Wednesday, May 1, 2024

17 Best Gels for Curly Hair 2024 Expert and Editor Reviews

hair gel for curly hair

This sulphate, paraben and silicone-free gel promises to detangle your hair and leave it bouncy for a longer duration. The brand also claims that this product for curly hair is free from cruelty, which makes it a good choice for your curly hair care routine. Often a moisturizing agent, which most curly hair gels contain, will smooth frizz as well. Because curly hair is drier due to its texture, hydrating ingredients are desirable in these gels. One of the most important elements of any curly hair education is identifying your curl type.

Best for Tight Curl Patterns: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Soufflé

Arata Advanced Hair Gel comes with a combo pack of a hair cream. Formulated with aloe vera, shea butter and natural oils, this hair gels for curly hair promises to enhance the curl definition without weighing them down. This lightweight gel is water-soluble and claims to rinse out easily. It may also make your curls soft, protect them from humidity, frizz and offer a soft hold for a long period of time.

Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

It's more moisturizing than it is defining, so it'll add softness and shine while helping to encourage your natural curl pattern without a crunchy finish. Waves and loose curls fall into a very finicky territory where the right products can magically enhance their texture...while the wrong products can fully straighten them out. It's lightweight, non-sticky, and silicone-free, so it'll help define your wavy hair without weighing it down. Rub a squeeze of gel between your palms, flip your sopping-wet hair over, and gently scrunch the gel to encourage your wave/curl pattern. "A gel will provide that separation that you like to see when you have curls, and it's also going to give you a little bit more definition," says Leigh Hardges, a Chicago-based hair stylist. "Because of the way it coats the hair, it's going to help prevent frizz." According to Hardges, hair gel works best on 3A (loose, springy ringlets) to 4A (tight, defined, S-shaped curls) hair types.

L'Oreal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Leave-In Conditioner

” Using the gel is simple, too — just apply from root to tip and air dry or dry with a diffuser. With 98% naturally derived ingredients, Garnier Fructis’ curl-shaping jelly can work for any hair type — curly, wavy, or even straight — though it’s formulated especially for curly hair. Packed with coconut oil to moisturize and glycerin to condition and reduce frizz, it promises definition and shine. The gel has a traditional consistency and is also vegan and free of sulfates, parabens, silicones, mineral oil, and artificial colors. The shaping jelly offers a light hold and frizz resistance for up to 24 hours.

hair gel for curly hair

The deeply moisturizing formula utilizes shea butter, coconut oil, and hibiscus flower extract to smooth out each hair cuticle and protect against breakage; not to mention it smells incredible. Immediately after one use, you’ll notice less dullness and more shine (hello, fast results!). Adding moisture, defining curls, and finding the perfect sulfate-free shampoo is a full-time job that requires a lot of trial and error. A gel is often enough for curly hair when defining curls and reducing frizz. The best gel should provide enough hold to maintain the curl pattern throughout the day. However, curly hair often requires a comprehensive regimen that includes other products like shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in treatments for optimal health and shine.

"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.

The 20 Best Curly Hair Products of 2024 - InStyle

The 20 Best Curly Hair Products of 2024.

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Design Essential Coconut & Monoi Curl Defining Gelee

As curly girls know, nailing your desired look is as much about the product as how you put it on. Leison recommends applying gel to wet hair as a last step (as she says, think of it as the Parmesan cheese on your pasta), keeping it two inches from the roots so you have some lift and movement. “The best way to apply gel is by taking sections, making sure you evenly distribute product,” adds Pattern Hair ambassador Mideyah Parker. Before you start scrunching, check out our roundup of the best gels for curly hair.

When it comes to selecting a shampoo, François recommends looking for a sulfate-free option. For thin, grease-prone hair, sulfates can help to cleanse and clarify. But, with dry, textured hair, they are often overly stripping, removing too many of the natural oils our scalps need to thrive.

'I'm a curly hair expert. Here are 7 mistakes women with curly hair often make.' - Mamamia

'I'm a curly hair expert. Here are 7 mistakes women with curly hair often make.'.

