Hair Gel NZ | Strong Hold, Wet Look & Curl Gel | Zilion NZ
Hair Gel in New Zealand
Gel is the styler that does exactly what it says. Work it through damp hair, shape it, and it dries to hold the style in place, from a glossy slick-back or sharp side part to spiky texture, a defined fade or a cast of curls that keeps its shape through a humid Auckland afternoon. Modern gels have moved a long way from the crunchy, flaky products many of us remember, and most of the formulas here are designed to dry without white residue.
This collection holds nearly 100 gels, jellies, gums and glues from more than 40 brands, including barbershop favourites L3VEL3, American Crew, Suavecito, Clubman Pinaud and Hanz De Fuko, salon lines from Paul Mitchell, Redken, Wella Professionals, Schwarzkopf Professional, KMS and Davines, and curl specialists Ouidad, Olaplex and Joico. Zilion is an official NZ stockist of every brand.
About Hair Gel
Most gels are water-based and use film-forming polymers that harden as the water evaporates. The amount of polymer sets the hold, from soft and touchable to extreme, and the ingredients around it decide the finish. Glossy gels leave a wet look, matte gels such as Natural Look StyleArt Extreme Hold Matte Gel dry with a natural finish, and cream gels such as L3VEL3 Cream Hair Gel and Davines More Inside Strong Hold Cream Gel feel softer and more conditioning.
Curl gels are a category of their own. They are applied to soaking-wet curls to group them into defined ringlets and form a light cast. Once dry, you scrunch the cast out to leave soft, defined curls. Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel, Olaplex No.10 Bond Shaper, Joico Curls Like Us Define and Seal and Milk Shake Curl Passion are all made for this.
Hair Gel by Hold and Finish
Extreme and super-strong hold. For spikes, faux hawks and styles that must not move: L3VEL3 Hair Gel and Slime Hair Gel Super Strong Hold, Natural Look StyleArt Freeze Frame Superhold, HD Lifestyle Extreme Gel, Hanz De Fuko Gel Triq, De Lorenzo Titanium Sculpt Gel, Schwarzkopf Osis+ Rock Hard and Wella EIMI Sculpt Force.
Firm hold with shine. Classic slick styles and side parts: Redken Max Sculpting Gel, Paul Mitchell Super Clean Sculpting Gel, American Crew Firm Styling Gel, Suavecito Firme Hold, Clubman Pinaud Styling Gel and Arata Strong Hold Styling Gel.
Medium and flexible hold. L3VEL3 Cream Hair Gel, American Crew Light Styling Gel, KMS HairPlay Styling Gel, Milk Shake Medium Hold Gel, Paul Mitchell Invisiblewear Memory Shaper and Davines More Inside Medium Hold Modeling Gel.
Curl gels. Ouidad Climate Control in medium and stronger hold, Olaplex No.10, Joico Curls Like Us, Milk Shake Curl Passion, Redken Sculpting Curl Gel, Matrix A Curl Can Dream, Davroe Curlicue and Haskell Cachos Sim. More curl stylers are in Curl Defining Styling Products.
Volume and thickening gels. Nioxin Hair Thickening Gel, Baxter of California Thickening Style Gel, De Lorenzo Densify and Redken Big Blowout, a heat-protecting blowout jelly, add body to fine hair.
Gums, glues and pomade-style dressings. Vines Vintage Maxi Gum, HH Simonsen Creative Glue and Murrays Hair Glo, a traditional shine dressing, sit alongside the gels for barbershop styling.
Brands in This Category
These are the brands with the most hair gels at Zilion. Each link opens the brand's full range:
- L3VEL3
- Paul Mitchell
- Ouidad
- Arata
- Vines Vintage
- KMS
- American Crew
- Natural Look
- Wella Professionals
- Redken
- De Lorenzo
- Angel En Provence
Top 10 Hair Gels
- L3VEL3 Slime Hair Gel Super Strong Hold 500ml: a stretchy, slime-like gel that spreads easily for long-lasting hold and shine, in a barbershop-size tub.
- L3VEL3 Cream Hair Gel 500ml: a water-based cream gel with vitamin B5 for medium hold, volume and shine without flakes.
- Redken Max Sculpting Gel 250ml: a high-hold gel that Redken says gives a lacquered wet look without crunch or flakes.
