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Looking for the best hair gel for thinning hair, only to find a bunch of random guides that aren’t even that helpful? We’re here to help. We’ve rounded up our top 7 products, their pros and cons, and why we love each.
In a hurry and just want to know what the best hair gel for thinning hair is? No worries. We picked Baxter of California’s Thickening Style Gel for Men as the our overall favorite.
- Makes your hair appear thicker and more voluminous
- Includes ingredients that soothe your scalp and nourish your hair
- Lightweight texture doesn't cause crunchiness or leave flakes
- Expensive (but so worth it)
- Doesn't hold as strong as other products
No matter what hairstyle you have, if you have thinning hair, you can use hair gel to give it body and make it appear fuller.
It adds just enough volume and texture to boost your confidence and make you feel like yourself. Having the best hair gel for thinning hair can make a huge difference.
What’s the Best Hair Gel for Thinning Hair?
The best hair gel for thinning hair is designed to add the right amount of volume and texture to give your hair extra body. When your hair is thinning, you may think you need to keep it short. However, this isn’t the case.
You can use hair gel to give it the fullness you want no matter what hairstyle you have. You should look at different products, as they work best with different types of hair.
Consider the texture of your hair and whether it is curly or oily. Then, choose the products that will help you achieve the look you want. Take a look at the best hair gels for thinning hair.
Our Top Picks: Best Hair Gel for Thinning Hair
- Best Overall: Baxter of California Thickening Style Gel for Men
- Best for Thin, Straight Hair: Oribe Creme for Style
- Best for Thinning, Curly Hair: R +Co Motorcycle Flexible Gel
- Best for Dry Hair: Imperial Barber Grade Products
- Best for Frizzy Hair: LOMA Firm Hold Gel
- Best for Oily Hair: Jack Black Body Building Hair Gel
- Best for Thin, Fragile Hair: CHI Styling Cream Gel
No matter what your hair needs are, you can find a great hair gel for your thinning hair.
You may have limp hair, frizzy hair, fragile hair, or oily hair, but there is a product that will give your hair life again. Choose the product that suits you best depending on your styling needs.
Why You Need a Hair Gel for Thinning Hair

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There are many different hair gels to choose from, but some are designed especially to help thinning hair. One of the benefits of using these products is that they can lift your hair at the roots, which instantly makes it appear fuller.
When your hair is thinning, it tends to lay flat on your head, and it is more fragile. Another benefit of using hair gel is that it can add nourishment to your thinning hair, which helps to make it healthier.
Products that contain aloe prevent your hair from drying out, while other ingredients promote the individual strands plumping up.
This helps enhance your hair while making it appear more voluminous. You can choose gels with different levels of hold because certain styles will also make your hair look thicker and fuller.
You should choose the one that meets your styling needs. You will want to avoid products that contain a lot of alcohol or other drying chemicals, as they can damage your hair and make it more prone to breakage.
Natural plant-based ingredients are always healthier for your hair and add moisture without weighing it down. Botanical gels don’t contain a lot of chemicals, and aloe vera gels actually hydrate your hair.
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Best Hair Gel for Thinning Hair: Top Seven Picks
When you want the best hair gel for thinning hair, you need to consider the ingredients and your goals for the gel. Once you know how you want to style your hair, choose the appropriate product. Take a look at the best hair gels for thinning hair.
1. Best Overall: Baxter of California Thickening Style Gel for Men
- Makes your hair appear thicker and more voluminous
- Includes ingredients that soothe your scalp and nourish your hair
- Lightweight texture doesn't cause crunchiness or leave flakes
- Expensive (but so worth it)
- Doesn't hold as strong as other products
There are many reasons to love this hair gel. Not only does it hold your hair in place, but it makes it appear thicker and more voluminous.
It also has some great ingredients, including panthenol to soothe your scalp, vitamin B5 to add volume to your strands of hair, and birch juice to nourish your hair. It has ginger, which leaves a nice, spicy scent, and it has other natural extracts for a natural scent.
