[List] 7 Best Hair Gels For Men 2020

 What Is The Best Hair Styling Gel For Men?

Thinking about the best hair gels for men? It is no secret – men also want to look their best! They too can have a ‘bad hair day’ and that can throw them off as well – it is not only the women who have these issues! In this article, I will be looking at 7 Best Hair Gels For Men 2020. There should be one for the man in your life or for you if you are a male reader! You can purchase pre-made styling gel or make your own.

Before we discuss suggestions, let’s talk about the need for a gel:

• what it is
• what it does
• how to use it

What Is A Hair Gel?

 

According to Wikipedia, a gel ‘is a hair-styling product that is used to harden hair into a particular hairstyle’. [1] So, in layman terms, it is that ‘gooey, sticky stuff’ that makes your ‘hair stand on ends’!

What Does A Hair Gel Do?

Basically, you use a styling gel to maintain your hairstyle in a certain state. If you, as a man want to have mohawk hairstyle, you would add some gel to keep that mohawk ‘standing tall’! If some wind comes a-blowing, your hair would still be intact!

How Do You Use A Hair Gel?

Using a hair styling gel is quite simple. You can use it on wet, damp, or even dry hair. The best option for you would depend on your styling technique(s) and naturally what works best for your hair. Of course, only trial and error will determine the best option for you.

So, why would you use a hair styling gel?

Here are a few reasons:

• to have a long-lasting hairstyle from the start to finish of your day
• to enhance your hair volume
• to optimize your styling options

So, let’s  see which styling gel will do the job for you.

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7 Best Hair Gels For Men

1/American Crew Forming Cream

American Crew Forming Cream is a cream-based gel. It is easy to apply and works best on damp or dry hair. A little goes a long way so you don’t have to go ‘crazy’ trying to ensure that the product works. It does not dry ‘flaky’ but does give a firm hold. It does not make your hair look wet or greasy – it makes it look natural, well under the circumstances!

This gel-forming cream provides a strong hold, and is not crunchy, and has a sheen to it. Not only does the gel provide hold, it also gives the hair volume. The formula has castor oil (a well known thickening agent), glycerin (which helps to provide moisture), and cactus flower extract (which is a great moisturizing agent). These plant extracts help to maintain the moisture level and keep the hair just as healthy while it is being gelled.

Here is a list of ingredients:

‘Water (Aqua) (Eau), Petrolatum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Lanolin Wax (Lanolin Cera) (Cire de lanoline), PVP, Propylene Glycol,Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (Cera Carnauba) (Cire de carnauba),Ceteareth-25, VP/VA Copolymer, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ozokerite, Diethylhexyl Malate, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Alcohol Denat., PEG-10 Soy Sterol, Sucrose, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Flower Extract (Cactus), Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum), Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methyl-propional, Coumarin, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Linalool,Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Phenoxyethanol.’

Give this American Crew gel-forming cream a try and see if it could be a part of your arsenal. So far, the feedback is more than 1,000 reviews and this speaks a lot.

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2/American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel

American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel is another styling gel option from American Crew, though this is not a cream-based gel. It performs just as well as its family member above. It gives a firm hold when used on wet or dry hair.

Just like the forming cream gel, it is formulated with natural plant extracts like ginseng root, sage, safflower seed oil to help keep volumize the hair and increase the shine. It is also alcohol-free which minimizes the gel’s ability to dry out your tresses.

Here is a list of ingredients:

‘Water (Aqua) (Eau), VP/VA Copolymer, Polysorbate-20, PVP, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract (*Panama Bark), Panax Ginseng Root Extract (*Ginseng Root), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract (*Sage Leaves), Propylene Glycol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum (Fragrance), Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea, (Provitamin B5), Carbomer.’

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3/Majestic Pure Styling Hair Gel

Ok, so I know that I should be talking about gels for men, well, here is one gel that is unisex – if you will – either gender can reap can the benefits from this product!

Majestic Pure Styling Hair Gel for men & women is:

• 90% organic
• has no harmful chemicals
• is cruelty-free
• is perfect for any hair type

Because it is 90% organic, it provides not only a firm hold but also a nourishing hold which is flake-free for your hairstyle. It actually makes hair feel smooth in addition to reducing frizz. It is a great volumizer as well as a thermal styling protector against heat and environmental damage.

Two main plant extracts added to the formula of this gel:

• witch hazel – scalp stimulator and natural anti-bacterial cleanser
• aloe vera – well-known moisturizer and pH balancer for your hair

help to make this gel stand out from the crowd because it not only holds the hair in place but brings nutrition to the hair during its use.

