The original, what makes it special, the shelf parts we use and how to get closer. Add or swap parts and the score updates.
The original · OUAI
$30 · 6 fl oz
A water-based blow-dry spray with VP/VA copolymer and other film formers that thicken each strand and add lift.
Prices and listings checked Oct 28, 2026. Amazon prices change; the link shows today's price.
Step 2 · The build
Not Your Mother's
Partial credit means the part only partly matches that standout.
The 100 points
We split Thickening Volumizer Spray into 5 standout parts. Each bar shows what the build earns.
Film-formers and polymers (Vp/Va Copolymer) give hold, set and heat or humidity resistance.
Humectants (Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin) pull in water and keep the hair feeling soft.
Cationic conditioning polymers cling to wet hair and cut tangles. Polyquaternium-16, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7 play that role here.
Oils and butters (Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil) soften the hair and seal in moisture.
Hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids (Hydrolyzed Soy Protein) are added to coat and temporarily fill rough spots on the hair surface.
Optional
63 / 100. We have not found a shelf product that closes more of the gap yet.
Step 3 · Buy
One link per part. Each opens the retailer in a new tab.
Your build
Running total ~$8.99
View product (opens in new tab)Not an affiliate link.
Snapshot prices. Each link shows today's price.
One bottle instead of a build. Sorted by match score; scores use the same standouts as above.
Not Your Mother's
No close match yet — we show the nearest formulas.
Why it is close. Root spray; same function class.
Not an affiliate link.
Not Your Mother's
Why it is close. Shares amaranthus caudatus seed extract.
Not an affiliate link.
Not Your Mother's
Running total
View product (opens in new tab)Not an affiliate link.
Not Your Mother's
Not Your Mother's
Running total
View product (opens in new tab)Not an affiliate link.
Not Your Mother's
A dermatology review of hair cosmetics explains what shampoos, conditioners and styling products do to the hair shaft and what they cannot do.
Gavazzoni 2015 · Int J Trichologyaqua / water / eau, polysorbate 20, vp/va copolymer, amaranthus caudatus seed extract, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, ceratonia siliqua (carob) seed extract, hydrolyzed soy protein, zea mays (corn) starch, polyquaternium-16, hydroxypropylgluconamide, hydroxypropylammonium gluconate, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, polyquaternium-7, pisum sativum sprout extract, ethylhexylglycerin, tocopherol, citric acid, tartaric acid, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, parfum / fragrance, eugenol, limonene, linalool, tetramethyl acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, eucalyptus globulus oil, citrus aurantium bergamia peel oil, citrus limon peel oil, mentha viridis leaf oil, pinene, carvone, linalyl acetate, lavandula oil / extract, anethole, terpineol
Ingredient list from retailer listing, not confirmed on brand site. Source
We split Thickening Volumizer Spray into 5 standout parts worth 100 points in total. The build earns 63 of a possible 100. A full 100 needs every standout fully covered.
Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Instant Lift Root Spray by Not Your Mother's is our closest single-product match at 63 out of 100 for ~$8.99 (6 fl oz). It shares Root-lift spray, PVP, maltodextrin/VP copolymer, Amaranth extract.
Thickening Volumizer Spray costs $30 for 6 fl oz. The closest dupe costs ~$8.99, a saving of about $21.01. Prices change, so check the seller page.
No. Dupes share the key actives but can differ in concentration, vehicle and supporting ingredients. Missing from this one: VP/VA copolymer. See our methodology for how we score.
Olaplex · bond-repair
$10.99our build, 1 partOriginal $34, build $10.99.
Not Your Mother's
Olaplex · conditioner
~$18.78our build, 2 partsOriginal $34, build ~$18.78.
Neutrogena + Not Your Mother's
Olaplex · dry-shampoo
~$17.98our build, 2 partsOriginal $30, build ~$17.98.
Not Your Mother's