15 Best Curly Hair Gels and How to Apply Them in 2020

The ~key~ to a ridiculously good twist-out? A moisturizing, medium-hold gel that’ll still give you body and movement without flakes or stiffness. This rich, cult-favorite twisting gel brings out your curls and keeps them defined and shiny (shout out to the itty-bitty flecks of gold shimmer in the gel).

Waves and loose curls fall into a very finicky territory where the right products can magically enhance their texture…while the wrong products can fully straighten them out. This protein-rich gel, however, is one of the good guys. It’s lightweight, non-sticky, and silicone-free, so it’ll help define your wavy hair without weighing it down. Rub a squeeze of gel between your palms, flip your sopping-wet hair over, and gently scrunch the gel to encourage your wave/curl pattern.

This custard is on the lighter end of the custard spectrum, so it won’t feel as heavy on finer hair types (hi!). It has a bit of hold and a bit of hydration, which actually makes it killer for either adding a moisturizing layer to protective styles (try it in place of cream in the LOC method) or for helping 2c to 3c curls clump together without weighing them down.

If you legit cannot get a gel cast to save your life (it’s an art! I still struggle! Help!) try this strong-hold gel. It’ll clump your curls to help protect them against frizz and humidity while you diffuse or air-dry. Remember to wait until your hair is 100 percent dry, though, before breaking the cast or “scrunching out the crunch,” lest you awaken the frizz demons.

If you’ve ever used a gel that’s pure hold and nothin’ else in your protective style, you already know that too much structure can be a drying nightmare. But this castor oil-based gel has enough slip and hydration to keep your braids, knots, and twists moisturized and held without drying them out or feeling stiff.

This gel is basically all aloe, water, and honey, making it a hydrating, lightweight, defining dream for low-porosity curls (not sure WTF your hair porosity is? Uh, take this quiz immediately pls). It’s best for medium-to-thick curls, so if your hair is easily weighed down like mine, don’t go overboard on the application. 

Not all hair gels are created equal. Or, like, even remotely equal. While some gels will give you all the hold (and all the dryness and accidental shrinkage), other gels, like this protein-spiked formula from Aunt Jackie’s, will keep your hair defined and moisturized, and—when paired with a good curl cream and/or oil—stretched and healthy, even in your wash and go.

Usually, strong-hold gels can just weigh down fine curls. But this formula uses aloe and mallow extract to define thinner, drier curls and create a strong gel cast—all without weighing them down. It’s Curly Girl Method-approved (as are most of these gels on this list), safe for low-porosity hair, and under $10. Yes, to all of this.

If you’ve got fluffy waves or loose curls that need a little extra help in the curling and clumping department, try this medium-hold hair gel. It’s more moisturizing than it is defining, so it’ll add softness and shine while helping to encourage your natural curl pattern without a crunchy finish.

This styling gel is natural, organic, and fully edible (JK, please don’t eat it, despite how yummy it smells). It’s also packed with coconut, almond, and avocado oils to keep 3c to 4c hair moisturized and lightly held all day without feeling stiff or crunchy. And, because it’s glycerin free (a rarity in hair gels), it won’t cause intense frizzing if you live in humid areas.

You can’t spend a minute (a second? Millisecond?!) on a curly hair website/forum without someone raving about their recipe for homemade flaxseed gel. Flaxseed gels + curly hair = BFFs. They add the perfect amount of definition, shine, protein, and hold to type 2, 3, and 4 hair…but they’re usually annoying to DIY. Enter: this flaxseed gel that uses a touch of glycerin and oil (the type of oil depends on which of the five fragrances you choose) to amp up hydration and shine without the crunch.

This curl gel (or ~jelly~ if we’re gettin’ fancy) has a super-thin consistency, making it easy to spread throughout your type 3 to type 4 hair. The lightweight formula is filled with aloe vera and sugar beet root to keep curls hydrated and softly defined—this definitely isn’t a strong- or even medium-hold gel—though drier hair types will want to layer this one over your leave-in or oil.