melting gel

071249119341 I have two words for you my friend: melting gel. Despite the name, it is not, I assure you, intended for bedroom use. L’Oreal, you cheap bastards, discontinued my favorite anti-frizz gel a while back. But you’ve made it back into my good graces with your latest light headed "non-hardening" gel… Strong Hold Without Stiffness. You define and separate my curls without leaving me in flakes and crunch (ooh, now I want a sushi tempura roll). I’m just payin’ it forward to all my curl girl friends because when a cheap but effective hair product is discovered, it’s no time for hushed secrets. Now, my glossy locks and I are off to pack for Napa and SF.

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COMMENTS:

  1. Oh man, I remember when I lived to find the right product like that. Now I just straighten, which takes time but ends up being easier

    Have a great trip!

    1. You are right, the other gels are too hard and firm. I am crushed that they discontinued the melting gel. There is not a L’oreal product to replace it with. Searching elsewhere. – Scott M, in Florida.

      1. The L’Oreal Invisi Gel is the closest to the L’Oreal Melting Gel. The melting gel was my all time favorite and I still have about 6 tubes of the melting gel that I only use when I’m going out. For work and everyday use, I’ve been using the Invisi-gel. The invisi-gel has very mild stiffness, but to me it is closer to what I get from the melting gel. Try it and if you like it, do like me and stock up because L’Oreal is likely to discontinue this one any day (I hope not).

        1. I found that Garnier Fructis Anti-Humidity Smoothing milk is a good replacement. I found it by looking at the ingredient list and found this includes the key ingredient PEG/PPG – 17/18 Dimethicone which is the 2nd ingredient listed on the original melting gel. It is a milky color and is designed to smooth your hair and doesn’t have the stiffness of other gels. When I finish my vintage stash of melting gel which currently costs about $90 each on ebay, I’ll be using this product.

  2. The evil L'Oreal also discontinued my fave product when they bought Kiehl's. And had sworn they would not do such a thing!

    They must be stopped – but, first, I think I'll try the gel.

  3. Merci. I've been using Aveda's Go Curly for years now but I think Manhattan is being especially humid this summer. Will check it out.

  4. Good find. I'd been using their "aqua-gel", then they changed all their packaging and it took me a while to realize they hadn't discontinued the gel, just changed the name. I like it, it's not crunchy, but it doesn't have much staying power. By the end of the day my curls look like I just ran a brush through them. I'll have to give this a shot.

  5. …it's called "liqui-gel" instead of "aqua-gel" now. It's a thinner consistency than most gels – reminded me of the product you used to talk about on here.

  6. Ahh, that anti frizz gel was such a love of mine…as was Aussie Curing Muddy. Both discontinued, the bastards.

  7. Does it put back all the moisture that the Austin sky sucks from your hair? If so, I must try it. Please tell the San Francisco fog that I miss it so.

  8. Another cheap, awesome gel for curly girls is LA Looks, the yellow one. I stress the yellow one because all of the other colors get flakey. I believe its #8?

    I tried Melting Gel by accident and loved it as well.

    Good call and have a great trip!

  9. Thanks for the tip! I'm used to throwing my ringlets into a banana clip but someone told me they've been out of style for a while now. *sigh* I just parted ways with my scrunchie….

  10. As one who has recently decided to embrace the curls rather than forcing them straight, I've got to reccommend "Smooth Infusion" by Aveda. It's one of the best frizz-stopper, humidity-blocking products out there. A bit pricey, but worth every penny! Also – helps stop my hair from curling up again in humidity when I do straighten it. I'm a believer!

  11. Thanks for the info. Have you ever tried L'Oreal Springing Curls (mousse)? I've been using it for years… love it. Also Biolage mousse, bumble & bumble curl conscious creme, KMS, etc, etc, etc… anything that promises 'silky, bouncy curls' in the product name. This curly head just got 11 inches of hair cut off, donated it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. WOW… surprisingly, I don't miss it. Well, not that much anyway, I actually like my curls better now. Now I'll have to go add your recommendation to my curly-hair stash.

  12. Have you ever tried the Frederic Fekkai Luscious Curls products? The styling lotion is really nice…great hold but soft curls at the same time. Again, expensive but worth it for a nice head of curly locks. Have a great time in CA…here's hoping you'll take lots of pictures to post.

