There’s nothing like flexing your natural texture. But curly hair tends to have a mind of its own, and sometimes it doesn’t want to cooperate with your devious plans for curl domination. Maintaining definition can be an issue, especially when you’re dealing with humidity, but thankfully, hair gels for curly hair are here to help.
No, we’re not talking about those dry, crunchy gels that make your hair look like it hopped right out of 2003. And we’re definitely not here for any gels loaded with alcohol. But zapping frizz, adding moisture, and pumping up the shine factor? Oh, that just sounds like curl heaven. “Gels are best used on wavy to curly hair [types 2 and 3] that doesn’t have moisture deficiencies,” explains hairstylist Andre Walker, who works with Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, and Michelle Obama. “Creams add moisture, but not all gels do.”
So here’s a word to the wise: Read the ingredient list very carefully. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King recommends looking for ingredients that will add moisture to hair like glycerin, oils, and butters. But before you decide on a gel to add to your stash, we rounded up 17 of the best hair gels for curls for you to consider that hairstylists and editors absolutely adore.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.