When it comes to using gel on your curls, one of the end goals is to get a good cast. When this doesn’t happen, it’s easy to wonder why your gel isn’t casting. However, there’s usually a reason why this is, and fortunately, you can make some easy fixes. Check out this list about why your curls aren’t getting a great cast, and let us know if there’s anything you’d add.
Why Your Gel Isn’t Casting
The ingredients are off:
If your gel isn’t creating a great cast, it could be because it doesn’t have the right ingredients. What you need are ingredients that form a film over your curls. When buying a gel, make sure you look for something that features humectants and polymers to help the gel cast around your curls.
There’s too much product base:
When you’re applying your gel, it’s usually as one of the last products before you dry your curls. Therefore, you’ll likely be adding gel over products you’ve already applied. However, if you’ve already used a lot of product or an oil based product underneath, this might make it difficult for your gel to create a good cast. Your gel will work best on clean hair, or curls without a whole lot of product on it.
Not enough product:
Depending on your curl type, it can be a bit tricky to get the right amount of product into your curls. Therefore, you’ll need to play around a bit with your product distribution. Too much gel can make your curls crunchy and sticky, whereas too little won’t create enough of a cast. Therefore, you’ll need to experiment a bit to figure out which product is right for you. Additionally, make sure your curls aren’t sopping wet when you apply gel, but instead remove some of the excess water before applying any gel.
Your curls move while drying:
While you’re drying your curls, it’s important to sit still and not move around too much. When your curls are drying, try to avoid moving too much or allowing your strands to touch too many surfaces. Curls rubbing against pillows, fabrics, or towels can disrupt the cast as it dries. Instead, sit still during the drying process, or use a diffuser if you don’t have a lot of time to finish drying your hair.