Best Hair Gel For Men: A Brief History and the Products to Know
Because necessity is the mother of invention (and effective hair products).
Men and women have been adorning their heads for centuries. It only makes sense that hair products, such as hair gel for men, also go way back. Purported to have been around since Egyptian times, the first-generation hair gels were allegedly made out of fat and tree resin—certainly a far cry from the products we know and enjoy today. With new hair care and styling innovations, there are so many best hair gel for men options to choose from.
Read on to learn about hair gel for men over the years and the best hair gel for men to try:
Best Hair Gel for Men: A Brief History and Some Options to Try
The late 1920s saw the invention of one of the first-known pomades for men, which was invented by the English. It had a base made of mineral oil and beeswax. It also imparted an undisputed sheen onto hair when applied and combed through. Prior to this invention, the best hair gel options for men were things such as oils and petroleum jelly.
The pomade gained rapid popularity in England and Europe and quickly crossed over to the American market. Its ability to keep men’s hair in place while also providing a shiny finish ushered the “wet look” trend of subsequent eras. In the 1960s, when longer, unoiled hair for men became in vogue, pomades took on a more natural finish.
The 1960s: A Revolution for Hair Gel for Men
Hair gel for men took a turn towards a different formulation during the Swinging Sixties. Whether due to the longer, drier hair trends that became the norm at the time, or that the market was due for more options—women were target consumers at this point as well—products that were less greasy and more malleable permeated the market. In the 1960s, a modern hair gel was invented that had diethyl phthalate (abbreviation: DEP) as its main ingredient. It was also stretchy. As it evolved throughout the ’80s and ’90s, it was offered more variations in terms of hold and control.
Best Hair Gel for Men Today
Nowadays, hair gels most commonly come in numbered variants, as a way to educate consumers on their hold level. They typically have a thick, viscous consistency with positively-charged polymers that help it bind—and subsequently mold—to the negatively-charged amino acids in keratin, the protein that hair is made of. Formulations for hair gel for men are now widely varied, and depending on your desired end result, hold and finish, whether you’re a punk rocker sporting an extreme mohawk or simply love a natural-looking bedhead, may be customized and even cocktailed for a totally unique look.
Ed’s note: A few of our favorite formulas of hair gel for men have a slightly matte consistency (that sexy, out-of-bed rumple!) that we see in a product like AXE Urban Messy Look: Matte Hold Gel. For a classic, sculpted finish, we love the look and feel of Dove Men+Care Control Gel.
