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Hair Gel.

Our full range of hair gel, curated for curly, coily and wavy hair. Free 24-hour UK delivery on orders over £25.

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146 products
Howdy Curls Spring Back Gel Crème - 200ml
Noughty
Howdy Curls Spring Back Gel Crème - 200ml
£9.99 ·
The Doux 808 Base Gel
The Doux
The Doux 808 Base Gel
£15.99 ·
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Buying guide

Choosing a gel by hold, not by brand

What gel is actually doing on textured hair

Gel forms a film around a wet curl and holds its shape while the water evaporates. That film is the cast, the slightly crunchy shell you break up once the hair is bone dry. Without it, a curl dries into whatever shape the air and your pillow decide on. Every product in this collection does that job, from the Shine 'n Jam conditioning gels through the Keracare Gel Essence range to ORS Olive Oil Curl Clumping Gel.

Hold levels, and how to choose one

Light and conditioning gels leave a soft cast, suit loose curls and waves, and are the easiest to live with. OSMO Essence Re-energising Curl Gel and As I Am Smoothing Gel sit here. Medium hold covers most people most of the time: Shine 'n Jam Conditioning Gel and Keracare Gel Essence Moisturising Gel give definition without setting like concrete.

Firm hold is for tight coils, humid days and styles that need to survive a full week. Shine 'n Jam Extra Hold, Shine 'n Jam Supreme Hold and Keracare Gel Essence Super Hold all belong in that bracket. A firmer gel is not automatically better. If your curls feel brittle and snap at the cast, drop a level or dilute the gel with a little water in your palm.

Edge gels, braid gels and loc gels are separate tools

Edge control is a small pot of very firm hold designed for the fine baby hairs at your hairline, and it is meant to be used sparingly. Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Super Hold Edge Gel, ORS Olive Oil Girls Fly-Away Taming Edge Gel and OSMO Essence Edge Defining Gel are the ones to look at. Braid and loc gels solve a different problem again. Shine 'n Jam Magic Fingers grips loose hair while you plait, and the Jamaican Mango & Lime Locking Gel range holds new growth into locs while they set.

Technique, and the two mistakes everyone makes

Apply to soaking wet hair, not damp. Rake or smooth the gel through a section, then scrunch upwards and let it be. Air dry, or diffuse on low heat until the cast is hard, then scrunch it out with a drop of oil in your hands. The first mistake is applying to hair that is too dry, which gives you frizz and flakes. The second is touching wet hair while it dries, which breaks the film before it has set.

Flaking, humidity and hard water

Most white flaking is a compatibility problem. Gels containing certain polymers clash with heavy butters and silicone leave-ins underneath, so if you flake with one combination, change the layer below the gel before you blame the gel. Hard water in London and the south-east makes it worse, since minerals sit on the strand and give the film something to catch on.

Humidity is the other variable. British summers reach 75 to 90 percent humidity, and that is when firmer hold pays off. Winter is drier indoors, closer to 30 percent with the heating on, so a conditioning gel over a good leave-in will usually be enough.

Questions

Hair gel questions, answered

Which gel is best for 4C hair?
Firm hold with slip. Shine 'n Jam Supreme Hold and Keracare Gel Essence Super Hold both give the grip that tight coils need for twist outs and wash and gos. Layer over a leave-in and a cream so the gel has moisture to lock in rather than sitting on bare hair.
Why does my gel leave white flakes?
Usually a clash between the gel and whatever is underneath it. Heavy butters, some silicone leave-ins and certain gel polymers do not mix. Change the product below the gel first, apply to wetter hair, and clarify if you are in a hard water area.
Does gel dry hair out?
The gel itself does not, but the alcohol in some formulas can feel drying on already parched hair. Conditioning gels such as Shine 'n Jam and the Keracare Gel Essence range are built around that problem. Always layer over a leave-in rather than applying to bare wet hair.
Gel or mousse for defined curls?
Gel gives a stronger cast and holds longer, which suits tighter textures and damp British weather. Mousse gives volume and a softer finish, better for fine or wavy hair that gets weighed down. Plenty of people use mousse first, then a light gel on top.
How do I get rid of the crunch?
Wait until the hair is completely dry, then rub a few drops of oil between your palms and scrunch the sections upwards. The cast breaks and the curl underneath stays put. Scrunching while the hair is still damp is what causes frizz.
Can I use edge control as an all-over gel?
Better not to. Edge gels are formulated for very firm grip on small amounts of fine hair, and used all over they build up quickly and leave the lengths stiff. Keep a pot for the hairline and use a styling gel for everything else.
How often can I use gel without build-up?
Every wash day is fine if you cleanse properly. Most gels are water soluble and come out with a normal shampoo. If you also use butters, oils or edge control daily, add a clarifying wash every three or four weeks to reset.
What gel works for braids and cornrows?
Shine 'n Jam Magic Fingers is made for braiders and grips loose ends while you plait. For locs and twists, the Jamaican Mango & Lime Cool Scalp Braid, Twist & Loc Gel holds new growth without the tacky drag of a styling gel.
Is gel any good on wavy hair?
Yes, in small amounts. Waves need hold to stop them dropping out by lunchtime, but too much product flattens them. Use a light conditioning gel, apply to very wet hair, scrunch rather than rake, and diffuse rather than air dry.
Should gel go on before or after cream?
After. Leave-in first, then cream, then gel last so the film sits on the outside where it can hold the shape. Reversing the order puts the cream on top of the cast and softens it, which is why some people find their definition drops out.
How much gel should I use?
Start with a ten pence sized blob per section and add more if the hair still feels dry as you work. Tight coils and thick hair need noticeably more than the bottle suggests. Under-applying gives you patchy definition and frizz between the clumps.
Will gel hold in British summer humidity?
A firm hold gel will. Humidity here climbs to 75 to 90 percent in summer, and that is exactly when a soft cast gives way. Shine 'n Jam Extra Hold or Keracare Gel Essence Super Hold cope far better than a light conditioning gel on those days.