- Paul Mitchell Super Clean Sculpting Gel 150ml: firm hold, high shine and bold texture for hard-to-hold styles.
- American Crew Firm Styling Gel 250ml: a non-flaking firm gel with vitamin B5 that helps hair look thicker and shinier.
- Natural Look StyleArt Freeze Frame Superhold Gel 60ml: superhold and a bright sheen in a pocket-size tube, also in 200ml.
- Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel Medium Hold 250ml: defines curls and resists humidity with a touchable hold.
- Olaplex No.10 Bond Shaper Curl Defining Gel 200ml: brings out natural curl patterns with flexible hold and frizz resistance.
- Hanz De Fuko Gel Triq Extreme Hold Wet Shine: extreme hold with a high-gloss wet finish for structured styles.
- Maeko Black Gel Tube 100ml: an alcohol-free gel with a touch of colour that adds definition and shine to grey or white hair.
Best Sellers at Zilion
- Murrays Hair Glo 85g ($18.00)
- Natural Look StyleArt Freeze Frame Superhold Gel 60ml ($9.81)
- Vines Vintage Maxi Gum 125ml ($15.35)
- Maeko Black Gel Tube 100ml ($26.01)
- Natural Look StyleArt Extreme Hold Matte Gel 150ml ($25.11)
- Natural Look StyleArt Body Booster 250ml ($25.11)
- Natural Look StyleArt Freeze Frame Superhold Gel 200ml ($25.11)
- HD Lifestyle Strong Gel 150ml ($24.21)
- HD Lifestyle Extreme Gel 150ml ($24.21)
- Redken Max Sculpting Gel 250ml ($43.20)
Benefits of Hair Gel
- Reliable hold. Gel sets firmer than most creams and waxes, so styles stay put through wind, sport and long days.
- A choice of finishes. Pick a wet-look shine, a natural finish or a matte gel depending on the style.
- Easy to wash out. Water-based gels rinse out with shampoo and do not leave the heavy residue some waxes and pomades do.
- Curl definition. Curl gels clump curls together and reduce frizz for longer-lasting definition.
- Volume for fine hair. Thickening gels applied at the roots give fine hair lift before blow-drying.
- Good value. Barbershop-size tubs and twin packs bring the cost down for daily users.
Hair Gel Buying Guide
Match the hold to the style. A slick-back or spikes need firm to extreme hold. A soft, textured crop needs medium hold or a flexible memory gel.
Choose the finish. For a glossy wet look, choose Redken Max Sculpting, Hanz De Fuko Gel Triq or Arata Strong Hold. For a natural finish, try Natural Look StyleArt Extreme Hold Matte Gel, or use a paste from Hair Paste.
For curls, choose a dedicated curl gel and apply it to very wet hair. Ouidad offers medium and stronger hold, and the 1 litre size suits anyone who uses gel every wash.
For fine hair, a thickening gel such as Nioxin or Baxter of California at the roots is better than a heavy styling gel.
For grey hair, Maeko Black Gel adds a touch of colour as it styles.
For value, look for 453g and 500ml tubs or twin packs. More are in Men's Twin Packs.
How to Use Hair Gel
Apply gel to towel-dried hair, not soaking wet hair, unless you are defining curls. Start with a pea to almond-size amount, rub it between your palms and work it through from the roots to the ends, then comb or shape the style. Let it air dry or use a blow-dryer on a low setting. For curls, apply gel to wet hair in sections, scrunch upward, leave it to dry completely and then scrunch out the cast. To remove gel, shampoo as normal; a Clarifying Shampoo once a week helps if you use strong gels daily.
Why Shop Hair Gel at Zilion
- Official NZ stockist. Every hair gel we sell is genuine stock from brands we are authorised to supply.
- Free shipping over $85. Orders under $85 ship for a flat $7.99 to metro and rural addresses.
- Afterpay and Zip. Spread the cost of a bigger order over interest-free instalments.
- Same-day dispatch. In-stock orders placed before 9am leave our warehouse the same business day.
- Twin packs and big tubs. Twin packs from L3VEL3, Vines Vintage, Murrays, Suavecito, KMS, American Crew, Hanz De Fuko and Clubman Pinaud, plus 500ml and 1 litre sizes.
