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For waves, Hardges recommends covering your hands in gel and using your fingers to rake through your hair, squeezing your curls as you go. Catherine Hufton is a London-based lifestyle journalist and has been a contributing writer and editor for Byrdie since 2022. She digs deep into all things fashion and beauty to find the very best shopping must-haves—from the most effective collagen serums to the best drugstore makeup essentials. Put a liberal amount of gel into your fingertips and do a basic mussed-up look, getting your hair into a combination of spikes and casual messiness. Then, take a medium-tooth comb, wet it, and run it along the sides of your head, above each ear. Without further ado, below are the best you can buy right now and a bit of information on what to look out for first. What is the best hair gel to use?

While formulas vary greatly in terms of their formulations, standout ingredients include plant-based butters, like mango, cocoa seed, and shea, as well as natural oils, like apricot, jojoba, macadamia, castor, tea tree, neem, baobab oil, and coconut. 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.Alcohol-free: Alcohol can be a problem in any hair care product. In textured hair, it can increase dryness. Since textured hair tends to err on the dryer side already, this can be damaging and can make hair look dull. Fortunately, many products on this list are free of alcohol, including CURLS Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Jelly.

Hair gel is unlikely to cause hair loss. Most male hair loss is caused by a combination of genetics and hormones, and manifests as male pattern baldness . So your hair thinning is more likely to be caused by baldness genes than the hair gel you’re using. Hardges says to apply when your hair is still soaked. "You always want to layer gels: You never want to mix them with anything in your hand because they’ll curdle." Opt for using a leave-in conditioner first, then following up with a gel. Hardges likes to squeeze in an oil after her gel has dried to get rid of any gel cast (the hard coating some gels can leave behind) and add extra moisture.Hair gel is water-soluble, making it easy to wash out of your hair. Simply rinse your hair with water, and the gel will dissolve, leaving your hair clean and free from product buildup. You can use your regular shampoo to cleanse your hair after using gel, ensuring that all traces of the product are removed. There are many different styles you can achieve with gel–it is really versatile,” says McLaren. “Gels are great for hold, definition, shine, and humidity protection.” For long-lasting styles, “Gel has more grit and a better hold than most hair creams allowing for styles to last all day,” says Harrington. “Gels behave more as a bonding unit for styles while creams and oils can make hair too soft to hold a desired look.”

Most hair gels contain some form of polymers, which are what creates the long-lasting hold. They can be in the form of naturally derived ingredients, such as starch, cellulose, silk protein, or hydrolyzed wheat protein. Then, synthetic polymers appear on a list as copolymers, polyquaternium, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, silicone ingredients, or acetates. 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. But first, how do you apply hair gel? When browsing hair gels, world-renowned session stylist Kevin Murphy says to look for a "range of ingredients designed to protect the integrity of your hair and scalp while giving you that on-trend gel finish." Hair gel generally offers a high shine finish. The polymers present in the gel create a reflective surface on the hair, resulting in a sleek and glossy appearance. This high shine can give your hair a polished and professional look, perfect for formal occasions or when you want to make a statement with your hairstyle.To get more insights on the best gels for natural hair we spoke with an expert to get insights for this story: While both hair wax and hair gel provide hold and control, the level of control differs between the two products. Hair wax allows for more flexibility and movement, making it easier to restyle your hair throughout the day. Hair gel, on the other hand, offers a more rigid and defined hold, which is ideal for creating precise and structured hairstyles. Shine Hair wax shine factor Whether you have curls, coils, waves, or straight hair, gels can work with your hair type. “Gels are for a wide variety of hair types,” says Harrington. “Those with curly hair tend to like gels because they can create amazing curl definition, fight frizz and its versatility,” says McLaren. “However, gels are also great for short hairstyles, sleek looks–like a sleek ponytail as well as creating a more sculptural style or even a wet look.”