10 Best Hair Gels for Men

One of the oldest styling products for men is the hair gel. Hair gel appears on the heads of men and boys as young as… well, newborn, all the way to feisty senior citizens. The variety of hair gels and the almost unlimited styling options with them help to make the market audience a fairly big bunch of guys. A consumer base so large can also cause an issue by making every manufacturer wrangle for your business. We get that, but it sure makes it hard to find a great hair gel.

That is why we give you this guide to the best hair gels for men. Men have their own unique styling needs, wants, and admit it… desires. Most of which include something that is easy to use, will not cost an arm and a leg and works easily into their daily routine. We’ve found hair gels that meet all of those expectations and hold your style the way you want it to.

Buying Guide

How did we choose these Hair Gels to be the best among all of those available? The sheer number of hair gels out there can be daunting, and finding the best of them was not an easy task. However, we took on the task of discovering the best by narrowing the field using specific criteria. These are what helped us determine which were the best versus all the rest.

Made for Men: Some may disagree that it makes any difference whether a hair gel is designed specifically for men, and in some cases that may be true. BUT while some hair gels can definitely be unisex, others are very markedly feminine with soft floral or even fruity scents and work more to soften rather than hold the hair. By weeding out the more feminine products we were able to narrow the options drastically.

Hold: We’ve found that men prefer a medium to high hold for their hair products. While this may not always be true, the good thing about quality made hair gels is that you can adjust the hold up or down a bit depending on how much you use and how it is applied. This allows them to appeal to the majority of our audience. We wouldn’t be doing our job if we gave you recommendations that we know you are don’t want.

Tested: Very rarely do we throw a brand new product into the mix with our choices for the best. We rely on the sincere feedback of hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of individuals that have personally used the product in order to avoid any biased information in our buying guides. All of these hair gels have withstood the test of time itself; providing great results, again and again, something no brand new product can claim.

Authentic: This is simply making sure that the hair gels here do what they say they will do. We never want to blindly recommend a product that works; kind of, or usually. We know you come to us to find products that you can depend on and in order to honor that, we only recommend products that do not make outrageous claims or wild results.

What is the Right Gel for You?

The hardest part about buying any hair care product is matching them to your using hair, so here are a few things that you will want to consider way before you ever hit that add to cart button on a hair gel.

What is Your Hair Type?

Everybody’s hair type is going to be just a little bit unique. Whether you have curly hair or straight hair; whether it’s really fine or thick; you are going to have to find a hair gel that works with your specific hair type. Otherwise, you’re just going to be using way too much product or weighing your hair down; causing tons of lakes and the sticky mess.

What Style Do You Want?

Before deciding on a specific hair gel, it is important to think about what style you want to be able to achieve. Do you want a style that is more natural and looser; flexible throughout the day? Or do you want something extremely rigid like a mohawk? Whatever specific style you are looking will determine the type of hair gel you need.

How Much Hold Do You Need?

This is going to have a lot to do with the style that you want, but you need to figure out how much hold your desired style needs. Some styles move throughout the day and that requires very little hold, while other styles need a stronghold to keep them in place. The hold is also going to be different depending on what you do throughout the day. If you are out in the wind all day long, you are going to need something with a stronger hold than if you are in an office all-day.

Do You Want to Shine?

Another important component to a hair gel is shine. Some hair gels make your hair extremely shiny, while others provide little or no shine at all; leaving your hair looking more natural or matte. What look do you want to go? Do you want this sleek shiny look, no shine at all, or something in between – that is up to you to decide?

10 Best Hair Gels for Men Comparison Table

 

10 Best Hair Gels for Men: Detailed Review

1. Gentlemen Republic Hair Gel (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

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This professional-grade molding hair gel offers all-day shine and all-day hold; guaranteed to be humidity resistant without leaving any nasty flakes in your hair. This hair gel has a unique masculine scent and a thicker texture than other styling gels, almost like a cream. Designed for the professional gentleman, this hair gel works well with every style and hair, wet or dry, and can easily last 24 hours and beyond when needed.

100% alcohol-free and proudly madein the USA.

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2. Got2b Ultra Glued Hair Gel (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

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Got2b has been providing power hair products for some time and this Ultra Glued Hair Gel is just one in an amazing line of products that always do exactly what they claim. This hair gel is one for the committed among us that is not afraid to deny gravity. Perfect for those mile-high styles or just a guy that wants an all-day hold they can depend on. This 3-pack is a great value for a great super hard hold hair gel.

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3. Old Spice Swagger Hair Gel (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

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Old Spice is no stranger to providing great products designed for the manly man. Their Swagger hair gel not only comes in the distinct Swagger fragrance but provides a higher than average hold with almost no shine. Men who want to forego the glossy finish of other gels will love this hair gel that leaves your hair looking naturally matte once completely dry.

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4. Johnny B Mode Styling Gel

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Johnny B Mode, hair care products designed for the modern man. Not sure what that means exactly, but what we do know is that all Johnny B Mode styling products are highly sought after in salons and barbershops across the country, and now you can get it yourself. This gel is very thick, so start with a smaller amount than you would any other gel as the heat from your hands will help it thin out and spread easier throughout your hair. What this gel provides is a medium flexible hold, no worries about accidentally running your hand through your hair, or poking someone with a tough spike.

