I go to an Aveda salon and the minute my hairdresser used this on my hair I knew I had to have it. My hair is like Alice's from Twilight, lots of texture, spiky and messy. This works great for when I'm done and want to set everything in place. I normally use Pantene pomade for texture and shine but got tired of the sticky feeling. Custom Control has great hold and a little goes a long way.

The only product of Aveda I can actually use. I love the feeling of a blowout, but hate how it's too sleek and soft. I use Aveda Custom Control gel wax to bring back texture in my hair, without feeling too sticky. I have a cowlick on the left side of my bangs, and this product brings down the sticked up hair. No other product would do this without bringing back my natural wavy hair texture. Also, this brings a nice shine. My hair is always so great, people ask if I am an anime character! Expensive, but that's Aveda. I'd only buy products that are worth for me to use.

There are 4 reasons why i dislike this product. One, the fragrance is horrendous! It is like dried saliva, or bad breathe. Yucky. Two, it is more like a gel than a wax, i don't like to be mislead. Three, the packaging, no matter what happens, always leaks and is messy. Four, it doesn't keep my baby hairs down when i tie my hair up in a pony-tail.
This is really let me down, as i really like Aveda's hair products and this really disappointed me. I recommend Aveda's Control Paste over this one.

I have medium length fine Asian hair, and this product doesn't work for me. The packaging is different; it reminds me of a underarm deodorant container. The texture of this product on my hair was pasty and it felt like I used mud on my hair. I also noticed by the end of the day, the places that I applied this stuff on was a magnet for dust, and it smelled terrible. I think this stuff would probably work great for people with short, spiky hair.

"Gel wax" says the label - this is supposed to be a liquid gel that works like a wax or pomade. I have short hair and like the piecey look - this does not get me to "piecey." Applied to dry or damp hair, this goes on feeling very wet and works in easily. Feels greasy at first but eventually it does dry to a hard crunchy texture - on my hair I can get mini-spikes, but if I run my hands through my hair, any spikes disappear and I look like I've just used a bristle brush. So, this does not hold any sort of piecey or spiky look. Very minor control or hold - how disappointing. Can be slightly refreshed with wet hands but then it just feels wet and messy again until it dries. I hate to return things, and I returned this one. For the piecey look and good hold, I'll go back to my Paul Mitchell Wax Works. Aroma is a light herbal Aveda-esque scent, not very strong - which is a nice change, many Aveda products have potent aromas. Packaging is nice, I always like a see-thru package. Overall, this is a nice product but did not work for my hair and hairstyle. YMMV.

This product didn't work for me, but maybe it just wasn't meant for use on really thick, coarse hair like mine. I have relaxed hair and I was looking for a product to use on my ends when I feel like doing a "flippy" look. This product made my hair feel dry and it didn't provide enough hold. Will not buy again.

My hairdresser used this on me when i got a short cut. I may be in the minority in that i really don't care for the Aveda smell. Possibly because I am sensitive to strong fragrances, but this scent just lingers too much.
This product gave my fine, wavy hair good control, but felt sticky and stiff. I would not purchase it.

Finally.... I found a styling gel that actually works! I have very straight hair and I need volume. This stuff does that for me. I apply it to wet hair right at the roots then dry it with my head upside down with a diffuser on my hair dryer as close to the scalp as I can. Gives it lots of body that is actually still there the next day. Prefer this to the Phomollient. I have naturally shiny hair anyway, but this seems to add a bit also. A little bit goes a long way. Will definitely buy this again.
Update 3/6/04: Just repurchased this at $17 a wack - would not have spent that much money if it wasn't worth it. Definitely HG status. continued >>

Hmm. I love the smell, as with all Aveda products, and the consistency of the gel works pretty well with my kinda frizzy hair. But in the course of things, I can't imagine repurchasing an item just for the smell when its overall performance is generally unremarkable. Pass.

I used this to keep my fly aways to a minimum and flatten my fine thick hair. the smell is amazing, the packaging is awful (many times, i'd lose the cap in my bag..), but it works. chances are, there are similar drugstore products that work just as well..they just don't smell as "earth friendly."

Custom Control is a heavy gel-like styling treatment for hair. I have straight and heavy Asian hair. I tried the Self-Control wax and it was too sticky and ended up in globs in my hair, even though I warmed it between my palms first. I like Custom Control a lot better because it's not as heavy as Self Control but has more holding power than your average drugstore gel. It's great for giving heavy hair "pieces" or for flipping and separating out the ends.It's pretty expensive for gel ($16.50) and the packaging could use some improvement. The top of the container pops off very easily making it hard to travel with. continued >>

This was my "step-up" product from Self Control. But there aren't that many similarities. The smell is softer than S.C., but still in the same family. The dispensing is novel, allowing me very precise control. The application tended to be messy.
The best part? The mica!!! It left my hair all sparkly and glam and lustrous and feeling very party-like without looking like a raver.
The worst part? Control? What control? I found it had very little styling properties, at least compared to S.C. It was a fun option, but I certainly didn't throw out my trusting S.C. At least, not until I found...
HAIR PLAY by KMS!!! Read my review there.

This is a part liquid, part gel...it's not my favorite product from Aveda. I didn't have nearly as much control as with the control paste.

Like all Aveda products this stuff is eco-smelly, all random essential oils. The deodorant-like dispenser is, well, interesting. This stuff went on sticky and had a tendency to really get gooey on humid days, so I "lost" it.

This is a great styling aid! It helps style my hair no matter how I do it that day! It's a little sticky, but it smells amazing, as do all Aveda products!

Gives awesome shine and hold to my wavy hair. The smell is really nice too! :)

This is a 2.6 oz. twist up container ($17 USD) that makes it easy to control how much product is dispensed. It has a nice scent (much better than the Self Control Stick in my opinion) and offers just the right amount of hold for my curly wavy hair, although it can be a little "crunchy" if too much is applied. I like it but I have been an Aveda fan for a long time.