Kenra Texturizing Taffy vs. TIGI Bedhead Manipulator

These sticky stylers are ideal for creating a wide variety of hairstyles, from textured and choppy layered looks to short and sassy pixies. They're also terrific for many men's styles as well. This Face-Off pits two leading taffy-like products against each other in what should be an exciting battle, since I have used both of these products extensively for several years but have never judged them in a head-to-head battle...until now.

As always, each product will be judged on a 1-10 scale in the following categories: performance, ingredients, sensory appeal and packaging, and value. Now let's take a look at the competitors.

Kenra's Texturizing Taffy is a mainstay in their Platinum series of products. As one of the oldest manufacturers of professional haircare products, Kenra has experience on its side. Platinum Texturizing Taffy is designed to offer flexible styling without stiffness, providing a pliable hold that does not dry stiff or crunchy.

TIGI's Manipulator is one of history's best-selling styling products and is also one of the mainstays of their Bedhead line of products. This legendary fiber-forming cream can be applied to damp or dry hair for a wide variety of textured styles. Like Kenra's Texturizing Taffy, TIGI Bedhead Manipulator also provides style without stiffness. Both products provide a matte finish.

Buckle up, folks, this should be a terrific battle!

Performance: Both products performed as advertised, but neither product is ideal for super-fine hair. TIGI Manipulator tackled men's hair as easily as women's hair, but the Kenra product didn't seem to excel when it came to men's styling. Manipulator is definitely the more unisex of the products, and it provides a little more "stickiness" than Kenra Texturizing Taffy. In the end, I decided that Manipulator was a better match for highly-textured cuts and styles, whereas the Kenra product was best-suited for less extreme and more conservative styles. Close round, but Manipulator's edge in strength and its ability to style men's hair with ease gives TIGI an early lead. (TIGI:10 Kenra:9)

Ingredients: TIGI Manipulator contains nothing in the way of natural botanical ingredients (propylene glycol, ozokerite, PVP/VA copolymer, petrolatum, oleth-20, mineral oil, oleth-3, oleth-5, PEG-150 pentaerithritol tetrastearate), but it also doesn't contain anything that would present any health concerns. Kenra Texturizing Taffy contains the same main ingredients, but also contains phosphates and parabens, which aren't the greatest things in the world. (TIGI:7 Kenra:5)

Sensory Appeal: TIGI Manipulator has a pleasant fruity fragrance that still manages to be unisex. Kenra Texturizing Taffy has a very 'perfumey' smell. However, the packaging of the Kenra product is some of the best-designed packaging I've ever seen on a haircare product. Very elegant and refined, you'll probably want to keep the container long after the product inside runs out. But Kenra does lose a point on fragrance. (Kenra:9 TIGI:8)

Value: According to the Kenra website, the suggested salon retail price for Texturizing Taffy is $21.00, but I've seen it sell for as low as 12.00 online. Texturizing Taffy comes in a 2-ounce size, which translates into 10.50 per ounce when purchased in a salon. TIGI Manipulator also comes in a 2-ounce size, and prices vary between 5.00 and 20.00. The low-priced Manipulator seems to be sold in very old packaging, which suggests that it has been sitting on a warehouse shelf for several years, so I'd be very cautious when buying any container of Manipulator for under 10.00. Overall, both products are similar in price, so this round is a draw. (TIGI:8 Kenra:8)

And the winner is....

TIGI Bedhead Manipulator, in a very close competition. Ultimately, Manipulator pulled ahead because of its unisex appeal and slightly stronger hold, but both products are high-quality styling taffies that have their place in the beauty world. Manipulator is best for younger clients with edgier styles, and Texturizing Taffy is better-suited for mature women who still want to look modern and stylish. (Final Score: TIGI Bedhead Manipulator-33 Kenra Platinum Texturizing Taffy-31)