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This product is known for its strong holding power and is suitable for all hair types, even coarse, thick strands. The active ingredients like olive oil and protein nourish the hair while providing a defined curl pattern. Coming in at the top of our list is this leave-in cream from Briogeo, which works double duty to both define and humidity-proof your curls. The formula is infused with rice amino acids and avocado oil to help your hair retain moisture and reduce static, and the creamy texture is lightweight and doesn’t ever flake or feel sticky.

Motorcycle Flexible Gel is ideal for finer hair textures that need extra hold without looking like a helmet. This gel runs the gamut from looser waves to tighter coils, and delivers the hold of a gel but with the flexibility of a hair wax. For more porous curls that need extra moisture, look to this oil-based pick from Mizani. A combo of coconut, marula, and olive oils keeps curls from drying out while adding a glossy finish on the outside. Innersense’s I Create Hold styling gel tops both Witherspoon’s and Strickland’s lists. Its silicone-free formula uses moisturizing aloe along with nettle and eucalyptus to keep hair hydrated as it defines curls.

With ultra-light hold, this targeted Davines gel works to nourish your hair and scalp, giving you extra strength and a bit of style. Apply it right out of the shower, and finish by either air-drying or diffusing your hair, depending on your desired look. Either way, we’re betting your curls will have a touchable hold without the flakes. Bread Beauty Supply’s Hair-Gel is perfect for styling the sleekest curls. We suggest running it through your hair while the hair is still wet, and letting its moisture-attracting, high-gloss-inducing formula work its magic as it dries down. “Mousse benefits include body and volume, root lift, curl activation, strand density, and frizz control to keep hair soft and moisturized with heat protection,” Abramite told The Post.

Best hair gel for curly hair: 6 top picks to define your curls

hair gel for curly hair

With so many variations and kinds of gels available in the market — each uniquely formulated to cater to different curl patterns — it could be difficult to find the perfect one (or two, or three) for you. After years of experience styling natural-haired celebs, he created his own product line in 2016, and it’s grown to become a mainstay in many curl routines. We’re especially fond of his Curl Shampoo for the way it moisturizes wavy hair type while it cleanses.

Best Medium-Hold Gel: Ceremonia Pequi Styling Gel

Rub the gel between your fingers, then take 3 fingers and rake them through your hair from the roots to the ends, but stop just before you get to the ends. Then, shake your fingers back and forth, encouraging your stretched out curls to clump and form curls again. This non-sticky gel also delivers mega hold, but it's more of an everyday formula for high-maintenance styles.

Best Anti-aging: Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Clinical Densifying Styling Mousse

I Tried the Curly Girl Method on My Wavy Hair, and I'm Never Going Back - Real Simple

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"If it's too strong or firm, it could leave the hair flaky or crusty, and there may not be much flexibility with the styling," he says.His favorites? Read on for a few of the hair products he trusts on his clientele, plus a handful of the best hair gels we trust with our hair too. Enriched with natural and nourishing ingredients, this light-weight gel works on all hair types from 2A to 4C, but Amos especially loves using it to style thick, coarse 3A to 3C hair textures. "I love it because it gives that thick, coarse type 3 hair enough strong hold but with the rice amino acids and quinoa extract, your curls are left soft and flexible." "It dries stiff and softens to the touch, which is my favorite way for a gel to activate to control frizz and maintain definition," he says.

Curly Girl Method How To: The Easiest Routine for Beginners 2024 - Cosmopolitan

Curly Girl Method How To: The Easiest Routine for Beginners 2024.

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Taliah Waajid Tight Hold Loc It Up for Natural Hair

You’ll see wonderful volume and shine, too, which makes this product worth the money. Living Proof has been a standout in the haircare space for years, and its Full Thickening Mousse is no exception. Notably, it smells like your most refreshing citrus drink and is one of the easiest to blend into your hair. Just keep in mind that it has somewhat of a sticky residue on your fingers after using, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Though its pump can tend to dispense product in a messier fashion than most, it’s not a deal-breaker, especially considering how effective the product is on my hair.

Mielle Organics Honey & Ginger Styling Gel

This lightweight and non-sticky gel may help to seal the hair cuticles and protect your strands from heat. Regular use of this gel may stimulate hair growth, repair damaged hair, provide strength, shine and promote colour retention. A trifecta of coconut, argan, and monoi oils makes this Renpure gel ideal for curly hair. These oils work together to moisturize, add shine, and prevent dryness. Polymers coat your curls for definition, and glycerin acts as a humectant to draw in moisture and prevent frizz.

