If you have natural curly hair and are looking for a healthier way to style it, consider switching to natural alternatives to hair gel. Ingredients like aloe vera gel, flaxseed gel, shea butter, and coconut oil not only provide the hold and definition you need but also offer numerous benefits for your hair and scalp.
While neither product is inherently damaging if used properly, gel wax poses a higher risk of causing damage due to its formulation and use. If you're concerned about hair health, a good hair serum is usually the safer choice. Always consider your hair type and needs when selecting products.
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.
Pomades, with their wax and oil-based compositions, are generally gentler on the hair and can even provide some nourishment and moisture. This makes pomades a healthier option for those concerned about the long-term effects of hair styling products on their hair.
Boil 2 tablespoons of flax seeds in a bowl of water for 10 minutes. Then strain this liquid into a container and wait for it to cool down. You will see that this liquid is now a little sticky and good to be applied as a hair gel. The most important quality of this is that you can use this product for upto 10 days.
Pomade is designed to be used to style your hair. If you use it too often, you can damage your locks if you neglect to care for your hair. When used infrequently, pomade can leave your hair greasy. If you're using pomade daily, this shouldn't be an issue.
Styling gels themselves are not bad for the hair, but problems can arise when we don't use them the right way. The biggest problems with using hair gel are product build up, flakes, and greasiness from overuse.
Preventing Hair Damage While Using Hair Gel
Choose the right product: Select a hair gel with moisturizing ingredients to counteract potential dryness and dehydration. Rinse properly: Ensure you thoroughly rinse your hair and scalp at the end of the day to prevent oil and product buildup.
The setting spray - or natural hairspray - is more suitable for light to medium hold and more flexible hairstyles, while the styling gel offers firmer and longer-lasting hold, ideal for more structured styles or difficult-to-control hair.
Vanicream hair gel is dermatologist recommended. Provides firm, long-lasting control for any hair style. Hypoallergenic hair gel with no alcohol, sulfates, phosphates, gluten, or any of these other common irritants:¹
Given Vaseline's weight and texture, it works great as hair gel to keep your hair in place or tame the frizzies on a humid day. Just dab a little onto your hands, rub your hands together, and slick the Vaseline through your hair.
Spritz on a glossing spray
Once you're satisfied with your style, spritz a glossing spray throughout your mid-lengths and ends. This will help give your strands a wet-looking finish without making them feel stiff the way hair gel might. Again, don't be afraid to use a lot of product—for the wet look, more is more.
Starting from the front, liberally spray each section with hairspray so that the bottom is extra stiff. Then, blow dry the section so the spray dries and your hair stays spiked up.
You can also achieve the wet look of hair gel using coconut oil on dry hair. By switching out your styling products for coconut oil, you can avoid drying alcohols and instead lightly coat your hair with a natural protective barrier filled with medium-chain fatty acids that easily absorb into strands.
Ingredients like aloe vera gel, flaxseed gel, shea butter, and coconut oil not only provide the hold and definition you need but also offer numerous benefits for your hair and scalp.
There's no harm in using hair gel each morning to style your hair. However, if you choose to use hair gel this often, it's important to wash your hair everyday to keep hair healthy. (Don't worry — washing your hair everyday won't cause it to fall out).
Hair gels may lead to issues if: It contains irritants or allergens that can trigger scalp reactions, such as dandruff. It's applied too often or in large quantities, leading to a dry scalp and weakened hair follicles.
Hair pomade and hair styling gel differ primarily in their hold and flexibility. Unlike hair styling gel, which delivers a much harder hold and limits the flexibility of hairstyles during the day, hair pomade offers a long-lasting, flexible hold that allows for restyling throughout the day.
The good news is that the answer is no. There are certain ingredients that may make your hair more susceptible to breakage (like drying or irritation) but nothing in hair gel will outright lead to hair loss.
Hair pomade has many uses and may be beneficial for giving hair a textured, volumized appearance. Not only can the right pomade formula support hair growth, it will also add a new dimension to the way you can style your hair. Plus, it's perfectly safe to use on a daily basis—even if you are dealing with hair loss.
Hair Damage: Leaving pomade in your hair overnight can potentially cause hair damage, especially if the product contains drying alcohols or harsh chemicals. These ingredients may strip the hair of its natural oils, leading to dryness, breakage, and split ends over time.