15 Best Gels for Curly Hair to Maintain Manageable Curls

Curly hair is beautiful but it's often like a box of chocolates and you never really know what (look) you’re going to get. It doesn't take long for curls to look wild and untamed and add a bit of frizz to that and you could be reduced to tears. The best gels for curly hair ensure that the curls obey and stay the way you want them to. Curly hair does need a bit of extra care. These gels give your curly hair that extra pampering for a neat and defined look. They keep your hairstyle in place by preventing flyaways and keeping your hair moisturized sans the greasiness.

Curls are a part of life for American Actress Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman and she has reveled her curl routine, "First I comb through my hair with a wide tooth comb to get all teh tangles out. Make sure the hair is all wet and then I just use my special juice. I just put that on my palm and run it evenly through my hair. This basically helps define the curls or waves that I have, without making it crunchy. Then, I dry my hair witha a microfiber cloth which is much better than regular towels." She finally, seals it in using a diffuser, and dries her hair completely to get juicy and bouncy curls.Even though curly hair is innately beautiful with its bounce and coils, it can be a nightmarish experience to get them to oblige to a desired hairstyle. While regular hair gels are good for a quick fix, they are definitely not the solution. They eventually make your curls more difficult to manage and what you need is an especially formulated gel for curls that gives them control and definition. Based on our first-hand experience, we have curated a list of the 15 best gels for curly hair which we hope will put your hair woes to rest.

If you are blessed with curly hair, Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizing Twist & Lock Gel does it all for you — curl enhancing, moisturizing, volumizing, frizz control, shine, and smoothing. This curly hair gel ensures that your curls are shiny and silky and perfect for braid outs, twists, and loc styles. Its creamy gel formula is an infusion of pure shea butter, coconut oil, and avocado oil. It also has essential oils like almond, jojoba, olive, mango seed, carrot seed, and grapeseed oil. It removes frizz, soothes and moisturizes your hair strands, and is perfect for type 3 curls, locs, and type 4 coils. We have found from using this product that hair damage and breakage are controlled as its unique formula moisturizes, nourishes, conditions, and styles your hair. So get ready for envious looks with your shiny and gorgeous curls.

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel helps to tame your curl by protecting it from heat, UV damage, and humidity. The inclusion of Anti-Frizz Nano Technology in its formula with sericin silk protein offers advanced frizz protection. It has the added advantage of enhancing and defining curls. This curl defining gel seals every single hair strand, keeps in moisture, and keeps out humidity. Pliable styling polymers and wheat proteins combine to form a flexible and lightweight lattice that expands as the level of humidity or heat goes up. This helps to reduce frizziness and flyaways and hold curl definition with its flexible hold. Its lightweight formula doesn't weigh down your hair or leave it sticky and crunchy. You can now enjoy soft and bouncy curls!

For a life-changing experience with your curls, Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé just the gel for you! With its level 5 medium hold, it's ideal for styling curly, wavy, and coiled hair. This soufflé is both a moisturizer and a styling gel and forms a mild cast on the curls to give moisture, definition, and bounce. It may feel slightly hard to touch while drying, but after drying you can scrunch up your hair for soft curls. This gel for curly hair uses natural and rare ingredients like andiroba, known for its hair-nourishing and stimulating properties. It's also a nourishing blend of Irish moss and avocado oil. It's perfect for braids, flexible wash-and-go styles, and twist-outs without an iota of greasiness, weight, or residue.

Get the most out of your curly hair with SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Soufflé. This curly hair styling gel is a blend of silk protein and neem oil enriched with coconut oil that moisturizes and smoothes your curls and gives them a soft, bouncy, and silky finish. It's also infused with certified organic shea butter which is great for over-processed curls as it provides almost instant hydration. Our findings show that these naturally derived hydrating elements moisturize and condition your hair and give it a lacquer-like, frizz-free shine. Being a lightweight gel, it adds moisture and shines to your curls which gives your hair a healthy textured finish.

Say goodbye to frizz and crunchiness with Paul Mitchell Twirl Around Styling Cream-Gel as it separates, defines, and enhances waves and curls. It tames your curls into perfect ringlets with its dual formula of smoothing gel and hydrating cream. Its lightweight hold creates soft curls that don't get stiff or crunchy and retain their bounce and shape throughout the day. It also helps to hydrate and shape your hair and has a mild, neutral scent with notes of pineapple, lemon, and pink grapefruit. It is perfect for wavy and curly hair, and just takes a very small amount of this curly hair styling gel to define and enhance the curls. All you need to do is twirl your hair and gel around your finger.

CurlMix Pure Flaxseed Gel blended with organic sweet almond oil and argan oil ensures that your curls last up to 7 days! Organic argan oil and flaxseed leave your hair feeling beautifully moisturized and also elongate the defined curls. It gives them a non-greasy shine without any crunchiness. This lightweight curl defining gel is a powerhouse of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins that not only smoothen the frizz but also condition the hair and moisturize the scalp. It nourishes your hair while softening and strengthening it. It's also infused with a potent antioxidant, vitamin E that protects the hair from free radicals and environmental stressors. You couldn't ask for a better gel for curly hair than this!