- Help when you need it. Email care@zilion.co.nz with your hair type and the style you want, and we will suggest a gel.
Delivery Across New Zealand
We deliver hair gel right across the country, to Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown, and to rural addresses in every region. Metro orders usually arrive in 1 to 4 business days and rural orders in 3 to 7.
Hair Gel FAQs
What does hair gel do?
Hair gel holds a style in place. It forms a film on the hair that hardens as it dries, keeping the shape you created.
What is the strongest hair gel?
For maximum hold, try L3VEL3 Hair Gel or Slime Hair Gel Super Strong Hold, Natural Look StyleArt Freeze Frame Superhold, HD Lifestyle Extreme Gel, Hanz De Fuko Gel Triq or Schwarzkopf Osis+ Rock Hard.
What is the best hair gel for a wet look?
Redken Max Sculpting Gel, Hanz De Fuko Gel Triq Extreme Hold Wet Shine and Arata Strong Hold Styling Gel all give a glossy wet look.
Is there a hair gel with a matte finish?
Yes. Natural Look StyleArt Extreme Hold Matte Gel gives extreme hold with a matte finish.
Will hair gel flake?
Many modern gels are designed not to flake. American Crew Firm Styling Gel, KMS HairPlay Styling Gel and L3VEL3 Cream Hair Gel are described as flake-free. Using too much product can still cause flaking.
What is a cream gel?
A cream gel combines the hold of a gel with a softer, more conditioning cream texture. L3VEL3 Cream Hair Gel and Davines More Inside Strong Hold Cream Gel are examples.
What is L3VEL3 Slime Hair Gel?
It is a super-strong-hold gel with a stretchy, slime-like texture that spreads easily for sleek or voluminous styles. It comes in 250ml and 500ml, and as twin packs.
What is L3VEL3 Cream Hair Gel?
It is a water-based cream gel with vitamin B5 that gives medium hold, volume and shine. It is flake-free and comes in 250ml and 500ml.
What is Redken Max Sculpting Gel?
It is a high-hold gel that Redken says gives a lacquered, wet-look shine without crunch or flakes.
What is Paul Mitchell Super Clean Sculpting Gel?
It is a firm-hold gel from Paul Mitchell's Firm Style range for maximum control, high shine and bold texture.
What is Paul Mitchell Invisiblewear Memory Shaper?
It is a lightweight memory gel that shapes and reshapes hair with soft, reworkable hold and undone definition.
What is American Crew Firm Styling Gel?
It is a non-flaking, firm-hold gel with natural extracts including vitamin B5 that helps hair look thicker and shinier. A Light Styling Gel is also available.
What is KMS HairPlay Styling Gel?
It is a styling gel that KMS says gives glossy shine and long-lasting hold and control with no flaking or build-up.
What is Suavecito Firme Hold Styling Gel?
It is a strong-hold gel for long-lasting control and shine without flaking, popular for barbershop styles.
What is Hanz De Fuko Gel Triq?
Gel Triq is an extreme-hold styling gel with a high-gloss wet-shine finish for bold, structured styles.
What is Wella EIMI Sculpt Force?
It is an extra-strong-hold gel from Wella Professionals that sculpts and defines while protecting hair against UV damage.
What is Schwarzkopf Osis+ Rock Hard?
It is a strong-hold styling glue for sculpted looks that holds all day and stays flexible enough to reshape.
What is Natural Look StyleArt Freeze Frame?
It is a professional superhold gel with a bright sheen, available in a 60ml tube and a 200ml size.
What is Vines Vintage Maxi Gum?
Maxi Gum is a styling gum that gives strong hold, texture and flexible control. It comes in 125ml and 300ml, and as twin packs.
Is Murrays Hair Glo a gel?
Murrays Hair Glo is a classic hair dressing pomade rather than a true gel. It adds shine, moisture and light control, and it is one of our best sellers in this collection.
What is Maeko Black Gel?
Maeko Black Gel is an alcohol-free styling gel with a touch of colour that adds definition and shine to grey or white hair.
What is a curl gel?
A curl gel is applied to wet curls to group them together, reduce frizz and form a light cast that is scrunched out once dry, leaving defined curls.
What is the best gel for curly hair?
Popular curl gels include Ouidad Advanced Climate Control, Olaplex No.10 Bond Shaper, Joico Curls Like Us Define and Seal, Milk Shake Curl Passion and Redken Sculpting Curl Gel.