It is also lightweight, so it won’t make your hair crunchy or cause white flakes to appear. It is also free of parabens. You don’t need to use a lot of this gel. You can place a dime size amount in the palm of your hand, and then run your palms together to emulsify it.
Next, apply it to your hair once it is damp, and build up your hair into the style you want. It helps to make your hair look thicker, and you can style your hair to disguise thinning.
2. Best for Thin, Straight Hair: Oribe Creme for Style
- More moisturizing than other products
- Gives you a strong but flexible hold
- Works well for long or short hair
- Does a great job of making your hair look thicker
- More of a cream than a gel (but still worth it)
Although this product is a cream rather than a gel, it does an amazing job of helping with thinning hair. It is also free of parabens, sulfates, and gluten, and it is cruelty free and approved by PETA. The entire formula contains vegetarian ingredients.
If you have a dry scalp or frizzy hair, this product is perfect for smoothing it out. It also gives you a flexible hold so that you can change your hairstyle if you need to. It works well on straight hair, but you can use it on curly hair. It works for long or short hair.
You only need to use a dime size drop, and it will cover your entire head. In addition, it filters UV light and works as a heat protectant. It takes care of flyaways, and it helps conceal thinning hair and makes your hair look thicker.
3. Best for Thin, Curly Hair: R +Co Motorcycle Flexible Gel
- Flexible and lets you shape your hair into any style
- Controls flyaways and keeps your hair in place all day
- Free of parabens, mineral oils, sulfates, and phthalates
- It makes hair a little crunchy
- Some say it has a strong scent
This hair gel helps to make sure that your hair stays where you want it. It is flexible, so you can shape your hair again and again. It also provides a strong hold, so it will keep your hair in place all day.
The gel feels like a mixture of gel and wax, and it can control flyaways so that your hair is exactly the way you want it. It is also flexible, and it makes your hair shine. Another benefit is that this gel has no chemicals that will damage your hair.
You won’t find any sulfates, parabens, mineral oils, or phthalates in it. It is a great product for thinning hair because it allows you to set your hair in place and it will appear to be thicker and fuller.
4. Best for Dry Hair: Imperial Barber Grade Products
This is a great option for thinning hair that is too dry. It is water based and infused with vitamin B5 as an excellent gel to hold your hair in place. It is light in your hair, and it goes on smoothe.
It is strong enough to hold your hair in place all day. The strength of the hold depends on how much product you use and how wet your hair is when you put it in. Some people use the product alone, while others combine it with other products.
It works well with fine hair or thinning hair because it thickens and enhances the volume. If you have curls, it will also enhance them. It can be reactivated with water, and it also rinses out when you are finished with it.
5. Best for Frizzy Hair: LOMA Firm Hold Gel
- Moisturizes, enhances, and protects hair while restoring
- Clean ingredients and natural fragrances
- Infused with aloe and vegan-friendly
- Make sure your hair is wet when you use it
- Expensive
This hair gel is the best option if you need to control frizz. It contains pure, clean water infused with aloe. It is naturally based with green chemistry.
It will moisturize, enhance, protect, restore, and repair your hair when you use it. The product is made of pure organic plant extracts, oils, minerals, and vitamins, which makes it both sustainable and good for your hair.
It is also free of harmful chemicals, including parabens, sodium chloride, gluten, and soy. It contains no sulfates, and the fragrances are essential oil based from botanical extracts.
It is vegan friendly, and has never been tested on animals. If you want a natural, environmentally free hair gel that helps control frizz on thinning hair, this is a great option.
6. Best for Oily Hair: Jack Black Body Building Hair Gel
- Hair looks natural with styling control
- No crunchiness, buildup, or flaking
- Grapefruit peel oil & sage leaf extract nourish hair
- Expensive
- Hold doesn't last all day
One of the best things about this hair gel is that it is organic and has ingredients that add body, volume, and shine to your hair. It contains grapefruit peel oil, ginger root extract, sage leaf extract, and pro-vitamin B5, and it nourishes your hair.
It doesn’t buildup on your hair or cause flaking, and your hair won’t feel crunchy when you use it. The gel is fragrance free and alcohol free to prevent oily buildup, and it controls frizz as well.
