Hair gel is among the most important and the oldest styling products that have been around. This can be used to make numerous hair-styles with long or short hair. Hair gel is an essential product if you like to style your hair every-day. Unlike other hair products that help hold shape for styling hair, hair gel, is safe and does not damage hair. If the hair gel is of a good company and has been chosen by keeping the texture of your hair in mind, it can actually help make your hair softer and shinier.
A hair gel can help you attain any style depending on its type. When you are buying a hair gel there are certain things that you need to keep in mind, for example, the purpose of the hair gel and the texture of your hair. It is also important to make sure that you are using the right type of hair-gel for the right texture of hair.
Applying hair gel is very easy if you have a particular style in mind. Hair gel is multi-purpose, it can be used to remove fizz from hair or if you are interested in some particular look for your next formal event, a hair gel can be man’s new best friend.
It can be extremely difficult to find the right product that fits all your needs and all requirements that you are looking for in your hair gel. To help you out, here is a buying guide to some of the best hair gel’s available in the market today.
Best Hair Gel for Men
| Hair Gel | Hold | Ingredients | Fragrance | Shine | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel | Medium | Vitamin B5 | Mild | Natural | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| JOHNNY B. Mode Styling Gel | Medium | Sorbitol | Mild | Natural | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| SEXYHAIR Style Hair Gel | Strong | Lanolin | Mild | High shine | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Got2b Ultra Glued Invincible Hair Gel | Strong | Aqua, Polyquaternium-69 PVP Sorbitol Acrylates | No fragrance | Semi matte | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Gentlemen Republic Grooming Hair Gel | Strong | water, glycerin, panthenol | Mild | Medium | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Tea Tree Firm Hold Gel | Strong | tea tree, mint, citrus | strong mint and citrus fragrance | Natural | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| L.A. LOOKS Hair GEL | Strong | Aqua (Water), PVP, Sorbitol, keratin | --- | Medium | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Redken Brews Holding gel for men | Medium | AQUA / WATER, VP/VA COPOLYMER, SORBITOL | Refreshing smell | High | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| TIGI Bed Hair Finish Gel | Medium | Water, Glycerin, VP/VA Copolymer | Mild | Natural | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Woody's Mega Firm Gel for Men | Strong | aloe vera, ginger root extract and rosemary leaf extra | Mild | Medium | CHECK ON AMAZON |
Top 10 Best Hair Gel for Men – Reviews
1. American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel
With the highest reviews, American crew gel holds the first place in this list.
This is quite versatile and can work on any type of hair. Making it easy to get a favourable look.
This non-rigid-flexible styling gel helps to lock the hair in place all day long. Thanks to its dual polymer complex which makes the hair look fuller and helps boost volume.
This is an alcohol-free product and induced with vitamin B5. This prevents hair fall and makes your hair look healthier.
It can work on both wet and dry hair. Being water-soluble it rinses off easily.
This gel gives you firm hold but doesn’t give that rigidity that other gels do. So once you apply this you can be sure to get that natural bounce in your hair. It doesn’t even weigh down your hair.
Nor does it leave a greasy appearance on your hair.
Quantity- 33.8oz
Ingredients- vitamin B5, dual polymer complex
Fragrance- mild fragrance
Shine- natural shine
Hair- all type of hair
Pros
- Doesn’t make your hair stiff
- Works for all hair types
- Mild fragrance
Con
- Consistency is very light
2. JOHNNY B. Mode Styling Gel
If you are looking for something with medium hold and yet give you flexible styles. Then Johny B is the way to go.
This has a thick consistency and will hold your hair in the desired style.
This high-quality gel gives you a natural-looking finish and blends in your hair effortlessly.
Johny B gel can work great for medium to thick texture hair.
With sorbitol as its primary ingredient. This serves as a humectant in hair and prevents moisture loss.
Plus sorbitol carries its own fragrance that blends with hair.
By mentioning sorbitol you might think this gel contains alcohol. But let me clear your doubt sorbitol is polyalcohol which is not an alcohol. So this gel is considered to be alcohol free and is absolutely safe to use.
This can be applied on both wet and dry hair. It is recommended to blow dry after using it to get the best results.
Quantity- 32oz
Ingredients- sorbitol
Fragrance- mild fragrance
Shine- natural shine
Hair- medium to thick texture
Pros
- Doesn’t make your hair stiff
- Works great for medium to thick texture hair
- Mild fragrance
Con
- Smell might not liked by all
3. SEXYHAIR Style Hard Up Hard Holding Gel
If you have very thick hair and want a gel with strong hold. Then sexyhair gel can do its job well.
