15 Best Curly Hair Gels and How to Apply Them in 2023

If the last time you used hair gel on your curls was before you had a driver’s license/a real sense of self, then hi, yeah, same. Despite being a beauty editor, I spent the majority of my adult life thinking of hair gels as the quickest way to leave my curls crunchy, flakey, and stiff…just like 13-year-old me liked it. But after getting deep into the Curly Girl Method a few years ago (a technique—nay, a way of life—of getting truly excellent curls) and finding that a main component of said perfect curls was hair gel, I decided to revisit the nemesis of my past. And, folks, I truly cannot emphasize this revelation enough: Curly hair gel is the freaking key to excellent-looking hair.

If you already knew this, then wow, very rude of you not to TELL ME SOONER?! But you may also keep scrolling to find what you really came here for: the best curly hair gels of 2022 (like, actually. As in I read reviews and studied ingredients and consulted with stylists). But if you’re still skeptical, or if you’ve tried curl gels in the past with meh results, allow me to crack open the world for you. Please keep reading to find the 15 best (but actually) curly hair gels for types 3 and 4 hair.

Our top curly hair gel picks of 2022

K, now keep scrolling for the complete breakdown, plus everything you need to know about how to actually apply gel to your hair, why that “crunchy” finish is actually a good think (yup, really), and what to look for in the best curl gel.