How to Style Your Hair with Gel
Styling gel is the Swiss army knife of hair styling—an all-purpose tool that can help you achieve any goal or look. You may even want to take some on your next camping trip.
Up next in Haircuts & Hair Styling (63 videos)
Get the look of a professional haircut or hairstyle without the salon prices by watching the videos in this hair styling series from Howcast.
You Will Need
- The gel hairstyling product of your choice
- A blow-dryer
Steps
-
Step 1
Choose style
Choose the style you want and determine the type of gel you'll need to hold it in place. Use a lighter foam gel for a tousled, bed-head look; a medium-hold gel for wet and shiny spikes; or a thick gel for a slicked-back look.
-
Avoid using gels that contain alcohol—they will damage and dry out your hair.
-
Step 2
Wet hair
Start with wet or damp hair. The gel will hold better and longer.
-
Step 3
Rub gel between hands
Squeeze the gel into your palm and rub it vigorously between your hands until it is warm and thoroughly emulsified.
-
Use a dime-sized amount for short hair, a quarter-sized dollop for medium-length hair, and two or more quarter-sized dollops for longer, thicker hair.
-
Step 4
Work gel through hair
Work the gel from your scalp to the tips of your hair.
-
Step 5
Style hair
Style your hair as desired.
-
Step 6
Let dry or blow-dry
If you want your hair to remain shiny from the gel, allow it to dry naturally. For less shine and a stronger hold, blow-dry your style into place on a low setting.
-
Unlike his gelled up, spiked-hair bandmates, Steve Jones, lead guitarist for the Sex Pistols, actually had a perm.
