Derek O'Neil
Hair gel is a men’s styling product that’s been around for a long time and it’s certainly come a long way since your grandpa’s day. Modern hair gel comes in a variety of holds and finishes, but what unites all of the modern best hair gel for men is an absence of flakiness and buildup, which are common in older or low-quality gels. High-quality modern hair gel for men gives you the finish and hold you want, all flake-free and flawlessly styled.
Best Hair Gel for Men Reviews 2018
American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel
American Crew’s Firm Hold Styling Gel provides an extra firm hold for guys who want that perfect look locked down all day. The American Crew’s hair gel is explicitly designed to be flake-free, so you never have any embarrassing buildup to worry about when you’re going for that big promotion or taking your lady love to your favorite upscale eatery.
While American Crew’s gel isn’t 100% natural, it does contain real natural extracts that are chosen for their hair-improving qualities. One of the top natural ingredients, panama bark, adds volume to fine and/or thin hair, while ginseng and sage extracts increase hair health and overall appearance. Thanks to the well-chosen blend of ingredients, American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel improves hair luster for an overall healthier look while also adding body and volume.
The American Crew gel can be used on either wet or dry hair. Additionally, despite the extra firm hold, you can refine your style after your hair is dry to further perfect your look.
- HAIR GEL: A moisture-rich gel that provides a defined look while taming hair leaving a high shine finish
- HAIR GEL FOR MEN: Works well when a textured definition, frizz-free hair and a defined look is desired
- KEY BENEFIT: High hold and high shine. Provides moisturizing and conditioning benefits while taming the hair for a...
- HOW TO USE: Apply to towel-dried hair and style as desired
- WHO WE ARE: American Crew is a leader in Men's Grooming for HAIR, BODY, SHAVE, STYLE, FRAGRANCE categories with products...
The pros
What to like:
- Firm hold
- Long lasting
- Subtle shine finish
- Volumizing and thickening
- Improves look of hair
- Contains natural extracts
- Flake-free
- Non-sticky
- Use wet or dry
- Suitable for daily use
The cons
What to consider:
- While most are happy with the level of hold, some feel it isn’t firm enough. This could be their own personal hair texture requires an even firmer hold or it could be that their hair is too long for a hair gel to hold it in place and they need to graduate to a different product type designed for very firm hold (like wax, fiber or paste). Maybe it’s just a preference thing. Again, most find the hold to be firm as advertised, but it’s important to bring up for those who may have tricky hair.
- Some people have received a bottle with a hold or a damaged package. This could be a shipping problem or a manufacturing issue or both. Call customer service if this very rare issue happens to you.
Hair Gel for Men Medium Hold by Pure Body Naturals
Pure Body Naturals Hair Gel for Men Medium Hold is, like the name says, a medium hold hair gel. The great thing about medium hold hair gel is it gives you the softer look of a light hold product but with much more staying power, which is why it’s a popular choice for casual guys who want to keep their hair looking on point. This hair gel uses natural ingredients to soften the look of hair and keep flyaways and frizz at bay, so you look lightly polished without putting in too much time and effort.
The protective benefits in Pure Body Naturals Hair Gel for Men prevents your hair from getting damaged by hair dryers, hair straighteners and relaxers, as well as environmental damage from things like cigarette smoke and smog, which wreak havoc on our hair even when we think we’re only exposed to trace amounts of them.
By protecting your hair from outside damage, Pure Body Naturals’ gel already sets your hair up for a good start, but it goes beyond that stimulating your scalp for all around better quality hair growth. Pure Body Naturals makes their Hair Gel for Men Medium Hold out of 100% natural ingredients. Aloe soothes the scalp and reduces hair shedding caused by scalp inflammation, while Vitamin B5 encourages your hair to retain moisture better on its own.
- Contains (1) 4-ounce container of 90% Organic Hair Styling Hair Gel for Men
- Hair Styling Gel invigorates the scalp and enhances a fuller head of hair. Shields hair from thermal styling and...
- This natural unisex hair gel has been formulated to nourish the follicles and support style in a convenient travel size
- Pure Body Naturals is focused on creating simple yet effective products that bring technology and nature together to...
- Free from nasty phthalates, derivatives, diluents, synthetics, and petroleum
The pros
What to like:
- Medium hold
- Great for straight or curly hair
- Soft, natural finish
- Tames flyaways
- Smooths frizz
- No residue
- No stickiness
- No flakiness
- Protects hair from heat and chemical damage
- Protects hair from environmental damage
- Scalp soothing and stimulating benefits
- 100% natural ingredients encourage healthier hair growth
The cons
What to consider:
- Some find the hold to be too light to be classified as medium, while others are satisfied. Really, this is down to hair type. If you have hard to manage hair, you’re always going to have to go one hold level stronger than the hold you want to have to get the desired effect. Additionally, gels aren’t designed for extreme levels of hold, meaning they’re not going to do it for a punk rocker’s liberty spikes, so it’s important to keep a product’s purpose in mind.
- It comes in a pot as opposed to a pump or a tube. For gel, the latter two containers would be easier to use, as pots are better suited towards thicker products like putty. That said, this is just more of a preference than a universal con.
Suave Men Styling Gel, Heritage Edition Matte
While many gels feature a shiny finish, Suave Men Styling Gel, Heritage Edition Matte creates a sophisticated and vintage-inspired matte finish that recalls the leading men of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Flexible control keeps hair from looking and feeling stiff and plastic. Meanwhile, because hair remains flexible, you can adjust your style throughout the day while still experiencing the quality hold Suave Men Styling Gel, Heritage Edition Matte, provides.