This gives you a really high hold and also adds shine to your hair.
The color of this gel is very eye catching. It comes in a pump bottle with blue colored gel filled in it.
What gives this gel a strong hold is its wax bax including lanolin. It can harden you only after minutes of applying it. And the presence of lanolin moisturizes your hair while giving it a good hold.
You can use this on damp hair and be sure to get a non greasy appearance. This also has a clear fragrance which is very mild.
Quantity- 16.9 fl oz
Ingredients- lanolin
Fragrance- mild fragrance
Shine- high shine
Hair- thick texture
Pros
- Strong hold
- Works great for texture hair
- Mild fragrance
Con
- Pump can get clogged
4. Got2b Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Hair Gel
First and foremost the things that go unnoticed is that you get 3 packs and each measure of 3 oz. And that’s a pretty good deal.
Coming to its holding capacity. This promises to stick to your hair like glue. Having said that let me tell you this is also very easy to remove. You can just use a bit of shampoo to remove this gel.
This can be great for people who want to get a vertical hairstyle like mohawk hairstyle. As you get a very strong hold.
You can apply this on damp or dry hair to get the best results.
Quantity- 6 oz (pack of 3)
Ingredients- Aqua, Polyquaternium-69 PVP Sorbitol Acrylates
Fragrance- no fragrance
Shine-semi matte
Hair– medium to thick texture
Pros
- Strong hold
- Does not flake
- Non sticky
Con
- Pump can get clogged
5. Gentlemen Republic Grooming Hair Gel
Gentlemen republic gel can work great for men with short to medium length hair. And it gives you a strong hold without any flakes. It can give a hold which can last upto 24 hours.
You can also expect shine with applying this gel. Plus this is a great option to apply in humid weather.
This is an alcohol free product and does not make your hair oily or crispy.
With glycerin as its primary ingredient, you can be sure to add softness to the hair along with styling it.
It is advised not to keep the lid open for too long as the gel can dry off.
Quantity- 16 oz
Ingredients- water, glycerin, panthenol
Fragrance- mild fragrance
Shine- medium
hair – medium to thick
Pros
- Strong hold
- Does not flake
- Non sticky
Con
- Gel can get dry
6. Tea Tree Firm Hold Gel
Tea tree gel promises to give your hair a remarkable shine and fullness to your hair. This firm holding gel gives you a maximum control with flake free finish.
And this not only holds your hair but also gives it a thicker texture.
With tea tree as its primary ingredients. You get a nice refreshing smell followed by cool mint and citrus.
There are also other benefits that come with natural hair gel. Like tea tree keep the hair healthy and moisturized and also prevents dandruff.
While mint and citrus gives you a refreshing experience.
A small amount is enough to distribute on your hair. Use this on damp or dry hair to get your desired look.
Quantity- 6.8 fl oz
Ingredients- tea tree, mint, citrus
Fragrance– strong mint and citrus fragrance
Shine– natural
Hair– all type of hair
Pros
- Strong hold
- Does not flake
- Non sticky
Con
- Smell can be too strong for some
7. L.A. LOOKS SPORT XTRME HLD GEL
This high performance gel comes with a strong hold formula. This does not flake and even work in humid climates.
This is great for those who are into sports. This extreme hold gel will keep your hair in place for a long time.
Now this gel not only promises great hold but primary ingredients also nourishes hair. This ingredient list includes sorbitol which prevents moisture loss and keratin which strengthens hair.
Plus you get this in a pack of three with each bottle weighing 20 oz. This can definitely be used for a long time.
Quantity- 20 oz
Ingredients– Aqua (Water), PVP, Sorbitol, keratin
Fragrance– not listed
Shine– medium
Hair– medium to thick
Pros
- Strong hold
- Does not flake
- Works on humid climate
Con
- Smell can be too strong for some
8. Redken Brews Holding gel for men
Redken Brew holding gel can be used for all hair types but it is especially beneficial for curly hairs that tend to be unmanageable and weigh down with other hair products.
The gel has a medium hold and a shiny finish. It gives clean and defined separation but allows movement to create a natural and effortless style.
The formula of the hair gel is malt-infused and inspired by beer. It adds volume and flake-free shine to the hair and leaves a faint lingering fragrance that is not overpowering.
The application of the gel is simple and can be used on both damp and dry hair.
Pros:
- Has medium hold and shine that does not make the hair looking stiff and oily.
