leave-ins
- Complaint: Buildup on fine hair
Cantu
- Praised: Cheap and easy to find
- Praised: Soft, shiny, defined curls on thicker hair
- Praised: Works on children's curls
- Praised: A refresh spray that keeps curls going between washes
- Praised: A nice smell, for many
- Complaint: Too heavy for fine or wavy hair
- Complaint: Stopped working for some long-time users
- Complaint: Flakes or dryness, for a few
- Complaint: Strong added fragrance
- Complaint: A refresh spray with a single-stream nozzle