Despite the flexible control the Heritage Edition Matte styling gel provides, it’s still capable of maintaining a long lasting, fade-free hold that stays put until you wash it out. This is great for when you work in a professional setting and need your look to maintain itself while you’re busy conquering the corporate world.
One of the most unique aspects about this gel is that it can create a textured look so that your hair doesn’t look flat. Texture is great for most hair types, but it’s especially good when you have fine hair or thinning hair and you need to add extra definition. Sauve Men Styling Gel can be used on damp or dry hair, so you can style your hair as you normally do. Style it damp for a more durable hold or dry for a more casual look.
The pros
What to like:
- Flexible hold
- Matte finish
- Textured look
- Style with damp or dry hair
- All day hold, long wearing
- No stiffness
- No flakes
- No clumps
- No shine
- Easily washes out with regular shampoo
- Suitable for daily use
- Vintage matte look-inspired
- Masculine scent
The cons
What to consider:
- It does have a scent, so if you prefer unscented products, this probably won’t be your thing. However, the scent is pleasant, musky and masculine if that is your bag.
Got2b Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Gel
Got2B Ultra Glued Invincible Hold Styling Gel is designed to have, as they put it, “Strongest gel hold ever”. And indeed, the hold on this gel falls into the maximum hold category, meaning it is the firmest of the firm, the strongest of the strong and the ideal gel for guys who need extreme styling products.
Got2B formulated this glue-gel hybrid with Alpha XTR, what they call their high-tech styling agent. Whatever it is, it definitely provides the structural integrity needed to take your hair to the next level.
They claim that Ultra Glued is designed “for vertical styles” is no joke. Because it has an extremely powerful hold compared to most gels, it can take on a mohawk with incredible ease—even if your hair is normally hard to style.
Despite its ultra-strong structure, Got2B’s Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Gel features a flake-free formula that won’t cause buildup on your perfectly spiked hair. While it may seem a little intimidating to try to wash out a glue-like hair gel, it’s actually really, ridiculously easy. Simply wash out with your usual shampoo and you’re done.
- Perfect for vertical hairstyles, this gel delivers ultimate control with a glue-like hold to keep your hair in place
- Enjoy a high-tech hold without a sticky or flaky mess
- Add texture and height with the strongest gel hold ever
- Easily wash out with a little shampoo
- Includes two 6-ounce tubes for a total of 12 ounces of styling gel
The pros
What to like:
- Mximum strength hold
- Creates a glue-like hold
- Low shine to subtle shine
- High-tech Alpha XTR styling agent
- No stickiness
- No flakiness
- No buildup
- Easily create spiked hair and mohawks
- Can be used daily
- Washes out with regular shampoo
The cons
What to consider:
- While this product does easily wash out with your usual shampoo, the more you use, the more likely you are to have to rinse and repeat. That said, though, it’s still easier to wash out than most glue-gels of its class.
- Ladies using it for wig-making are very divided on its suitability for the task, so if you’re looking to share it with your girlfriend who makes wigs, she will likely either love it or hate it. But, since you’re a guy and this is a hair gel article for men, do you, bruh.
Gummy Hair Gel
Gummy Hair Gel is designed to create hairstyles that are only limited by your imagination and therefore features a maximum hold to optimize both your creativity and your hairstyle’s longevity.
Because of its maximum hold and quick-drying formula, Gummy Hair Gel is perfectly suited for extreme hairstyling. Whether you’re doing a mohawk or a crown of glorious liberty spikes, this is a hair gel that can not only handle it, but handle it well.
Even if you’re not into extreme classic punk hairstyles, the maximum hold of Gummy Hair Gel can provide a level of shaping that softer hair gels can’t match, making it a great alternative for those who want a lot of shape but prefer gel to hair wax.
When you’re doing an advanced, extreme style like tall spikes, it’s important that the gel you use dries quickly so that your spikes don’t get weighed down and turn floppy. Gummy Hair Gel’s quick-drying formula prevents that issue entirely. Between the quick-drying property and the lack of alcohol in the formula, Gummy Hair Gel produces strong looks without pesky style-and-confidence-ruining flakes.
- Product Type:Beauty
- Item Package Dimension:4.5 " L X3.65 " W X5.0 " H
- Item Package Weight:2.0 oz
- Country Of Origin: Turkey
The pros
What to like:
- Maximum hold
- Suitable for extreme hairstyling
- Quick-drying
- No flakiness
- No stickiness
- No buildup
- No stiffness (beyond the properties of maximum hold)
- Great for shaping your hair
- Lasts all day
- Good for daily use
- Washes off with shampoo
The cons
What to consider:
- Some people just don’t like the scent, but this is a preference thing. Most don’t seem to mind it.
- People with black or very dark hair feel like it may make their hair temporarily lighter while it’s applied. This could be from simply applying too much since not everyone has noticed this.
Top Recommendation
Though each of the hair gels in this best hair gel for men roundup had a lot to offer, there can be only one real winner at the end of the day, which is Gummy Hair Gel. It takes the grand prize for being easy to use, easy to style with and creating a subtle and classy combination of modern and vintage aesthetics when applied. Also, you can’t beat the matte finish, which takes this hair gel to a whole new level.
