Whether you need a gel for firm hold, curl definition, or something in between, we’ve rounded up 10 standout formulas that are actually worth adding to your routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Olaplex No.10 Bond Shaper Curl Defining Gel
Why we love it: The Olaplex No. 10 Bond Shaper Curl Defining Gel isn’t just another styler. It’s a treatment gel built for curly, coily, and wavy hair types that want both definition and repair in one. Powered by the brand’s patented Bond Building Technology, this formula rebuilds disulfide bonds to strengthen the curl pattern and reduce breakage over time. Coconut-avocado milk adds a creamy touch, conditioning and softening the hair without adding weight or making it crunchy. The texture is silky and spreads easily through damp curls for even coverage, giving you that freshly-washed, defined look. It’s great on its own, but layers well with leave-ins and oils.
“I know it’s a curl gel, but I actually love using this in kind of a nontraditional way—on semi-wet hair to get that wet, defined, wavy look that still feels soft, not crunchy. I also smooth a little at the top of my head to help with frizz and flyaways. It just makes everything look more polished but effortless.” —Angela Trakoshis, shopping market editor
- Key ingredients: patented bond-building technology, curl retention compound, coconut-avocado milk
- Best for: all hair types
- Hold level: medium hold
Best for Shine: Oribe Curl Gloss
Why we love it: If your curls look luscious until they dry down, Oribe’s Curl Gloss is your redemption arc. This gel delivers high shine, hydration, and curl definition without the crunch. The weightless texture makes it ideal for wavy to curly hair types, giving strands shape and polish while keeping frizz in check. It’s powered by a luxe trio of actives: passionflower extract and cupuaçu, which drench curls in fatty acids to seal in moisture and tame frizz, amino acids to strengthen and support curl structure, and vitamins to nourish the scalp and promote long-term hair health. Brazilian jicama smooths the cuticle, leaves a glass-like finish, and the brand’s signature complex shields against environmental damage. The result is glossy, sculpted curls and an addictive Côte d’Azur scent that lingers like your favorite hair perfume.
“This hair gel is so perfect for my curls, which are thick but easily weighed down. It’s a super thin consistency, and I love that it feels closer to a serum than a goopy gel. I usually put it on after leave-in, while my hair is slightly damp, and it smells just as good as my Oribe shampoos. I touch my hair a lot and despite all the finnicky movements, this gel has great, flexible hold. It leaves my hair shiny—but not hard—and i can toss my hair from side to side easily while maintaining my curls. A mainstay!” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
- Key ingredients: passionflower extract, cupuaçu, Brazilian jicama
- Best for: wavy to curly hair (2A to 3C)
- Hold level: light to medium hold
Best for Serious Hold: Got2b Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Gel
Why we love it: This gel isn’t for the faint of follicle. Got2b’s Glued Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Gel is for styles that need to stay. I’m talking about through sweat, humidity, wind, and whatever chaos your day brings. Its non-sticky, no-flake formula is powered by a proprietary styling agent dubbed Alpha XTR, which delivers extreme hold with a surprisingly lightweight feel. It’s perfect for sculpted edges or gravity-defying styles that demand structure. Despite the iron grip, it rinses out easily with shampoo. Think of it as hairspray in gel form—minus the crunch.
“I’ve tried more hair gels than my wallet would like to admit, but the one I’ve stuck beside for over five years is Got2b’s Glued Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Gel. Before I had locs, I used it to slick my buns and ponytails for days on end—no touch-ups needed. Now, with locs, I use it on my edges to lay my baby hairs. And when I say lay, I mean I wake up the next day, and my edges are still intact. If you’re looking for a stronger hold and a heavy-duty hair styling gel, look no further.”—Jailynn Taylor, contributor
Expert feedback from New York City-based hairstylist Edgar Parra
“This hair gel is great for a “snatched bun” look year-round. I love its incredibly strong hold without leaving any flakes on the hair. As you are making the ponytail with dry hair, I would apply this gel directly on the hairline and brush the hair with a boar bristle teasing brush to get a super smooth finish. You can then apply the gel to the dry ponytail, twist into a little “nothing chignon” and pin the hair.”—Edgar Parra, hairstylist
- Key ingredients: alpha XTR styling agent
- Best for: all hair types
- Hold level: maximum hold
More hair gels we love
Best for Flexible Hold: The Doux Big Poppa Defining Gel
Why we love it: Who says hold has to mean hard? The Doux’s Big Poppa Defining Gel proves you can sculpt definition and fight frizz without sacrificing bounce or touchability. This medium-hold gel offers curl control that moves with you, not against you. Babassu oil smooths and hydrates without weighing curls down, keratin enhances softness, and oleifera extract locks in a flexible, crunch-free finish. It resists humidity, won’t flake, and delivers definition with or without layering, perfect for everything from slicked-back styles to wash-and-gos.
Tester feedback from Taylor
“In my pre-loc’d life, I swore by The Doux’s Big Poppa Defining Gel as my go-to curl gel. It’s the rare formula that actually lives up to its curl-enhancing claims. It left my 3C coils hydrated, touchable, bouncy, and smelling amazing. I never had to reapply; in fact, my curls somehow looked better as the days went on. I’m talking day seven through ten, with definition still holding strong and frizz minimal.”
