Types of Hair Gel

hair gel is a highly versatile styling product used to achieve various looks. It works great on all hair lengths, thicknesses, and textures to shape, sculpt, and hold hair in place. Most hair styling gels contain chemicals that dry out both your scalp and hair, leading to itchy scalp symptoms like flakiness. To keep hair healthy and reduce build-up, look for products formulated with natural ingredients like jojoba oil for best results.

Normal Hair

If you have straight, healthy hair that is free from damage and overprocessing and enjoy styling it variously, regular hair gel can provide you with the sleek look you desire. Best used on damp locks for optimal results, it comes in either traditional gel form or as liquid sprays for ease of application. There is also a range of hold levels available, from light and foamy to thick and rigid, that you can choose according to your style preferences and how long you need your hair to keep its shape. Ultimately, which one you go for will depend on you! Most gels contain a hair-styling polymer to provide texture, while supporting ingredients may include humectants such as glycerin or co-solvents to solubilize it, preservatives to prevent microbial growth, and preservatives for an extended shelf life. Some hair gels may also include drying alcohol (known as drying alcohol) to enhance the film formation of polymers; this may be better for people with dry and sensitive scalps.

Fine Hair

Fine hair lacking volume must find an extra volumizing boost; typically, this gel should be light in texture and applied with fingertips. Hair gel can be used for various hairstyles and provides a firm hold. Additionally, it helps tame frizz and flyaway locks, while some gels even define curls and create sleek styles. Hair gels can typically be divided into categories according to their thickness and hold power. A light, foamy gel works great for creating an undone yet playful style while still having some bounce and life in their locks, while medium-hold gels offer more rigid support when creating spikes with severe spikes compared to lighter gels.

Dry Hair

Hair gel can give your dry locks a strong yet flexible hold without being stiff or crunchy and give the appearance of fullness and volume to your locks. PVP (Polyvinyl Phosphate) is the primary component in most gels, an ingredient used to seal individual hair strands together and add shine to locks. As PVP is water-soluble, spray some water on it and reshape it if you wish to change or refresh your style. However, if you regularly use hair gel and have a dry scalp, you must switch to an organic product without short-chain alcohols, such as isopropyl, that may deplete moisture from your strands and cause them to become brittle. An ideal outcome would include Shea butter, as this hydrates strands for healthy, silky, and shiny locks; additionally, it should also be free from silicones, parabens, and dyes for optimal performance.

Curly Hair

Curly hair requires a gel that provides both definition and clumping for wash-and-go or twist-outs. In addition, using the appropriate gel will protect it from frizz during hot, humid temperatures. The best gels for curly hair should be free from drying alcohol, silicones, and sulfates that could damage your coils. Incorporating strengthening protein ingredients and moisture-retaining glycerin may provide optimal results; look for thin formulas with a slippery consistency, such as Curlysmith Shape Up Aqua Gel, for the best results. This mousse-like product is perfect for 3c to 4c curls, boasting coconut, almond, and avocado oils to moisturize your strands while holding them lightly in place. Its low hold makes it great for layering with another product for more volume or definition! You can apply this styling gel to wet or dry hair; it should have recently been washed and conditioned beforehand for optimal results.