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How To Use Gel On Curly Hair: Top Tips And Products

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Do the words ‘hair gel’ make you think of crispy curls and rock-solid quiffs? Actually, using gel on curly hair is one of the best ways to achieve touchable, soft curls with great definition and shine!

It’s true that applying hair gel to curly hair will create fine, crispy ringlets at first, but there’s a vital second step that a lot of people miss. Once you release your hair from that crunchy gel cast, you’ll reveal perfectly defined, shiny curls. 

The process takes some patience but it’s worth the effort, and the results make curly hair gel a must-have product for curly girls.

In this guide, I’ll explain what curly hair gel is and how it’s different from regular gel. I’ll help you choose the best gel for curly hair and talk you through the best way to apply gel to curly hair.

Why Use Gel On Curly Hair?

Curl defining gel is one of the essential styling products for all curly hair textures, from gentle 2A waves to tightly coiled type 4 hair. Without gel, curly hair can become dry and frizzy, while your curls can lack definition. 

Applying curl gel to your stands will help hydrate them, tame frizz, and define your natural curls. It will also deliver fantastic bounce and shine for a sleek finish. 

However, regular hair gels usually contain alcohols that dry your strands. Choosing alcohol-free curly hair gel will give your style maximum hold without the drying effect, and their water-based formula and moisturizing ingredients will also help hydrate your strands. 

The Benefits Of Using Curl Gel

Adding curly hair gel into your hair care routine has a range of benefits for curly girls:

  • Creates shiny, bouncy curls
  • Fights frizz and gives better curl definition
  • Improves curl clumping for more body and volume
  • Locks in moisture for hydrated strands
  • Maintains your style for longer 

How To Choose The Best Curl Gel

Choosing the right products for your natural hair texture means paying careful attention to the ingredients list. 

When you’re shopping for curly hair gel, you need to check your gel doesn’t contain any drying alcohols or ingredients like silicones and mineral oils that can cause product buildup.

The best hair gels for curls contain moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, olive oil, or coconut oil and can act as a heat protectant. 

Here are some curly hair gels you might like to try:

TreLuxe Hi! Definition Curl Enhancer Styling Gel

This curly hair gel is a holy grail product for curly and coily hair textures. It helps control frizz, defines curls, and gives long-lasting medium hold. 

TreLuxe Hi! Definition Gel is packed with moisturizing ingredients like avocado oil and keratin amino acids, but you’ll find no parabens, phthalates, or mineral oils in the ingredients list. 

TRELUXE Hi! Definition Curl Enhancer Styling Gel
$19

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Kinky Curly Curling Custard Gel

This is a lightweight gel that offers medium hold and long-lasting control without flaking. It’s ideal for wavy and curly hair and contains aloe vera for soft, healthy curls. 

Kinky Curly Curl Custard Gel
$24.70 $22.20
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11/01/2024 11:26 pm GMT

Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Hard Hold Gel

This curl defining gel will tame frizz and give your curls fabulous definition with a strong hold. It’s suitable for all hair types and enriched with keratin and enzymes to strengthen and condition your mane. 

Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk hard Hold Gel is free from silicone, parabens, and drying alcohol. It’s also safe to use on color-treated hair. 

Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Maximum Hold Hair Gel


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How To Use Gel On Curly Hair

Once you’ve chosen the right gel, follow this step-by-step guide to get the best results. 

Test Your Mix Of Hair Care Products

Before you apply a new product to your locks, you need to know it will mix with your conditioner and other styling products. Not all curly hair products work well together, but you can check this by mixing a little of each product in the palm of your hand.

Ideally, the products will blend evenly in your palm, but you might notice the mix becoming clumpy, forming a ball, or splitting. If this happens, you’ll need to try a different blend of hair care products.

Apply Gel To Wet Hair

You should always apply gel to wet hair, as this allows the gel to mix with water and coat your hair evenly. If you’re not styling your hair on a wash day, use a spray bottle of water to soak your dry hair first.

If your hair tends to dry quickly, keep the bottle handy and dampen your hair in sections as you work through it. 

squish to condish

Distribute The Gel Evenly

It’s essential to use the right technique to apply your gel so that every part of your hair gets an even coating of gel. If your gel is unevenly applied, the areas with a thick coating will dry too hard, and you’ll have frizzy hair with no definition in the areas without gel.

Here are a few techniques you can try out on different curly hair types.

If you have type 2 wavy hair, try rubbing a small amount of gel between your fingers and scrunching your hair up from the ends toward the roots. Don’t apply too much gel, as this will weigh down your waves. 

The Rake and Shake method works well on type 3 curly hair. Rub the gel between your fingers and then rake them downwards through your curly locks from the roots toward the ends. Shaking your fingers at the roots afterward will encourage clumping. 

Using the Praying Hands method works best on type 4 coily hair. Coat your hands with curly hair gel and then smooth them down either side of your hair, keeping your palms flat and pressing your hands together. 

Not sure which hair type you have? Take our quick Curly Hair Type Quiz to find out.

Whichever method you choose, scrunch your hair up towards the roots once you’ve finished applying it. This will ensure the gel mixes with the water on your strands to create an even cast

Wrap Your Curls In A T-Shirt or mircoplop

Once you’re happy that your gel is evenly distributed, grab an old t-shirt or a t-shirt towel, flip your hair into the fabric, and tie your curls up in it. Leave your hair tied up for 10-15 minutes so the t-shirt can absorb excess water and gel from your hair. This is called plopping.

When you untie your hair, you’ll see an immediate difference in how your curls look, and you’ll be ready to dry your hair. 

You can microplop instead if your hair gets weighed down easily. This is what I do and it’s better than leaving it up on top of my head for 10 minutes.

To do this, just use the t-shirt of hair towel to gently scrunch your hair up towards your scalp. Repeat all over, flipping your hair forward and to the sides, until it’s no longer dripping wet. Be careful not to rub the hair and cause frizz as you do this. Just push the towel up to your scalp and squeeze or press against the scalp. You can see how to do this in this video.

how to diffuse curly hair

Air Dry Or Diffuse Your Hair

This is the part of the process that needs patience!

In my experience, air drying doesn’t usually give the best curls, and the drying process can take hours. If you’re in a hurry or just want to diffuse (I recommend diffusing), you can gently diffuse dry your hair on a medium heat setting instead. 

If you want to go the diffusing route, flipping your hair upside down and scooping your curls up in the diffuser’s bowl will help boost root volume. When your hair is totally dry, put your fingers right at the roots of your hair and give your hair a shake to add lift. 

my hair in a cast before scrunching it out

Scrunch Out The Crunch

Finally, the last step is to gently “scrunch out the crunch” after the gel is totally dry. Scrunching your hair up towards the roots one last time will break up the cast around the hair shaft and leave you with softer, more natural-looking curls. 

If you like, you can rub a little leave-in conditioner, hair serum, or a small amount of oil like jojoba oil between your hands, or cover your hands with a soft T-shirt or microfiber towel.  Another option is to use your diffuser on a low heat setting to soften the gel and release your curls. 

Don’t rush to break the cast too soon, as this will lead to flat curls and frizzy strands.

2c hair type
my hair after scrunching out the case

FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about how to use hair gel on curly hair, these frequently asked questions might help. 

Why Does Curl Gel Make My Hair Crunchy?

That crunchy feeling is the “cast” formed by your gel, a layer of hardened gel that helps you create juicy, defined clumps. Once the gel has completely dried, you can “scrunch out the crunch” to leave frizz-free curls with a softer, more natural finish. 

Why Does Gel Leave White Flakes On My Hair?

These white flakes usually happen when your gel reacts with the conditioners or styling products you applied first, or if you use too much. 

You can check if this is likely to happen by mixing a little of each product together in the palm of your hand. If the products blend together smoothly, you can go ahead and use them together on your curls. If you see the mix splitting or forming a ball, it will likely flake on your strands, so you need to try a different mix of products.

Is Curl Gel The Same As Regular Hair Gel?

Regular gels usually contain alcohol, a drying ingredient that can damage curly hair. Curly hair gel is usually alcohol-free so it gives hold, shine, and definition without drying out your gorgeous curls. 

Curl Cream vs. Curl Gel – Which Is Better?

Both products have their advantages. Curl creams are good for creating soft hold and definition without creating a cast. They are usually oil-based and can feel more nourishing and moisturizing than gels. Curly hair gels usually provide extra hold and are better for styling and finishing curls. 

The Bottom Line

As you can see, curly hair gel is a must-have product for your bathroom shelf. This styling product is specially formulated for curly hair, without the drying alcohols or other ingredients in regular gel that can harm your tresses.

Using gel on curly hair is an easy way to add definition and bounce to your natural texture while fighting frizz and adding shine. Applying gel takes just a few minutes but you need to let it dry to get the best results. 

With a little effort and patience, you can have healthy hair with beautifully defined curls or waves. 

how to use gel for curls text overlay on woman scrunching her curly hair

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