- Only a small amount is needed during application making it a great value for money.
Cons:
- The added fragrance might not be to everyone’s liking and can irritate sensitive scalp.
- Might not suit hair types that require a strong hold and extreme shine.
- The added silicone for shine will cause scalp build-up if not removed properly.
9. TIGI Bed Head for Men Hair Finish Gel
This is great for men with long thick hair. Its features a medium hold and gives your hair a natural look.
It doesn’t make your hair feel crisp or greasy.
This gel doesn’t even flake and can withstand wind and humidity.
It has a creamy thick texture that leaves your hair with matte finish.
And it does not contain alcohol and consists of antioxidants that are good for hair and scalp.
Once you apply on dry hair blow dry it to get the best results.
Quantity- 6.76 oz
Ingredients- Water, Glycerin, VP/VA Copolymer
Fragrance- mild fragrance
Shine- antrual
Hair- all type of hair
Pros
- Medium hold
- Does not flake
- Non sticky
Con
- Gel can get dry
10. Woody’s Mega Firm Gel for Men
Woody’s gel gives a firm hold that is suitable for any hair type and hair length. This gel seamlessly blends in your hair without leaving any greasy texture.
Its ingredients are aloe vera, ginger root extract and rosemary leaf extract. This makes it anti fungal and helps to keep dandruff away from your hair.
As far as shine is concerned this gives you a little shine that will be evident after application. And this is an alcohol and paraben free product, so it would not feel flaky even after prolonged use.
You can use this on dry or damp hair.
Quantity- 16.9 oz
Ingredients- aloe vera, ginger root extract and rosemary leaf extra
Fragrance- mild fragrance
Shine- medium
Hair- medium to thick
Pros
- strong hold
- Does not flake
- Natural ingredients
Con
- Smell might not be liked by all
Things To Consider When Purchasing Hair Gel
Here are a few major factors that you must look into before buying a hair gel that will work the best for you. Let’s have a look.
1. Hair Type
Determining your hair type is the first and the most important factor before buying any hair styling product and a hair gel is no exception. The length of your hair, its texture, and the quality are the factors that matter.
There are a few hair gels that are formulated specifically for either thick or fine hair, short or long hair, curly or straight hair. Each type of hair requires different styling products. Thus, to get the most out of it, you should spend some time to select the perfect hair gel for you and trust us; it will be totally worth it.
A general rule while buying a hair gel is – the thinner your hair is, the lighter the hair gel should be. The stronger gels tend to weigh down thin or fine hair.
2. Hold
Hold is another important factor that helps you enhance the look and style of your hair. Hair gels provide 3 types of holds: Low hold, Medium hold, and Maximum hold.
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High Hold
If you are someone who prefers adding a tough hold and structure to your hairstyle, you should look for gels that are either labeled as extra strength or strong hold.
These types of gels offer an extremely rigid structure to your hair that can last for up to 24 hours.
The gels with strong hold help in making your hair feel spiky and this is totally your personal choice if you like to sport such hairstyle or not.
These types of gels are perfect for men who are involved in complex and heavy activities throughout the day such as sports and wish to keep the hair at a place.
If you are buying such a hair gel, you should be aware of the fact that there is a possibility of gel buildup over the strands if you are using it regularly. Thus, whenever you are washing your hair, make sure that you scrub deeply with a shampoo and get rid of the residues completely.
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Medium Hold
Hair gels with medium hold are a perfect solution for men who prefer a light and midday styling. These gels provide a decent structure to your hair and make it look great.
If you do lighter activities such as desk job or light gym sessions, you can prefer using hair gels with medium hold. It allows you to sport a wide variety of hairstyles when compared to all the types of hair gels.
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Light or Natural Hold
The hair gels with light or natural hold help in providing a shape or structure to your hairstyle without making it appear like you have applied a hairstyling product. Since the hold offered by them does not last for a very long time, you might have to restyle your hair multiple times a day.
These hair gels are perfect for men with thin or fine hair who want to achieve a particular hairstyle. It works great even for men who prefer to sport a natural or textured hairstyle.
The low hold hair gels lets you achieve that perfect messy look and make your hair look like you have just got out of your bed. It even allows you to sport many casual hairstyles. These hair gels help in smoothening the flyaways and also work on managing the frizz without making your hair look tensed or stiff.
Since the hair follicles don’t dry out much after using the low hold gels, they show minimum side effects when compared to the other two types of hair gels.
