20 Best Gels for Curly Hair of 2022 Best Hair Gel for Curls
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This three-pack of strong hold hair gels from Aussie gives customers a great balance of budget-friendly pricing and quality, flake-free styling. The copolymer formula is infused with aloe and jojoba oil to provide nourishing moisture , so you can achieve the styles you want without drying out your hair. For any hair type that’s prone to dryness, you should also opt for an alcohol-free formula so the gel doesn’t dry out your hair even more.
Biolage Styling Gelée (16.9 oz), $22
Using their advice and building off our research, we curated a list of the top 15 hair gels, including drugstore and high-end options and a mix of formulas such as gel-cream textures and more traditional true-gel ones. Those with thinning hair should act with caution when using a hair gel, so as to not exacerbate damage and stressed-out strands. Our experts emphasize the importance of finding something that boosts body and helps thin areas appear fuller. Parker recommends Nioxin Styling Thickening Gel which offers volumizing hold, while Polko prefers Aquage Thickening Spray, which is formulated to thicken and strengthen hair as you style. If we could only recommend one hair gel, we'd have to go with Biolage Styling Gelée on account of its multi-use, ultra-nourishing botanical formula that works for all hair types. Having said that, Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Styling Gel is a great option for those who want to keep their gel budget under $10.
Wetline Xtreme Professional Hair Styling Gel
Good-for-your-hair ingredients like quinoa extract and keratin amino acids also help strengthen hair. All you need for perfect curls is to use a leave-in conditioner followed by this gel. "You don’t have to do this whole series of creams, and it's not going to flake," says Hardges. She cautions that a little goes a long way — if you use too much, you could see some flaking.
PATTERN Curl Gel
This jelly is infused with nourishing oils like coconut, olive, and marula oils to hydrate and tame each tendril to perfection. You can do a lot with just $3—and it all happens to be in this (admittedly goofy) banana-shaped bottle. Hairstylists swear by this extreme-hold formula, which will shape any head of hair into whatever near-solid sculpture you wish. Cleanse, hydrate, and relax at the end of the day with a Johnny B. While this is a deeply hydrating formula, it does contain benzyl alcohol, so you should avoid it if you are allergic to this ingredient. And if you want to get that sultry soaked hair look, Blaine says to take this gel and add an ample amount until it looks like you have just stepped out of the shower.
The 20 best hair styling gels of 2023, according to experts
Additionally, you'll find options with hydrolyzed wheat protein, keratin, quinoa extract, rice protein, and other amino acids. Aloe vera is also often added for smoothness and enhanced texture. This medium-hold gel combines nourishing pequi oil, strengthening acai extract, and moisturizing aloe to define limp curls while enhancing their shine. Plus, you won’t have to worry about its nonsticky formula making your fingers feel tacky after it’s applied.
Infused with sea kelp and jojoba oil, Instant Freeze offers maximum hold and a refreshing scent—no flakes, no stickiness, no residue. Thanks to Garnier, you can get the good stuff without shelling out a bunch of cash. Containing an impressive 98 percent naturally derived ingredients, the brand's Pure Clean Styling Gel offers a strong yet weightless finish without any flakes. Alberto VO5® began as a conditioning hairdressing created by a chemist and a hairdresser, Alberto, in Culver City, California.
As an added bonus, it’s gluten and paraben-free to keep your hair happy and healthy. This will depend on the type of look you are going for, but typically if you want a stronger hold then curly, coily and kinky hair will need a styling gel with a strong formula. If you legit cannot get a gel cast to save your life (it's an art! I still struggle! Help!) try this strong-hold gel. It'll clump your curls to help protect them against frizz and humidity while you diffuse or air-dry.
Poppy Meadows Beauty = Unscented Products by the Gallon
With ceramides and honey, this gel adds beautiful shine and definition to curly and coily hair. Its hydrating properties make it an excellent choice for anyone with compromised, dry hair. To add texture and definition to the hair, this gel pomade can create volume in even pin-straight hair. It dries down to a non-sticky, matte finish, and works well on short or medium-length styles. For curls that need a little extra definition, this gel can get it done. It works well for waves, curls, and tighter coils, without flaking or feeling too sticky.
