The 15 Best Hair Gels for Every Texture and Hairstyle, According to Experts (2024)

$4.00$5.9933% off

Seeking a hairstyle that stays put without an overly strong hold? Garnier’s formula might be just what you need. The drugstore gel has garnered lots of popularity on TikTok as a go-to for sleek buns and ponytails, lauded for its ability to provide hold without weighing down the hair. Unlike some products that leave lingering residue even after showering, this formula ensures a clean washout, as attested by its 10,000 five-star reviewers on Amazon.

What testers say: “My children and I both use this stuff! My 10 year old son uses it to keep his hair nice and neat, I use it when I style my hair wavy, and I use it to keep down flyaways in my 11 month old daughter’s hair when I put it up in ponytails. It’s lightweight, barely any scent, and still has good hold without looking crunchy. If you want a super strong hold this isn’t for you, but if you want a natural good hold, this is it!”

Price upon publish date of this article:$4.00

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The Aveda Confixor Liquid Gel is a favorite of celebrity hair stylist Cody Renegar. “It provides medium hold, but it is very lightweight and also conditioning,” he says. Renegar is among the many who appreciate the liquid gel texture that makes it easy to spread through the hair, along with being a big fan of its ingredients. One of its formula standouts is rosemary leaf extract, which a 2015 randomized controlled trial published in SkinMed Journal found comparable to the regrowth treatment minoxidil in its ability to deliver fuller-looking hair with consistent use.

What testers say: “I have very fine but very curly hair that is shoulder length. I have used this product for almost twenty years, and recommended it to many people who also use it. It gives the right amount of hold and fights the frizz. Many products for curly hair weigh it down for me, but this does not. It doesn’t make your hair crunchy, whether you air dry or blow dry. A little goes a long way, and it smells heavenly.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$22.00

$14.25$17.9921% off

$17.99

Struggling to style your stick-straight hair? Whether you have fine or thick hair, you’ll use this lightweight Kenra styling gel as frequently as your favorite hair straightener. Its formulation includes copolymers that actively coat your hair strands, creating body, texture, and, above all, a strong hold that lasts until you rinse it out in the shower.

What testers say: “I have tried a lot of different products trying to find something to give my hair some body. My hair is straight, fine and thinning, which makes it difficult to work with. The first time I used this Kenra styling gel I was immediately impressed. I washed my hair, wrapped it in a hair towel wrap to partially dry it, applied the Kenra styling gel and proceeded to dry it. I was amazed at the change in my hair. It was immediately noticeable how much body my hair had.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$14.25

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This lightweight, medium-hold hair gelée has a winning combination of affordability and effectiveness. It’s a standout for all hair types, from fine to curly hair, and its five thousand five-star reviews are a testament to that. Testers with fine hair applaud its ability to add body without weighing down hair, while those with curls appreciate how it maintains a natural feel without stiffness. Plus, this top Amazon beauty product comes in a generously sized 16.9 oz bottle, so you’ll be well-stocked on hair gel for months.

What testers say: “I have spent way too much money on products to give my fine hair body, only to push it to the back of my cabinet and never use it more than a few times. FINALLY, a product that makes my hair fuller and adds body that holds all day. I love this product and am so happy I found it! It also enables me to keep a little more length to my hair because of the added body. Bonus: my hair is shinier too! YAY!”

Price upon publish date of this article:$22

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This firming formula locks your hair in place for all-day wear without drying out your strands. Its formula includes moisturizing panthenol, safflower oil, and soothing allantoin, so you don’t have to worry about stripping your hair of hydration. Although technically marketed to men, some testers highlight its universal appeal, noting that the entire family loves it because it’s non-flaky, gives the hair a natural-looking shine, and has a gender-neutral scent.

What testers say: “My family has very thick (male and female) hair, long, short, straight, frizzy, super natural curly, hair. This works on all of us for whatever look we are trying to achieve.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$8.32

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Renegar swears by this hair styling gel for ladies and guys because it’s versatile and moisturizing. Unlike traditional hair gels, it boasts a unique cream-gel texture with softening argan oil and moisturizing shea oil. And it doesn’t compromise on staying power. One of the best hair gels for long hair, it makes your strands feel soft to the touch and look shiny, making it ideal for use as a root lift for a blowout. Given its paraben-free and sodium chloride-free composition, Renegar attests that it’s safe for color-treated hair and individuals with keratin treatments.

What testers say: “It’s taken me over a decade to find a good hair gel. Many have hold, but they damage the hair. This is the only one I know that actually conditions and softens the hair. My hair is softer by the end of the day and the hold is still strong.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$42

$6.49

It’s no secret that Got2b is a leader in the hair gel space — and this particular one is a well-known bestseller. The strong-hold formula comes highly recommended by celebrity hairstylist Davontae Washington, who regularly uses it and says it “lives up to its ‘invincible’ claim,” keeping hairstyles intact all day. He also notes that it doesn’t leave the hair feeling sticky or weighed down once applied. It’s a fan-favorite for everything from baby hairs to spiky styles, and it’s also one of the best hair gels for sleek ponytails.