It is a medium hold gel rather than a super hold gel, but it doesn’t leave a sticky or greasy feeling. It helps to make your thinning hair healthier and gives it some life.
7. Best for Thin, Fragile Hair: CHI Styling Cream Gel
- Affordable gel lets you create sleek and textured styles
- Light hold and non-flaking formula adds shine
- Adds body to thin, fragile hair
- Some people say the fragrance is too strong
- Can be sticky if you use too much
When you have thinning, fragile hair, you can use this gel to plump it up. You can mold your hair into the shape you want to create a textured style. It is a light hold formula, so it adds shine without flaking.
It is especially popular for thinning, fragile hair because it is gentle yet provides the hold you need. If you want to create a textured style and keep your hair in place, this light hold gel is one of the best options.
Finding the Best Hair Gel for Thinning Hair

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When you are looking for the best hair gel for thinning hair, you need to consider different factors. The important thing is to consider the needs of your hair texture and your styling goals. Then, choose the product that is best for you.
Hairstyle
First, you need to consider how you want to style your hair. Some products are ideal for lifting your hair at the roots to give the appearance of more volume.
Others are designed to nourish your hair and give it some hold. You should look for a gel that will give you the hold you need for your hairstyle without using alcohol to dry it out.
Hair Type
Your hair type also plays a role in deciding which gel to use. Although these products are for thinning hair, there are different hair types within this category.
Consider whether you have fine hair, straight hair, curly hair, and more to select the best product. Fine hair is generally more fragile than thicker hair, and you want to choose specialized products to prevent further breakage.
Hair Texture
Hair texture also plays a role in your choice of hair gel. You may have frizzy hair, oily hair, thin hair, dry hair, or any other type, and you will find a hair gel that is ideal for your texture.
There are some hair gels that work for any texture, which is great if you want a general hold for thinning hair.
Some hair types are more difficult to hold than others, which is why this is important. If you have frizzy hair, you will want to use gel with anti-frizz properties to make sure the frizz is controlled.
Gel Hold
Finally, consider the type of hold you’re looking for. You may want a strong hold that will last throughout the day.
Or, you may need a lighter hold that adds nourishment and shine to your hair. Different products offer different options, so this consideration is important when you’re choosing a gel.
Frequently Asked Questions

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How do you use styling gel on thinning hair?
When your hair is thinning, you do not want to use a lot of product. Most of the products on this list only require a dime size amount. You should rub it between your palms and then brush your hands through your hair.
What ingredients should you avoid when buying a hair gel?
You should avoid chemical ingredients, such as alcohols. Alcohols dry out your hair, which can lead to damage for thinning hair. You can find products that include natural ingredients and are free of parabens, sulfates, and other damaging ingredients.
How does styling gel help thinning hair?
Styling gels help thinning hair because they can plump up your hairs to create more volume. When thinning hair has no life, it lays flat on your head. Gels add body and allow you to create textured hairstyles that lift your hair.
Is gel bad for thinning hair?
Some hair gels are bad for thinning hair, especially those that contain chemical-based ingredients. However, the gels on the list above are all fine. You do need to rinse your hair and wash the gel out to avoid product buildup.
Does gel help your hair grow?
Although some gels do promote hair growth, gels for thinning hair are designed to give your hair body and allow textured styles that make your hair look thicker and more voluminous. There are other types of products that are designed to promote hair growth, but gels are designed for styling.
So, What’s the Best Hair Gel for Thinning Hair?
When you are looking for the best hair gel for thinning hair, you may have specific needs. Our top pick is Baxter of California’s Thickening Style Gel for Men.
- Makes your hair appear thicker and more voluminous
- Includes ingredients that soothe your scalp and nourish your hair
- Lightweight texture doesn't cause crunchiness or leave flakes
- Expensive (but so worth it)
- Doesn't hold as strong as other products
You can use this hair gel on any type of hair, and it will give you body, add volume, and hold your hair in place throughout the day. Be sure to choose a hair gel that lifts and adds volume to your hair without weighing it down.