Hello my curly girls! Over the past 4 years of following the Curly Girl Method, I’ve tried lots of different gels and mousses. And today I’m sharing my review of a curly girl favourite- the Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel. It won a Best of the Best Award from NaturallyCurly.com in both 2019 and 2020.
What’s inside the gel
Water (Aqua), Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, PVP, Glycerin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Olive Oil, Fragrance, Blue #1, Yellow #11.
Eco Style Olive Oil styling gel is made with 100% pure olive oil. Olive oil helps add moisture to the scalp and hair while adding shine and taming split ends. If your hair is sensitive to protein or glycerin, please note that it does contain protein as the 3rd ingredient and glycerin as the 5th ingredient. This gel provides medium to strong hold. On day 1, your curls will be tight and bouncy. On days 2 and 3, your curls will be still well defined but look and feel softer and slightly looser. If you prefer a very defined curl, you may want to refresh your curls with water and a little gel.
Yes, many curly girls with type 3 and 4 hair say that this is a great gel for natural hair. “I have a 4A/4B textured hair and have been using the Olive Oil Eco-Styling Gel for a few years. This has been a “go to” product for me since I went natural in 2012. Amazing!!! This was the first Eco Styler Gel I’ve ever used… And I don’t regret it!! It provides amazing hold and keeps out the frizzies, it also defines my 3b/3c hair and does not leave it with flakes and residue. Yes, the Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel is Curly Girl approved.
As noted above, it does contain protein as the 3rd ingredient and glycerin. It also contains Tetrasodium EDTA, which is a chelating agent which can build up on your hair over time. So, it may be best to alternate it with other gels in your regimen. In my experience, this gel works best when paired with a medium-consistency curl cream or enhancing product. I like pairing it with the SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie best. However, it also works well with a small amount of the Curls Blueberry Bliss Leave-In Conditioner. One combination that does NOT work well is Eco Styler Gel + Cantu Shea Butter Curl Activator Cream. For best results, ensure that your hair is well moisturized and doesn’t have any tangles. Apply to wet hair after rinsing out conditioner and applying leave in conditioner. Be sure to scrunch upward, and check your face-framing layers. If they look a little messy, just twirl them around your finger and scrunch upward for definition.
Another place you can look is the ethnic hair section of your local Walmart. Have you used the Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel before? If so, what did you think? I love this easy to use, budget friendly gel. And it gives me excellent hold and definition. Have you tried any of the other Eco Styler family of gels?
p.s. Some of the items in this post are affiliate links. I only post about products that I love + think you’ll probably love, too! As an Amazon Associate or affiliate for other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase through my link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Ingredients deep dive
Hair gel. Good old water, aka H2O. The most common skincare ingredient of all. One more thing: the water used in cosmetics is purified and deionized (it means that almost all of the mineral ions inside it is removed). A big molecule created from repeated subunits (a polymer of acrylic acid) that magically converts a liquid into a nice gel formula. It usually has to be neutralized with a base (such as sodium hydroxide) for the thickening to occur and it creates viscous, clear gels that also feel nice and non-tacky on the skin. No wonder, it is a very popular and common ingredient. Typically used at 1% or less in most formulations.
A chemically chopped up version of wheat protein that consists mainly of amino acids (the building blocks), peptides (a couple of amino acids together), and proteins (lots of amino acids together). It has moisturizing and film-forming properties and might be able to counteract the irritating effects of cleansing agents in cleansers and shampoos. It's a common little helper ingredient that helps water and oil to mix together.
Similar to other emollient plant oils, it's loaded with nourishing fatty acids: oleic is the main component (55-83%), and also contains linoleic (3.5-20%) and palmitic acids (7-20%). Exactly what it sounds: nice smelling stuff put into cosmetic products so that the end product also smells nice. If you are someone who likes to know what you put on your face then fragrance is not your best friend - there's no way to know what’s really in it. Also, if your skin is sensitive, fragrance is again not your best friend. It’s the number one cause of contact allergy to cosmetics. Ci 19140 or Tartrazine is a super common colorant in skincare, makeup, medicine & food. FDA says it's possible, but rare, to have an allergic-type reaction to a color additive. Normal (well kind of - it's purified and deionized) water. Usually the main solvent in cosmetic products. A real oldie but a goodie. It's a common little helper ingredient that helps water and oil to mix together. Olive oil - an oleic acid-rich (55-83%) emollient plant oil that can moisturize dry skin. Also, it contains antioxidant polyphenols and vitamin E. The generic term for nice smelling stuff put into cosmetic products so that the end product also smells nice.
Practical tips for using Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel
- Apply to wet hair after rinsing out conditioner and applying leave-in conditioner.
- Scrunch upward and check face-framing layers; twist messy ones around a finger for definition.
- Pair with a medium-consistency curl cream for best results, or a small amount of leave-in conditioner.
- If your hair is sensitive to protein or glycerin, note the 3rd and 5th ingredients respectively and adjust usage accordingly.
Infographic suggestion: a labeled diagram of the gel’s key ingredients and their roles (water base, olive oil, protein, glycerin, chelating agent, fragrance).
BEGINNERS STYLING / SHORT HAIR WITH ECO STYLER GEL
Video suggestion: quick tutorial on applying and scrunching for defined curls with olive oil gel.
Why curl types 3 and 4 often suit this gel
Many curly girls with type 3 and 4 hair report this gel delivers great hold and definition without excessive flaking or residue. It is considered Curly Girl approved, though awareness of protein and glycerin content helps tailor usage to individual hair needs.
Tips for best results and routine pairing
- Ensure your hair is well moisturized and free of tangles before applying the gel.
- Use a medium-consistency curl cream or lightweight leave-in conditioner to complement the gel’s hold.
- Refresh curls on days 2-3 with water and a small amount of gel for maintained definition.
Summary of user experiences and cautions
Testimonials highlight strong hold, frizz control, and curl definition, with occasional concerns about protein and colorants. The gel is budget-friendly and easy to use, earning praise from many natural hair enthusiasts.