This hair gel is also blue, so some fairer hair guys may want to be careful with the amount they use to avoid any weird discoloration, though it would only be temporary. Completely water-soluble this hair gel washes away easily and completely. There is also no alcohol to dry out your hair.

CAUTION: Due to the extreme popularity of Johnny B Mode products many of them, including the hair gel have been copied by other sellers attempting to pass off theirs as the real deal. Only purchase your hair gel from a reputable retailer.

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5. TIGI Bed Head for Men Gel

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Another great hair gel made specifically for men is this Power Play finishing gel from TIGI Bed Head for Men. This hair gel is made of ingredients that allow the gel to provide a decent, medium hold on even the thickest and longest hair types. The Power Play finishing gel is made to be non-greasy, almost like that of pomade but with the holding power of a great gel. This gel also adds only the slightest amount of shine to the hair and dries quickly so you will not look like you have a ton of styling product in your hair.

This hair gel is so a great many men are even using it on their beards since it is alcohol-free and water-soluble you never have to worry about product build-up or itchy scalp.

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6. Mr. Cool Hair Gel

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

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This Mr. Cool hair gel from Hair Situation is a gel designed for the man who wants the wet intense shine in a strong hold gel that can last all day. There are not many gels that will provide this level of shine and hold without using a ton of product. Hair Situation knows how to provide top-rated products for men of all types, and this Mr. Cool will quickly remind you of the hair possibilities of the 50s and 60s when the greasers ruled the schools. Get your pompadour or dovetail look just right and not have to worry about it all day long.

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7. Majestic Pure Hair Gel

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

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Men that want to make sure to use only the most natural products on their hair will want to pick up this hair gel from Majestic Pure immediately. This a great hair gel that will provide a little hold and a slight shine to your hair while remaining flexible with a subtle scent.

The 95% natural formula contains no parabens or harsh chemicals, it is fortified with Argan oil and Pro-Vitamin B5 to actually improve your hair with repeated use. This is the only hair gel designed specifically for men that can make your hair healthier. This gel is also proudly made in the USA.

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8. Suave Professionals Men’s Gel

Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5.0

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Often people in the hair care industry frown on products like Suave Professionals, claiming they are just discount store quality. Well, at least when it comes to hair gel, we are going to disagree. This men’s hair gel provides a strong hold and medium shine that will last all day without weighing down your hair or going crazy flaky on you. This gel is designed to provide an adequate hold without causing your hair to feel like a rock. And this bonus 2 back is a great value, no matter what your budget.

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9. SexyHair Style Hard Up Gel

Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5.0

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Who wouldn’t want sexy hair, right? Well, you can get it, with this hard up hair gel from Sexy Hair. This hair gel is one of those that are only for those men committed to having a super strong hold and an intense shine. This gel works on all hair types and lengths providing a maximum hold that is free of flakes even after a long hair day. This gel is also blue, so if you have very light hair, you may want to be careful, but it is completely water-soluble, so will wash completely away with ease.

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10. Aveda Pure Formance Gel

Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5.0

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Men that want only the best, premium products and do not mind paying the price are going to love this gel from Aveda Pure Formance. This hair gel is a professional-grade gel that is lightweight but provides a super strong hold and great shine. Add UVA protectants keep your hair safe from the sun while the infusion of several organic ingredients fortifies and strengthen your hair.

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Tips for Using Hair Gel:

Don’t Use Too Much: Every gel will likely have its own directions for the amount needed to achieve your perfect gel quaff. Most gel manufacturers usually suggest a quarter-size or less. Less for very short hair, and more for longer hair.

Spread it Evenly: You want to avoid clumps of gel on any one area. This can be avoided by spreading the gel evenly on your hands before applying the gel to your hair. Never apply the gel directly to the hair, this will definitely leave you with a sticky mess, or at least one area with way too much gel.

Don’t Double Up: Avoid applying the gel to your hair if it already has the product in it. This could be either gel from the previous day or another product. Most hair gels are made to be applied to clean hair, so they may not work as well with other products or layered on top of itself.

Know the Gel: Every styling gel is going to be just a little different. Some will work best when worked through the hair before styling, while others are designed to be applied to finish off your style. Also, gels can be used on either wet or dry hair for completely different results. You may need to experiment some with your styling gel to find the perfect mix of the amount of gel when it works best to apply it, and finally what styling options it gives you.

Practice Makes Perfect: Even a professional stylist is going to struggle anytime they start using a new product, even if they have used something similar several times before. Give yourself a chance to test the waters with your new hair gel. As unique as you are, so is your hair, and how a hair gel works to style your hair is going to be different than anyone else.

Rock Your Look: There is something about hair gel users that give them a little extra attitude or cool factor. Maybe it is due to the extra time they take looking in the mirror, or just innate confidence, but whatever it is, embrace it, wear your style with pride, and don’t let anyone know you, or your hair down.

Conclusion

When it comes to hair gels, there are good ones, then there are great ones. We worked really hair to provide you with a variety of hair gels that all fall in the great category. Whether you are just looking for a little control to your hair or want to lock in an edgy look that will not budge until you want it to, there is a gel on this list that will work wonders for your hair. We hope no matter which gel you end up using, that you have found this guide helpful in your quest for the perfect hair gel. Until next time… Wish you a happy hair day!