How To Gel Your Hair: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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How to Gel Your Hair Download Article Co-authored by Steven Waldman

Last Updated: December 8, 2025 Fact Checked

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• How to Apply Hair Gel
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• How to Decide on a Style
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• Video
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• Q&A
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• Tips
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• Warnings
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• Things You'll Need

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This article was co-authored by Steven Waldman. Steven Waldman is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Director of Technical Training at Hair Cuttery. Steven uses his creative insight and extensive experience to drive educational programming and motivates facilitators and learners to communicate effectively, create and execute strategies to maximize potential, and achieve success. He uses unexpected sources such as art genres, architecture, and cooking to inspire shape, color, and cuts. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,635,479 times.

Hair gel is one of the oldest styling products around, and can be used to create styles that range from slicked-back to messy and spiky. Applying gel isn't difficult, when you have your ideal hair style in mind. Whether you're simply trying to tame your frizz and keep your hairstyle completely under control, or you want to have a particularly dashing look for your next formal event, hair gel may become your new best friend.[1]

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 2:

How to Apply Hair Gel

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1. 1 Choose the right gel. Hair gels are usually categorized by the thickness of the compound and the power of the hold. The color and the scent of hair gels generally doesn't make any difference in terms of how they work. Most gels are applied with the fingertips, but there are a few which are spray-on. Decide which is best for your style, or try out each one and see which you prefer.[2]
   • A light, foamy gel is effective in creating a playful, messy look. You'll still be able to have some bounce and some life in your hair.
   • A medium-hold gel is great for shiny spikes, getting your hair to stay in almost gravity-defying ways.
   • A thick gel will give you a slicked-back look, holding it in place firmly all day. You might not be able to run your fingers through it, but it'll hold fast in a windstorm.
2. 2 Wash your hair to get started. Starting with a solid foundation of clean hair will make creating your gelled style much easier. Shampoo and condition your hair as per normal, and then use a towel to dry it until damp. It’s important to have damp hair when you apply gel, so don’t dry it thoroughly. If you’re short on time, dampening your hair in the sink is also a good option.[3]
   • Applying gel to dirty or greasy hair can make the gel less effective and more "crunchy" looking. It also promotes split ends and poor hair health, so it's always a good idea to give your hair a thorough washing first.
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3. 3 Scoop out some of the gel. Put a small dab of hair gel onto your fingertips and rub your hands together to coat your hands evenly and rub it into your hair, as if it were shampoo. Depending on how thick and long your hair is, you'll need to use an appropriate amount of gel, so be sure to spread it evenly across your fingertips. Remember, you can always add more, but it's hard to get hair gel out of your hair without rewashing, so go easy:
   • Use a dime-sized amount for short hair.
   • Use a quarter-sized amount for medium-length hair.
   • Use two or more quarter-sized amounts for long (or especially thick) hair.
4. 4 Apply the gel. Style your hair according to the look you’re going for (as aforementioned). Generally, you should start with the gel just above your hairline, and work it back towards the crown of your head/nape of your neck. Use your fingers to apply the gel, and if desired, use a comb to better incorporate the gel afterwards.
   • For a straight-haired look, brush or shape hair to your desired style.
   • Scrunch or twist your hair with your fingers to encourage curls.
   • To give curly or wavy hair extra volume, especially at the roots, flip your head over to scrunch the gel in evenly.
5. 5 Complete your style. Most hair gels contain alcohol which allows them to dry quickly. If yours does not, you’ll need to wait a few minutes for the gel to set. You can manipulate the gel while it’s wet, but once it dries it will become stiff and firm. When the gel has set, your look is finished and you’re ready to show off your new hair!
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Part 2 Part 2 of 2:

