Gel - is it a love or hate relationship?

love yourself first · 06-23-2005, 06:46 PM

Personally, I love gel

My absolute favorites are Batia & Aleeza bio-mineral, Devacurl Angell and Biolage Gellee... I also love Ouidad Climate Control and Fantasia IC with Sparklites... With a thicker or very strong hold gel, I water it down before applying to damp hair to get rid of crunchiness. With other gels, I just apply directly to damp hair.

Gel holds my curls in great shape all day and tames any frizzies.. It is my ending styling product of choice (with either a leave-in under it, or leave-in plus a curl enhancer or bulk reducer type product - so, 2-3 styling products on average, after conditioner washing and rinsing).

Other curlies seem to hate gel, so where do you fit in the spectrum?

eccentric_kurlz · 06-23-2005, 07:34 PM

I voted that I use it regularly and love it. With certain gels, I'm able to get consistent results, and obtain defined and frizz free curls. I can also get 2nd, 3rd, and sometimes 4th day hair.

I haven't found a cream styler that can deliver those results as of yet, and I'm not going to hold my breath, either. As long as my gels work, I really have no reason to look for anything else.....unless people enable my PJ-ism(is that even a word?).

MissJ · 06-23-2005, 08:00 PM

I use gel regularly and love it. It's the only thing that seems to hold my hair and stop the frizz. Although, since I'm in the transitioning stage right now, I can't use a heavy gel like I used to or else my hair looks stringy and crunchy. I can't wait 'til I'm all natural again!

Ladydncing · 06-23-2005, 08:12 PM

Wow, so far as of this post, no in between!

I also voted for the first one, I love gel!

However, I just started a new love affair
for cream styler this summer.
I love it because it's very light and I don't
like putting on heavy products when it's
very hot.
The ending results are very different.
With the cream styler, hair looks very
natural.

Amneris · 06-23-2005, 08:22 PM

I'm not sure how to vote because I only use very specific gels for very specific things - most of the time I am somewhere between don't like it and don't get it but willing to try. I saw Biolage Gelee and got some the other day, but haven't used it yet. Usually I only like S curl and IC and only when I want a stretched look. There are a couple of other gels I don't mind but never seem to use.

Colocha · 06-23-2005, 09:53 PM

I like using gel. It defines my curls and gives some control.

CurliTresses · 06-23-2005, 11:57 PM

I selected I use it sometimes and still have not decided if I like to use it all the time. Though I have been using it more often lately. I sometimes just like to use only conditioner as leave-in. I also sometimes like to use mousse. So I guess I'm still undecided.

ETA: If I wear my hair back in a braid I don't use gel throughout hair. Maybe a little gel mixed with water on the top to smooth the canopy.

curlycovrgirl · 06-24-2005, 12:39 PM

i hate gel!

it makes me look like i have a jheri curl. I used it when i first went natural and several people asked me if i had a jheri curl.

I have great results w/ thick cream styling products.

LipGlassHoney · 06-24-2005, 12:57 PM

I don't like gels!!! Are there any gels that don't make your hair super hard? I've tried different formulations but they all give me "super" hold. They give me that jheri-esque look as well. When people compliment me on my curl and tell me how much they miss theirs, it makes me wonder who ELSE thinks that I have a curl. My hair responds well to mousse but if I can find a gel that doesn't make my hair hard I will give it another try. I've been in PR for a few weeks and am longing to buy some new things!!!

eccentric_kurlz · 06-24-2005, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LipGlassHoney

Are there any gels that don't make your hair super hard?

Yeah there are. I've noticed that gels that have PVP in them give hair(well my hair) that stringy, crunchy, hard and unnatural look. I currently use a strong hold gel, but it doesn't have PVP in it, and my curls are soft and have movement, but the curls stay curly without me having to add any add'l product. No crunchines and my hair looks very natural.

love yourself first · 06-24-2005, 01:17 PM

I think Devacurl Angell has PVP in it, and I don't even need water to dilute it and have never gotten any crunch with it at all!!

LipGlass Honey - You might want to try Angell someday.

But, Shyygirl, I think you do have a point because the Fantasia IC has PVP in it, and I have to water down or dilute that gel in order to prevent crunchies.

I hate crunchies but love gel so have devised methods to get the results that I want

Use of the gels listed in my first post and the watering of thick/strong hold gels works like a charm for me

Curlilocs · 06-24-2005, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LipGlassHoney

I don't like gels!!! Are there any gels that don't make your hair super hard? I've tried different formulations but they all give me "super" hold. They give me that jheri-esque look as well. When people compliment me on my curl and tell me how much they miss theirs, it makes me wonder who ELSE thinks that I have a curl. My hair responds well to mousse but if I can find a gel that doesn't make my hair hard I will give it another try. I've been in PR for a few weeks and am longing to buy some new things!!!