With a flexible and firm hold, Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Gel and Defining Cream together control frizzy hair and lock in moisture, remove frizziness, and add shine while defining curls. Its rice curl complex is formulated with a blend of rice, keratin amino acids, and various enzymes that together hydrate, protect and condition the hair while enhancing curl retention. It's ideal for all curl types including natural and color-treated hair. The defining cream and sculpting curly hair gel can be used interchangeably — just apply it on damp hair from roots to ends and style as desired. It has a long-lasting effect and you can be assured of manageable and bouncy curls.

Enhanced curl definition and moisture retention in the hair are the hallmarks of Mielle Organics Honey & Ginger Styling Gel. It's packed with the benefits of aloe vera and babassu seed oil which nourishes each hair strand and makes it perfect for curly, dry, thick, and frizzy hair. Also the powerful antioxidants of ginger and honey together combine to give a healthy conditioning formula that is par excellence. Its flexible hold is long-lasting and this curl defining gel ensures that your hair stays nourished and hydrated throughout the day, without the greasy feeling that most gels have. There are also no damaging chemicals or product build-up. We have found from using this product that it's best for 3A to 4C natural hair types but is suitable for all hair types.

Eco Style Professional Styling Hair Gel is a flake-free gel for curly hair that is ideal for wash-and-go hairstyles. Packed with glycerin, it moisturizes your hair and has a perfect and extreme hold for tapered or angled sides which prevents flyaways. And you never have to worry about your hair being brittle or hard. Your curls have a HD look all day long. Being one of the few alcohol-free products, this styling gel allows you to style your hair any way you want. Also, there is no irritation to the scalp as it has anti-itch additives. This gel is perfect for waves and any other long-lasting style.

For a curly hair styling gel that has a strong hold without any roughness, Zotos Professional All About Curls High Definition Gel is the one for you. It ensures that you have ultra-defined curls and as it moisturizes your hair as well, you never have to worry about frizzy hair. This alcohol-free styling gel is suitable for all curly hair types and delivers the required nourishment and boosts shine. Infused with natural oils and extracts, it works ideally for all hair textures, styles, and curl patterns from 2A waves to 4C coils. All you need to do is apply it to damp hair and scrunch it upwards for better definition of your curls.

A dream gel for curly hair that is perfect for enhancing your curls and is ideal for naturally wavy, curly, or permed hair is what you have been looking for, then your pursuit can end with Aquage Defining Gel. It boasts a flexible but firm hold that boosts any wave or curl pattern. It has a super glossy finish and is resistant to humidity. So, you can say goodbye to frizz and enjoy an enhanced body and bounce in your curls. With this gel, you don't have to worry about flaking the gel on your hair. Once the gel is completely dry, you can massage your hair for a softer feel and look. It contains AlgaePlex which is rich in marine botanicals and has restorative and curative properties.

Pattern Curl Gel is infused with aloe vera, coconut oil, and cacao oil to nourish your hair. The smooth and creamy texture of this curling gel glides effortlessly over your hair strands to rejuvenate your hair. Its touchable hold and definition are great for flexible braids, wash-and-go, and twist-outs that require a medium hold. You are assured of well-defined and bouncy curls. It has a fragrance with notes of rose, neroli, and patchouli that is floral but not overpowering. This delightful gel causes no flaking and is great for low-porosity hair as well as fine hair and thick curls.

If you want to enjoy a curly hair styling gel that is developed and approved by salon professionals without paying the price of a salon, True Curl Light Hold Define & Set Gel is perfect for you. Made with a blend of rosemary, oat, and balm mint which are rich in minerals and vitamins, it's very easy and simple to use. It brings a long-lasting effect, bounce, and style to your curls. It features a pleasant, clean scent that leaves your hair smelling fresh throughout the day. Crafted for all curl types, this feather-light gel should be applied to wet hair by scrunching it to avoid crunchy curls. Release the curl cast by scrunching again when dry. It's absorbed immediately by the hair, seals in moisture, and defines your glossy curls.

Brocato Holdon Sculpting Styling Gel has an extra strong and flexible hold and is great for molding, shaping, and versatile sculpting. This strong hold gel for curly hair has long-lasting results that will maintain your hairstyle throughout the day. It also adds volume to your hair and makes it more manageable. This styling gel also offers color protection with UV absorbers that help keep your hair safe and looking great. It's excellent for adding shape and dimension to short hairstyles. Drawing from our experience, we concluded that these qualities are because of its unique ingredients — aloe barbadensis gel with its conditioning properties, kelp extract adds manageability and shine, and hydrolyzed keratin and wheat protein adds volume and strength.

