17 Alternatives To Hair Gel

1. Water

A simple and easy alternative to hair gel is water. Water works great if you have hair that follows the shape of your head. Water can be used whether you want a wet or dry setting for your hair.

If you want a wet setting, just dampen your hair and brush into place.

If you want a dry setting, then just get your hair slightly damp and use a blow dryer for a few seconds to get rid of the excess water without completely drying it out.

However, using water may not be the best alternative to hair gel if you have curly, wavy or kinky hair. This is because water will not hold these types of hair in place.

Also, water may not hold your hair shape for a long duration and you may need to reapply water throughout the day to keep your hair style in place.

2. Hair Spray

Another alternative to hair gel is hair spray. Hair spray works great if you have curly or wavy hair, but not so great if your hair is straight.

The hold for hair spray will last all day long and the best part about it is that there are many different smells of hairspray available.

Also, you can purchase hairspray in aerosol form or as a pump. Each has their own pros and cons.

Pump hairsprays last for a long time, but would take more time to apply. If you are in a rush, pump hair spray might not be the best alternative to hair gel.

Also, if you do not want an overwhelming smell of hairspray all over your head, then aerosol form might be better since it is more subtle and would not linger in your hair for too long.

Hair spray can be found at pharmacies, drugstores and supermarkets.

3. Hair Paste

You can use hair paste instead of hair gel. Hair paste lasts a lot longer than water or hairspray and works best with wavy and curly hair types.

Hair paste is slightly more difficult to apply than hair spray, but it can be done with practice.

The best way to apply hair paste is by taking a small amount in your hand (the size of an almond) and then rub your two hands together. Then use the paste with your fingers to style your hair.

4. Hair Styling Cream

If you have hair styling cream at home, you can also use this instead of hair gel. Hair styling cream works best on almost all hair styles – straight, wavy or curly hair types as it shapes your hair according to the style you prefer.

Hair styling cream is the easiest alternative to hair gel that one can use. It takes a few seconds to apply and lasts a long time – all day!

Also, hair styling cream comes in a range of smells. So not only will it hold your hairstyle in place but also leave you smelling great!

5. Hair Wax

Another product that could be easily available in your home to substitute for hair gels is hair wax. Hair wax is best for people who have wavy hair, but will also work on straight hair.

Hair wax is slightly more complicated to use than hair styling cream, but it provides one of the best hold for your hair.

The trick to using hair wax is ensuring that you take a very small amount in your hands and rub them together. Then use one hand to pull sections of your hair and apply the wax with your other hand.

6. Hair Serum

An alternative to hair gel is hair serum. Hair serum can provide a long lasting hold for your hair and is best used on straight or wavy hair types.

All you need to do when using hair serum is take a small amount in your hand, rub it between your hands and then run it through your hair in the direction you desire.

Hair serum also leaves your hair feeling very smooth, which is perfect for women with frizzy or unruly hair.

The good thing about using hair serum is that you would not need to wash it out of your hair like water or conditioner.

7. Hair Pomade

Pomade is the waxiest product out of all the alternatives to hair gel listed here and works best on people who have straight, wavy or curly hairstyles.

To use pomade, you would need to take a very small amount in your hands and rub them together. Then, use it to style your hair – either by using a comb or by running your fingers through it.

The advantages of using hair pomade as an alternative to hair gel is that it can last all day and it also helps moisturize your hair.

The disadvantage of using pomade is that you would need to wash your hair after a few days because it builds up very quickly.

8. Vaseline

You can use vaseline as an alternative to hair gel by taking a small amount of it in your palms, rubbing it between your hands to spread the Vaseline around, and then running your fingers through your hair.

Some people recommend applying a tiny amount of Vaseline to their hair as a styling gel to reduce frizz. It may be too thick for delicate or fine hair, though some users find that it works well as a styler.

Vaseline is a great substitute for hair gel as it can help to hold your hairstyle longer than normal hair gel with just a small gallop of product.

The only disadvantage of using vaseline as an alternative to hair gel is that it can make your hair look greasy and feel sticky. So, make sure that you only apply a small amount of Vaseline as too much will leave your hair looking terrible.

9. Leave-in Conditioner

If you are in dire need for an alternative to hair gel, a leave-in conditioner would do the trick. Leave-in conditioners are extremely similar to hair serums in both application and results.

All you need to do when using leave-in conditioners is take a small amount in your hands, rub them together and then run it through your hair.

The good thing about using leave-in conditioners is that you can use it in conjunction with any styling product (hair spray, hair wax, etc.) and it would work even better.

Leaving in conditioner also leaves your hair feeling extremely smooth and shiny which will make your hairstyle look much more polished.

10. Styling Foam (Hair Mousse)

Styling foam is the lightest alternative to hair gel on this list. You can apply styling foam using your hands alone, without having to comb or brush it through your hair.

When applying styling foam, all you have to do is take a little amount in your hand, massage it between your hands, and then run it through your hair.

Styling foam provides hold without making your hair feel like it is stuck together, which is perfect for women with long or short hair.