Pixie cuts can be high maintenance, but this gel helps define, hold, and style shorter styles with ease. It uses vitamin A and glycerin to give a high-shine, strong-hold style. Whether you’re looking to define curls, sleek ponytails, or set flyaways hairs, this hydrating gel can do it all. It uses olive oil to hydrate hair while it’s on, so fragile hair can get the most out of its benefits. This gel holds curls in place while also promoting curls to form.
It works well on waves, looser curls, and tight coils to add definition and hydration. If you want definition without the crunch, this gel is super soft, smooths hair, and is easy to use. For looser curls and waves, it helps eliminate frizz for quick styles. Described as a "glossing gel," this curl potion defines curls, hydrates hair, and delivers major shine.

Ouai's classic Matte Pomade contains a smart technology complex that targets damaged areas of the hair to help repair the cuticle, replenish moisture, and provide protection from environmental stress. Beeswax also helps build a soft thickness and body to the hair while kaolin clay gives that extra long-lasting hold. If you have straight, fine hair, Nioxin's gel might be a winner for you. "Non-alcohol-based gels are best, as it won't have the crunchy factor. Or if it does, have it be further down on the list of ingredients," Francis says. Aesop is no stranger to products that smell as good as they work, so we'll go ahead and put money on this lightweight, sculpting gel's ability to make hair look (and, yes, smell) absolutely unreal. Free of sulfates, silicones, and parabens, this curl gel is a dream for hydration and nourishment, while also taming coils and keeping frizz at bay.
How To Find Good Hair Gel, Wax For Slicked Back Styling - Refinery29
How To Find Good Hair Gel, Wax For Slicked Back Styling.
Posted: Thu, 09 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
If you're looking to do a gel cast, protective style, twist/braid-out, or any other sleek and/or really defined look, you should be using a curl gel. On the other hand, if the look you're going for requires more of a lighter hold—yet still a bit of definition—you should be using a curl mousse. If you have finer hair, a curl gel can also be used on top of a mousse. But this formula uses aloe and mallow extract to define thinner, drier curls and create a strong gel cast—all without weighing them down.
Sally Beauty gave a step-by-step tutorial on how to create a slick backed bun look using Eco Style’s Krystal Styling Gel (which is also included in our roundup below). Take a look below to see how to use the hair styling gel and a brush to create a clean, crisp look. Both organic and cruelty free, this gel smells like honey and orange blossoms. A little bit goes a long way for all-day hold, touchably soft curls, and an ingredient list you can feel good about. From there, the way you apply hair gel depends on what type of hair you have. This is another great gel that offers lightweight hold for waves without being too much on the hair or weighing it down.
It’s also good for all hair types whether you have fine, thick, straight, wavy or curly hair. She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. It fully depends on your hair type, texture, and the look you’re going for (e.g., a protective style doesn’t require a gel cast and won’t necessarily use the same application method as a wash and go or). But if you’re going for the gel cast, you'll need a lot of gel—like a huge handful of gel for fine, shoulder-length hair. Coat your hands with gel then rake and scrunch it through your soaking-wet hair section by section (here’s a gel cast tutorial I love, if you need a visual).
Then, synthetic polymers appear on a list as copolymers, polyquaternium, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, silicone ingredients, or acetates. If you're interested in dipping your toes (or rather, your tips) back into the gel pool, we've got good news. Today's formulas aren't like the goopy blue hues of decades past. They're a little creamier, often nourishing, totally versatile, and offer a flexible hold that lasts for hours. What's more, you can count on all-around better-looking hair.
"I had low expectations for this product since lightweight gels usually do not provide good definition for my hair," says one reviewer. "However, this product dramatically exceeded my expectations. Despite its low-to-nonexistent crunch factor, it gives me beautiful ringlets with minimal frizz." This curl gel is a hairspray alternative that also works as a conditioning treatment. It's super lightweight, so your curls won't feel crunchy or heavy. "This does a really good job at taming the frizz and not weighing my curls down as a lot of products seem to do," says one reviewer. As a gel and serum hybrid, this GH Beauty Award winning pick doesn't just work double-duty on your curls, it's also affordable.
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