My hunt for a bomb hair gel is still on. As I seek to achieve amazing curl definition in the humid, southern climate where I live, I’m on the look out for a gel that gives me an all-day hold, without being heavy or drying. I just tried out Koils by Nature’s Herbal Curl Defining Gel to see if it’d meet my expectations, and I’m here to share my thoughts!
First, a little bit about Koils by Nature. This company makes vegan, organic, and cruelty-free hair products for men and women with all hair types. These products are sulfate-free, paraben-free, free of synthetic dyes – all that good stuff.
The Herbal Curl Defining Gel is one of Koils by Nature’s fragrance-free products, which I was excited about because I hate when hair products smell like I just waltzed into the perfume aisle at Macy’s.
But even more important than smell, to me, is effectiveness. I tested the Curl Defining Gel on freshly washed and conditioned 3b hair to see how it’d hold up.
Featured Ingredients
Koils by Nature Herbal Curl Defining Gel is free of alcohol and protein. Instead, it’s packed full of natural ingredients like aloe vera juice, nettle leaf, moringa leaf, and marshmallow root powder. It also contains nourishing oils like Jamaican black castor oil to moisturize and protect your hair rather than dry it out.
There is NO fragrance in this gel, natural or otherwise. If you’re sensitive to scents for whatever reason, it can be really hard to find natural hair products that don’t contain any fragrance. Well, here’s one!
First Impressions
The bottle itself is very plain, which works well for the whole fragrance-free vibe. It comes in a pump bottle, which I love.
When I first pumped some product out, I discovered that the texture is liquidy and has a thin consistency. This is definitely not a thick gel, which for me is a pro – I don’t want an overly heavy gel.
However, the smell is not my favorite. Yes, it’s fragrance-free, but that just means that it smells exactly like what’s in it. It smells sort of medicinal and chemical-y.
Testing It Out
I washed and conditioned my hair, then applied leave-in conditioner, and a little cream at the ends. I brushed everything out with my Wet brush, then generously applied the Koils by Nature Herbal Curl Defining Gel to my hair, focusing on my ends and crown.
Since the consistency is so thin, the gel went on smoothly and was easy to distribute. I didn’t have to struggle to work it through my curls or worry about applying too much.
Lastly, I blow-dried my hair with a diffuser on low heat.
Results
Here are my curls, 90% dry.
The Herbal Curl Defining Gel gave my hair medium definition, and it has a really soft hold.
On the plus side, my curls feel soft and touchable – this gel is not drying whatsoever. There’s zero crunch, build-up or flakes. Also, the initial smell didn’t linger in my hair at all. This is truly a fragrance-free gel.
On the other hand, the consistency is a tad bit too thin for my purposes. My curls are not as crisp or defined as I’d like, and there’s a bit of frizz still.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a very lightweight, all-natural gel, with a soft hold, that won’t dry out your hair, I’d recommend this. It would also be great for third-day hairstyles when you want to avoid piling more heavy products onto your hair.
If you’re looking for something to keep every curl in place for hours, though? This is probably not the gel for you. Look for a thicker, stronger-hold gel.
Personally, I’ll save this gel for when I want a really natural look, and don’t mind a little frizz. My hunt for a perfectly light gel with an all-day hold continues!
Have you tried this gel before, or are you interested in trying it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!