Matilda Djerf Is Hair Goals, so We Tested the Hair Product She Swears By
Welcome to Internet Famous, a monthly series in which we ask our Instagram followers to vote on a viral beauty product that's taken social media by storm. Then the beauty team will take the winning pick for a spin and share their reviews—pictures included.
If there's anyone on social media who's made me think, "Ooh, how do I get my hair to look like that?" it's Matilda Djerf. From claw-clip looks to slick-back buns to her signature blowout, Djerf's effortless hairstyles are liked, shared, and saved across the internet. I might have commented "hair goals" on a post or two (hundred), but honestly, so has everyone else you know. After years of raiding her mom’s beauty cabinet, experimenting with different products, and offering hair tips in the comments of her posts, Djerf collaborated with talented and passionate chemists to launch Djerf Avenue Beauty. And now we finally have a go-to product to help us re-create her iconic styles—the On The Go Styling Gel ($22).
Allow me to introduce you to the product that's keeping the beauty team's hair intact these days. The On the Go Styling Gel is a game changer for all hair types—it not only has a strong enough hold to define your curls or slick back your hair, but with ingredients like squalene, aloe vera, and glycerin, it's much more nourishing than typical hair gels. Plus, it smells delicious. Believe it or not, the hold is even effective after heat-styling your hair. "I love using it on the lengths of my hair as the finishing step after curling, as it enhances shine and adds that extra definition," Djerf notes. Instead of flooding the Djerf Avenue account with comments, we decided to test this product ourselves. Read our editors' reviews below.
"Nine times out of ten, I wear my hair slicked back and out of my face. Whether it's in a ballet bun, sleek ponytail, romantic half-up, half-down style, or cute French braids, I rely on styling gel to hold my hair in place all day. For over a year, I was devoted to a certain sweet, fruit-scented styling cream, but this product is my new fave. It's the perfect smooth consistency, tames down my flyaways, and creates the sleek hairstyle I want. It slicked back my hair effortlessly, and I was able to brush it out easily without any buildup." — Emma Walsh, associate beauty editor
"As crazy as it sounds, I use styling gel every single day. Whether I'm wearing a slick-back style or my natural curls, I can guarantee there are scoops and scoops of gel in my hair. I'm a bit selective—I typically go for a formula that is a bit more sticky and tacky, and the bottle usually has the words 'extreme hold' or 'extra strong' on it. And this may be a hot take, but I actually love it when my hair is hard and stiff from all the product. It gives me reassurance that my hair won't move throughout the day. Just by the looks of this gel, I knew the hold wouldn't be strong enough to slick back my hair the way I wanted. (Don't get me wrong, most gels can't do that for me.) But I will say, it did such a great job of taming frizz and defining my 4b curls. I have cute, bouncy ringlets that don't feel crunchy or look flaky, which is a major win in my book. I'd definitely throw this in my tote bag for a midday curl refresh.
P.S. If you're sensitive to smell, I'd go for the unscented version of this gel. The scented one smells amazing, but it is strong and lingers." — Aniyah Morinia, fashion and beauty editor
"I've been doing so many slick-back buns this summer, and I've been looking for a slightly sticky, yummy-smelling finishing cream to tame frizziness and flyaways. Not only did this styling gel tick all the boxes, but it also added piecey-ness and definition for heatless beach curls or blowouts. A little bit goes a long way, so I'll probably have this forever!" — Emma Hughes, social media editor
"My mood immediately changed when I opened this bottle and smelled its luxurious scent. Right off the bat, I was a fan of this product. The way it worked to wax my hair into a slick-back bun without crunchiness was a bonus." — Anneliese Henderson, senior fashion editor
"Whenever I wear slick-back styles, I'll toss my gel and boar-bristle brush in my bag, just in case I need touch-ups on the go. (And I usually do—my hair frizzes up at the very mention of humidity.) This gel may be named 'On The Go,' but the hold is so impressive that I didn't even need to reapply! I had a smooth, polished slick-back bun all day, with nary a flyaway in sight. I probably wouldn't use it on damp hair to define my curls, as I prefer a lighter gel cream for that purpose. But this is my new hero on wash days, when I typically rely on a slick-back style. I also quite like the fragrance! I typically gravitate towards musky, amber-scented perfumes, so it smells like something I would naturally wear. My fiancé even commented on how good I smelled, and I wasn't wearing any other perfume that day. That said, the fragrance is very strong. It lasted well into the night, and even left behind a slight scent on my pillow. I think that's chic, but it's something to note if you have a sensitive nose." — Jamie Schneider, senior beauty editor
"I'm the first to admit that I don't love wave-defining sprays and creams. Most of the products I've tried end up being crunchy, heavy, or leave my hair feeling slick with residue. And even worse, they don't actually define my waves. This one was different. I squeezed the tiniest amount onto the tips of my fingers before running them gently down my mid-lengths and ends. The formula separated, defined, and added a much-needed piecey-ness to my strands. Then I added an even smaller amount to the baby hairs along my hairline for smoothing and definition there. I loved the effect. If you have fine hair like mine, I recommend using a light hand. I could see how using too much product could result in that dreaded oily, residue-slick effect." — Kaitlyn McLintock, associate beauty editor
"This is a really nice light-to-medium hold gel—even for thick, curly hair! It doesn't feel crunchy or stiff, which I love. It almost doesn't feel like you're wearing gel at all. The fragrance is definitely a bit strong, so keep that in mind if you're sensitive to smells, but it isn't so overpowering that you smell it all day. Plus, there is a fragrance-free option! I also really love that it's silicone-free, which is great for my curls. I'd definitely recommend this to a friend, and it's a styling product I'll continue to use." — Shawna Hudson, associate beauty editor
"I'm in a constant battle with my baby hairs, but I'm pleased to report that this gel slicked them back once and for all. If you need a quick and easy hair fix that can be applied with just your fingers, I think this product works great. I'm not the best at doing my hair and find myself too intimidated to do a full slick-back bun, but this helps achieve a similar look without pulling out the bristle brush." — Natalie Gray Herder, editor
"I'm always suspicious when I can use a styling product on dry hair to enhance my waves. I've never had a good experience doing so—my hair always ends up feeling crunchy and weighed down. This was the exact opposite. It was the afternoon pick-me-up I didn't know my hair needed. It's as if my waves came out of hiding. They looked happier and more defined without feeling like I had any product in whatsoever." — Caitie Bellamy, executive group director, branded content
