Question about gel...

botticelli_girl922 · 09-07-2009, 07:57 PM

Okay, I'm totally making a fool out of myself by asking this dumb question. Sigh...okay, here it goes.

When should I apply my gel? I just bought some new products that are coming soon and I also bought a gel to hold my style in place. Should I apply my gel directly after applying my other products, or should I wait a few minutes (until it's damp or so)?

Yeah. Dumb question; I know. But could someone please respond?

Thanx!

dst27 · 09-07-2009, 08:02 PM

When I use gel, I apply it last, over any other leave ins.

botticelli_girl922 · 09-07-2009, 08:05 PM

^Okay

So directly after you apply your other stuff...or do you wait a minute or so?

wavycurly40+ · 09-07-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by botticelli_girl922

^Okay

So directly after you apply your other stuff...or do you wait a minute or so?

Not a dumb question, and there is no one right answer. I think some people apply the gel right away, while the hair is still dripping wet. Others might dry the hair just a touch before adding gel -- perhaps by letting it sit a few minutes, like you said, but or by scrunching out moisture with a t-shirt or microfiber towel. I've seen people describe all different options. You may just have to try different things, and see what happens!

CrystalRain · 09-07-2009, 10:27 PM

I scrunch out all the excess moisture (so it's not dripping at all) with a T-shirt before putting in my gel, because HESMU holds moisture really well, so if I put it in while my hair's really wet, it'll take forever to dry and it doesn't look as good. But that's just me.

jillipoo · 09-07-2009, 11:58 PM

This is totally not a stupid question.

Especially since on this site, see step 8 -- it suggests that for wavy to medium curly hair, you wait a few minutes before applying gel. I think the idea is to let curl patterns that are less pronounced "find themselves" before setting them with gel. I've tried this (I'm a 3a) and do see a small difference with this method.

But some gels just encourage curls more than others, I think. And of course, this varies from person to person, just to keep things interesting.

botticelli_girl922 · 09-08-2009, 09:36 AM

So should I apply my two products first (curl activator and frizz-control products) and then wait a little while and then apply my gel? Because it seems as if a lot of you are talking about applying just gel. But I think I get what you all are saying...I'll apply my first products to my dripping-wet hair, wait a little while for curls to form, and then add some gel to keep them in place

jillipoo · 09-08-2009, 09:41 AM

Yes, that sounds like a good approach.

botticelli_girl922 · 09-08-2009, 12:16 PM

Thank you everyone

You all cleared up some confusion.