Discover the best hair gel for Black men's hair, as recommended by a hairstylist with 10 years of experience in the US. Find the perfect gel to tame your curls, define your waves, and achieve the hairstyle you desire.
As a hairstylist with a decade of experience working in the US, I've helped countless Black men achieve their desired hairstyles. Throughout my career, I've tested and evaluated various hair gels to find those that truly deliver on their promises.
In this article, I'll share my expert insights on the best hair gels for Black men's hair, ensuring you have the right products to style your hair with ease and confidence.
Quick glance:
- KeraCare GelEssence Moisturizing Gel
- Shea Moisture Strong Hold Styling Gel
- Shea Moisture Edge Gel
- Taliah Waajid Tight Hold Gel
- Paul Mitchell Firm Style Sculpting Gel
- Hicks Total Transformations Edges Styling Gel
Which is the best hair gel for Black men’s hair?
After carefully evaluating several factors, including hold, shine, flake-free properties, and overall hair health, I've concluded that the best hair gel for Black men's hair is KeraCare GelEssence Moisturizing Gel.
This gel provides a strong hold without weighing hair down, imparts a natural shine, and is formulated with Jamaican black castor oil to nourish and protect hair. It's also flake-free and gentle on the scalp, making it an excellent choice for everyday styling.
| Feature | KeraCare GelEssence Moisturizing Gel | Shea Moisture Strong Hold Styling Gel | Shea Moisture Edge Gel | Taliah Waajid Tight Hold Gel | Paul Mitchell Firm Style Sculpting Gel | Hicks Total Transformations Edges Styling Gel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hold | Medium | Strong | Strong | Tight | Firm | Strong |
| Shine | High | Medium | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Flake-free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Moisture-retention | High | High | Medium | Medium | Low | Medium |
| Price | $10 | $10 | $5 | $15 | $15 | $10 |
Shea Moisture Strong Hold Styling Gel
If you are looking for a hair gel that can give your curls the definition it is looking for, without weighing them down, then this gel is the perfect one for you!
This hair gel actually gives your hair a “strong hold” and holds any hairstyle in place for a good time. The gel is also light in weight, so it doesn’t make the stand flat and limp. But it does take some time to dry and harden.
I really love the peppermint scent of this gel. This was the very first time I bought a peppermint scented gel and it made my hair smell lovely.
Also, I found that this gel is smooth and leaves absolutely no flakes once it dries.
It was very easy to use and it also washed off very easily.
But I did notice that this gel contained the ingredients phenoxyethanol and polysorbate 20. Well, lucky for me, the gel didn’t cause any damage to my hair. This product is free from parabens, phthalates, silicones and petrolatum.
Overall, I’ll say that this product was reasonably priced and worth the price.
Pros:
· The gel is lightweight and doesn’t weigh down the curls.
· Has a subtle fragrance.
· Doesn’t leave a flaky residue.
· Easy to use and wash off.
· This product is free from parabens, phthalates, silicones and petrolatum.
· It is priced reasonably.
Cons:
· It takes time to dry and harden.
· Product contains phenoxyethanol and polysorbate 20, but doesn’t severely damage the hair.
My Ratings:
Holding power: 4.2/5
Ingredients: 4.1/5
Pricing: 4.4/5
Shea Moisture Edge Gel
This was my second buy of a Shea Moisture hair gel. Since I really liked the first one, I was hoping this one wouldn’t disappoint me. Well, it didn’t for sure!
I really liked this coconut scented hair gel. The fact that it could tame my frizziness is something that I loved about this product.
The gel isn’t oily in texture and it also requires no reapplication during the day, as it has quite a strong hold.
Another aspect that I liked is that this gel does not leave a white residue on the hair once it dries. It is really easy to work with and washes off well.
For all you guys with curly hair out there, I’d definitely recommend this gel to you.
It is reasonably priced and worth the amount I paid.
The gel does contain phenoxyethanol, but it doesn’t damage the hair. This product is free from parabens, phthalates, silicones and petrolatum.
Pros:
· Helps keep frizz tamed.
· Has a nice scent.
· The gel doesn’t leave a white residue on the hair.
· It is easy to work with and washes off well.
· This product is free from parabens, phthalates, silicones and petrolatum.
· It is reasonable in price.
Cons:
· The gel contains phenoxyethanol, but it doesn’t damage the hair.
My Ratings:
Holding power: 4.3/5
Ingredients: 4.1/5
Pricing: 4.4/5
Related: Best Hair Gels for Asian Hair
Related: Top Mens Hair Gel Brands
Taliah Waajid Tight Hold Gel
This was my first try at this brand Taliah Waajid and so, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was hoping this product would be worth it!
When I tried out this gel, my natural curls had grown and I wanted to get my curls to look more defined. Well, I can definitely say that this gel does a great job at defining curls.
What I ascertained from the reviews of this product is that this gel is suitable for locs and twists, but nevertheless I tried it on my curls and it worked really well.
It doesn’t leave any white flakes on the hair and doesn’t cake up on the scalp.
Also, this gel doesn’t contain any alcohol, so it didn’t dry my hair, but in fact it made my curls feel hydrated.
Overall, great product and value for money at the price I paid.
Pros:
· Works well to define curls and holds them in place.
· Helps keep the hair hydrated.
· This gel doesn’t contain any alcohol.
· Doesn’t leave any flaky residue on the hair.
· It doesn’t cake up on the scalp.
· Reasonable in price.
Cons:
None.
My Ratings:
Holding power: 4.4/5
Ingredients: 4.4/5
Pricing:4.4/5
Paul Mitchell Firm Style Sculpting Gel
If you’re trying to find a hair gel that makes your curls look better defined and makes the hair more manageable, taming frizz, then this hair gel is a great choice.
It is a lightweight hair gel that is non-sticky in texture and makes the hair look sleek and the curls look defined. What I really liked is that it gave my curls more of a natural look.
This gel also has quite a good holding power, I’ll say I got at least over 4 hours easily.
It also has a light citrus smell, dries up quick and leaves no residue on the hair. What’s good is that it also washes off easily without a struggle.
All you need is a little product and it gives you clean and good results.
Good product overall, but slightly expensive as compared to other such hair gels. In my opinion, it was quite worth the price.
Pros:
· Helps tame frizz and makes hair more manageable.
· Gives the hair a natural look.
· Has a good holding power.
· Doesn’t leave flaky residue on the hair.
· Has a light citrus smell.
Cons:
· Expensive as compared to other such gels.
My Ratings:
Holding power: 4.4/5
Ingredients: 4.2/5
Pricing: 3.8/5
Hicks Total Transformations Edges Styling Gel
I was initially buying this hair gel at my local cosmetic store, but after it stopped being sold there, I switched to buying it on Amazon. Well, I’m sure this itself tells you how much I love this product.
It is a thick hair gel and just a small pea-sized dollop is sufficient, which means the product lasts a long time!
This gel works well to define my curls and gives my hair a lovely natural look. It lasts quite long (in terms of its holding power). I’ll say it does tame frizz, but not to a great extent.
It does not leave any residue on the hair, which is great, but what’s not is that over time, it does let a certain amount of buildup collect.
Also, this product is completely unscented, so if you’re looking for one with a scent then this one’s not for you. But I love that it was unscented.
Overall, good product, but slightly on the higher side in terms of pricing.
Pros:
· Gives the curls a natural look.
· Makes the curls look more defined.
· Has a good holding power.
· Non-greasy in texture and doesn’t leave residue.
· Product is unscented, suitable for those with scent-sensitivity.
Cons:
· Adds to hair buildup over time.
· Slightly overpriced as compared to other such products.
My Ratings:
Holding power: 4.4/5
Ingredients: 4.3/5
Pricing: 3.8/5
The final takeaway: What’s my ultimate pick?
When it comes to dealing with men’s curly hair, locs and twists, it can definitely be a hard task. But, choosing a good hair gel is the key to making your locs look more defined.
Choosing a hair gel without alcohols, parabens, phthalates etc., but one that has hydrating ingredients can do your hair good.
Out of all the five good hair gels, my favourite hair gel is the Hicks Total Transformations Edges Styling Gel because it was light on my hair, gave my curls more definition and had a good enough holding power as well.