Introduction

Is your hair about as easy to control as an unruly teenager? Do you want to sport one of the ‘Trad’ haircuts that seem to be huge this summer (think David Beckham in the Sky TV ad), slick back your fine hair or simply bang up the curl? If you use the right finishing product, you’ll stand a chance of success. Not all of us want the oily finish that waxes or pomades can give your hair. If this is the case, you may have struggled to find a styling product that gives the right amount of control without overload. With this in mind, we have created our guide to the top five men’s hair gels currently on the market. Yes, gel – one of the best all-rounders for styling hair. It’s been a long time since it was the hair product of choice for most of us over the age of twelve, but it does come in many variations and I personally use it in the salon on some pretty discerning clients. FashionBeans Tip: Look for gels that come in a tube rather than a tub. The latter tend to be either lower quality or water-based jellies, with the exception of some specialist afro hair products.

Hairstyle Inspiration

Before we start, here is a collection of hairstyles from our gallery that could be created successfully with gel products. This should hopefully give you an idea of whether you should consider using gel on your current style:

FashionBeans Top Five Men’s Hair Gels

Below are FashionBeans‘ top five men’s hair gels that are currently available on the market, in no particular order…

1. Sebastian Liquid Steel

One of the best strong hold gels on the market, Sebastian Liquid Steel is perfect for thick, coarse and wavy hair or stubborn, straight and textured hair. This concentrated styler isn’t for the faint hearted – it’s extremely strong and will hold down, slick back and keep any hair firmly in place. If you want to make it slightly more pliable, try mixing it with a little soft pomade or serum, once it has been applied to the hair. Use Liquid Steel only if you want a very strong, fixed hold for your hair. Apply a thumbnail sized amount to freshly shampooed, dry hair using your hands and then comb or brush into a style. Alternatively, you can use this product on damp hair in the same way for a gentler hold and a more even distribution. Allow the hair to dry naturally after you have applied and styled. FashionBeans Tip: You may find it easier to apply if you add a few drops of water to the palm of your hand and mix together with the gel. This will not alter its holding ability.