Gel recommendations for low volume, baby fine hair

[girlcat36]

I’m looking for recommendations for an ultra lightweight, hard hold gel for my thin and very fine hair.
I have 2c/3a curls and low porosity, as well. I’m probably looking for a gel that doesn’t exist 😉, but I thought I’d ask anyway.
Thanks!

[renia22]

This Queen Helene gel isn’t easy to find, but I actually saw it at Ocean State Job Lot the other day. It’s a plain, old school formula that reminds me a little of the old Dippity-Do gel:



https://i.ibb.co/MCYvY8S/8-E744-EB2-624-F-4-DE5-B5-DF-03-D3-C74-D4186.jpg (https://ibb.co/nLHGH3m)

[louisaann]

Back when I followed the CG method, I had great luck with Garnier Fructis Curl Treat Shaping Jelly. The ingredients are great and it had the perfect balance of hold and volume for my 2a/2b waves. I tried other gels, but it was the only one that worked for my very very fine waves. I honestly can't praise it enough. Also, the tub lasts forever! I used mine for over a year and didn't finish even 1/4 of it. I also didn't have a lot of hair, though, either :)

[lapushka]

I use a generic Lidl/Aldi brand together with Eco Styler, and generics of just about any local supermarket or discounter where I live. If there is no alcohol denat. (denatured) in there, then I think basically you're good to go.

I do think that hard hold is a bit much for fine hair? My gels are medium hold at best and that seems to be enough. Eco Styler is not hard hold, at all, for me!

ETA/ Penny just dropped. If I can recommend one no-residue, nice-hold gel it is the white top from IC Fantasia; their aloe vera containing gel. It's awesome.

I have so many others now but if I could go back to it... I would.

[girlcat36]

Thanks, renia22–I just looked up the Queen Helene gel on Amazon. It looks like they’ve changed the formula, but I’ll keep my eye out for the pink jar formula!

Louisaann—-thank you; that sounds promising, and easy to find!

Lapushka—-thanks! I do need hard hold, even though my hair is baby fine. Anything less and my curls go limp. It might be a porosity thing. ���� or maybe a gray hair thing. I was curious to see what gels other people with thin, low volume hair use.
Your hair seems a good bit thicker than mine.
The best gel I’ve used so far is LA Gel Mega Hold, but I’m trying to find something slightly lighter, but with the same holding power.
I’ve gone through so many gels over the years, from very expensive to dirt cheap....my hair tends to do better with cheaper gels with fewer ingredients, with strong hold.
I’ll check out the Fantasia.

[lapushka]

It's thicker but it's baby fine, my grays even more so than my melanated hair.

If it's hard hold, I heard good things about the Herbal Essences gel (may be discontinued), the Aussie (oh yes heard many good things) and the Not Your Mother's.

[renia22]

Have you tried Suave? I haven’t used it in a while, but I don’t think it’s changed. It’s pretty basic/ plain:



https://i.ibb.co/fND0bdr/2-A59-A02-C-CC88-46-B0-8-AC6-F5-F7-C954-B384.jpg (https://ibb.co/Jp3kNjr)

[girlcat36]

I don’t think I’ve tried that Suave gel, so I’ll look for that as well.

[renia22]

One more- this Mill Creek Extra Body gel. It’s looks like they updated the ingredients a little since the last time I used it, but not by too much (if you don’t mind some aloe):




https://i.ibb.co/f2dLS3g/1-B708919-CBCB-4-DC1-ABCF-B9-E3957-D343-A.jpg (https://ibb.co/rm2NtBj)
https://i.ibb.co/5KHGjBv/51-C576-C3-B31-B-43-F2-A6-E7-A5115-AAE6426.jpg (https://ibb.co/tLrQ28c)

[girlcat36]

Thank you, renia22! I’ll check that out, too!