We've got to stop meeting like this

Have you tried Smooth and shine curl activator gel. I used it pre BC and I have been using it now. It gives your hair a nice hold without the wet Jheri curl look. It won't be hard or sticky, but it may feel a little "filmy". Overall, I liked this product a lot!

amarilla505 · 06-24-2005, 02:32 PM

well you guys know the deal with me, i love gel!!! FOTE all they way

shygirl, i feel you on not holding your breath for a cream styler to give you the same effect as gel. i just know that gel really helps to control my hair to form the curls and keep them in their curly state. i tried using a creme styler alone a while back and it was a great afro day for me, a few corkscrews here and there but no definition.

eccentric_kurlz · 06-24-2005, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curltopia

But, Shyygirl, I think you do have a point because the Fantasia IC has PVP in it, and I have to water down or dilute that gel in order to prevent crunchies.

It has PVP? I know it has Carbomer in it. Unless they changed the formula because the bottle I purchased yesterday doesn't have PVP in it. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm hoping that this will be the replacement for my discontinued HG gel.

LipGlassHoney · 06-24-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curlilocs

Quote:

Originally Posted by LipGlassHoney

I don't like gels!!! Are there any gels that don't make your hair super hard? I've tried different formulations but they all give me "super" hold. They give me that jheri-esque look as well. When people compliment me on my curl and tell me how much they miss theirs, it makes me wonder who ELSE thinks that I have a curl. My hair responds well to mousse but if I can find a gel that doesn't make my hair hard I will give it another try. I've been in PR for a few weeks and am longing to buy some new things!!!

We've got to stop meeting like this

Have you tried Smooth and shine curl activator gel. I used it pre BC and I have been using it now. It gives your hair a nice hold without the wet Jheri curl look. It won't be hard or sticky, but it may feel a little "filmy". Overall, I liked this product a lot!

I will have to give this a try

love yourself first · 06-24-2005, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shyygirl723

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curltopia

But, Shyygirl, I think you do have a point because the Fantasia IC has PVP in it, and I have to water down or dilute that gel in order to prevent crunchies.

It has PVP? I know it has Carbomer in it. Unless they changed the formula because the bottle I purchased yesterday doesn't have PVP in it. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm hoping that this will be the replacement for my discontinued HG gel.

You are right. It has Carbomer in it. I think that I was referring to an older formulation.... You are safe to test the waters ....

maricurl · 07-04-2005, 05:54 PM

it took me a while to find the right one, but i'm right in there with lovin' my herbal essences humidity defying gel. i leave in a lot of conditioner--maybe that's why i don't have a problem with crunch. other gels i've tried and liked are ouidad climate control, s-curl, ors lock and twist, got2be spiked up gel, and fantasia ic w/sparkelites.

shrinkster · 07-06-2005, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shyygirl723

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curltopia

But, Shyygirl, I think you do have a point because the Fantasia IC has PVP in it, and I have to water down or dilute that gel in order to prevent crunchies.

It has PVP? I know it has Carbomer in it. Unless they changed the formula because the bottle I purchased yesterday doesn't have PVP in it. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm hoping that this will be the replacement for my discontinued HG gel.

What is Carbomer? Is it bad?

eccentric_kurlz · 07-06-2005, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrinkster30

Quote:

Originally Posted by shyygirl723

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curltopia

But, Shyygirl, I think you do have a point because the Fantasia IC has PVP in it, and I have to water down or dilute that gel in order to prevent crunchies.

It has PVP? I know it has Carbomer in it. Unless they changed the formula because the bottle I purchased yesterday doesn't have PVP in it. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm hoping that this will be the replacement for my discontinued HG gel.

What is Carbomer? Is it bad?

No, it's not bad. It's a thickener, but I've noticed that when I use products with PVP high in the ingredient lists(which is also a thickener), my curls are alittle stringier. I'm noticing this with the IC gel too, but I can counteract it with a cream based leave in. It may not be this ingredient causing my hair to be stringy, but something else all together. IDK

Caleilani · 07-11-2005, 11:05 AM

I used Citre Shine gel along time ago,and it worked pretty good,they don't sell it anymore.Now,I've been using Proclaim Curl and Wave Activator gel and it does really well only on a day to day basis,you have to re-apply it with water.