How to Decide on a Style

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1. 1 Try a messy and informal look. Gel is the best go-to hair product for creating that messy-yet-sophisticated look with your hair. This is great for days when you want to look casual yet put-together, and don’t have much time to style your hair.
   • To create this look, spread the gel through your hair using only your fingertips, moving strands in different directions and taming fly-aways.
   • The best gel for this type of look would be a lighter gel, and the best type of hair would be medium-length hair of moderate thickness.
2. 2 Try a simple part. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time on your hair and are just looking for a way to keep it in place, gel is a good option. The idea with this style is that you make your hair look as natural as possible, parting it along it's natural line, but without risking frizz and a cowlick as the day goes on that would come from simply combing.
   • Put a very small amount of gel in your hands, and finger-style your hair, pulling it down the side of your head along the part, in opposite directions.
   • Take a comb and dampen it slightly under the water, then comb along the hair in the direction you started, if you want it to look slightly neater.
   • This type of look is best with thinner hair of moderate or short length, but is also perfectly useful for all types of hair. It can be an effective style for masking a receding hairline, as well.
3. 3 Go for a classic slicked-back look. Few things are as sophisticated as a slicked-back hair style reminiscent of Don Draper, Pat Riley, or Jay Gatsby. This type of hairstyle looks classy and simple. This look is best for special occasions and formal settings, and can be achieved with a heavy amount of gel and a fine-tooth comb.
   • Spread the gel through your hair, sweeping your hair from the line of your forehead toward the back of your head, without parting it. Use the damp comb to sweep it into place as neatly and flatly as possible.
   • This type of look works best with medium-longish hair of moderate thickness. It can emphasize a receding hairline, so be cautious if things aren't quite as thick up there as they used to be.
4. 4 Try spiking your hair. If you’ve always dreamt of rockstar spiked hair, you can easily recreate the look with some of your favorite hair gel. Although this style is generally only appropriate for casual settings (don't wear it on a first date) it can be a fun change of pace.
   • Use a dollop of gel on your fingertips, and spread it upwards through your hair, pulling your hair away from your head and pinching it in between your fingers to create spikes. For a milder look, you can do this only to the front portion of your hair.[4]
   • Wait a few minutes and let the initial spikes dry, then get a very tiny amount of gel on your fingertips and go back through, strengthening the spikes and building them up slightly, if you want to really emphasize them.
   • This style looks best with medium-length hair of moderate thickness. If it's too long, you'll probably need to use hair spray (and maybe even egg whites) in conjunction with the gel to get things to stay in place.
5. 5 Try a pompadour. You know you want to. Channel your inner Elvis Presley and Conan O'Brien with this almost over-the-top rockabilly style. It's maybe the most challenging to style and to pull off, but it's basically a combination of some of the above techniques. Even if you just try it while you're sitting around the house one day, it's something to cross off the bucket list.
   • Put a liberal amount of gel into your fingertips and do a basic mussed-up look, getting your hair into a combination of spikes and casual messiness. Then, take a medium-tooth comb, wet it, and run it along the sides of your head, above each ear.
   • If you want a more formal pompadour, you can do a neat part along your natural hairline to one side with the comb, keeping it straight, then do the same straight-back action with the comb on both sides. You might need to use your fingers to get the front tips up as high as you want.
   • This works best for hair that's longish on top and quite short, or even buzzed, on the sides.
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Community Q&A

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• Question Will gel damage my hair? Community Answer Gel can cause the scalp to dry up. That's why it's important to apply shampoo before using gel. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 51 Helpful 171
• Question Does using hair gel have any side effects? Community Answer If it has alcohol as an ingredient, it may dry out your scalp. If you don't want this to happen, you can get an alcohol-free gel. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 43 Helpful 108
• Question Will sport hold gel work? Community Answer It will work. However, it usually has a stronger hold than casual hair gel. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 24 Helpful 44

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Tips

• Gel is great for when you want your hair to be completely under your control, without margin for error. If you want a more laid back style, with a natural finish, try using a styling cream or a pomade.[5] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Remember that certain styles, if kept for a long time, will use a large amount of gel. Opt for high-maintenance hairstyles only for special occasions. If it’ll work on your hair length, try using stronger gel around the tips rather than normal strength throughout your head. Thanks Helpful 205 Not Helpful 149
• If you have hair that frizzes easily you may want to dry your hair after applying gel. Thanks Helpful 160 Not Helpful 197

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

• Avoid brushing or combing your hair after you put in the gel and let it dry. This can make your hair look frizzy.
• If you want an even stronger hold, try using wax!

