Does gel work for you?

mermaidewaves · 05-23-2012, 11:05 AM

Have any of you found that gel does not work for you? I am still experimenting with CG method for three months. I have fine wavy 2B hair. Without gel my hair is more free flowing. With gel it bunches up more and looks heavier. Maybe I am using too much or maybe gel doesn't work for me. Hair just doesn't look as pretty. I do want more curl definition.

Have any of you found you can't use gel or have to use something else instead?

I've tried applying while soaking wet and after letting the waves forms. It just doesn't look flowing either way.

Touch.of.ink · 05-23-2012, 11:52 AM

I'm a "Gossamer Girl" when it comes to fine, wavy hair. I do use gels, but modified for my gossamer tresses

I use aloe vera gel for clumps that don't weigh down my hair. (The kind you drink and have to refrigerate after opening. I use Lily of the Desert, but that's just because that's what the health food store had when I went in.)

I also use Spiral Solutions Curl Enhancing Jelly (for curls) and her Firm Hold Gel (for hold). Once I get the right shape hair, I add Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee to hold it there (it's mega hold for me).

My modification? After I apply each one of the gels, I pump it in a little bit, then I use a microfiber towel to press the curls into my head. (It's not scrunching, and it's not plopping. It's more like compressing a spring into my head.)

I do that after the aloe, after the SS CEJ, after the SS FHG, and again after the BRHG. (I've tried just not putting in as much to start with, but it never looks as good as really soaking it into my hair, and then lifting it out with a microfiber towel.)

What kinds of gels have you tried, and what are you going for when you use them?

crazywaves · 05-23-2012, 03:31 PM

I dont find that gel gives me definition. I have to use either a mousse or a curl creme to form my curls. I them use a gel over this to hold my curls.

Right now I am loving CIAB for curl definition. I do use a leave in under it. I always give my stylers time to set before removing excess water from my hair. I also add my gel as long as its not a sticky one after air drying for about an hour. I have had good luck using BRHG with just a bit of water added to it for right now. Adding water allows me to add it after air drying for awhile and not cause frizz or break up my clumps.

lag28wa · 05-23-2012, 08:33 PM

My hair is very fine and fly-away. I have a mix of 2C and 3A I think. My biggest problem is that because my hair is so light and fly away I do need a substantial amount of hold to make it behave and not go into a half wavy poof, but since it's fine I also have to beware of weighing it down. I have RARELY had a good salon blowout because applying a hairdryer on high heat and high air agitates everything and I get a way over windblown effect, most people who attempt to blowout my hair are sorry they tried it in short order. My products always work best on pretty wet hair, but I don't have a lot of luck with a 100% air dry because the weight of the water and/or the product (no matter how much I use) tends to pull the curl out a little bit and I get a wavy/stringy look almost. If I diffuse to 50% dry with my head flipped over I get much better corcscrew curls and lots of volume.

I hear that supposedly I can achieve great curls via air dry with the right products, but right now, not possible. Doing the diffusing and scrunching a little bit while doing so lets me put in enough product, but helps me scrunch out any crunch and get curls that are lighter and bouncier instead of weighed down.

Have you tried diffusing at all? I would try that on the lowest setting and then maybe try mousse as something lighter as well.

Starmie · 05-24-2012, 04:42 AM

I've never found a gel that works in my hair, I use mousse with a curl definer underneath and find this works best for me.
I seem to never quite give up hope though - I recently bought some CJ Pattern Pusha to try as it seemed less of a "typical" gel from what I'd read, but unfortunately it's doing nothing for me.

mermaidewaves · 05-24-2012, 04:49 AM

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I've been using curl creme brule and either HG or Butter Shea Gel or Kinky Curly. I've applied it soaking wet or letting it form its shape. It may be my technique, but it seems too heavy with the gel; almost greasy.

So some of you are saying that gel doesn't not really form the curls? It just holds them? What is the best technique for forming curls?

mermaidewaves · 05-24-2012, 04:52 AM

So maybe it is the curl definer that makes the difference? Curl creme brule is quite heavy. [

QUOTE=Starmie;1959456]I've never found a gel that works in my hair, I use mousse with a curl definer underneath and find this works best for me.
I seem to never quite give up hope though - I recently bought some CJ Pattern Pusha to try as it seemed less of a "typical" gel from what I'd read, but unfortunately it's doing nothing for me.[/QUOTE]

kathymack · 05-24-2012, 04:55 AM

Regular "gel" makes my hair frizz. My hair likes the more natural products without all of the chemicals. I discovered that polyquats 4 and 10 build up (which causes frizz) on me. I only use jelly type products (no chemicals.) I do layer minute amounts of other products under the jelly for curl enhancement.

If you use the more natural products, I think you'll find that your hair is less "producty." It may help you get the "flowing" look you want.

