TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.5*
Why it's great: We've all seen someone with a bad gel job. You know, the person walking around with hair so stiff that you swear they had it glued that way? Well, readers say this product holds curls while still allowing hair to have movement.
"Most of my family and I have wavy to curly hair," says one reader. "This gel is great for holding curls and [is] not stiff or sticky." Other readers say the product doesn't flake and is worthy of replacing any of your expensive salon gels. "OMG, there is nothing as affordable and good out there as this stuff," proclaims another user. "It really holds for the whole day without damaging your hair, and there is no stickiness or flake build up. It's my favorite stuff."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.6*
Why it's great: "[This gel] provides awesome all-day hold with no flaking," says one reader. "Best of all, it's super cheap. It doesn't smell like alcohol, and the consistency isn't extremely thick or hard to run through hair." Readers are also impressed with how well this hair gel tames frizziness and adds shine, regardless of hair type. "I have been using this product for six months," shares one reader. "I can use it on wet hair and blow dry it straight or if I want to go curly, I just put it on wet and go. It's a great product!"
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.7*
Why it's great: Readers are fans of the flexible hold this gel provides. "I usually mix a little styling cream in with my hair gel to cut the crunchiness and add a little shine, but there's no need with this," says one user. "It emulsifies when you rub it in your hands and works amazingly to bring out and hold my waves without looking '80s-crispy -- and the smell? It's the very best part. I get more compliments on the scent of my hair than any perfume I ever wear."
Other reviewers say this product has a "lighter consistency than most gels" and that it's worth its hefty price tag. "I use this product every day and it keeps flyaways totally under control," says one user. "It also maintains my style without feeling stiff like some gel products make your hair. It's a great value for the money, too, because a little goes a long, long way."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.7*
Why it's great: Readers love this product so much that they've been reaching for it year after year. "I remember my hair dresser using it on my hair back in high school, and it smelled SO good [that] I bought the bottle on the spot," gushes on faithful user. "My hair is generally dry and frizzy if left to its own devices. [This hair gel] is really fantastic and I recommend it to everyone with thick, frizzy or dry hair." Another perk beloved by readers? The product contains sunscreen, so it protects hair color from fading. " Plus, "a little goes a long way with this gel" and that "it is gentle, but it holds your style."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.7*
Why it's great: No matter what style you're going for, readers say this gel well help you achieve a smooth look to your controlled 'do. "I use a small amount of this in my damp hair before blow-drying it, and it gives it body and control," says one user. "It's also very reasonably priced!"
Readers say the gel is a bit crunchy when worked into wet hair, but it holds your style well and can be "scrunched out" easily. "This definitely holds any style," another reader says. "When I put it in my hair in the morning, it makes my hair a bit hard and crunchy, but by the end of the day, it's soft again. Use it to hold your style. It's better than hairspray."
We love hair gel because it's such a versatile product. Use it on straight hair to add dimension and shine. Apply hair gel to your natural curls to boost volume and keep frizz in check. But if you choose the wrong hair gel, you'll be stuck with a crunchy, greasy mess that smells like alcohol or bad perfume to boot. We're here to eliminate the trial-and-error process for you. Click through for the 11 best hair gels that our readers say are the answer to all of your hair styling woes.
