How to Get Gel Out of Hair

Have you ever put too much gel in your hair trying to create a new hairstyle? Not only could that make your tresses look sticky and crunchy, but you could also end up with brittle and damaged strands if you use an alcohol-based gel (P.S. the Prose Custom Styling Gel is alcohol-free!). 

To fix this, you might think you have no choice but to get into the shower and wash your hair. But there’s a quick and easy way to get excess gel and other products out of your tresses without shampoo. Follow our simple guide below to fix your hair problem caused by any overgenerous application of products.

Table of Contents

    How To Get Gel Out of Hair Without Shampoo

    1. Moisten Your Hair

    Fill a spray bottle with water and use it to moisten the areas of your hair that has too much gel. The water dilutes the hair product and helps break it down, making it easier to remove.

    If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can use your hand to wet your hair instead. Dip your fingers into water and use them to rub the sections of your hair as needed. Repeat the process until those areas are damp.  

    2. Brush Your Hair To Prep for Gel Removal

    If you have straight hair, grab a hairbrush with soft bristles, preferably a boar bristle brush, to gently brush the wet parts of your hair. The brushing loosens up the gel to make it easier for removal. Make sure you start at the tips of your strands and slowly brush your way up to the roots to minimize hair damage, such as splitting or breakage. 

    If your hair is curly or textured, it’s better to use your fingers instead of a hairbrush. Stick two or three fingers into your damp stresses. Once again, start from the tips and move up slowly until you reach the roots. Use your fingers to feel your strands and carefully untangle them. Make sure you don’t pull too hard.

    3. Remove the Excess Gel

    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.

    If you can’t find a comb, rub your hair with a paper towel to dislodge the gel in your hair. Repeat with a new paper towel until your tresses don’t feel sticky.

    4. Dry Your Hair

    Use a blow-dryer to dry your hair. In addition to drying your hair, the heat can also break down the product in your tresses. Make sure you use a low setting to prevent damage to your hair cuticle. 

    If you have curly strands, try a diffuser to enhance your hair’s natural texture and define its shape.

    If you don’t have access to a blow dryer, you can use a paper towel to blot your hair dry gently. Replace the paper towel with a new one if it gets too wet, and keep doing this until your hair feels dry.

    How To Get Gel Out of Hair With Shampoo

    If you want to avoid future problems caused by gel application, check out our post on how to use gel. Some gel contains alcohol that dries out your hair, which can be especially bad if you have curly tresses. To completely get the gel out of hair, nothing’s better than shampoo. 

    Prose offers three products to give you the best shampoo experience and result.

     

    To get your customized formulas of the Prose products above, take the Prose hair consultation now.

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