When comparing hair gels it can be very confusing, the main difference between hair gels is what they use to create hold in the hair.
Natural fixatives include Blue Agave, flaxseed and gums. They are great natural humectants offering not only hold but moisture. The downside can be variation due to the natural components.
Some popular examples of these are
Agave- The Curly Bird Blue Agave gel *, Kinky Curly Custard, Eco slay Orange marmalade.
Flaxseed - Rizvan orange blossom gel*, Orange Marmalade, Jessie curl rocking ringlets.
Gum - Rizvan rose curling custard*, The Curly Bird blue agave gel*
*Australian made
Synthetic polymer gels included VP/VA copolymer, copolymers and polyquaternium... There is quite a few variations all offering different amounts of film forming properties and resistance to moisture which is great in humid weather. The downside is they can lead to dryness over your wash week.
Some popular products include
Clevercurl humid+ dry weather gel*, LOHY Pow gel*, Crown Curly hydrating gel*, Jessie curl spiralicious.
*Australian made
Some people realise for their hair a natural fixative works best and knowing this information it will assist you in identifying other possible gel options with too much disappointment.
Same applies for copolymers my advice would be get the exact copolymer type as they are all different and use that to find a possible replacement or possibly use this information to avoid an type you didn't find as helpful for your hair.
Some people even find teaming two different types together gives them the benifits of both types.
Now you know a little more about what's in your cupboard, go have a look and compare the hold products that did work for you and ones that didn't.
Here at the Curly Bird we use a blend of natural ingredients to create hold and moisture as we love the results and how environmentally friendly our products are.