For the Sleekest Strands of Your Life, All You Need Is This $6 Drugstore Staple

If you prefer a hair gel that doesn't feel like a hair gel, then you'll love this flexible hold styling product from Crown Affair. It's infused with hydrating ingredients like Tsubaki seed oil and jojoba milk but it also contains a film-form polymer to hold the hair in place without creating any stiffness. It's a great lightweight hold option for all hair types.

This drugstore gel is celebrity stylist Glenn Ellis's top pick.

"Got2b Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Hair Gel is my go-to for thicker, resistant hair or styles that I need to make last a long time. This gel really locks everything into place and keeps it there. It’s a staple in my kit." — Ellis

If you have straight, fine hair, Nioxin's gel might be a winner for you. You can even try it on finer curly or wavy hair. 

"For fine, dehydrated, or damaged hair, I recommend a light-holding gel that has little to no alcohol to avoid breakage and stripping off essential oils. Nioxin is a company that specializes in scalp health and protecting fine hair so I highly recommend it." —Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hairstylist

"For stronger, thicker hair, depending on your styling choice, I would recommend a stronger-holding product such as Sculpt Force by [Wella]." — Cleveland

Another great option that Ellis loves for fine or straight hair types is the Shu Uemura Sculpting Hair Paste. 

"It's one of my favorites for finer hair. It is really buildable and dries matte. It doesn’t weigh the hair down like other gels. A lighter application also can act as a texturizer to make the style piecey-er." —Ellis

Ouai's classic Matte Pomade contains a smart technology complex that targets damaged areas of the hair to help repair the cuticle, replenish moisture, and provide protection from environmental stress. Beeswax also helps build a soft thickness and body to the hair while kaolin clay gives that extra long-lasting hold. 

This gel from Pattern is Cleveland's pick for curly hair. It's creamy, smoothing, and locks in extra hydration with coconut oil, cacay oil, and aloe vera.

This gel can be used to create a wet look or it can add body and support to limp hair. It's also alcohol-free and doesn't cause any dryness or flakiness.

My hairstylist always recommends Davines products for curly hair. She recently told me to give this gel a try and I couldn't be happier with the finish it provides. It leaves my curls smooth and defined without making them crunchy or sticky.

"Oribe Curl Gelée is a gel that helps add volume as well as hold. It is super moisturizing but really helps tame frizz and flyaways" — Ellis

This Taliah Waajid gel is another favorite in my rotation. It's great for curls because it's extra conditioning, smoothing, and creates the perfect slicked-back bun without getting too crunchy.

This strong-hold gel from Ouidad is great for both curly and wavy hair types. It seals strands with advanced humidity control technology, tames frizz, and keeps waves from puffing up or becoming limp.

This is another great gel that offers lightweight hold for waves without being too much on the hair or weighing it down. 

This cream is perfect for creating lived-in beach waves. Although it's not really a gel, it's a great option for wavy hair types because it isn't too heavy and won't make your waves look flat. It just nourishes strands with ingredients like sunflower oil and banana extract.