When the summer heat kicks in, all my natural sisters knows that there are certain hairstyles that are just perfect to combat the heat and humidity. However, to achieve some of these trendy summer hairstyles, you need to use the right products. For women who wears their hair natural (unrelaxed and not processed), hair gel plays a major role in achieving many of the popular go-to summer hairstyles. The gel is a staple in classic hairstyles like wash-and-goes, twist-outs, slick ponytails and can also serve as a good option for styling edges while hair is in a protective hairstyle such as a crochet style.
When looking for a good hair gel, few things are important to look for. The gel must be moisturizing so that means no alcohol based content, which can lead to dryness and damage to your hair. A good hair gel must not leave any flakes or white residue once dried. Finally, you want your hair gel to have a good scent without being too overpowering, which might be irritating especially for those suffering from allergies. Finding the best hair gel for your hair type may be an exercise of trial and error, but once you find the right one it can be a long lasting relationship.
Depending on the style you want to achieve, you can use a thicker stronger hold gel or a lightweight hold gel. For example, you may need a gel that will lock in moisture in your wash-and-go style and prevent fizz while for your sleek-down ponytail hairstyles, you may want a thicker gel with stronger hold to prevent flyaways and keep that hair snatched.
I am sharing a few of my favorite hair gels below, that don’t seem to disappoint and always helps to achieve desired summer hairstyles:
1. A go to favorite of the natural hair community is the Eco Styler Gel. This gels works wonderfully to define your curls and bring out the beautiful texture and pattern of your natural coils.
2. Pattern Curl Gel by Tracee Ellis Ross is also a lovely option.
3. Recently discovered and have been using a new gel from the Cantu line. It’s now one of my personal favorites. The price point is great and it has a really lovely fresh scent! It also works great for your edges and baby hairs.
4. This one is an all time favorite and perfect for braids, twists and other protective hairstyles. It's also a staple for those sleek-down hairstyles because of its strong hold. If you are unfamiliar with this one, I introduce to you the Shine N Jam Conditioning Gel with honey extract:
Enjoy the last days of Summer, be adventurous and have fun with your natural hair!
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