Myrna · 05-24-2012, 05:35 AM

I put a comment up on this thread and it disappeared in cyberspace. I am pretty sure I did the correct moves, so this is just a heads up for the webmaster or those who moderate the boards. I said that gels alone have never worked well for me; I use a mousse and a bit of gel over the mousse.

LaurieS · 05-24-2012, 05:46 PM

I am with Kathymack about the polyquats. The ones she mentioned also make my hair frizz. Thanks, Kathymack for alerting me on this!

I have found that I have to stay away from the following:

humectants
proteins
polyquats
benzyl alcohol
salts

I use flax seed gel with xanthan gum. I am wondering how my hair would do with just xanthan gum (I am planning on trying this out over the weekend)

mhen76 · 05-24-2012, 06:28 PM

I'm a big fan of homemade FSG. It gives me plenty of hold without weighing me down. I can also modify it depending on my hair needs. There are several good recipes on the boards.

lag28wa · 05-24-2012, 11:00 PM

I am finding that Kinky Curly Curling Custard is light- medium thickness but has a good hold. And it made my hair very springy and coily. Especially when I used it with their LI, the KCKT, I have found that my fine hair prefers a very light leave in versus using one of my richer conditioners in a small quantity as a LI

Fmasuhr · 05-25-2012, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mermaidewaves

Have any of you found that gel does not work for you? I am still experimenting with CG method for three months. I have fine wavy 2B hair. Without gel my hair is more free flowing. With gel it bunches up more and looks heavier. Maybe I am using too much or maybe gel doesn't work for me. Hair just doesn't look as pretty. I do want more curl definition.

Have any of you found you can't use gel or have to use something else instead?

I've tried applying while soaking wet and after letting the waves forms. It just doesn't look flowing either way.

i have very different hair to you, 3c and very thick, and i dont think i can use a gel either. i thought id give it ago, maybe its not the right gel for me, but ive never really liked gel anyway. i wanna finish what i have here, but i tried it again yesterday n it wasnt too nice. it seems to do the opposite what gel is meant to do, like my curls go all soft and fizz more. i dont think thats the idea of gel.
what i wouldnt mind trying, is a more curl cream maybe shea moisture? when my hairs happy n moisturised, i get awsume curl definition n not much fizz. so i might be trying that way out i think.

Starmie · 05-25-2012, 03:07 AM

Fmasuhr, that's what gel does to my hair - soft and fizzy, if I put more in it makes me crunchy and stringy.
mermaidewaves, I don't really try and form my curls any more than they are, I use curl definers to combat frizz.

Starmie · 05-25-2012, 03:07 AM

Fmasuhr, that's what gel does to my hair - soft and fizzy, if I put more in it makes me crunchy and stringy.
mermaidewaves, I don't really try and form my curls any more than they are, I use curl definers to combat frizz.

Starmie · 05-25-2012, 03:08 AM

Sorry for the dp, don't know what happened there!

Fmasuhr · 05-26-2012, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starmie

Fmasuhr, that's what gel does to my hair - soft and fizzy, if I put more in it makes me crunchy and stringy.
mermaidewaves, I don't really try and form my curls any more than they are, I use curl definers to combat frizz.

what are you using right now? i just use condish mixed with oil in my palm and work that through my hair. i like it, but i wouldnt mind using somthing else.... im thinking bout a leave in and shea curl cream or somthing along those lines.

Starmie · 05-26-2012, 06:53 AM

I caved and bought some CIAB recently (don't like paying the postage!) so am using that atm. I also have some nak options and juuce sculpturize (which is like the old pps sculpt it). The mousses I use are Joiwhip or DeLorenzo Elements motion. Leave-in is a work in progress - found one I loved which was promptly discontinued and have not been able to find anything else in the shops here. I got some cj beauticurls when I got the CIAB as I know that works well but would love to find something local.

mermaidewaves · 05-26-2012, 06:56 AM

So I am getting the feeling that gel really doesn't help that much with curl definition; more with controlling frizz. I am wondering if I would do better with some sort of curling lotion that isn't too heavy like a cream. Maybe the more moisture I get in my hair, the better it will curl. Can anyone recommend a curling lotion for fine/wavy hair?

Myrna · 05-26-2012, 07:12 AM

I don't have fine, wavy hair, but it used to be wavy, as in 2C and has changed to 3A/3B or what CG calls botticelli curls. However, if I did have fine wavy hair, I would use products recommended for your type of hair. (Is that a Duh? I dont mean it to be). What I mean is that people recommend products that work for them, but do not always indicate what they wash and condition with, or their method of encouraging curls. I would assume fine wavy hair weighs down easily - so I would stay away from heavy conditioners, heavy gels, etc. You might try a mousse and gel combo - or, a mousse with something like Biotera Glaze, not the gel, but sparingly. Are you scrunching with a tee shirt or micro towel?? than helps a lot, and scrunching in your products.