A Big Hairy Mess

Got curls?

I do. A head full of ’em.

Curls that demand a good product, to hold without turning into a mop full of frizz.

I’ve tried gels, mousse, cremes and sprays. My product of choice is hair gel. I’ve experimented with dozens over the years – from the cheapest of the cheap, to the very pricey salon products. In my humble opionion, I’ve never found the pricey products to be worth it. As a matter of fact, I’ve found that most of them fall far short of my expectations.

So before I tell you about my hair gel of choice, I am going to tell you which one I would never, ever buy again.

I first tried the Garnier Fructis Style Super Stiff Gel many months ago. Everything about the description on the packaging appealed to me. On the front: “fruit micro-waxes.” “Ultra Strong.” “Intense Structure and Hold.”

On the back: “Formulated with Fibers.” “…powerful holding technologies with fruit micro-waxes.” “Provides ultra long-lasting hold without stickiness or buildup.”

Even the directions had me intrigued. ” Squeeze into palm and rub hands together. Pull hands apart to activate fibers.”

The “technologies” and “fibers” really got me. I bought it right away.

And I was so, so sorry.

Despite the “intense structure and hold” claim on the front, the only thing that was intense after using it was my desire to see it go to a dumpster far, far away.

This is weirdest gel EVER. Remember the “rub in your hands, and pull hands apart” directions? When you pull your hands apart, you end up with strings of gel that won’t leave your hands. It looks like a spider web full of gel. Seriously, you can’t even shake the stuff off. It’s the stickiest, slimiest stuff I’ve ever felt. Trust me, those fibers are not a good thing.

Not only that, but it’s hold power just doesn’t exist. It provided my curls no structure or hold. It does smell decent, and Garnier also makes some other very nice products. I’m actually using some Garnier shampoos right now, and I’m perfectly happy with them.

Overall, I think this was just an idea gone very, very wrong. I ran out of gel a few days ago, and rediscovered it in the back of a cabinet. I had no choice but to use it, and it was so bad I almost laughed.

I ran into Walgreens today, and bought this – Pantene Pro-V Curls Gel. It’s my hair gel of choice. It smells nice. It’s not too sticky, not too stiff. And there are no fibers whatsoever. You can find it at virtually any drugstore, superstore or grocery store. For just a few bucks, you can’t beat it.

Your curls will thank you.