Hair can sometimes seem as varied from person to person as a fingerprint. You may have hair that's straight or curly, flat or frizzy, long or short, oily or dry, and each characteristic of your hair affects how difficult it is to keep it under control and in the style you want. To tame your hair, many products are on the market including several gels. Unfortunately, many gels leave your hair felling hard and in some cases may flake off giving the appearance of dandruff. Luckily, there are many alternatives to gel on the market depending on the overall look you want to achieve.
Hairspray
One alternative to gel that has been on the market for several decades is hairspray. Made popular in the 50s and 60s hairspray converts a hair-holding liquid into a mist or spray that can easily be applied to the hair to help hold it in place. Hairspray came under fire for its aerosol use of chlorofluorocarbons which according to the Environmental Protection Agency can contribute to greenhouse gases and ozone depletion. To combat these problems, hairspray now comes in non-aerosole forms which still allow easy application to the hair without the negative impact to the environment.
Mousse
Mousse is another common alternative to hair gels. Mousse combines styling polymers for hair hold and liquid propellant in order to create a foam that can be applied to the hair. As the mousse is dispensed from it's container, the liquid propellant forces the mousse out of the container and immediately evaporates, leaving the styling polymers in the form of a creamy foam. This foam allows the product to be spread much thinner than other hair products such as gels, states the Hair Foundation.
Waxes and Pomades
Hair waxes and pomades can also provide benefits for your hair in place of gels. Both waxes and pomades are used to provide hold without giving the hair a stuff or crusty feel. These products are used most commonly to provide hold, or to give a unique chunky look to the hair. Because both products are also water repellents, it can be difficult to wash the product out of your hair. One main difference between pomades and waxes is that a pomade typically employs mineral oil or petroleum jelly in its product, which leaves the hair with a long-lasting wet look after application.
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