3. Shine
Shine of the gel refers to how shiny your hair looks after applying the gel to it. A gel that offers maximum shine allows you to sport a perfect slick-back look.
Most brands of the hair gels offer a high shine which is quite similar to hair wax or pomades. You can select the level of shine on the basis of your hairstyle.
Generally, people who prefer classic or slicked-back hairstyle should get benefit from gels offering higher shine. For modern or lighter hairstyles you can go ahead with lesser shine. The shine of a hair gel can even make a boring hairstyle or color (like brown) look interesting.
Typically, a hair gel comes in different finishes. They are as follows:
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Matte Texture
The shine provided by a gel with matte texture is very similar to that of a natural hair color.
If you are worried that applying a hair gel might make your hair look too shiny and spiky, you should buy a hair gel that offers a matte texture. It helps you to add a structure without making it look like you have applied any product to your hair.
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Semi-Matte
Using a hair gel with a semi-matte finish adds a little bit of shine without drawing too much attention towards your hair. It is perfect for use in the office.
4. Ingredients
The ingredients present in a hair gel vary from brand to brand. Thus, it is important to check and be aware of the ingredients present in the hair gel.
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Alcohol
When it comes to finalizing a hair gel for you, you must know that there are 2 categories of alcohol: short-chain and long-chain.
If you have dry hair type, you should avoid buying hair gels containing short-chain alcohols. Even though they are helpful in getting rid of dirt and bacteria from the scalp, these ingredients tend to dry out the hair and scalp too. Some of the short-chain alcohols include propanol and ethanol.
Long-chain alcohols or fatty alcohols are the ones that work fine on any hair type. These long-chain alcohols are nothing but emollients that are often used in most hair care and skincare products. They help in moisturizing the scalp and hair.
These alcohols don’t dry out the hair and are not astringents, unlike the short-chain alcohols. Instead, they help in improving the condition of dry scalp over time.
The long-chain alcohols are often termed as Stearyl alcohol, Lauryl alcohol, and Cetyl alcohol.
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Lanolin Wax
The lanolin wax is a common ingredient in most of the hair gels. It is also an active ingredient in a few hair waxes and pomades.
The lanolin wax helps in keeping your hair in place. They also prevent them from falling out of place after your hair gets wet.
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Sorbitol
Sorbitol is a sugar compound that is often used in most of the hair styling products. It is usually combined with alcohol and then used in hair gels. They are helpful in preventing the loss of moisture from your hair.
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Aloe Vera
If you have a dry scalp, you must always prefer a hair gel that contains aloe vera.
It even works well for men with normal hair and scalp type.
The presence of aloe vera in a hair gel helps in soothing the scalp. It also makes it easy to apply and style your hair using your fingers.
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Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an antioxidant that helps in preventing the free radical oxygen molecules from damaging the cell membranes that are present in the surrounding areas. It also helps in soothing the scalp and improving cellular regeneration.
Tea tree oil is an amazing ingredient, especially for those men who are very mindful of the health of their hair and scalp.
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Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is another excellent ingredient. It can be very helpful to you if you have a sensitive scalp type. Witch hazel helps in reducing the inflammation and tries to make your skin less sensitive over time.
The ingredient can be effective even when you are struggling with severe dandruff issues or fungal infections over the scalp.
5. Weather
For men who live in areas where the humidity level is high, it gets very difficult for them to find a styling product that meets such weather conditions.
The same is the case for wind as not many hair gels provide such a strong hold that can withstand strong wind.
In such conditions, you should look out for products that are humidity-resistant and that provide a strong and firm hold.
How to Apply Hair Gel
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you apply a hair gel easily and get the best results.
1. Start by washing your hair
Use a good shampoo to wash your hair. Always remember that a hair gel works the best on freshly-washed hair. It becomes difficult to achieve the perfect hairstyle when you apply it on either greasy or dirty hair. In the worst-case scenario, it might make your hair feel too crunchy.
2. Take the right quantity of the gel
The quantity of gel used depends on the length of your hair and the hairstyle that you are planning to sport.
However, as a general rule, you should take a dime-sized amount of gel and it should be enough for short hair. You can apply more if you have longer hair or if you feel that you need some more gel to style your hair.
3. Start prepping up
After squeezing out the hair gel in your palm, rub it properly between the palms for a minute or so. This helps in preventing the formation of clumps while applying to your hair. Once you notice that you got an even coating after rubbing, the gel is ready to be applied to your hair.