This amazing curly hair styling gel, Maui Moisture Hair Styling Curl Oil Gel, works wonders on chemically damaged and transitioning curls. This fantastic blend of neem, castor and peppermint oils infused with 100 percent aloe vera helps to hydrate, strengthen and renew your damaged curls. Just apply it to damp hair and allow it to dry. This vegan and chemical-free hair gel gives shine, soft definition, and frizz control to your curls and prevents breakage as well. Its lightweight formula has just enough hold to be used effectively on fine waves as well. It has a light and pleasant peppermint smell that is refreshing and relaxing.

Now, you probably know about the various types of gels for curly hair that are easily available for your use. But a lot depends on your hair type and drawing from our experience, we realized that if you keep a few factors in mind you can get the best gel for curly hair that will work to your advantage.

So let's take a look at the things to consider before you choose a styling gel for your curly tresses so that they look like a million bucks.

Hair Type

Even with curly hair, you need to keep your hair type in mind before choosing a hair gel. Dry hair requires hydrating and deeply nourishing ingredients like aloe vera and essential oils. If your hair is oily, go for a hair gel that has the strongest hold and contains lightweight essential oils like jojoba oil.

Type of Curls

Considering that curls can range from 2A to 4C and from wavy to kinky, it can be quite a task to figure out which gel would be best for your kind of curls. A gel has different levels of hold and it shouldn't weigh your curls down. 3A to 4C type curls would need a gel with a strong hold while 2A to 2C type curls would require a gel with a moderate hold. Most products would mention the type of hold they deliver or the kind of curls they are best suited for.

Crunch vs. No Crunch

Usually, people tend to consider gels that leave a crunch or a cast as a bad thing. However, these gels are rather effective as they retain moisture and prevent frizz. To remove the crunch effectively, wait till your hair is completely dry and then scrunch it out. People who feel that a gel with crunch can leave flakes behind in their hair are usually trying to remove it before it's fully dry. If you follow the instructions to a T, you can't go wrong.

Ingredients

Hair gels for curly hair should be rich in moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and glycerin. Aloe vera, protein, coconut, and other natural oils are also good humectants. Curly hair tends to be drier than other hair so you should go for a formula that is rich in moisture. Harsh ingredients like alcohol and parabens are a complete no-no. It's also best to avoid sulfates, mineral oil, dyes, and phthalates.

Also, gels for curly might damage your hair over time as they often have a stronghold. Natural ingredients can counter the damaging effects and prevent your hair from deteriorating. Some products have ingredients that restore the hair. It's a good idea to go through the listed ingredients, research them, and then go for the one that meets your requirements.

Long-lasting

Hair gels have varied lasting and holding power. If you want to set your hair with a styling hair gel for just a couple of hours, a light hold gel will do the trick. On the contrary, if you want to style your hair for the whole day, go for a strong hold gel with a long-lasting formula.

Consistency

The consistency of a hair gel is an indicator of its holding power. A hair gel with a thin consistency is usually the one with a low holding power. If you want to maintain your hairstyle for a longer period, you should go for a hair gel with a thicker consistency. In case you have oily hair, you should ideally choose a hair gel with a non-greasy and lightweight consistency.

Formula

Curly hair usually requires a hair gel with a high hold and moisture content as that gives curls a more defined appearance. Wax and spray hair gels are preferred as they are easy to use and the product spreads evenly in the case of sprays. Wax gels are more hydrating but have to be applied carefully as they may spread unevenly.

Application

Some hair gels are especially crafted for wet hair while others can be used on dry hair as well. Depending on what works for you, you need to pick your hair gel accordingly.

ReviewsWe always make purchased based on recommendations and popularity. The gels for curly hair are no different. So, please read users feedback on the websites, or shopping sites you’re browsing. Also check their reviews before you actually purchase them just to be sure that your choice has been tested by others.

Other Factors

For colored hair, go for a hair gel that mentions that it is color-safe. In hot and humid areas, try to go for a hair gel that prevents frizz from humidity and has UV protection.

Curls are beautiful and curls are the rage, but curls can also be a nightmare if not properly styled and managed. It doesn't take long for curly hair to look like a nest and the 15 best gels for curly hair that we have researched will ensure that it never happens to you. Our research indicates that whether you have fine wavy hair or thick curls, there is something for everyone. These styling gels moisturize your hair, remove frizz and hold whichever hairstyle you want. Available from having a light to an extra strong hold, you never have to worry about unmanageable and frizzy hair again. We hope our research of some of the best available gels for curly hair will remove your hair woes forever so that you can enjoy your luscious tresses.

With a keen eye for detail and a passion for hairstyling, Alvira is a certified Hair Expert who brings the latest tre More

With a keen eye for detail, Alvira carefully selects the best in haircare to help you find the most efficient products and tools from your tresses. Here she has selected the best gels for curly hair to give it the perfect definition, shine, and love that it deserves.

Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what's proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

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