Photo from yerbaromero on Instagram
Curly hair tends to have a mind of its own and can look amazing one day, only to fall flat and dull the next. Gel helps to reduce the unpredictability of curls and offer consistency.
What they do
Gels achieve two goals: 1) adding extra definition, and 2) locking in results and keeping them lasting longer.
The ideal gel
The ideal gel should be made with natural ingredients. Many gels are loaded with harsh ingredients that harm the hair both short and long term. Flakiness, stiffness and crunch are common side effects among poor quality gels.
The application
Gently scrunching gel into the hair is typically the best application method. Start by pumping a few pumps into your hand. Rub your hands together to spread the gel. Flip upside down or to the side and start scrunching. Remember to start with a small amount and add more gradually.
You can scrunch it into smaller sections or scrunch it into all your hair at once. Since I normally cocktail products, I don’t bother separating my hair into small sections for gel application.
Layering
If you are layering your gel, make sure to apply it at the end. Apply your creams (leave-in, styling products, etc) first and use the gel to lock it all in.
Moderation
As with all products, using too much gel can ruin your results. Finding the perfect balance is important to ensure your gel is helping your hair look its best. It might take some trial and error to find the perfect balance for your hair. Keep trying different amounts of gel until you are happy with your results.
Where to go from here
Now that you know all about gels, it’s time to check out some powerful and effective gels that DON’T flake or weigh down hair. Take a look at some natural gels here.