4. Style your hair
Start by applying the gel around your hairline and gradually move back towards the top of your head and then till the nape of your neck.
You can either use your hand or a comb to work the gel in the preferred style. You can select one on the basis of your convenience.
Using your hands can be helpful if you are planning to give a messy look to your hair. If you have curly hair, you can scrunch your hair using your hand and give it a nice messy look.
Some professionals prefer using a comb to distribute the gel evenly across your hair. However, few other professionals suggest you to brush and style your hair beforehand and then apply the gel in the end.
There are some gels and pomades that are supposed to be combed in the hair for effective results, but that’s not always the scenario.
TIPS for Hair Gel
- If you are in no mood to wash your hair again to apply hair gel, you can simply dampen your hair in the sink or use a spray bottle to make your hair wet. This will help you save time.
- If you wish to have curls, scrunch and twist your hair after applying the gel. This will help your hair to form natural waves.
- Flipping your hair in an upside-down direction and then scrunching it can help you add volume to your hairstyle.
How to Properly Remove Hair Gel
Removing hair gel completely from your hair can be a bit tricky, especially if you have applied a reworkable hair gel. Since they form a stubborn layer over your hair, you might have to pay more attention to it. Following these steps can help you remove hair gels properly from your hair.
- Rinse your hair repeatedly using lukewarm water. Using warm water helps in loosening the gel and lets it run freely from your hair. Using very hot water can melt the gel which can then stick to the scalp, leaving an unpleasant feeling behind.
- After rinsing off the gel, wash your hair using a clarifying shampoo. This will help you remove extra products. Repeat the process of rinsing your hair and washing it with shampoo twice or thrice. If you have long hair, you might have to rinse your hair 2-3 times more.
- Once you feel that you got rid of the gel completely, rinse your hair with cold water in the end. This will help in locking the pores on the scalp.
If you missed any residue of the hair gel, it will work with the natural oil of your hair which can eventually clog the pores on the scalp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reworkable hair gel is also called as dry hair gel. It provides an all-day hold and is a great solution whenever you are in a hurry.
If you have applied a hair gel, it is more likely that you might notice hair falling off from its place by the lunchtime or post 4-5 hours. You can put all these strands back in place by using a reworkable gel. All you have to do is run your fingers through your hair and style it.
The reworkable gel provides a good consistency that is meant to last the whole day.
The normal hair gels have a gel-like texture and appearance. However, you can also get a few spray gels and hybrids that are a bit harder. They are like wax but a bit creamier. However, as the name suggests, the texture of a hair gel is like any regular gel.
Hair gels work the best when applied to wet hair. However, by wet, we don’t mean dripping wet hair. You should apply it on towel-dried hair.
The damper your hair is, the easier the application of the gel will be.
Most users don’t prefer applying the gel on completely dry hair. Even though it will help you add spikes to your hairstyle, you will have to finish off the styling using a hairdryer.
Most of the hair gels that are designed specifically for men are specially formulated for use on short or medium-length hair and a particular texture.
These gels are meant to give your hairstyle the required hold and shine (shine is optional though).
Another significant feature of men’s hair gels is the scent that is usually masculine and a bit brutal.
You can even find a few unisex hair gels in the market that has a gender-neutral fragrance.
It depends on how often you are using the hair gel. Typically, you should clean your hair and scalp before going to bed and this applies to all the hairstyling products. If you don’t get rid of these products, they can start clogging the pores on the scalp.
There are some gels that provide extra hold that can last for more than a day. For such products, you can sleep and wake up in the morning with an almost similar hairstyle.
If you are in a hurry and can’t make out time to wash your hair, you can skip on those days. But washing the hair gel off your hair can be helpful in the long run. If you want your hair to look strong, healthy, and shiny, you must take good care of it.
The modern hair gels are not that harmful as they are usually non-alcoholic formulas. These products don’t even dry out your scalp and hair.
However, you must not overuse hair gels. Whenever you are applying the gel, make sure you wash your hair before sleeping. Also, buy hair gels that don’t contain harmful chemicals such as parabens, silicones, etc.
Conclusion
We hope this article served your purpose. All our selection was based on highest reviews and product efficiency.
All our products offer different hold and shine. You can choose the one that is suitable to your needs.
Our favourite pick among this is American Crew American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel. This gel gives a medium hold and doesn’t make the hair look stiff. This is induced with a dual polymer complex that makes your hair look thicker and vitaminB5 that prevents hair fall.
Moreover this can be used on all type of hair and comes with a mild fragrance.