Quick answer: choose a strong hold gel for everyday control, slick-backs and polished styles that still look soft and shiny, and an extra strong hold gel for short hair and complex, structured styles that need to stay exactly where you put them. Apply to damp, towel-dried hair for the most hold, or to dry hair for touch-ups. Insight's vegan Strong Hold Styling Gel and Extra Strong Hold Styling Gel are enriched with organic aloe and ginkgo biloba to keep hair hydrated, so styles look shiny rather than flaky or dull.
Hair gel has a reputation for crunchy, wet-look styles that flake by the afternoon. Modern gels are very different. The right formula, used the right way, gives clean, lasting hold that still looks like hair. Here's how to choose between strong and extra strong hold, how to use gel without crunch, and when a wax, paste or pomade is the better choice.
Strong vs extra strong hold gel
| Strong Hold Styling Gel | Extra Strong Hold Styling Gel | |
|---|---|---|
| Hold | Strong, lasting control | Our strongest, long-lasting hold |
| Best for | Slick-backs, defined and polished styles, short and long hair | Short hair, complex and structured styles |
| Finish | Soft-looking and shiny | Sculpted, with moisture and shine |
| Choose it if | You want control that still moves a little | Your hair won't stay put with anything else |
Both are suitable for all hair types, for men and women, and both work on damp or dry hair.
Gel vs wax vs paste vs pomade
Gel sets as it dries, which gives the firmest hold and a shiny finish, but you can't really restyle it once it's set. Waxes, pastes and pomades stay pliable, so you can rework your hair through the day.
| Hold | Finish | Restylable? | Insight pick | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gel | Strong to extra strong | Shiny | No, sets firm | Strong Hold Styling Gel |
| Pomade | Strong-medium | Matte, zero shine | Yes | Mattifying Pomade |
| Fibre paste | Medium-strong | Textured, separated | Yes | Elastic Fibre Paste |
| Wax | Medium | Glossy (HAIR Awards 2024 winner) | Yes | Elastic Molding Wax |
For more on the reworkable options, read our guide to pomade vs wax vs paste vs clay.
How to use hair gel
- Start with damp hair for the most hold. Towel-dry after washing so hair isn't dripping.
- Use less than you think. Start with a fingertip-sized amount and add more only if you need it. Too much gel is the main cause of crunch and flakes.
- Warm it between your palms and work it through from the roots outwards.
- Shape with a comb or your fingers: a fine comb for slick, polished looks; fingers for texture.
- Let it set naturally or with a blow-dryer on a low setting. Avoid touching it while it sets.
- Touch-ups: both Insight gels can also be used on dry hair to tame flyaways or redefine a style.
How to avoid flaky, crunchy gel
- Don't overload: build hold in small amounts.
- Apply to damp, not soaking, hair: too much water dilutes the gel and spreads it unevenly.
- Don't layer heavy products underneath: rich creams and oils under gel can cause it to flake.
- Choose a hydrating formula: Insight's gels contain organic aloe and ginkgo biloba with a humectant action, so hair stays hydrated and looks shiny rather than flaky or dull.
Can you use gel on curly hair?
You can, but for most waves and curls a cream gives softer, touchable definition. Try Curls Defining Hair Cream for soft, bouncy curls, or Shaping Cream for medium and coarse curls that need stronger hold.
Frequently asked questions
What is the strongest hair gel?
Insight's strongest is Extra Strong Hold Styling Gel, made for complex, structured styles and short hair that needs to stay exactly in place.
Is gel bad for your hair?
Not when you choose a good formula and wash it out properly. Hydrating gels like Insight's are designed to keep hair moisturised as they hold. Problems usually come from piling on product and leaving it in for days.
Should I put gel on wet or dry hair?
Damp, towel-dried hair gives the strongest, most even hold. Dry hair works well for touch-ups and taming flyaways.
How do I wash out hair gel?
Shampoo as normal, massaging well at the roots. If you've used a lot, a second shampoo will remove any residue.
Gel or wax for short hair?
Gel for a firm, shiny, set look; wax, paste or pomade if you want to restyle through the day or prefer a matte or textured finish.
Can women use hair gel?
Yes. Both Insight gels are made for men and women, and work just as well for sleek, polished long styles as for short cuts.
Is Insight hair gel vegan?
Yes. Every Insight product is certified vegan by VeganOK, cruelty-free and made in Italy.
Shop all hair gels, our waxes and pastes and men's hair products.
About the author
Charlotte Read has spent six years in the hair industry with Insight Professional and holds a First Class BSc in Business Management and Marketing. She writes with reference to real salons across social media and the wider Insight community, and draws on the Insight office team, who between them bring over 100 years of combined experience on salon floors.
Where technical expertise is needed, Charlotte consults Lorraine Matic, Head of Insight UK Education, who brings over 38 years of global experience in colour, technique and hair science.