Is gel bad for Afro hair?
Afro hair is a beautiful, but it can also be challenging to manage, we know. At Jim + Henry HQ we’re always going to defend and speak kindly about curls even when they’re fluffy and frizzy, but we understand why you turn to hair gel for hold and definition. While gel can be helpful in some situations, let’s break down the facts before you jump in and buy that new product you saw on IG…
Gel drawbacks - it’s a no from us
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Drying: Traditional gels often contain drying alcohols, which can strip away moisture from already thirsty curls, leading to frizz, brittleness, and breakage. More importantly: this can affect your scalp and skin around your hairline too.
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Weight: Gels can be heavy, especially for finer or looser curls, weighing them down and causing them to lose their bounce and volume. No one seems to be sharing this info, so we will.
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Build-up: Gels can leave behind residue, leading to product build-up that can further weigh down curls and make them look dull and lifeless. Nope.
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"Crunchy" Cast: Gels often form a cast around the hair strand to hold the curl shape. Often, that’s what you want, but if you don’t ‘scrunch out the crunch’ it can leave hair feeling stiff and crunchy, losing its natural movement, which is what we always aim for: natural, beautiful flow.
Still want gel? Fine:
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Choose natural: Look for lightweight, alcohol-free formulas with moisturising ingredients like aloe vera or linseed. We’ve yet to find something perfect so we’ll tag when we find it, but this is the best you can get.
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Less is more: Start with a small amount of gel and apply it evenly throughout your hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends.
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Scrunch out the crunch: Add a little bit of our hair oil when you do this, it softens the ‘crunch’, whilst keeping definition in tact.
Alternatives to gel (our recs):
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Creamy leave-in conditioners: Provide moisture and definition without the super-crunchy cast, perfect for dry or damaged curls, see Eight, Ten and Ten pro.
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Styling techniques: Diffusing, plopping, and finger coiling can all help enhance curl definition without relying on products.
Also, just because someone loves a certain product it doesn’t mean your curls will: social media is a highlight reel and fails to acknowledge differences in lifestyles, diet, sleep patterns, stress levels and busy-ness. So we take it all with a pinch of salt.
Ultimately, the best way to find what works for your curls is to experiment and find what gives you the results you desire. Remember, healthy, hydrated hair is the foundation for beautiful, defined curls, regardless of the styling products (the things you use on top of your leave-in conditioner) you choose.