- Key ingredients: babassu oil, keratin, oleifera extract
- Best for: all hair types
- Hold level: medium, flexible hold
Best for Smoothing Frizz: Crown Affair The Finishing Gel
Crown Affair
The Finishing Gel
Why we love it: Crown Affair’s The Flexible Hold Finishing Hair Gel delivers light, buildable hold with no crunch, stiffness, or residue. Tsubaki seed oil deeply moisturizes, strengthens strands, and adds shine without weighing hair down. Jojoba milk softens and smooths, while a film-form polymer creates a flexible finish that holds styles in place and resists frizz. It can be used on damp or dry hair and brushed out cleanly, so no need to rewash. Ideal for sleek buns, ponytails, or refining air-dried waves, it works especially well on fine to medium textures. Use it to tame flyaways and for long-lasting hold.
Expert feedback from Parra
“I love this gel for client’s everyday use. The product works amazingly on curly hair that needs the product to lock in moisture. I would use this starting on wet or towel-dried hair, then apply small amounts of the gel to your ends, working your way up the hair strands but off the scalp. You want to almost scrunch and squeeze it into your hair. You can then follow with a diffuser or just let the hair air dry, and you are done, ready to go. I also love that it leaves the hair soft, with a touchable and crunch-free finish.” —Parra
- Key ingredients: tsubaki seed oil, jojoba milk, film-form polymer
- Best for: straight, wavy, and curly hair (fine to medium density)
- Hold level: light, buildable hold
Best for Longwear: Fenty Beauty The Gelly Type Strong Hold Gel
Fenty Hair
The Gelly Type Strong Hold Gel
Why we love it: When you’ve got an all-day event, zero time for touch-ups, and need your top knot or slick-back to stay put all day, Fenty Hair’s The Gelly Type Strong Hold Gel comes through. This stronghold gel grips styles without flaking, crunching, or drying out strands. It’s infused with replenicore-5, a blend of amino acids, hydrolyzed protein, and nutrient-dense botanicals like jackfruit and Barbados gooseberry to hydrate, repair, and strengthen hair as you wear it. Bamboo sap water adds lightweight moisture, keeping edges soft and split ends in check. The formula spreads smoothly, sets firm, and rinses clean. Plus, no sticky buildup or white cast, and it has a subtle scent profile of yuzu, amber, and creamy sandalwood.
“As a natural hairstylist, when I find a strong hold, water-based styling gel that lasts all day, doesn’t flake, and is infused with strengthening ingredients—I consider it a holy grail level product! The beauty of The Gelly Type is it can truly be used on all hair types, from the tightest of coils to the straightest of strands. After I apply and smooth the gel onto my hair, I tie it down with a scarf and sit under a hooded dryer for about 25 minutes to allow the product to dry fully. Once dry, I am left with a smooth, sleek finish that will last me all week long.”—Krystal Marie, Nashville-based hairstylist
- Key ingredients: replenicore-5 complex, bamboo sap water
- Best for: all hair types
- Hold level: strong hold
Best for Versatile Styling: Eco Styler Olive Oil Styling Gel
Eco Style
Olive Oil Styling Gel
Why we love it: A true beauty supply store staple, Eco Style’s Olive Oil Styling Gel is a cult classic for a reason. Known for its maximum hold and unbeatable value, this gel delivers serious control without drying hair out. The formula blends 100% pure olive oil, rich in oleic acid and antioxidant fatty acids, to penetrate the hair shaft, seal in moisture, and boost shine. While hydrolyzed wheat protein allows strands to retain hydration and elasticity, making it a standout for protective styles, slick ponytails, twist-outs, and wash-and-go curls. It defines and sets without flaking or stiffness, and the alcohol-free formula won’t strip strands. Whether you’re laying edges or sculpting a style for longevity, it gives you shine, structure, and softness in one scoop.
Expert feedback from Marie
“Eco Styler Olive Oil Styling Gel stays on my product recommendation list specifically for the DIY haircare girls looking for a versatile yet budget-friendly styling gel. For those who like to bounce back and forth between a super-defined wash and go and a slicked-back look, this styling gel is a great all-in-one styler! For the best results, emulsify the product in your hands before smoothing it on wet hair. Once styled, be sure to allow your hair to dry fully under a hooded or handheld dryer to achieve maximum hold.” —Marie
- Key ingredients: olive oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein
- Best for: all hair types
- Hold level: strong, flexible hold
Best for Wash-and-Go Curls: Mizani True Textures Sleek Holding Gel
Mizani
True Textures Sleek Holding Gel
Why we love it: If your wash-and-go needs a little structure without sacrificing softness, then opt for Mizani’s True Textures Sleek Holding Gel. Whether you’re defining 3B curls or locking in shine on 4C coils, this gel delivers long-lasting, flake-free hold without the crunch. It’s packed with coconut oil, olive oil, marula oil, and sea moss extract to hydrate, smooth, and strengthen while you style. Coconut and marula oils add shine and improve manageability, olive oil controls frizzy strands and repairs split ends, and sea moss delivers a heap of moisture that softens strands. And the best part? It works just as well on dry hair for midweek touch-ups.