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

• If your gel causes discoloration or itchiness, wash your hair as soon as possible; you could be allergic to an ingredient. Thanks Helpful 103 Not Helpful 50
• Shop around. A $3 to $6 gel at your local supermarket might work better for you than a $20 brand-name gel. Figure out what texture and consistency work best in your hair. Thanks Helpful 111 Not Helpful 57
• If you have oily hair or wear it for more than one day without washing, avoid using gel near or on the roots. Thanks Helpful 93 Not Helpful 62
• Your gel may leave a white residue behind and flake off. This could be caused by several factors. You could be using too much gel, so try less gel or upgrade to a higher strength for the same amount of hold. You could also be using too high a strength of gel for your needs, so switch to a lower strength. You also could be using a low-quality gel. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1

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Things You'll Need

• Gel
• Comb/brush

You Might Also Like

How to Slick Your Hair Back (Short, Medium & Long Hair) How toUse Pomade How toGet a Wet Look Hairstyle for Men How toComb Your Hair (Men) How to Style Spiky Hair (with Product Recommendations) How to Style Hair Without Using Gel How toStyle Short Hair (Men) How toStyle Short Hair How to Style Long & Short Straight Hair for Men How toUse Wax on Your Hair How toStyle Men's Textured Hair How toMousse Hair Properly How toBlow Dry Men's Hair How toDo a Quiff Advertisement

References

1. ↑ Steven Waldman. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
2. ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/style/hair/hair-products-for-men/
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9amftprFow
4. ↑ https://www.hairfinder.com/info/hairgel.htm
5. ↑ Steven Waldman. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
6. Videos provided by TheGentlemansCove

About This Article

Co-authored by: Steven Waldman Professional Hair Stylist This article was co-authored by Steven Waldman. Steven Waldman is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Director of Technical Training at Hair Cuttery. Steven uses his creative insight and extensive experience to drive educational programming and motivates facilitators and learners to communicate effectively, create and execute strategies to maximize potential, and achieve success. He uses unexpected sources such as art genres, architecture, and cooking to inspire shape, color, and cuts. This article has been viewed 1,635,479 times. 21 votes - 75% Co-authors: 65 Updated: December 8, 2025 Views: 1,635,479 Categories: Featured Articles | Hair Care Products Article SummaryX

To gel your hair, wash your hair to make sure it’s clean, then towel dry until it is damp. If you want to create a playful, messy look, choose a light, foamy gel. If you want spikes, choose a medium-hold gel, and if you want a slicked-back look that won’t move, opt for a thick gel. Put a small amount of hair gel onto your fingertips and rub your hands together, then rub the gel into your hands and style your hair according to the look you’re going to. Allow the gel to dry for a few minutes and you’re ready to go! If you want to learn how to style a part or a pompadour with gel, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

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  Robyn Rice

  Aug 30, 2018

  "I'm female and I've always wanted to take that leap and cut my hair short so I can have a classy, slicked..." more

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Steven Waldman Professional Hair Stylist 21 votes - 75% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 65 Updated: December 8, 2025 Views: 1,635,479

Robyn Rice

Aug 30, 2018

"I'm female and I've always wanted to take that leap and cut my hair short so I can have a classy, slicked..." more

Christian Archer

Aug 7, 2016

"The author gave great information on how to use hair gel, as well as many precautions on things to avoid. This..." more

Anonymous

Sep 23, 2018

"Went out with my friends today. They were amazed when they all saw me, and wanted me to give them tips on properly..." more

Aditya Ajith

Apr 22, 2023

"It helped with understand gels which should be used for multiple hair textures without promoting certain products...." more

Anonymous

Dec 21, 2016

"Thanks a lot, I was searching many sites for this but because of your site I get to know about how to apply hair..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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