This non-sticky, non-greasy gel-like formula adds shine and subtle hold on most hair types, but if you need it to work all day long and beyond, keep looking. Just a couple hours after applying it, my flyaways were alive and kicking again, and after using it a few days in a row, I noticed it left a filmy residue along my hairline. It contains olive oil (a jackpot ingredient for natural and relaxed hair), and aloe vera and wheat protein, which condition and strengthen the cuticle to prevent breakage. Plus it's alcohol-free, which means it won't slurp moisture from your hair. However, the formula contains glycerin -- a no-no for those seeking a truly organic product.
Cover image via Imaxtree
If it's not too windy, rainy, humid or hot (i.e. any weather that adds moisture/sweat), this water-based cream-gel lasts a full workday on pressed and chemically relaxed hair. The ingenious packaging (love the spoolie wand and compact size) keeps frazzled edges from being a daily nuisance. Just a few swipes and you're done -- no hairbrush necessary. On the flip side, the formula is thick enough to create a dramatic before and after impression, but not quite at the level of being a standalone product. Our suggestion: Use alongside a thick pomade or hairspray for a truly sleek style.
This lightweight styling wax keeps softer hair textures sleek all day, but fails to do the same for thick, coarse hair types without creating buildup. It's conveniently sized, so you can apply it regularly without having to use a brush. Ingredients like beeswax and olive oil nourish hair, but synthetic waxes in the formula mean long-term usage (without treating in-between) can cause damage.
Although Perfect Edges keeps edges smooth and shiny, the gel doesn't quite live up in holding power for natural and kinky curl hair textures. It can revert natural hair textures back to a curly (but still shiny!) state by the end of the day. But I did love the scent alone (sweet, but not too perfume-y). It keeps frizzy edges at bay on both natural and relaxed styles without hardening or flaking. But once you've used up a good portion of the product, the formula inside the container turns into a filmy white goo that makes it a bit less appealing.
Dr. Miracle's clear edge gel works best on softer, natural hair types, and it's got the softest hold you can imagine that lasts for days. The faintly sweet scent could pass for "unscented" and unlike most edge control formulas, the ingredients in Dr. Miracle's gel (honey, jojoba oil, wheat protein) promote hair growth and condition. Still, you'll find plenty of indecipherable ingredients on the label and you may need to use a scarf to lay those edges down.
In the world of hair styling, edge control is something most of my fair, flaxen-haired friends have never heard of, but it's an essential step for kinky-curly, bound-to-be-frizzy, African-American hair maintenance. Those stray wispies along the hairline aren't meant to roam free, as in some sepia-toned Alicia Keys video. If there's anything our favorite naturalistas have taught us, it's that going natural isn't just about going with the 'fro, and taming those frazzled edges at your hairline takes a lot more artillery than a little shine serum and hairspray. Controlling your edges can be a lifelong project ... a mission, if you will. But there's a whole category of products designed to make this mission: possible.
We've selected some of the best edge control products for everything from natural black hairstyles to relaxed hair and pressed looks. Because choosing edge control products is personal -- the formula needs to target your specific hair type without altering the state of your hair -- we found a full range of edge control products for different hair types and textures. Whether you've got chemically relaxed hair or a full-blown 'fro, try one of these edge smoothing products for black hairstyles.
We've selected some of the best edge control products for everything from natural black hairstyles to relaxed hair and pressed looks. Because choosing edge control products is personal -- the formula needs to target your specific hair type without altering the state of your hair -- we found a full range of edge control products for different hair types and textures. Whether you've got chemically relaxed hair or a full-blown 'fro, try one of these edge smoothing products for black hairstyles.