On the other hand, gels made for waves and curls (think type 2c-3c hair) are usually super-high in hold and lower in moisture, giving curls a stiffer, stronger, more defined look. No, that is not a bad thing, despite the middle-school imagery flashing through your head—that crunchy noodle look is what you want. It's actually called a “gel cast,” and it’s the magic behind traditional curly hair gels (more on this below). Give the formula two weeks

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I would suggest looking for a gel with either no alcohol or the least amount of alcohol possible so as to not draw out moisture and dry out your hair that you spent time washing and treating,” says Ebony Gordon, an expert on natural/curly hair, color, extensions, and overall hair health. “No matter your hair texture, balance and moisture is key”. If you thought that hair gel was a recipe for crunchy, flakey, and stiff curls, I can't say I blame you. I thought the same until I discovered the Curly Girl Method a few years ago (a technique—nay, a way of life—for getting truly excellent curls) and found that a main component of getting said perfect curls was hair gel. So, I decided to rethink my initial thoughts and add one to my collection of curly hair products. And, folks, I truly cannot emphasize this revelation enough: Curly hair gel is the key to excellent-looking hair for every curl type . 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.The best hair gel for your curly hair is going to depend on what type of hair you have and the hairstyle you’re working with, so you'll wanna figure out your hair type for this. It’s not an exact science, but gels made for protective styles, wash and gos, and twist/braid-outs are usually high in moisture and soft or medium in hold, making them excellent choices for drier, type 4 hair. Gel is a great choice for everything from twist-outs to holding a sleek pony in place. However, some people might not enjoy the look or feel of them. Pomade doesn't offer as much control as gel, but may be gentler on hair. All hair gels are not created equal—and if you have curly, coily, or kinky natural hair, then you know that different occasions call for different gels. The right gel will provide clumping for your wash-and-go curls and definition for your twist-outs, but the wrong gel? Well, that’s just a dry, crunchy mess.

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It’s the stiff, hardened coating that stronger-hold gels often leave behind on curly hair. As your hair dries, the gel forms a crunchy shell around each of your curls/waves, defining it while protecting it from humidity and frizz. In junior high, we called this a ~lewk~. In 2020, we call this step one. Step two is to “ scrunch out the crunch” or “ break the cast." 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. CGM-approved? Yes* (*contains some isopropyl alcohol that's unlikely to have an effect on your hair) To get more insights on the best gels for natural hair we spoke with an expert to get insights for this story:If you try one of these gels and immediately hate your hair the next day, it may be more on user error—ahem, you <3—than on the actual product itself, especially if you're working with finer or looser curl types (think: 2b waves to 3b curls), which can easily be weighed down. Which means before you decide you hate the gel, give it 2-3 full weeks of experimenting before making a yay or nay decision.