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If you’re ready to work your hair up on its ends in a faux-hawk a-la-Rhianna you want a product that will give you elevation and control without leaving you porcupine-sharp. With this stylists’ round-up of the best gel brands for your spiky strands, you can be sure your style will go the mile and never leave you looking flaky.
Bumble and Bumble Gel
San Francisco stylist Ashley Smith says her best brand choice is Bumble and Bumble, and her favorite product is the alcohol-free gel. It’s a simple, lightweight styling product that is free of flakes, even after hours of use. For best results, apply on your damp hair and blow dry into your desired spiky shape. For shorter lengths, you can also comb gel into your hair and let it air dry.
Bumble and Bumble Gellac
For a more intense hold and high shine, salon owner and stylist Jarrod Harms of Detour Salon in Encinitas, California, says “Hands down, Gellac is a fave for spiky hair!” For best results, start with a small amount and apply it to damp hair. Harms says the thick consistency will go far, and once you get the hang of it, try a little bit more. When air dried, Gellac dries to a super-hard hold with high shine that lasts until you wash it out.
L.A. Looks
Beauty researcher and author of “Practical Glamour” Constance Dunn says "Back in the day I sported some seriously rad hair in the form of a spiked crew cut, jet black, that I kept cardboard stiff and glossy with the help of a drugstore brand.” L.A. Looks is rock-bottom inexpensive and works like it was created for spiky, dramatic hairstyles she says. For hold and shine, Dunn recommends L.A. Looks Absolute Styling Wet Look Slicking Gel. For shine-free hold opt for L.A. Looks Sport Xtreme Hold Gel or Mega Mega Hold Styling Gel.
Rusk
Stylist and salon owner Naz Kupelian says Rusk is all you need for creating any type of spike. “Regardless of your hair type, a dab will instantly create chunky, thicker texture with edgy definition, shine and separation,” he says. The formula is enriched with provitamin B5 so it’s not just functional for style but will work over time to condition your hair at the same time.
Sebastian Professional
For creating the spiky-styled looks of clients in his Studio DNA Salon, owner and stylist Aubrey Loots uses cream-based Gel Forte by Sebastian Professional. The formula is pearlescent to give your hair super-shimmery brilliance while defining your spikes perfectly. For best results, apply a small amount of the product to damp hair and shape your spiky style while blow-drying. The gel works well with every type of hair and easily rinses away without residue when you’re ready, but will go the distance ‘til then.
