A handful of clever ingredients make it all work. Without getting too technical, you’ll find non-irritating polymers — or film formers — like butylene, ethylene, and dimethicone copolymers, all approved for use around the eyes. They help the gel cling to lashes, provide all-day support for curls, and keep lashes flexible and comfortable, rather than brittle or caked in product.
Testing notes: “The texture for this one was really thick, but it gave my curls nice definition when I applied it,” says Condé Nast content licensing associate Paton Hardy, who has very fine, curly hair. “After the fact, it was a little drying for me, so I found it best to be used with hair oil. It also smelled super fresh!”
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Original photo from Danielle Jackson testing SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Original photo from Danielle Jackson testing SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Best for: Taming frizz and definition
Pros: Moisturizes really well at under $15; manages frizz
Cons: It’s really thick, so your hair might not fully absorb it.
This SheaMoisture bestseller is an oldie but goodie, and it was highly-recommended by people in my immediate friend group when I first went natural in college., I’m happy to say it definitely lives up to the hype. It features ingredients like coconut oil and silk protein, which moisturize the hair from inside the shaft, and prevents common curl concerns like frizziness.
Testing notes: Sometimes I use this after washing and blowing out my coils (I prefer to do twist outs on stretched hair), and even after applying it to my hair in a stretched state, the curls still manage to look like healthy spirals. I’m also a really big fan of the way this product makes my hair feel—after unraveling my twists, I usually find myself continuously touching my curls because of how satisfied I am with how soft and moisturized my hair feels. My only gripe is that this is a product that sort of sits on your hair—it’s pretty thick, so that’s to be expected—so if you’re someone who touches your hair often, you’ll definitely be able to feel that there’s something on your strands.
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Original photo from Danielle Jackson testing Briogeo Curl Charisma Leave-In Conditioner
Original photo from Danielle Jackson testing Briogeo Curl Charisma Leave-In Conditioner
Best for: Moisture retention
Pros: Scent is long-lasting and pleasant; light texture so doesn’t weigh hair down
Cons: Doesn’t address frizz
This one doesn’t have the thickness of a curl cream (because it’s not a curl cream, per se) but it has easily become one of my favorite products in recent months. Our editors recommend this leave-in conditioner for curly hair. It has a milky texture that’s just a tad runnier than a lotion, and it features unique add-ins like rice amino acids, which can seal the outer cuticles and ensure your curls don’t become frizzy, and tomato, which is supposed to support moisture retention.
Testing notes: This is another cream that I typically like to apply on blown-out hair before twisting and setting for a few hours or overnight. I typically apply it from root to end before adding mousse. Mousse can sometimes harden my curls (it’s a holding product for a reason) or dry them out, but I’ve noticed that whenever I apply this to my hair first, I can alleviate that issue and wake up with very soft, defined, and moisturized curls.
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Best for: Wash-and-go styling
Our reviewer says: “Lately, a wash-and-go has been my primary hairstyle, as my curls just won’t behave in a twist-out during the humid months,” says Glamour senior visuals editor Lauren Brown. “That’s where the Pattern Curl Gel has been a real game changer for me. It’s great for a quick curl refresh in the shower after a couple days. Like all the hair-care products on this line, the fragrance is intoxicatingly fresh, like cucumbers in cocktail.”
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Original photo from Malia Griggs testing Rizos Curls Light Hold Gel
This lightweight gel defines curls without stiffness, keeping them touchable and bouncy while reducing frizz. Formulated with aloe vera, flaxseed, and thyme, it locks in shape and shine without parabens, silicones, or sulfates. Our tester with 3A curls found that it enhanced definition on wash day and kept frizzy hair at bay through day two without flaking or weighing it down. The cast scrunched out easily, leaving curls soft and natural-looking.
Our reviewer says: “I like how light this gel is on my fine curls. Other gels I’ve tried make them feel stiff and look greasy, even after I scrunch out the cast, but with this, my curls are very soft and bouncy. It’s pretty fragrantly perfumed, which I don’t love, but not so badly that I won’t keep using it after my leave-in and foam, then followed by a diffuser,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs.
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Original photo from Paton Hardy testing Bumble and Bumble Curl Anti-Humidity Gel-Oil
This hybrid gel-oil smooths frizz while giving curls hold and definition that lasts. The clear formula is lightweight but substantial enough to create a cast that scrunches out softly, leaving hair touchable instead of stiff. Our tester with 3C curls found that the product shaped spirals beautifully and resisted humidity, though it left some dryness by the end of the day.
Our tester says: “The gel defined my 3C curls really well and gave me a great look, though I did notice some dryness as the day went on,” says Glamour reviewer Páton Hardy. “The fragrance across the line was strong but pleasant—fruity, sweet, and similar to a perfume I’d wear—so it wasn’t off-putting. The shampoo lathered up quickly and felt very slippery, while the conditioner was thicker and hydrating. The gel itself was see-through and thin, easy to apply without running everywhere, and it dried down without leaving my hair crunchy.”
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Original photo from Sarah Holden testing Aveda Be Curly Advanced Coil Definer Gel
Formulated for tighter curl patterns, this gel gives coils long-lasting definition and frizz protection without leaving them stiff. Coily hair—characterized by densely packed curls that are prone to dryness—often needs gels that balance moisture with enough hold to keep styles in place. With wheat-derived amino acids to smooth and strengthen strands and mango butter to nourish and hydrate, this formula helps coils stay soft, defined, and resilient.
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