An Effective Way to Test Out New Hair Gels
Last updated on October 19th, 2020 at 02:44 pm
Having fine natural hair, it’s easy to lay my edges. Yet, it’s still important to go through the process of testing hair gels.
Even with the ease of smoothing and laying down my edges, I still carefully choose the gels I use to accomplish the particular job.
Since high manipulation can cause breakage on fine hair, I keep my styling options limited.
There’s three types of styles that I wear that I choose to make sure smooth my edges are smooth for (all my styles LOL!)…at least most of the time.
– The Twist out
– The Wash and go
– Protective styles
Criteria for Testing Hair Gels
There’s so many types of gels on the market but I look for those gels that have the following properties or abilities:
– Free of alcohol
– Mostly natural, if not all natural
– Minimal preservatives (it’s far down on the ingredient list)
– Paraben free
– Promotes adding or maintaining moisture
– Has no more than a hold level of 8
Once a gel has met the above list of criteria, it’s time to purchase and test it out.
Testing Gel Out on My Edges
When deciding to buy (or make) a new hair gel, I start by using that gel on my edges. Now, not all gels are meant to make it to other parts of my head but if they can smooth my edges without receding them, they have a high probability of moving along in my life.
I do rinse my edges free of gel each night just in case but it still matters if that gel leaves my hair feeling too hard. Especially, hair along my edges which are super baby fine.
Testing Gel on Two Strand Twists
Next up for testing out a hair gel is to see if it can create smooth, frizz free twists.
Since my twists can turn out looking pretty ratty after a couple of days, if a gel can keep them looking even half way decent, I’m sold.
Once the gel performs well for creating twists, I assume my twist out will be a success as well.
Now, for me a successful twist out is less about the definition and more about being able to wear said twist out without tons of frizz.
Once the gel succeeds in the twist out department, I then test it out on a Wash and Go.
Testing Hair Gel on a Wash and Go
I’ve tried many products to create my wash and go’s but any gel needs to be able to play nicely with my leave in conditioners and other styling products. In other words, I’d better not see any flakes once my hair has dried!
Also, a gel is only qualified as staple worthy if after 2-3 days my hair is not feeling crispy crunchy.
If all goes well, the tested hair gel will go into my rotation of staple styling gels. That’s it. Pretty simple right?
Recommended Hair Gels
My fine natural hair loves the following gels and I use them routinely on a rotational basis:
If you click that image, it will take you to the article written on Tips on Setting Fine Natural Hair with Gel.
Note: One image not seen here is the Mielle Organics Flexible Hold Edge Gel. That’s because it’s more of a pomade than a gel. I don’t know why it’s called a gel actually. Yet, that’s what they’re calling it and it’s great. That’s because it’s buttery goodness in a jar with enough hold that’s gentle enough to lay and slay my edges.
In other news… Fine natural Hair and Faith was listed in Feed Spot’s Top 50 Natural Hair Blogs and Websites For Black Women in 2018! Check it out at https://blog.feedspot.com/natural_hair_blogs/ God is good!