Expert feedback from Marie
Although extremely versatile, I love Mizani True Textures Sleek Hold Gel especially for the Wash and Go girls! This gel provides a lasting yet flexible hold, making it ideal for achieving the definition of day one curls with the volume of day three. When using this product for a wash and go, it is always best to apply it to freshly washed and detangled hair. Curl styling can be done with a detangling brush or your fingers to do the shingling method. After the drying session, I like to complete the look by diffusing the hair to break the cast and create a little more volume. —Marie
- Key ingredients: coconut oil, olive oil, marula oil
- Best for: all hair types
- Hold level: strong, flexible hold
Best for Light Hold: Reverie Hymn Hair Gel
Why we love it: While most gels can make your hair feel like it’s been dipped in concrete, there’s a time and place for a lighter hold, especially when you want definition without the stiffness. Reverie Hymn Hair Gel delivers just that: a flexible, airy finish with enough control to keep curls sculpted or a blowout bouncy. It’s packed with skincare-grade ingredients like pullulan for humidity resistance and transparent hold, trehalose to prolong styles and protect against heat, and amaranth peptides to bulk up strands for fuller, shinier hair. Whether you’re air drying waves or aiming for a lifted blowout, this gel works across textures. The formula melts in like a serum and smells clean and herbal.
- Key ingredients: pullulan, trehalose, amaranth peptides
- Best for: all hair types
- Hold level: light hold
Best Edge Gel: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus + Flaxseed Edge Gel
SheaMoisture
Coconut & Hibiscus + Flaxseed Edge Gel
Why we love it: What’s a slicked-back style without the decorative edges to pull it all together? That’s where SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Flaxseed Define & Shine Edge Gel comes in. It champions coconut oil for moisture and shine, flaxseed oil for lightweight hold, and silk protein to strengthen strands prone to breakage. It’s especially good on thicker textures that need something a bit more serious to smooth flyaways and baby hairs into place. The finish? High-shine with a soft hold that lasts all day. And thanks to the added neem oil, it also soothes the scalp. The scent profile is tropical but never overpowering, and the formula applies cleanly with fingers or an edge brush. It’s budget-friendly, accessible, and doesn’t sacrifice performance. This one earns a permanent spot on the bathroom shelf.
“I have a flaky scalp, so typically edge control immediately causes a flare-up. However, this formula is alcohol-fre, so I don’t have that issue. It has enough hold to keep my hairline in check, but not so much that I feel like I need to rinse my hair after applying every day. It also doesn’t leave any white flakes in my hair like some gels do.” —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
- Key ingredients: coconut oil, silk protein, neem
- Best for: thick and curly hair
- Hold level: strong hold
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it ok to use hair gel every day?
It depends on your hair type, how you apply the gel, and how often you cleanse your scalp. According to two professional stylists with over a decade of experience, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are some key guidelines worth following.
Krystal Marie, a hairstylist based in Nashville, advises against daily use. “Hair gels are not intended for daily use,” she says. “Using them every day can lead to excessive dryness, scalp buildup, and a variety of other issues that may not be reversible in just one salon visit.” Instead, she recommends focusing on proper nighttime maintenance to preserve your style between wash days. “Hair gel is a styling aid meant to help achieve a specific look,” she explains. “Once that look is set, your daily maintenance and nighttime care routines help preserve the style and reduce the need for daily reapplication.”
Edgar Parra, a hairstylist in New York City, takes a more flexible view. “Yes, hair gel is completely safe for everyday use,” he says, but with a few conditions. “It is important to keep in mind how often you are shampooing your hair as well. If you do use hair gel every day, you may need to shampoo your hair more frequently.” He also cautions against formulas with drying ingredients. “I would look at the ingredients in the hair gel products (i.e. alcohols and mineral oils) that can dry and weaken your hair over time,” Parra adds. “I would avoid putting the gel directly on your scalp to avoid any irritation and product buildup.”
How can you use hair gel without damaging your hair?
“Whether you’re applying gel to wet curls or prepping freshly blow-dried hair for the iconic slicked-back look, choosing the right styling tools and techniques will help you avoid damaging your hair,” says Marie. “The key to proper application is to apply the gel to detangled hair and then work the product through using your fingers or a soft boar bristle brush. This approach minimizes the risk of breakage.” When it comes to removing buildup, she adds, “Be sure to thoroughly rinse your hair to dissolve any product residue before moving on with a deep cleansing shampoo and moisturizing conditioner.”
Parra echoes the importance of removing product thoroughly. “The first step is to rinse hair with warm water until you feel most of the product is out of your hair,” he says. “Next, you can shampoo your hair with a clarifying shampoo or shampoo the hair twice with a normal, everyday shampoo.” And don’t skip the aftercare: “Once you thoroughly rinse out the shampoo, apply conditioner to the hair to replenish moisture and hydration, and then rinse out the conditioner.”
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best gels for curly hair, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hair stylists of varying curl patterns looking for defined, frizz-free results. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Find more Allure editor-approved picks for curly hair:
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