Devacurl Arc Angel Gel Maximum Hold No-Crunch Styler, $22, ulta.com

hair gel for curly hair

Work this into wet hair and let it sit for five to 10 minutes to do its thing—namely strengthen, moisturize, soften, detangle, and elongate your curls—then shampoo and condition as usual. It’s important that all of your hair has an even coating of your styling product so that you do not end up with some curls that feel crunchy with gel and others that are frizzy and lacking definition. There are a few easy techniques you can use to apply your gel, depending on your curl pattern. Still associating hair gel with the days of crunchy, "scrunched" hair?

#9: Living Proof Curl Defining Gel

“Sweet and soothing” is perhaps the best way to describe this defining gel from Camille Rose. It’s made with a blend of natural ingredients to moisturize and strengthen your hair, helping to reduce breakage. When it says “Don’t Shrink” and “Elongating,” it’s not kidding! It hydrates and moisturizes to leave hair with a lasting stretch and hold. It’s made with both wheat protein and sericin (a silk protein). They help to strengthen your strands while sealing the cuticles to lock in moisture and keep humidity out.

People With Curly Hair Are Saying This Viral Gel Is The ONLY Product You Need To Style Your Hair, So I Tried It

To prevent frizz and add shine, you can rub a few drops of a lightweight hair oil between your hands before scrunching out the crunch (finer hair types might want to skip this and just use clean hands). If your products have coconut oil and are working great for you, then you definitely don't need to toss them. Personally, I found that coconut oil and my coarse, thick, curly hair don't mix well, so I'll most likely be steering clear in the future. Ashley also has a few tips on what ingredients to try instead if coconut oil does dry out your hair. "When looking to hydrate your curls, you want to look for products that have camellia oil, argan oil, or shea butter. These ingredients will add nourishment into your hair, leaving it soft and hydrated." When you’re only washing your hair every few days, you’ve got to make your style last — and sleeping on a silk pillowcase will help extend the life of your curls.

We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Commerce team. Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She considered dozens of products for this roundup, researched peer-reviewed journals, and consulted our testing insights. Our product testers tried some of the top-rated products for weeks at a time, taking note of how well they delivered results as well as any extra product features.

Any gel worth its salt will lock in your natural curl and keep it in place throughout the day — or even for a few days. Make this fast-absorbing finishing oil the final step of your styling routine. Just a few drops help to smooth and fight static while also adding mirror-like shine—for all curl types. Credit a blend of five different oils, plus the fact that the formula is silicone-free, so you don’t ever have to worry about it weighing down your hair.

For a budget pick, try the Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Refreshing Curl Foam. Though marketed for curly hair, I found that it worked quite well with my wavy hair. Not to mention, it’s wonderful to pair with its dry shampoo for impressive volume (one of the best I tested, too). While the mousse wasn’t as airy as others tested, it’s wonderful for medium to thick hair types and worked quite well on my fine to medium hair. You’ll also appreciate its lasting hold and attention to body-building.

hair gel for curly hair

The fact of the matter is that people with curly hair do need a stockpile of products on hand. "Our curls are governed by the weather," explains Lorraine Massey, creator of The Curly Girl Method, founder of CurlyWorld, and owner of Spiral (x,y,z), a salon in NYC. "Water molecules that are ever-present in the atmosphere affect our hair like a mood ring," which means your curls change by the hour, with the weather. This lightweight gel shapes curls perfectly with zero crunch or dryness.

Applying this gel in your curls may protect it from humidity and prevent frizz. Say goodbye to bad hair days because this gel promises to deeply moisturise your curls and provide a soft hold without causing any buildup. The product states that it is free from cruelty, sulphate, paraben and silicone, which makes it a safe option for your curls. The choice between gel and mousse for curly hair depends on the desired outcome and hair type.

17 Best Gels for Curly Hair 2024 Expert and Editor Reviews

Table Of Content Best for Tight Curl Patterns: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Soufflé Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut O...