10 Gels that Last Days with Little to No Refreshing

You should not have to spend a ton of time refreshing your curls. While several factors impact the longevity of your curls, the gel you use one wash day plays a huge role.

I’m sharing 10 of my top gels that easily refresh with minimal effort, for both dry and humid climates. Drugstore and high-end are included.I’m sharing 10 of my top gels that easily refresh with minimal effort, for both dry and humid climates. Drugstore and high-end are included.

Dry-Mild Climates

Marc Anthony Define & Hold Flex Hair Styling Gel

This high slip gel makes it easy to refresh and provides a flexible, medium hold. It contains oils which help with moisture retention and re-activates with just water. To add texture or grit, pair it with with the Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Cream underneath. Watch my last video for that routine.

MopTop Anti Frizz Gel

This high-slip anti-frizz gel makes it very easy to refresh. It provides a flexible light to medium hold that reactivates with just water. For stronger hold, I pair it with the MopTop Curl Cream underneath. Contains aloe to help with moisture retention and is silicone-free.

Tootilab All Weather Styling Gel

This high-slip gel makes refreshing very seamless and provides a flexible medium hold and reactivates with just water. Unfortunately did not hold in humidity for me. It does contain heat protection ingredients and is silicone free.

Curlsmith Shape Up Aqua Gel

This flexible light-medium hold gel is high in slip making it easy to refresh and reactivates with just water. It is silicone-free and contains protein.

Prose Custom Styling Gel

This unique personalized formula provides a flexible medium to strong hold that was best paired with my Custom Curl Cream underneath. It is silicone-free, high in slip making it easy to refresh and reactivates with just water.

Humid Climates

Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Scrunching Jelly

This medium hold jelly provides some slip and reactivates with just water. It makes refreshing easy and adds a little texture and grit. It is silicone-free.

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Stronger Hold Gel

This flexible strong hold gel is high in slip making refreshing easy, while keeping hair soft. It reactivates with just water and has anti-humidity properties. It is silicone-free.

AG Liquid Effects Extra Firm Styling Lotion

This flexible strong hold gel is high in slip making refreshing easy, while keeping hair soft. It reactivates with just water and has anti-humidity properties.

Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel, Strong Hold Styling Gel

This strong hold gel is high in slip and reactivates with just water, making refresh days quick and easy. It’s very lightweight so great for those with fine hair.

Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel (formerly Shine Gel)

This strong hold gel is very long-lasting and reactivates with just water. It has little to no-slip due to its thick consistency, which provides grit. Emulsify it with water to apply it more easily.

New Hair Type Quiz!

Do you feel overwhelmed when shopping for products and not know what to use? Understanding your hair type will help make these choices much easier, and shorten your routine. Take My New Hair Type Quiz to find out your specific hair type. I assess characteristics such as porosity, texture and environmental factors.

After taking it, you’ll get a report sent to your email with links to my shop page with filtered products based on your hair’s needs.

Still stuck?

I offer both group coaching and private coaching where I assist clients with diagnosing their exact hair issues and picking the right products for their needs. This saves them both time and frustration in their routine. I can also assist with product selection and most often can help find something from your current stash that will improve how your hair looks and feels. Join the waitlist for my private coaching here, or my next round of group coaching here.