Aussie Instant Freeze Gel vs Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

105 facts in comparison

Based on 649 Reddit opinions. Freeze Gel leads by 35 points.

649 opinions
Freeze Gel leads by 35pts
Reddit's Pick
Aussie Instant Freeze Gel
86%
A-
Based on
474 Redditors
Winner

Aussie Instant Freeze Gel

~$9.45
291 opinions

tldr; Aussie Instant Freeze Gel is a highly reliable and budget-friendly option, praised for its strong hold, ability to define curls without weighing down fine hair, though generous application might leave residue.

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VS
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
51%
D
Based on
630 Redditors

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

~$18.32
358 opinions

tldr; The Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie is a highly effective product for many curly hair types, often praised for defining curls and providing weight.

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Curl DefinitionHoldMoisture & HydrationProduct WeightIngredients
CUR
HOL
MOI
⚖️PRO
ING
73
Points
54
Points

Score by Category

Curl Definition
83%82%
Hold
78%53%
Moisture & Hydration
50%50%
Product Weight
69%10%
Ingredients
60%35%

Why is Curl Enhancing Smoothie better than Instant Freeze Gel?

  • ⭐ Highly effective for defining curls & enhancing
Based on 1,104 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner

Reddit prefers the Freeze Gel

Winning by 35 points (86% vs 51%)

Better hold
Better weight
Better value
High confidence (1,104 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 1,104 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Freeze Gel
8.6/10
474 mentions
Enhancing Smoothie
5.1/10
630 mentions
HOLD
Freeze Gel7.8/10
Enhancing Smoothie5.3/10
WEIGHT
Freeze Gel6.9/10
Enhancing Smoothie1.0/10
MOISTURE
Freeze Gel5.0/10
Enhancing Smoothie5.0/10
VALUE
Freeze Gel10.0/10
Enhancing Smoothie9.4/10
INGREDIENTS
Freeze Gel6.0/10
Enhancing Smoothie3.5/10
CURL DEFINITION
Freeze Gel8.3/10
Enhancing Smoothie8.2/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Freeze Gel: 4|Enhancing Smoothie: 0
HoldFreeze Gel
Freeze Gel78%
Enhancing Smoothie53%
WeightFreeze Gel
Freeze Gel69%
Enhancing Smoothie10%
Moisture
Freeze Gel50%
Enhancing Smoothie50%
ValueFreeze Gel
Freeze Gel100%
Enhancing Smoothie94%
IngredientsFreeze Gel
Freeze Gel60%
Enhancing Smoothie35%
Curl Definition
Freeze Gel83%
Enhancing Smoothie82%
Freeze Gel86%
Enhancing Smoothie51%
Clear winner - Freeze Gel leads by 35 points

Key Specs

SpecAussie Instant Freeze GelShea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Hold Strength
Maximum hold
Hold Duration
20 hours
Key Ingredients
Jojoba Oil, Sea Kelp, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Coconut Oil, Silk Protein, Neem Oil, Shea Butter
Formula Type
Water-based
Hair Type Compatibility
All hair types (curly, wavy, straight)

Key Highlights

Aussie Instant Freeze GelWinner
⭐ Provides strong hold and reliably defines curls.
✓ Very budget-friendly.
⚙ Doesn't weigh down fine hair & works well w/
⚠ Can leave white residue if applied too
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
⭐ Highly effective for defining curls & enhancing
⭐ Can weigh down curls, which is desired by some
⭐ Works well for fine, 2c hair.
⭐ The smell does not linger.
⭐ Effective for refreshing hair on non-wash days.
Some users report issues (29% negative)

Topic Battles

Freeze Gel: 3|Tied: 2|Enhancing Smoothie: 0
Curl Definition
Freeze Gel
83%
Enhancing Smoothie
82%
Hold
Freeze Gel wins
Freeze Gel
78%
Enhancing Smoothie
53%
Moisture & Hydration
Freeze Gel
50%
Enhancing Smoothie
50%
⚖️Product Weight
Freeze Gel wins
Freeze Gel
69%
Enhancing Smoothie
10%
Ingredients
Freeze Gel wins
Freeze Gel
60%
Enhancing Smoothie
35%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Aussie Instant Freeze Gel

Best Praise
+151 pts
I think you should try a harder casting gel something labeled as "maximum hold". I like Aussie instant freeze
r/curlyhair
View
Top Criticism
+5 pts
The Aussie gel is pretty thick and heavy, and at least right now it may be a bit much for your hair. I'd try experimenting with some lighter options (maybe just cut that out and try it with the cream and mousse, or even just the mousse on its own), and see what you get. I'd focus on a 'less is more' mindset while you figure your hair out - heavier products can weigh waves down, and having a lot of products can make it hard to figure out what is doing what for your hair. Styling using a brush (denman and bounce curl are two popular ones) can also help with frizz, although as others have said, frizz is also just a part of curly/wavy hair. Watching a few videos might help you get some ideas for improving definition.
r/curlyhair
View
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Best Praise
+17 pts
I think your deep side part is what’s giving you *extra* volume on top of what you have. Also, we have similar hair texture and when mine is shorter it poofs out. I suggest using heavier products like the shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie. It’ll tame and condition hair but it’s a heavier product that doesn’t give 2a/b/c hair much volume. Stay away from light products, like mousse or sprays if you don’t want the airy, voluminous look.
r/curlyhair
View
Top Criticism
+217 pts
Shea moisture also builds up in the hair and can make it dry. I would add do a couple of rounds of Malibu undo goo to remove build up!
r/curlyhair
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Aussie Instant Freeze Gel
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
$12$18$24$30Jun '25Aug '25Nov '25Dec '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Mar '26Apr '26Low: $8.99Low: $15Current: $9.2Current: $17.99
Aussie Instant Freeze Gel
All-time low: $1.91(2021-10)
$0 below 90-day avg
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
All-time low: $7.89(2025-02)

Which is Better?

Aussie Instant Freeze Gel Wins
86%
Gel
vs
51%
Smoothie

Aussie Instant Freeze Gel leads by 35 points based on 1,104 Reddit opinions.

Why Freeze GelWinner
  • Better Value for Money (100% vs 94%)
Why Enhancing Smoothie
  • ⭐ Highly effective for defining curls & enhancing
  • ⭐ Can weigh down curls, which is desired by some
  • More discussed (630 vs 474)

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

53%Positive
Positive
53%
Neutral
39%
Negative
8%
Based on 474 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

28%Positive
Positive
28%
Neutral
43%
Negative
29%
Based on 630 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Aussie Instant Freeze Gel or Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie?
Based on 1,104 Reddit comments, Aussie Instant Freeze Gel is the preferred choice with 86% positive sentiment vs Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie's 51%. Aussie Instant Freeze Gel leads by 35 percentage points.
Should I buy Aussie Instant Freeze Gel or Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Aussie Instant Freeze Gel has stronger approval ratings (86% vs 51%). However, Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Aussie Instant Freeze Gel?
Reddit users highlight: Provides strong hold and reliably defines curls.. Very budget-friendly.. Doesn't weigh down fine hair & works well w/. With 474 mentions and 86% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie?
Reddit users highlight: Highly effective for defining curls & enhancing. Can weigh down curls, which is desired by some. Works well for fine, 2c hair.. With 630 mentions and 51% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,104 Reddit comments: 474 about Aussie Instant Freeze Gel and 630 about Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie. Data was sourced from Curly hair products community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

649 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/24/2026