CurlyNikki Says: INNERSENSE ALL DAY, FOR ME, HANDS DOWN. Thank me later 🙂
Curlsmith vs. Innersense: Should You Treat Yo Self?
By Team CurlyNikki
When two curl routines cost almost exactly the same ($$$/$$$$), price stops being the main thing, and we want to know what actually works. What gets us the results- the humidity protection, or the stretch/hang time, or the definition, or the VOLUME you can’t hear your thoughts over!
Here we’re comparing Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher + Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé with Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner + Innersense I Create Hold.
Curlsmith totals about $57 for two 8-ounce products. Innersense is about $58 for two 10-ounce products. One dollar apart, but not the same experience.
Compare the basket
| Award | Product | Best for | Key features | Size | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated mask option | Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher | A planned deep-conditioning session | Shea and oils; brand directs 10-30 minutes before rinsing | 8 oz | $29 |
| Jelly-textured styling choice | Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé | Shoppers who prefer a semi-solid gel | Water-based; glycerin, sorbitol and carrageenan; brand rates hold 8/10 | 8 oz | $28 |
| Shorter conditioning step | Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner | Rich conditioning with less waiting | Shea, oils, hydrolyzed rice protein and quinoa; rinse after 1-5 minutes | 10 oz | $30 |
| Pump-format styling choice | Innersense I Create Hold | Sectioned wet styling with measured pumps | Aloe, honey and film-forming polymers; fragranced | 10 oz | $28 |
The real difference starts in the conditioner
Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher is a mask, not a quick rinse-out pretending to be one. The brand recommends leaving it on for 10 to 30 minutes. Shea butter and oils give it the richer treatment profile you’d expect from something you deliberately schedule into wash day.
Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner is the faster option, with a published 1-to-5-minute rinse window. It also contains hydrolyzed rice protein and quinoa alongside shea and oils.
Neither ingredient list is automatically “better.” The practical question is which product you’ll actually use correctly. If you routinely buy masks and then resent them for requiring mask time, that is information. If it’s slip you want no matter if its a mask or instant conditioner, we recommend the Hydrating Cream Conditioner all day.
Styling Soufflé vs. I Create Hold
Curlsmith’s Styling Soufflé is a semi-solid gel, not a butter, despite the dessert name. Curlsmith rates it 8/10 for hold on its own scale and recommends applying it to soaking-wet hair, section by section, then letting the style dry before breaking any cast.
Innersense I Create Hold comes in a pump and uses aloe, honey and film-forming polymers. The brand suggests starting with one or two pumps on wet, sectioned hair. We like a pump here because it makes product amount easier to repeat from wash day to wash day, which is useful when you’re trying to figure out whether the product works or whether you simply used half the bottle last time.
For ease of application, feel on hair both wet and dry, and shine, we recommend Innersense’s I Create Hold. You’ll get hold without crunch that doesn’t cause stringy or flat curls, and that stands up to mild-medium humid conditions. The Curlsmith Styling Soufflé is worth a try, too! But we are not fans of the new or updated formula- it doesn’t work like it used to.
Which one earns the splurge?
Innersense gives you more product for almost the same total, plus a shorter conditioning step. Its refill options are also worth knowing about if you already love the formulas. We’re also fans of the affirmations and Love on the bottle!
Curlsmith makes more sense if you specifically want a true deep-conditioning mask and prefer a jelly/soufflé-style styler.
And again: there is no rule requiring a matching conditioner and gel. If one half of your routine is already perfect, leave her alone. But patch test when mixing brands to make sure the products play well in the sandbox.
FAQs
Which routine is less expensive?
Curlsmith is about $57 and Innersense about $58 in the sizes compared here. Innersense’s two products are larger.
Is Curlsmith Styling Soufflé a butter?
No. It is a water-based styling gel with a semi-solid texture.
Can a strong-hold gel leave a cast?
Yes. Let the hair dry completely before judging the finish or softening the cast. Wet hair has never once been qualified to give the final review.
