This Under-$30 Curl Enhancer Got Me Over My Lifelong Hair-Gel Fear
Offering comfortable (not crunchy) curl definition with a silky (not sticky) formula, it addresses everything that initially made me turn away from gel.
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I've taken great strides to be more experimental with hair-care products in recent years, but when it comes to hair gel, you can generally count me out. My hair can be rather finicky, and my naturally curly texture is extremely picky about the products it absorbs.
So while I never would have expected it, I'm now officially a fan of hair gel. Bread Beauty Supply's new Hair Gel: Long Wear Curl Capturing Gloss, to be specific.
First things first: the texture. So many hair gels I've come across in the past have had this unsettling, ultra-sticky formula that I just couldn't get behind. But because this one is water-based, it feels silky and smooth, offering plenty of slip when I rake it through my hair. I've found that it works best on damp strands (I wet my hair using a spray bottle first when starting my morning routine).
I go by the suggested directions of raking a few pumps from root to tip, followed by a good ol' fashioned air drying (though you can definitely use a hairdryer if you prefer). After just one use, I was amazed by how defined my curls looked, not to mention how glossy and shiny they were.
Beyond enhancing curl definition and hold, the formula is also versatile enough that it can be used to style edges and create slicked-back hairstyles, which I can't wait to try next.
Bread Beauty Supply Hair Gel: Long Wear Curl Capturing Gloss, $26, available here
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