Is Hair Gel Bad for Your Hair?

Home > Hair Health > Is Hair Gel Bad for Your Hair?

A Short History of Hair Gel

Hair gel is a gelatinous product used to achieve specific hairstyles by holding strands of hair in place. It’s been on the market for almost a century and it’s still going strong, giving users the ability to hold their hair in place for hours on end — potentially until the next washing. 

Over the years, companies have produced new formulas for hair gel. These days, there are a wide variety of products to choose from depending on your styling desires and your hair type. 

For example, when most people think of gel, they think of the wet and shiny look. But today, you have options that give your hair a dry, matte appearance, holding your style in place with a natural look. There are also various hold strengths ranging from a slight hold to a maximum hold.

Can Everyone Use Hair Gel?

Pretty much anyone can benefit from hair gel to help achieve their desired style, whether their hair is thick, fine, straight or curly. 

And while almost everyone can use hair gel, not all products are created equal. Many brands have alcohol in their formula, for example. But if you have healthy hair, don’t be afraid to use hair gel. Just check the ingredients and choose one that’s best for your hair type and the style you’re after. 

What Happens if You Use Gel the Wrong Way

Despite the drying effects of alcohol, there are still a lot of brands that use it in their hair gel formulas. Regardless of hair type, alcohol can dry out your hair, but it’s especially bad if your hair is wavy or curly. This happens because the alcohol seeps into the roots of your hair, eliminating essential nutrients and leaving your hair brittle and dry.

As with any beauty product, using too much of it is also harmful. If you’re applying a lot of hair gel every day — especially if the product has a lot of alcohol — it may cause stiffness and dryness. Start with a little gel at first and then slowly add more until you achieve your desired style and hold. 

How to Choose the Right Hair Gel

As you might have guessed, the first step to choosing a good hair gel is to avoid any products that contain alcohol. 

Next, pay attention to the degree of hold you need. If you want a rigid style that stays for hours, you’ll want a product with a high degree of hold. If you want your hair to have a little more flexibility, go with a gel with a lighter hold. 

Finally, choose the gel that matches the look you’re going for. Options range from ultra-shiny to completely natural and everything in between. Between appearance and hold, there are plenty of products to choose from, so you might find you’ll need to test a few to find the right look.

Prose’s new custom Styling Gel takes the guesswork out of finding the right gel. Simply take the consultation and you’ll get matched with a custom gel formula that’s specific to your hair needs, environment, lifestyle, and more!

Taking Care of Your Hair and Using Gels Safely

As with any haircare routine, you’ll want to invest in the overall health of your care. You can do so by following just a few important steps: 

• Hydrate regularly: At least once a week, invest in a powerful hydration treatment for your hair. This ensures you hold in all your hair’s essential nutrients and maintain a beautiful and healthy appearance without brittleness or frizz.
• Choose the right shampoo: Washing your hair with an anti-residue shampoo is important, especially if you use gel a lot. This helps clean your hair and scalp, preventing product accumulation at the root that can result in dandruff.
• Don’t forget to condition: After shampooing, use a custom conditioner with plenty of nourishing components on the lengths of your hair. Be sure to leave it in as indicated and rinse your hair with cold water when you’re done.

Have Questions About Which Products To Use? Consult Prose!

It’s normal to have doubts if you’re using the right products to achieve a healthy and beautiful hairstyle. There are so many options on the market, with so many different formulas, that it’s not hard to get lost and use the wrong product.

With these challenges in mind, Prose’s mission is to help you better understand the needs of your hair and create customized products to meet your specific styling and haircare needs.

Get started today with our haircare consultation. Simply answer a few questions about your lifestyle and hair goals, and in a few minutes, you’ll have a personalized product from Prose with all the ingredients you need to leave your hair more beautiful and healthy than ever before.