LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel vs Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
103 facts in comparison
Based on 1,135 Reddit opinions. Sport GelLA Looks Extreme Sport Gel leads by 38 points.
1.1K opinions
Sport Gel leads by 38pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
89%
A-
Based on
1,117 Redditors
Winner
LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel
~$4.29
777 opinions
tldr; LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel is highly praised for its very strong hold, excellent frizz control, and ability to create a great cast, all at a very affordable price.
Check pricesVS
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.
Check prices⭐CUR
⭐HOL
⭐MOI
⚖️PRO
⭐ING
61
Points
54
Points
Score by Category
Curl Definition
97%82%
Hold
89%53%
Moisture & Hydration
8%50%
Product Weight
42%10%
Ingredients
31%35%
Why is Curl Enhancing Smoothie better than Extreme Sport Gel?
- Better moisture (50% vs 8%)
- ⭐ Highly effective for defining curls & enhancing
Based on 1,747 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner
Reddit prefers the Sport GelLA Looks Extreme Sport Gel
Winning by 38 points (89% vs 51%)
Better value
Better hold
Better curl definition
High confidence (1,747 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,747 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Sport Gel
8.9/10
1,117 mentions
Enhancing Smoothie
5.1/10
630 mentions
VALUE
Sport Gel10.0/10
Enhancing Smoothie9.4/10
HOLD
Sport Gel8.9/10
Enhancing Smoothie5.3/10
MOISTURE
Sport Gel0.8/10
Enhancing Smoothie5.0/10
CURL DEFINITION
Sport Gel9.7/10
Enhancing Smoothie8.2/10
WEIGHT
Sport Gel4.2/10
Enhancing Smoothie1.0/10
INGREDIENTS
Sport Gel3.1/10
Enhancing Smoothie3.5/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Sport Gel | Enhancing Smoothie |
|---|---|---|
Value | 100% | 94% |
Hold | 89% | 53% |
Moisture | 8% | 50% |
Curl Definition | 97% | 82% |
Weight | 42% | 10% |
Ingredients | 31% | 35% |
Category Wins
Sport Gel: 4|Enhancing Smoothie: 2
Head to Head
Sport Gel: 4|Enhancing Smoothie: 2
ValueSport Gel
Sport Gel100%
Enhancing Smoothie94%
HoldSport Gel
Sport Gel89%
Enhancing Smoothie53%
MoistureEnhancing Smoothie
Sport Gel8%
Enhancing Smoothie50%
Curl DefinitionSport Gel
Sport Gel97%
Enhancing Smoothie82%
WeightSport Gel
Sport Gel42%
Enhancing Smoothie10%
IngredientsEnhancing Smoothie
Sport Gel31%
Enhancing Smoothie35%
Sport Gel
89%
51%
Enhancing Smoothie
Sport Gel89%
Enhancing Smoothie51%
Clear winner - Sport Gel leads by 38 points
Key Specs
| Spec | LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel | Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie |
|---|---|---|
| Hold Level | 10+ (Extreme Hold) | — |
| Formula | Alcohol-free, non-sticky | — |
| Key Ingredients | PVP, Sorbitol, Keratin Amino Acids, Rahnella/Soy Protein Ferment | Coconut Oil, Silk Protein, Neem Oil, Shea Butter |
| Technology | TriActive hold | — |
| Brand | L.A. Looks | Shea Moisture |
Key Highlights
LA Looks Extreme Sport GelWinner
⭐ Provides strong hold & awesome frizz control.
✓ Extremely budget-friendly ($2.99 for 16 oz).
⚙ Creates the "best cast" and is lightweight.
⭐ Many users find it works better than other gels
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
Sport Gel: 3|Tied: 0|Enhancing Smoothie: 2
⭐Curl Definition
Sport Gel winsSport Gel
97%
Enhancing Smoothie
82%
⭐Hold
Sport Gel winsSport Gel
89%
Enhancing Smoothie
53%
⭐Moisture & Hydration
Enhancing Smoothie winsSport Gel
8%
Enhancing Smoothie
50%
⚖️Product Weight
Sport Gel winsSport Gel
42%
Enhancing Smoothie
10%
⭐Ingredients
Enhancing Smoothie winsSport Gel
31%
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 LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel
Best Praise
+247 pts“We have very similar hair though I’m a chick lol. Wash & condition hair as usual. For a wet look that lasts all day, put more conditioner in your hair and leave it in. Brush through then add a ton of heavy gel like LA looks and scrunch it in. Style how you like but make sure it’s soaking wet with conditioner and gel. It should not be wet frizzy at all. Don’t scrunch out the crunch.”
r/curlyhair
ViewTop Criticism
+14 pts“I agree with the others. You're hair type likely doesn't need super thick heavy "cream" products. La Looks gel might also be too heavy of a styler for your hair. It's a pretty thick product and if you are applying too much with your hair type, especially if it is getting clumped in certain spots and not spread out thoroughly, could cause the unevenness in which areas are keeping definition. What type of styler did your hair dresser use? The results looked perfect for your hair type. Even the extra volume at your roots on pic 8 looks fine and is to be expected with most curly hair as it dries and "poofs" a bit as the day goes on.”
r/curlyhair
View3 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
ViewTop 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
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Sport Gel
Enhancing Smoothie
📈Historical Price Data
LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel
All-time low: $1.5(2014-06)
$1 below 90-day avg
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
All-time low: $7.89(2025-02)
Which is Better?
LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel Wins
89%
Gel
vs
51%
Smoothie
LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel leads by 38 points based on 1,747 Reddit opinions.
Why Sport GelWinner
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 94%)
- More discussed (1,117 vs 630)
Why Enhancing Smoothie
- ⭐ Highly effective for defining curls & enhancing
- ⭐ Can weigh down curls, which is desired by some
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
62%Positive
Positive
62%Neutral
31%Negative
7%Based on 1,117 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
28%Positive
Positive
28%Neutral
43%Negative
29%Based on 630 Reddit opinions
LA Looks Extreme Sport GelCheck prices Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing SmoothieCheck prices
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel or Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie?
Based on 1,747 Reddit comments, LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel is the preferred choice with 89% positive sentiment vs Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie's 51%. LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel leads by 38 percentage points.
Should I buy LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel or Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel has stronger approval ratings (89% 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 LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel?
Reddit users highlight: Provides strong hold & awesome frizz control.. Extremely budget-friendly ($2.99 for 16 oz).. Creates the "best cast" and is lightweight.. With 1,117 mentions and 89% 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 1,747 Reddit comments: 1,117 about LA Looks Extreme Sport 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.
1,135 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/24/2026