10 Very Best Hair Gels in Every Budget, for Any Hair and Hairstyle

Hair gel has been responsible for some of the most iconic men’s hairstyles of all time. Gordon Gekko in Wall Street, for instance, who defined the 80’s slicked back Wall Street look; the punk spikes of Sid Vicious, both in real life and as played by Gary Oldman; Justin Timberlake’s frosted boy band curls, Pauly D’s Jersey Shore blowout, Lionel Richie’s Jheri curl, the list goes on.

The truth is hair gel is much more versatile than one might think. And while some of those iconic hairstyles previously mentioned are currently not in style, a few of them are making a comeback—especially those turn of the millenium looks!

The good news about hair gels today are the products are made with more natural ingredients and don’t contain as much alcohol (which is what used to give hair that wet, crispy look). The water-based hair product has become easier to apply (a pea-sized amount is enough), delivering a more natural look and flexible hold. Hair gel is also a solution for anyone with wavy, curly, or coarsely-textured hair because it can tame frizz without weighing your hair down. Another plus is it's effectiveness at spot treatment, smoothing sides, and taming cowlicks. And if you want your hair to shine, like for a classic movie star side part, hair gel can do the trick while being more lightweight than a product like pomade.

Read more: Best Hair Products

All of this is to say you should consider making hair gel the hardest working product in your Dopp kit. We sourced the most trustworthy gels for all types of hair and all styling possibilities. Now all that's left to do is find the one that best fits your style!