The best hair gel for men depends on the finish you want. Unlike traditional hair gels that leave a plastic-looking coating, the options in our Surface Men collection are formulated to avoid that stiff, crunchy finish. 

For strong matte hold, the Men Styling Mud uses flax and bamboo to sculpt and shape without any shine. For humidity-resistant hold with a polished finish, the Reflect Styling Gel uses natural sugars and tourmaline crystal fusion to lock in volume and shine.

A hair wax swipes directly onto flyaways, edges, or specific sections where you need control, then can be smoothed with your fingers or a brush. Unlike gel, hair wax is more pliable and won't make your hair crispy, but it must be applied to dry hair for best results. 

The Shift Shaping Wax uses natural sugars and corn starches for clean, precise hold. Finish with a hairspray to lock it in.

Hair gel is usually the better call for curly hair. Hair pomade has a slippery, waxy feel that tends to weigh curls down and disrupt their natural shape over time. A good curl hair gel defines and separates locks without disturbing the pattern. 

The Curls Oil Gel was specifically designed for curly and textured hair, using babassu oil and cocoa butter for crunch-free definition and frizz-free hold, without the stiff, glossy finish you'd get from a traditional gel.

Hair paste usually gives the most natural-looking result. It has a firm hold like gel but leaves a matte, natural finish because the formula is buildable. You can use more if you need extra control without it looking caked on. 

The Crave Styling Paste offers flexible definition for blow-drying, air-drying, and finishing. For a lived-in texture, the Taffy Whip adds natural sculpting fibers for effortless, workable hold. Pair with a mousse underneath for added volume.