Defining your curls with gel or custards is one of the most effective ways to bring out the natural shape of your curls. Defining your curls is hard work. Gel can extend your wash day hairstyles so you can enjoy your styles for longer. The key to using gel for curly hair is layering or “cocktailing” your products so you can define your curls without drying them out or making them feel crunchy.

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How to Use Hair Gel

Finding the best gel for your curly hair depends on the ingredients in the gel, and how you apply it. If you use ingredients that are recommended by professionals and you apply your products in the correct order, you can enjoy long-lasting curl definition. Factors that affect your hair care routine include:

• • Humidity

• • Curl pattern

• • Hair Porosity

Layering products for your hair is similar to layering skin care products: order matters. Since most gels are considered styling products, you will still need to use moisturizers, curl creams, and conditioners to detangle your hair and keep it looking it’s best.

If you only use gel to define your curls and you don’t add any other products to your routine, you would end up with dry curls.

How to Apply Gel

Try applying your leave in conditioner before you apply your gel:

1. 1. Apply water and leave in conditioner to your hair

1. 1. Use a Denman brush to define your curls before you apply your gel. (If your curls are already defined, you’ll need less gel and your hair won’t feel sticky or weighed down. Applying conditioner first also ensures that your hair care needs were addressed before your styling needs.)

Loraine Massey, the founder of the Curly Girl Method, recommends a botanical gel for curly hair. Although I personally love organic and botanical gels, there are many different beauty brands offering formulas with effective ingredients for defining your curls.

Where Does Gel Fit Into Your Curly Hair Routine?

Gel is usually the the last step of your hair care routine. It’s designed to support your hair. Whether or not you apply oil before or after gel will depend on how your hair responds. You’ll need to experiment. To learn more about layering your products, see the blog post about the LCO and LOC method. 

Gel vs Mousse

Gel creates a cast which can help you prevent frizz in humid areas. To break the gel cast and give your curls less structure, all you need to do is scrunch your hair. Gel usually provides a stronger hold than mousse. Mousse usually defines your hair without creating a thick cast. 

If you’re using both mousse and gel on wet hair it’s usually best to apply the mousse first for definition.

Mousse is especially helpful for wavier hair, but any curl pattern can benefit from mousse or gel because there are so many varieties. There are light, medium, and firm hold gels. There are also many different kinds of mousse.

How to Know Which Kind of Gel Your Curly Hair Needs?

With gel, less is more. Just because a gel is labeled as “light” or not very thick, doesn’t mean it won’t be effective. The thicker the product, the longer it will take to dry, and if you run into humidity it can become sticky.

Determining which kind of gel to use for your curly hair will will depend on how much support your hair needs, not necessarily how curly your hair is.

You can keep your hair moisturized and achieve extra curl definition from using gel as long as you layer your products correctly for your hair type.

Most gels will not cause flakes. If you see flakes, you’ve applied too much gel or your leave in conditioner isn’t compatible with the gel formula you chose to apply.

Top Rated Gels to Have on Your Radar

Innersense I Create Hold