Here is a list of ingredients:

‘Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Glycerin, Ethyl Alcohol (Organic Alcohol), Carbomer, Triethanolamine (TEA), Tetrasodium (EDTA), Citric Acid.’

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4/Dove Men + Care Manipulating Putty 

 

Dove is a well-known brand of hair care and skin care products and any product can be guaranteed to please. Dove Men + Care Manipulating Putty is another type of gel which is of a thick paste consistency, sort of like a pomade. It still does the job of giving a medium yet firm hold to any hairstyle you create.

It can be used on damp or dry hair. You just have to find which medium works best for your hair. This might sound a bit contradictory, however, it will convey the meaning effectively – it gives you a ‘flexible hold’, not too stiff yet firm enough to reshape by damping your hands or hair tool to do so.

Dove Sculpting Putty can be used every day and will give a natural-looking hold for the active man on the move who wants to look good ‘naturally’. It is not a greasy product and it will give your hair a little shine as well.  It is formulated with caffeine extract which is a plant extract which strengthens and stimulates hair growth.

Here is a list of ingredients:

‘Water/Aqua/Eau, Petrolatum, Beeswax/Cire d’abeille, Stearic Acid, PVP, Glycol Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Steareth-21, PEG-100 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Stearamide AMP, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Quartz, Caffeine, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891.’

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5/Free & Clear Hair Styling Gel

A simple yet effective gel is Free & Clear Hair Styling Gel. It is gentle enough for daily use and for people with sensitive scalps. Its formula was dermatologist-tested for people with sensitive skin. It can be used on wet or dry hair with a volumizing effect as well. Due to the consistency of the product, I think it is a better fit to use it on wet hair. A little goes a long way. It:

• has no harsh chemicals
• no dyes
• no fragrance
• no parabens
• no formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers
• no preservatives
• is gluten-free
• alcohol-free
• sulfate-free
• phosphate free

Here is a complete list of ingredients:

‘Purified water, VP/VA copolymer, panthenol, PEG-45 palm kernel glycerides, 1,2-hexanediol, PEG-14, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, PEG-33, caprylyl glycol, PEG-8 dimethicone, aminomethyl propanol, tetrasodium EDTA.’

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6/Got2b Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Gel

 

The gel is like hair glue!

Got2b Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Gel is the perfect solution when you want no movement in your hairstyle. It will surely hold your hair in place till you wash it out, or maybe sleep on it. It washes out easily with shampoo. It is not sticky or flaky. As its label says – ‘glued invincible’.

Here is a list of ingredients:

AQUA (WATER), ACRYLATES/STEARETH-20 METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYQUATERNIUM-69, PVP, SORBITOL, ALCOHOL DENAT., PANTHENOL, AMINOMETHYL PROPANOL, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, BENZOPHENONE-4, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), LIMONENE.

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7/Johnny B- Mode Styling Gel

I am impressed with this gel. I love the fact that its ingredients list is ‘short and sweet’ yet it gets the job done. It offers medium hold, a thick consistency, and an alcohol-free formula. I use hair gels occasionally and the alcohol content is important to me, as this equates to the drying out effect that is sometimes associated with using gels frequently.

The brand Johnny B was established in 1994 and their main mission was to provide the best quality products to barbershops and hair salons. It focuses on consumer preferences by numerous survey analysis and research into the styling products that it manufactures.

Here is a list of ingredients:

Water (Aqua, Eau), Sorbitol, Carbomer, DMDM Hydantoin, Panthenol, Fragrance (Parfum).

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My Final Thoughts On 7 Best Hair Gels For Men 2020

I use gel in my hair as a woman and I love the flexibility in terms of the hairstyles it gives. Basically, anyone can use gels and create the hairstyle they wish. The key to making gels work is how much you choose to use in creating a special look. I usually tell myself in this instance – less is more!

You don’t want to use too much as this could result in stress on your strands and un-expected dryness – if the alcohol content in the gel is high and of course, too much can also potentially lead to flakes once the product is dry.

The converse is true, you do not want to use too little as it might seem to defeat the purpose of using it in the first place. So, in truth, it is all a game of trial and error to find that perfect medium. I use gel on my hair more often when it is completely wet because I find that it is more easily distributed across the surface of my hair. And once it dries, I have the hold I need.

Everyone is different in their fashion taste (read hairstyles) and their hair texture as well. The strength and its effect on your hair will also be determined by your hair texture and how it reacts to the gel holding properties.

I hope you found some useful information in this article and a gel that will suit our needs. I welcome your comments.

[Updated Jan 2020]

REFERENCE

[1] Wikipedia