Curl talk hard hold gel? (2023)

Can you use too much gel on curly hair?

Signs You've Used Too Much Product

If and when you've used too much product on your natural hair, some visible signs will tip you off. Whether you apply your product in the shower or not, one of the first signs is crunchy or stiff curls once they've dried.

Your hair is too dry.

If it's too dry, the gel won't hold properly and you'll end up with a flaky, frizzy style. Make sure you're using a gel that is compatible with your hair type, and try incorporating more moisture into your routine either through deep conditioning or by using a leave-in conditioner.

Using Too Much Or Not Enough Gel

Oftentimes the reason gel is not working in your favor is because you either aren't using enough, or you're using too much. What is this? This is an easy mistake to make and like everything with curly hair it will take some experimenting on your end.

Start with wet hair

Dry locks and hair gel are almost always a bust; fresh out of the shower is the best place to start. If you're on the go, or your hair dries particularly quickly, you might consider carrying a spray bottle to spritz your hair with.

We generally recommend a 50p-sized amount for thick hair, and a 20p-sized amount for fine hair. If your hair is feeling a little greasy once dried, it is likely that your hair could do with a little less Curl Creme.

It all depends on your hair type, natural curl pattern, and what you want to achieve. Both have good points and bad points. The best way is to experiment with both of them and see which one you like better. Also, keep in mind that you can use your hair gel and mousse together for the best curly girl method!

Allowing your curls to cool down is one of the most important ways to ensure your curls hold. The longer you allow the hair to cool down, the longer your curls will stay! If a tousled style or glam wave is your desired look, allow the hair to completely cool down before brushing or raking your fingers through it.

Why is my hair frizzy even after I put gel?

This is usually caused by applying products that are heavy in proteins or denatured alcohols to dry hair. Gels and mousse can also cause wet frizz. The best way to prevent flash drying when using protein-rich products, gels, or mousse is to first start with a protein-free leave-in conditioner and or a curl cream.

Use Cold Air: Using cold air instead of the usual hot air will prevent the hair from stretching and creating frizz. Keep Your Hands Out of The Hair: Let the diffuser do the work for you! The more you touch naturally curly hair, the more frizz you will create.

We recommend a leave-in conditioner and/or curl defining cream plus a mousse and/or gel to help keep your hair pattern in place while you sleep. Scrunch in your product, before flipping over your head and securing your curls with a hair tie at the top of your head.

No heat: Overdoing the heat (whether it's from a flat iron or hairdryer) can deprive your hair of moisture, and affect the health of your curls. Air drying is ideal for healthy curls since it saves them from heat damage and dry/split ends.

In addition, any gel that is used in excess will result in flakes that could look like dandruff, especially if you try to re-style your hair after the gel is already dry. To avoid white flakes and hair damage, gels should not be brushed after drying. To restyle, wet your hair with water and then remold.

How much gel should I use? As a general rule, you should go with the “loose change” method of measurement on this one. Use an amount roughly the size of a dime if you have very short hair, the size of a quarter for medium length hair, and 2 or more quarter sized squeezes for longer and thicker hair.

In general, apply oil to wet hair, after shampooing and before applying your styling product.

If your next-day curls still have yesterday's curl cream throughout, then Arriola says a simple water spritz could be all that's needed to reactivate the product. Scrunch the curls before letting them air dry, or you can speed things up by drying them with a diffuser on a cool setting.

If necessary, follow up gel with an oil, "which are great for providing shine and further reducing frizz," Henson shares. The caveat? Too much oil can weigh down your hair and create a long-lasting moisture barrier.

Gel helps define curls. It provides hold to curls, so that they don't fall flat through the day. By using gel, you ensure that your curls retain moisture better. And therefore you have less frizzy hair.

What does high Hold mean in hair gel?

Higher/stronger hold levels (hold level 3) provide a more secure hold, lock your hair in place for longer, and keep frizz in check. That means you can style things up and not worry about stray strands spoiling your look during the day.

Using a texturizing spray before blow drying or styling will add some grip to your hair and help it stay in place as you style. If you're going for a textured summer pony or updo, try lifting horizontal sections of hair at the crown and giving them a little spritz of texture spray to hold them in place.

Apply a generous amount of Locking Gel to the root or new growth, twist with fingers, a small tooth comb, or palm roll technique. Sit under a hair dryer for 20 minutes after locking is complete.

Others find that a small amount of Vaseline works well as a styling gel to reduce frizz, but it may be too heavy for thin or fine hair.

Mousse. The first styling product you can use to ditch your hairspray is mousse. It's a lightweight foam that isn't as messy to use. Although it offers a soft flexible hold so it doesn't make your hair feel sticky and crunchy, it still gives volume to hair and still defines your curls.

Gel helps define curls. It provides hold to curls, so that they don't fall flat through the day. By using gel, you ensure that your curls retain moisture better. And therefore you have less frizzy hair.

Technically, gel can weaken your hair, because it prevents it from breathing. And using too much can smother you scalp, which may cause dandruff. Moreover, gels frequently have a high alcohol content which can have a drying effect. Leaving you hair dry and more prone to breakage.

Regular use of hair styling gels can make your hair fall gradually by affecting sebum production which is responsible for keeping the scalp moist and holding the hair from the roots. When the sebum production decreases, the scalp starts losing its grip, weakening the hair roots which may later give way to hair fall.

Using hair gel will not cause hair loss, whether you leave it in overnight or not.

How much hair gel should I use?

How much gel should I use? As a general rule, you should go with the “loose change” method of measurement on this one. Use an amount roughly the size of a dime if you have very short hair, the size of a quarter for medium length hair, and 2 or more quarter sized squeezes for longer and thicker hair.

It all depends on your hair type, natural curl pattern, and what you want to achieve. Both have good points and bad points. The best way is to experiment with both of them and see which one you like better. Also, keep in mind that you can use your hair gel and mousse together for the best curly girl method!

Hair gels can cause hair loss.

Alcohol-based hair gels that dry out the scalp can cause problems for the hair, such as breakage. Moreover, other compounds in gels can also react with cell buildup and sebum on the scalp, clogging the hair follicles and causing hair to fall off.

If you leave gel in your hair for long periods of time you might start to see product buildup. This looks like little flakes on your scalp. If you see this it's time to wash your hair. You should also refresh 2nd day hair with a curl refresher.

So, it's important to make sure that you wash your hair thoroughly to avoid build up. For this you'll need a deep cleaning shampoo that can bind to the gel and build-up on your hair and scalp and wash it away to give your hair a fresh start.

Overusing hair gel could stop your hair growing!

Slapping the hair gel on to your hair and scalp could be bad for your hair because it blocks the pores on your scalp, which impedes hair growth. Only apply hair gel to your hair from the route up - never massage it into your scalp!

Grab a wide-tooth comb and comb through your hair slowly. This removes surplus gel from your tresses and evens out any product that remains, leaving your strands looking natural and without stickiness. It also helps detangle your hair, especially if you have curly strands.