Hard Hold Gels Without Proteins and Glycerin (2018 Update)

This is a current product list (2018) featuring hard hold gels that are free of protein, as well as humectants! I will be making a separate post for hard hold gels with protein that contain humectants.

Preface: I follow the Curly Girl Method, so no products will feature any ingredients that are not CG Friendly unless noted for specific reasonings. 

Super Wet (Clear) Gel: you can purchase it here. It's also available at CVS. I'm unsure of other locations, but some Walmarts also carry this gel.

• Attributes: affordable, no protein, no glycerin, propylene glycol may act as a humectant but is at the bottom of the ingredients, paraben free but not clean, and is not cruelty free or vegan

Super Wet (Blue) Gel: you can purchase it here.  It's also available at CVS. I'm unsure of other locations, but some Walmarts also carry this gel.

• Attributes: affordable, no protein, no glycerin, propylene glycol may act as a humectant but is at the bottom of the ingredients, paraben free but not clean, and is not cruelty free or vegan

Salon Care FIRM HOLD Aloe Vera Styling Gel: you can purchase it here. This is only sold at Sally's.

• Attributes: cheaply priced, no protein, no glycerin, free of all humectants except aloe which can act as humectant in superb humectant sensitives, and is not cruelty free or vegan.

KENRA PROFESSIONAL Curl Control Gel 10: you can purchase it here. You can use the regular $3.50 ULTA coupon on this to save additional money!

• Attributes: medium priced, glycerin free, caprylyl glycol may act as a humectant but is at the bottom of the ingredients, paraben free but not clean, and is cruelty free and PETA certified

Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel: you can purchase it here. It's also available at Curlmart! I recommend waiting for a site 20% sitewide Curlmart sale then combining a 15% coupon code to save more money.

• Attributes: medium-higher priced, glycerin free, free of all humectants, contains polyquat 69 which is considered the best polyquat for rain-humidity resistance, does contain a minor amount of ethanol alcohol (drying) which is necessary for polyquat 69 in formulations, paraben free and clean, and is vegan and cruelty free

Proclaim Argan Oil Gel: you can purchase it here.

• Attributes: affordable, no protein, no glycerin, free all of humectant except aloe which can act as a humectant in succulent sensitives, paraben free but not clean, and is not cruelty free or vegan

Herbal Essences SET ME UP Gel: you can purchase here. This is gel is easy to find locally at Walmart, Target, CVS, etc.

• Attributes: affordable, protein free, glycerin free, propylene glycol may act as a humectant but is at the bottom of the ingredients, paraben free but not clean, owned by a major animal testing parent company, and not vegan

Aussie HEADSTRONG VOLUME Gel: you can purchase it here.  This is gel is easy to find locally at Walmart, Target, CVS, etc.

While this gel is free of hydrolyzed protein, it contains "hops." Hops is a natural protein which can protein-sensitive coarse hair can react negatively to. Be cautious.

• Attributes: affordable, protein free, does contain hops, glycerin free, contains no humectants, paraben free but not clean, is not cruelty free or vegan

Aussie INSTANT FREEZE Gel: you can purchase it here. This is gel is easy to find locally at Walmart, Target, CVS, etc.

• Attributes: affordable, protein free, glycerin free, free of all humectants, paraben free but not clean, is not cruelty free or vegan

LA LOOKS Nutra Curl Gel: you can purchase it here. JET seems to be the best priced site so far. This gel is not as easy to find as the Aussie (for example), but it is available on Amazon Prime for a higher price than Walgreen's. I recommend Googling around. 

• Attributes: affordable, protein free, propylene glycol may act as a humectant but is at the bottom of the ingredients, contains parabens and is not clean, is not cruelty free or vegan

Bain De Terre Bamboo Ultra Styling Gel: you can purchase it here or here at JC Penny. I'm unsure where else to buy this gel, but those two retailers. 

• Attributes: medium priced, protein free, propylene glycol may act as a humectant but is at the bottom of the ingredients, contains coconut oil, paraben free with some natural basing but not clean, is not cruelty free or vegan

KENRA PROFESSIONAL's Ultra Freeze Gel: you can purchase it here.

• medium priced, protein free, no parabens, caprylyl gylcol may act as a humectant, certified cruelty free via PETA and vegan, not natural but not the most unclean formula