The best part about using styling foam is that you can use it in conjunction with any other styling product (hair spray, conditioner, detangler, etc.) to get better results.

11. Gelatin Hair Mask

To get the best results as an alternative to hair gel, you can use gelatin as a styling aid. This is because it provides great hold and also leaves your hair feeling smooth like conditioners or leave-in conditioners do.

All you need to do when using gelatin as an alternative for hair gel is take a small amount of it, rub it between your hands – this should make the gelatin feel less sticky. Then run your fingers through your hair in the direction you desire and let it sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing it off.

The advantage of using gelatin as an alternative to hair gel is that it provides one of the strongest hold out of all the other alternatives listed.

The disadvantage is that you would need to wash your hair after because gelatin can make your hair feels heavy and even oily at times.

12. Hand Moisturizers or Hand creams

If you can’t find any alternatives to hair gel, then just use your hand moisturizer as a substitute instead. Your hands would thank you for it as well because if you do not moisturize your hands, they would feel dry and even cracky at times.

To apply your hand moisturizer, take a small amount and massage it in between your hands. Then work the product into the ends of your hair and let it air dry or blow-dry if you want.

The advantage of using hand moisturizers as alternatives to hair gel is that they are extremely easy to find because almost everybody uses them. They also provide a little bit of hold, so your hairstyle will stay in place for the day.

The disadvantage is that it does not provide much hold or volume for styling hair. It also feels very greasy and makes your hair feel heavy at times which ladies who like to style their hair with volume would not like.

13. Homemade Lemon Spray

A great substitute for hair gels is if you make your own lemon spray. This alternative would provide a light to medium hold on your hairstyle and it would also leave your hair feeling very smooth.

All you need to do when using the homemade lemon spray is to mix some water with lemon juice in a container, shake it well, and then spray it on your hair. The more lemon juice you put in the mixture, the stronger the hold would be.

The advantage of using a homemade lemon spray as an alternative to hair gel is that if you want a light hold, then just use less lemon juice and vice versa. It also provides natural shine to your hair.

The disadvantage is that it does not provide much hold at all, but the advantage of using lemon juice instead of hair gel is that it would leave your hair smelling fresh and clean.

14. Flaxseed Oil

If you do not like the smell of lemons or any other fruit, then you can use flaxseed oil as an alternative to hair gel because it is a natural plant extract.

The way you can use flaxseed oil is by taking a small amount and rubbing it between your palms, then run your fingers through your hair in the direction you desire and let it air dry or blow-dry if desired. The more flax seed oil you use, the stronger hold would be.

The advantage of using flaxseed oil as an alternative to hair gel is that it can provide great shine and also make your hair feel very soft. It also speeds up the drying time if you are blow-drying it so this would be a huge plus point for people who do not have very much time to style their hair.

The disadvantage is that flaxseed oil does not provide a whole lot of hold, so your hairstyle would need to be re-done every couple of hours. It also makes the roots of your hair feel very oily which may be a turn off for some people.

15. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the most popular alternatives to hair gels. It provides a strong hold and it also feels very light on your hair. It also helps keep your scalp hydrated at times which some guys would find beneficial.

The way you can use coconut oil as an alternative to hair gel is by taking some in your palms, rubbing it in between your hands to warm it up, and then running your fingers through your hair. The more coconut oil you use, the stronger hold would be.

The advantage of using coconut oil as an alternative to hair gel is that it can provide great shine and volume for styling hair which is beneficial for guys who want to style their hair. It also feels very light on your hair and makes your hair feel soft which ladies would find beneficial.

The disadvantage is that coconut oil does not provide a whole lot of hold so it might not be suitable if you are trying to style extremely short haircuts or if the weather is extremely hot and humid as these factors might make your hairstyle difficult to maintain.

16. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera gel is another popular alternative for guys who do not like hair gels because it provides a strong hold and yet leaves your hair feeling very soft and smooth.

The way you can use aloe vera gel as an alternative to hair gel is by taking some in your palm, rub it between your hands to warm up the gel, then run your fingers through your hair.

The advantage of using aloe vera gel as an alternative to hair gels is that it can make your hair look healthy and increase the volume. It also provides a very strong hold if you use a good amount of it so your hairstyle would last all day long.

The disadvantage is that it makes the roots of your hair feel very sticky especially if you are using an excessive amount of aloe vera gel.

17. Almond Oil

Almond oil is a popular alternative to hair gels as well, but it can be used both as a natural moisturizer for your hair and also as an alternative to hair gels.

You can use almond oil instead of hair gel in a number of ways, including smoothing your hair with your fingers like you would with regular hair gel. Take some of the oil in your palm, run your fingers through your hair, and smooth it the way you want it to be.

The advantage of using almond oil as an alternative to hair gel is that it can make your hair look shiny and increase the volume since it provides a strong hold. It also does not dry out your hair which is beneficial for guys with dry or coarse hair.

The disadvantage is that almond oil can make your hair greasy rather quickly so you need to use a smaller amount of it and also that it leaves behind an oily residue on your hands.

You May Find These Useful Too: