20 Best Curly Hair Gels for Soft and Frizz-Free Curls

As a gel and serum hybrid, this GH Beauty Award winning pick doesn't just work double-duty on your curls, it's also affordable. By combining the benefits of a gel and a serum together, it works to smooth your strands while also defining and shaping your curls, all without any crunchiness. “I applied this on my damp hair before drying, and loved how well it defined and boosted my curls — and the subtly sweet scent,” says one tester.

With over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, this curl gel is definitely a fan-favorite. This gel has a stronger hold, so your curls will stay in place, but it's also hydrating. "After all these years of looking for a product that will hold my curls and reduce frizz, my curls have never looked better," raves one reviewer.

This curl gel is a hairspray alternative that also works as a conditioning treatment. It's super lightweight, so your curls won't feel crunchy or heavy. "This does a really good job at taming the frizz and not weighing my curls down as a lot of products seem to do," says one reviewer. 

Hardges likes this gel because it's super versatile — you can use this gel on all curl types, from loose waves to tight coils. Reviewers also loves how much definition and body this gel gives their hair. 

This styling gel is a great pick if your hair is on the finer side. "I have low porosity, loose waves/curls, and this gel is perfect because it doesn’t weigh them down at all," says one reviewer. This gel also provides major hold, so your curls will look just as luscious at the end of the day as they did at the beginning. 

Reviewers praise this product for taming frizz, defining curls, and adding tons of moisture back into their hair. This product is a must if you live in a more humid climate — reviewers say their hair kept its shape no matter how much humidity they had to put it through. 

Hardges uses this pure flaxseed gel on her own hair. It helps hair growth and makes curls last for days. "This stuff is gold," raves one reviewer. "I’ve used it on a wash and go and I’ve used it for twist outs. I am in love." Hardges' pro tip: After it dries, follow up with an oil for extra-soft tresses.

This gel helps mold strands but also leaves them feeling soft and touchable. "I have somewhat coarse hair that wants to dry into beach waves but need some moisture and structure to do it," says one reviewer. "This gel is exactly what my hair needs to look healthy, shiny and styled without me doing anything other than wash and go."

You can always depend on Briogeo for clean curl care. This gel holds curls in place while also promoting curls to form. Good-for-your-hair ingredients like quinoa extract and keratin amino acids also help strengthen hair. 

Described as a "glossing gel," this curl potion defines curls, hydrates hair, and delivers major shine. "I had low expectations for this product since lightweight gels usually do not provide good definition for my hair," says one reviewer. "However, this product dramatically exceeded my expectations. Despite its low-to-nonexistent crunch factor, it gives me beautiful ringlets with minimal frizz."

This humidity-resistant gel doesn't feel sticky and controls frizz and flyaways. "I've been using this product for some time now after experimenting with many others," one reviewer says. "This is the only one that holds the curls in place the longest and feels the softest."

Planning a day at the beach? This hair gel has UV protection that helps filter out harsh rays that could lead to sun damage. Bonus: its sweet citrus scent will make you want to use more. 

Designed specifically with heat and humidity in mind, this gel works wonders to deflate your tresses. "On the worst most humid day, I use this and it always works," says one reviewer. "[It] leaves my hair feeling soft and not sticky or crunchy. Perfect gel for soft but strongly held curls."

Leave it to Tracee Ellis Ross' beloved haircare line to have a hair gel that defines curls while also nourishing them. This gel is packed with strengthening ingredients like aloe vera and coconut oil. "The gel isn't like your typical super crunchy and defined gel," notes one reviewer. "It focuses more on moisture and a slight definition, which is great if you want to keep your hair soft and slightly defined."

This gel was made with damaged hair prone to split ends. Perfect for twist-outs, reviewers love how long this gel makes their curls last. It also looks like molten gold, which makes application more fun. 

Another pure flaxseed option, this hair gel has racked up thousands of positive reviews on Amazon. "This has become one of my all time favorites," raves one reviewer. "It really defines my coils and doesn't flake or leave a white residue on my hair." It also helps encourage hair growth. 

This cream-based gel helps define and hold curls in place while keeping hair moisturized and soft. "This gel is my holy grail," one reviewer says. "Use it on soaking wet hair and you can't go wrong. It practically turns into water in my hair and my hair just drinks it up." 

Both organic and cruelty free, this gel smells like honey and orange blossoms. A little bit goes a long way for all-day hold, touchably soft curls, and an ingredient list you can feel good about.