Solving Your Issues with Gel – Frizz, Hold, Dry, Flat, Sticky & more

Gel is one of the most important products in your curly hair routine because it defines and holds the curls. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most finicky products and people struggle with things such as gels not giving enough hold, being too sticky, or drying out your curls. In this video, I’m going over every issue you submitted and sharing some solutions.

Problem: Gel is not giving a cast, does not have enough hold resulting in frizz, or gel doesn’t last

Does your hair dry without a cast/crunch, or does it frizz up after you scrunch out the crunch? The cast/crunch is crucial for achieving hold and preventing frizz.

Solutions:

• Use less water when styling
• Skip cream or leave-in, use less cream or lighter-weight cream underneath
• Use more gel and apply in sections
• Your gel doesn’t have enough hold
• Use a gel with polymers
  • PVP
  • Copolymer
  • Polyacrylate
  • Acrylates
  • Polyquaternium
  • Polymide
• Use a gel with humidity-blocking polyquats
• Add another layer of gel after microplopping or during drying
• Diffuse instead of air-dry

Strong Hold Gels

Problem: Gel is drying or makes hair feel brittle

Unfortunately, some gels can make our hair feel dry and brittle because they are not formulated with moisturizing ingredients. Most of the time you will see this in traditional clear, thick, drugstore gels made my haircare brands that are not designed entirely for curly hair.

Solutions:

• Your gel doesn’t contain enough moisturizing ingredients or contains denatured alcohol
• Use a curl cream and/or leave-in underneath
• Use a gel that contains film-forming humectants and/or oils

Curl Creams

Problem: Gel reduces volume, fullness, and makes hair look thinner

This is common with gel because it’s designed to create definition and clump our curls together. Often, the more clumped and defined our curls are, the less fullness we have because the hairs are bound together. Finding a gel that has a balance of definition and volume is key.

Solutions:

• Use a lighter hold gel
• Use a more lightweight gel
• Use less or just as a topper
• Don’t use gel, and opt for mousse, curl cream with hold, or hairspray

Light-Medium Hold Gels

Curl Creams with Soft Hold

Problem: Gels make the hair feel sticky, product-y, or weighed down

Stickiness is often a common complaint with gels that are thick in formulation. However, it can also happen when you apply too much. This can cause the hair to be tangly and hard to refresh, leaving an unpleasant feeling.

Solutions:

• Use a more lightweight gel, such as one that doesn’t contain oils or thickeners
  • Avoid Carbomer and Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
• Use a gel that is liquidy and not thick in consistency
• Use less gel
• Dilute it with water

Problem: Hard to refresh when using gel, such as sticky, tangly, or crispy

So many of you have mentioned that you don’t like how your hair feels after wash day when using gel. It can be stiffer and hard to refresh when using gels that have certain formulations, such as thick gels with little to no moisture.

Solutions:

• Use a gel with a liquidy consistency
• Use a gel with slip
• Use a gel with a lighter hold
• Use less gel
• Refresh with just water, don’t add more gel
• Diffuse when you refresh versus air-dry

Problem: Gel leaves flakes on the hair

Many of you have also mentioned that you notice flakes on the hair after it’s dried and when you’re scrunching out the cast. This is caused by improper use or a poorly formulated gel.

Solutions:

• Clarify to remove buildup
• Use a curl cream or leave-in that is compatible
• Use less gel
• Use a better-formulated gel

Experiment

If you try all of these tips and it’s still not working out, it could just be how you’re applying the gel. Technique matters, and following my other hair routines where I show application techniques will help you get the hang of it.

Sometimes it is the gel that is not right for you, and you need a better gel that is suited for your hair type. Shop my storefront to filter based on your hair’s needs such as hold level, formula weight, and more.

If gel still fails you, try an alternative product for hold such as mousse or hairspray. These are more difficult to work with, in my opinion, because they’re not slippery or moisturizing, but they are an option that some people prefer, especially those with fine hair.

Watch my previous video on Are You Using the Wrong Gel to determine the perfect formula for you and for product suggestions.

Download the free guide to picking gels: