12 Best Styling Gel for Black Women’s Hair 2025 | For Edges, 4c, And Natural Hair

Find out the best styling gel for black women’s hair and how to use styling gel on natural hair. Also read reviews about the Eco Styler gel and other products for natural 4c hair.

If you want to embrace your natural type 4c curls, you need a good styling gel for black women’s hair to keep it frizz free and the texture well defined.

Black women’s coily hair is more prone to frizz, dryness, and breakage so your styling gel should not only be able to hold hairstyles well and define curls but also moisturize your curls.

I’ve reviwed some of the best gels for 4c natural hair below.

I’ve found the ECOCO Eco Styler Gel the best for styling Black women’s 4c hair type. It contains olive oil that moisturizes and softens curls while it also has wheat protein that gives a strong but flexible hold, making curls more defined and hairstyles last longer.

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Amy Angelos has a degree in Cosmetology from The Salon Professional Academy in San Jose, California with 10 years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As she is adept at styling hair of various textures from straight, wavy to curly and African American, Amy knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. Our Editor Leah Marie Priest has also tested these hair products and processes and fact checked this article to give you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

Top Styling Gel For Black Women’s Hair 2023

Mixed Chicks Styling Gel

Best Gel For Slicking Back Natural Hair

I love how the Mixed Chicks Styling gel caters to both type-3 and type 4 hair. So a lot of women can use it without worrying about it’s suitability for their hair.

But what is excellent about this styling gel is it’s natural formula. According to a research paper published in the Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology vol. 31,3 (2021), hair products used by Black Women were more likely to contain hormone disrupting chemicals (most notably parabens).

So this gel’s natural formula including fennel, ivy, dandelion, rosemary, witch hazel, among other herbs was a blessing to 4c hair.

I really loved the formulation. It is super strong! Even if you squeeze out a pea-sized amount, you’re good to go. This is a relief because the Mixed Chicks Styling gel is slightly on the expensive side.

I also loved the ingredients in this styling gel, especially the inclusion of emmolients like glycerin as they keep my curls moisturized without leaving them greasy like some heavy butter-based products do. So if you’re looking for volume, you’ve got to try this product.

Also according to the

Also, the rosemary and lavender scent is completely natural and simply lovely. So bonus points for that!

This styling kept my hair soft and nourished while providing a firm hold for a long time. And the best part is that it didn’t flake or leave residue on my hair.

Even though the name says “mixed girls” a lot of women find that this gel is suitable for 3b and 3c textured hair as well. It just gives a lighter hold, that’s all.

PROS-

• Provides curl definition on different hair textures l
• Helps holds hair in place as it’s got a strong hold
• The glycerin-based formula is hydrating but not too rich
• The product is not tested on animals
• The fragrance is from natural essential oils and not added perfumes

CONS-

• None that I could find

My Ratings:

• Holding Power – 4/5
• Moisturization – 3.5/5
• Ingredients – 4.5/5

Kinky Curly Curling Custard Gel

Best Moisturizing Gel For 4c Hair

I had been dealing with a lot of frizz lately and wanted something to take care of this issue when I found this Kinky Curly Custard.

I had high hopes for this product as it’s supposed to eliminate frizz instantly while being silicone-free at the same time.

However, I was a bit disappointed with the formula after using it.

I liked the water-based formula that uses aloe vera and vitamin E to hydrate hair instead of rich butters or emollients. However, I felt that this wasn’t moisturizing enough for my 4c curls.

My hair looked really crunchy and dry after using it for a bit. Maybe if you have a less coily hair texture or greasy hai this formulation would be suited to you. But it didn’t work on my hair.

If you really wanted to use this product, I suggest layering with a heavy moisturizer or using it to try out twists, Bantu knots, or other such styles as it keeps frizzy hair at bay and provides a firm hold that lasts for long.

Plus, it’s so lightweight, it doesn’t leave your hair greasy. But that’s the only good thing I can say about this gel.

While it doesn’t leave residue on hair thankfully due to the silicone-free formula, it did leave my curls crunchy. Yes, even after I used it with water!

Also, the added perfume was a tad disappointing. But nothing irritated me more than the price tag. I paid almost double for 8 fl. oz of this product that I did for Mixed Chicks Styling Gel.

PROS-

• Enhances your natural curls as it gives a strong hold
• The aloe vera-based formula hydrates hair and prevents frizz
• Gives your hair great bounce and volume as formula is lightweight
• No parabens are present in the gel so it’s safe for your health

CONS-

• Very little product offered for a very large price tag
• The formula can leave hair sticky and weighed down if used incorrectly
• Not moisturizing enough for 4c hair
• Contains added perfume that can dry hair and be unsuited for sensitive scalps

My Ratings:

• Holding Power – 5/5
• Moisturization – 3.5/5
• Ingredients – 4/5

tgin Rose Water Defining Styling Gel

Best Water-Based Styling Gel For Black Women’s Hair

I have always used the leave-in conditioner by Tgin and it’s worked fantastically for my hair for so long. So naturally I was excited to try this product.

However, I felt it was a sort of hit and miss.

I mean there are many things I like about this styling gel. I love how it’s free of alcohol, silicones, parabens, and other ingredients that can either dry out your tresses or leave them flaky.

But at the same time, I’m not too much of a fan of the perfume in the formula. I don’t like added fragrances on my hair and this one didn’t smell too good either – very synthetic and fruity.

When I used this gel on my wet hair after applying conditioner and cream (I learned my lesson with the Kinky Curly Custard) I found it did leave my curls well-defined.

However, on using it multiple times, I found it can leave hair stringy. So I suggest cutting down on the product or only using it once a week or something.

I also have to warn you it doesn’t really mix well with creams. So make sure you don’t apply it before a cream or immediately after. You will end up with clumps.

PROS-

• Produces high definition curls as it gives hair a strong hold
• Boosts volume as the water-based formula is lightweight
• The lightweight formula is suited for low porosity 4c hair
• No animal testing and artificial colors or parabens in the product
• There’s no silicones here so you won’t see much product buildup

CONS-

• Contains added perfume and has a strong fruity smell
• Does not mix well with creams
• Can cause curls to become stringy if used often

My Ratings:

• Holding Power – 3.5/5
• Moisturization – 4/5
• Ingredients – 4/5

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel

Best Climate-Control Styling Gel For Black Women’s Hair

If you’re looking for a product to protect your curls as well as your hair color, then I suggest using the Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel is the perfect pick for you.

I love how it keeps the frizz at bay on my hair as soon as I apply it. Also, it also comes with a UV and heat filter that protects my locks from losing their sheen. So I really like using this product when I’m coloring my hair.

The protein-rich gel helps seal the hair cuticle, giving you amazing curl definition and leaving your tresses smooth.

I also think this is one of the best styling gel for black women’s hair if you live in a high humidity area.

As much as Iliked what this gel did for color-treated hair, we were disappointed in one area. Alcohol!

Yes, the formulation contains alcohol and can be a bit drying. I highly recommend using a moisturizing cream before using this one.

PROS-

• Can use during any climate
• Best suited for all curl types
• Makes hair healthier and shinier
• Reduces hair tangles and porosity.
• Anti frizz technology for high definition curls

CONS-

• Contains alcohol causing dryness.

· The gel consistency is crunchy.

ECOCO Eco Styling Gel

Best Styling Gel For Black Women’s Hair Overall

There are three reasons why I think the Ecoco Eco Styler Gel is perhaps the best styling gel for black women’s hair.

One, it’s got a nourishing formula that doesn’t dry out your curls. Two, it gives an amazingly strong hold. And three, it’s super affordable.

What’s not to love?

The formulation comes packed with olive oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, and glycerin – all of which keep my hair shiny and moisturized.

Plus, it has an alcohol-free formula too!

I also loved how this styling gel works on multiple hair textures. Type 2, type 3, type 4 – if you’ve it, this gel will style it!

A little heads up. Wash off this styling gel within 2-3 days of using it. If you leave it on for too long, the product build-up starts to flake.

PROS-

• Can use during any climate
• Best suited for all curl types
• Makes hair healthier and shinier
• Reduces hair tangles and porosity.
• Anti frizz technology for high definition curls

CONS-

• Contains alcohol causing dryness.
• The gel consistency is slimy and leaves flakes on hair