What is Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Gel?
It is a curl gel that defines curls and defies humidity. It comes in Medium Hold and Stronger Hold, and in sizes from 75ml to 1 litre.
What is Olaplex No.10 Bond Shaper?
No.10 Bond Shaper is Olaplex's curl defining gel. Olaplex says it brings out natural curl patterns, resists humidity and frizz and gives flexible hold.
What is Joico Curls Like Us Define and Seal Gelee?
It is a lightweight curl gelée that defines and seals curls with long-lasting hold and shine.
Is there a gel that adds volume?
Yes. Nioxin Hair Thickening Gel, Baxter of California Thickening Style Gel, De Lorenzo Densify and Redken Big Blowout all add body to fine hair.
Does Redken Big Blowout protect from heat?
Yes. Redken says Big Blowout protects against heat up to 232°C while adding volume and shine and fighting frizz.
Is there a hair gel for men?
Most gels suit anyone. Men's brands here include American Crew, Suavecito, Clubman Pinaud, Vitaman, Angel En Provence Black Angel for Men and L3VEL3.
Should I apply gel to wet or dry hair?
Apply most gels to towel-dried hair. Curl gels work best on very wet hair, and a little gel on dry hair can tidy flyaways.
How much hair gel should I use?
Start with a pea to almond-size amount for short hair and add more if needed. Too much gel can look stiff and may flake.
How do I avoid crunchy gel?
Use less product, choose a medium hold or cream gel, and for curls scrunch out the cast once the gel is completely dry.
Can I use gel every day?
Yes. Shampoo daily or every other day to remove it, and use a clarifying shampoo weekly if you use a strong gel.
How do I wash out hair gel?
Most gels are water-based and wash out with a normal shampoo. Strong or gum-style products may need two washes.
Can gel damage hair?
Gel itself does not damage hair, but brushing through hardened gel can cause breakage. Wet the hair or wash it out before combing.
Can I mix gel with other stylers?
Yes. Many stylists mix gel with a cream or paste for a softer hold, or layer a curl cream under a curl gel.
What is the difference between gel, wax and pomade?
Gel dries firm and rinses out easily. Wax and paste stay pliable for reworkable texture. Pomade gives shine and a smooth, reworkable hold.
Which gel is best for a fade or short barber cut?
Firm or extreme gels such as L3VEL3, Suavecito Firme Hold or Clubman Pinaud give sharp lines and shine on short cuts.
Can I use hair gel on children?
Many gels are fine for children's hair, but check the ingredients and patch test if your child has sensitive skin.
Are there gels in larger sizes?
Yes. L3VEL3 500ml tubs, Clubman Pinaud 453g jar and Ouidad 1 litre, plus twin packs from several barber brands.
Is Zilion an official stockist of these hair gel brands?
Yes. Zilion is an official NZ stockist of every brand in this collection, from L3VEL3 and American Crew to Redken and Ouidad.
Are the hair gels you sell genuine?
Yes. As an official stockist we only sell genuine products.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping is free on NZ orders over $85. Orders under $85 cost a flat $7.99 to metro and rural addresses.
How long does delivery take?
In-stock orders placed before 9am are dispatched the same business day. Metro deliveries take 1 to 4 business days and rural deliveries 3 to 7.
Can I pay with Afterpay or Zip?
Yes. Afterpay and Zip are both available at checkout.
Can I return a product I have opened?
No. For hygiene reasons, opened or used products cannot be returned unless they are faulty.
What is your returns policy for unopened items?
Unopened, unused items in original packaging can be returned within 30 days for a change of mind. Return postage and a restocking fee of $10 or 10% (whichever is less) apply.
What if my order arrives leaking or damaged?
Email care@zilion.co.nz within 5 days of delivery with your order number and photos. We will arrange a replacement or refund.
Do you deliver to PO Boxes or overseas?
No. Our couriers do not deliver cosmetics to PO Boxes, and we ship within New Zealand only.
Who can I ask for advice on hair gel?
Email care@zilion.co.nz with your hair type and the look you want, and we will recommend a gel.
Find more stylers in Hair Wax, Hair Pomade and Men's Hair Styling, or browse every product in Hair Styling Products.