What testers say: “I had gone through several gels stating they were ‘mega hold’ that just didn’t work as I needed. Then I saw this and thought “why not?!”I’m so happy I did! With my hair being so short it has a tendency to want to stick straight up out of my head but Got2B Ultra Glued allows me to actually shape and smooth down my fine hair! The best part is that when it’s time to wash it out, it melts away with shampoo immediately.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$2.99

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You asked, and Tracee Ellis Ross answered by creating the best styling gel for natural hair (no surprise here, as her brand, Pattern, also makes one of the best hair dryers for curly hair). This best curly hair gel contains aloe vera and hydrating coconut oil that defines curls yet leaves them soft, not stiff or hard, as is sometimes the case with other gels. It’s a favorite for wash and gos, and some testers have noted that they don’t even have to apply more the next day and that a touch of water has helped re-stretch and revitalize curls without adding more product.

What testers say: “This product accomplishes 5 things for me. It seems to ACTIVATE my curls to start with (something few other products do). It also provides definition, the perfect amount of soft hold, natural shine, and completely eliminates frizz.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$28

$6.98

$7.99

Mielle Organics’ may be wildly popular, but it’s not the sole product from the brand deserving of praise. Take, for instance, this edge control, which ensures no flakes, stiffness, or greasiness. Despite its compact size, a little goes a long way. It not only styles but also promotes edge health, preventing breakage, and it’s friendly for wavy to type 4C hair.

What testers say: “If you find wearing your hair up gets tricky, add Mielle edge gel to your hair to make wearing your hair up easier. Mielle edge gel does not harden your hair as other edge gels I have tried do. Therefore I use Mielle edge gel on a larger portion of my hair than just the edges. Absolutely love it.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$6.98

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$24.70

Ditch frizz with the help of this luxurious formula from Moroccanoil. “What’s great about this gel is that it is argan oil infused, which is full of antioxidants and vitamins that are beneficial for your hair,” says Katelyn Ellsworth, hairstylist and founder of The Roslyn Salon and Style Icon in San Diego. The ingredient moisturizes the hair and, in turn, adds shine, protects from breakage and, as promised, fights frizz.We rate it as one of the best hair gels for thick hair, as a little goes a long way.

What testers say: “I bought this to slick my frizzy baby hairs whenever I pulled my hair back in a ponytail. It works amazingly well. No headbands needed!”

Price upon publish date of this article:$24.70

$21.95

$21.96

True to SexyHair’s famously suggestive marketing promises, this maximum-hold hair gel stays put, regardless of the wind strength or unpredictable weather conditions. (Some testers even claim it can withstand a rainstorm.) It’s one of the best strong-hold hair gels, made to help style spikes or any look defying gravity, ensuring it lasts from morning to night and stays intact through sweaty workouts, humidity, and, as one tester put it: “the general chaos of daily life.”

What testers say: “I have purchased this several times without having any problems. I like my hair short and spikey. Living on the Oregon coast it is always windy. With this holding gel my hair stays spiked until I wash it out.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$21.95

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This R+Co formulation marries the benefits of a hair gel and wax in one, and there are different ways you can use it. For example: We love using it before a blowout for touchable texture, hold, body, and shine, but you can also use it on wet hair to create a heavily defined style, or on curls for hold and definition. Regardless of how and when you use it, you’ll still be able to brush through your hair; it won’t harden and feel like plastic, making it one of the best wet look hair products we’ve come across.

What testers say: “Motorcycle is the best gel for a natural look. It won’t leave your hair hard as a rock and your head full of white flakes.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$31

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Those living in humid climates know the struggle to keep hair frizz-free and locked down. But this formulation from Ouidad — one of the most renowned curly hair brands — locks in moisture and locks out humidity with sericin (a protein derived from silk). It works in tandem with hydrating shea and murumuru butter, along with strengthening ceramides, to deliver curls that are both nourished and defined, with a soft feel.

What testers say: “I used to hate rainy, humid days (which is almost every day where I live, especially in summer) because my hair would lose all shape and become a poofy mess, but since I’ve been using this product, I don’t even think about it anymore! I’ve been using this gel for my 2B/2A fine, dry hair for a few years now, and it’s the only product I’ve used (I’ve tried Shea Moisture, Aussie, Herbal Essence, and most of the popular styling products) that doesn’t leave build-up or weigh down my hair.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$26

$17.08

Many brands claim their products are clean, but there’s no universal definition of what that truly means. That’s why we rely on organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to help us find products that lack any and all potentially harmful ingredients. Carina Organics’ Styling Gel boasts a great rating on the EWG website because it’s completely devoid of synthetic ingredients. What’s more, it delivers results. Testers equally applaud its lean ingredient list, volume-boosting power, and medium hold.

What testers say: “The hold/control is impressive for a gel with only one hold ingredient. Most of all I love that it is fragrance free and has so few total ingredients. The fact that it is able to do what it does while being so natural and safe for my skin and hair is amazing. If you are someone with sensitive skin that tends to react to lots of hair products, I encourage you to try this.”

Price upon publish date of this article:$17.08

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If you prefer crafting your own personalized formula rather than choosing from pre-existing options, Prose makes it possible. The process involves taking a quiz that asks about your hair texture, length, density, styling habits, desired level of hold, hair goals, and fragrance preference. Based on your responses, the brand then tailors a custom hair gel with ingredients specifically suited to your unique needs.

What testers say: “I have high porosity hair, so humidity is a big concern for me. With Prose Styling Gel, my hairstyle withstood a mile long walk, on a really humid night!”

Price upon publish date of this article:$30