I did several side-by-side comparisons of the Type 4 and Buttery Soy HCs since my BF purchase, and here are my findings:
- Both have a thick, creamy consistency (the Buttery Soy is off-white and has a faint fruity/vanilla-esque aroma, whereas the Type 4 has a yellowish hue with a slight minty smell)
- Both have a somewhat sticky initial application (most likely due to the honey)
- Both take a moment to fully absorb into the hair
- Both provide a high level of moisture and shine
- Both have proven to be highly effective on dry, wet and damp hair
- Both have the ability to "play nicely" with other hair products
However, the Type 4 HC has consistently out-shined and out-performed the Buttery Soy with respect to moisture level, long-lasting moisture and shine. Although both hair cremes afforded me with instantaneous moisture, the side with the Type 4 allowed my hair to maintain its soft, lush, highly moisturized feeling for far longer than the Buttery Soy. After two days, the side with the Buttery Soy had lost much of its moisture and shine, and began to look and feel dull and under-moisturized. OTOH, the side with the Type 4 was soft, shiny and spry for four full days.
Since their arrival, I've experimented with these two hair cremes in every state (wet, dry, damp, straightened) using various methods (as a moisturizer, styler, refresher) and in a multitude of ways (LOC, LCO, LC, etc.). From my experiences, I've concluded that Type 4 HC surpasses its counterpart by a wide margin in all areas. While the Buttery Soy is an excellent hair creme, the Type 4 wins the gold hands down. I was so impressed with its performance that I purchased 4 more jars...as a reward for good behavior.
MileHighDiva: I think it's the Cuscus Grass Extract that's giving it a minty aroma.