  13. That L'Oreal anti-friz gel was your favorite, too? I am mostly still raging pissed about it. Thanks for the recommendation. The closest I've come to that discontinued L'Oreal gel (have erased the name from my brain during the grieving process) is Herbal Essences Totally Twisted. But it is really too crunchy and wet.

  14. I've always been on the lookout for curly hair stuff….always spend too much money…so i decided to try the Hairapy products cuz they're cheap and I was pleasantly surprised.
    They have a curl cream in a see-through bottle that has two twirling products inside. also leaves hair soft and best of all no alcohol. I don't use gel anymore because it damages hair, unless maybe this gel has no alcohol.

  15. Thank you for posting this info. I have yet to find something for my curls that actually works. I have tried Aveda and now i'm using Redkin..which isn't all that bad but it's not the best. I'll definitely go out and try this. I'm sick of straightening my hair.

  16. Good stuff! And a shout-out to the wavy-haired girls–I had been using Jonathon Product Dirt for a couple years. I stopped getting an employee discount on it and I thought…what can I get for not as much money? I ripped through Sephora, drug stores, and friends medicine cabinets and finally found my new love – Garnier's Surf Hair. It's the first texturing paste that doesn't make my hair sticky in a Something About Mary way if I use too much. http://www.americarx.com/Products/8396.html?source=googleps
    Also the SunSilk waves of envy and captivating curls sprays and cremes are pretty sweet.

  17. I use mousse in a purple bottle, Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse. I have long curly hair and it's the bombdiggity! I don't like the weight and crunch from using gel so I use mousse on the recommendation of my hair stylist.

  18. I love Paul Mitchell mousse. It's not crunchy, smells great and is great for curls!

  19. Does it seem, to anyone else, that every few months you have to change the product you're using. For a while I was using Redken Curl Creme and that stopped working, then I was using Aveda phomillent and loved that at first then my hair turned to straw. Then I was using fruictis etc…Why can't one product just work forever?

  20. I tried this stuff yesterday and love love love it! My hair looked even better when i woke up today lol. I have never used anything like this. Thanks so much Steph! You just saved my hair.

  21. And now in 2019, they have discontinued the Melting Gel….Arrgggg

  22. Any decent substitutes for Melting Gel out there? I’m searching and desperate! (For gel.)

  23. Anyone have a recommendation for a good substitute for the now discontinued melting gel?? I think I have been using it for about ten years and I am down to my last two bottles that I purchased from amazon. I have tried so many different things over the past couple years as it got harder and harder to find. Nothing else compares! I mix the melting gel with water in my hands and it provides just the right amount of non-sticky, flexible, shiny hold and tames the frizz. I have even tried Paul Mitchell products and I’m still seriously mourning my melting gel… help!

  24. I still miss this gel. Have you found another? The one you referenced seem like it is also no longer available.

  25. I miss melting gel so much! After so much wasted money, the closest thing that comes to it for me is Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lavender Mint defining gel. It’s not heavy or sticky and doesn’t leave my curly hair crunchy. Often on sale at Ulta. Has anyone else found a good replacement?

  26. Melting Gel is the best thing I have ever put on my hair.. when I found out they discontinued it I actually cried.. Please LoReal bring it back!!! Explain to me as well why you discontinued it!!

  27. Hi everyone, I am so happy to have found this blog! I too am super bummed about L’Oreal discontinuing the Melting Gel. Are they stupid? They supposedly replaced it with their Clean Gel, which I tried, and is anything but clean…it’s super sticky and leaves an awful residue. I found one gel that is pretty good, mind you, not a close 2nd to the Melting Gel, but in the ballpark…Marc Anthony’s Strictly Curls, Curl Defining Lotion in the super bright yellow tube. It’s called a lotion but it has a similar consistency to the Melting Gel. You can find it in Target. But I am still looking for a product more similar to the Melting Gel. Anyone find anything else? Maybe we should start a petition to bring Melting Gel back. Your thoughts?

    Norma

    1. Author

      I am STILL on the hunt. Ouidad is too expensive. I have to spend $75 for the big size, and that’s crazy to me. I’ve tried Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curl Activator, and it’s fine, but it can get your scalp sticky. Sigh. Why is this so hard, my friends?

  28. I HAVE THE ANSWER!

    I LOVED L’Oreal’s melting gel and have been on a journey to find a replacement and I think I finally found the answer! It’s called “Ever Pure” Weightless Blow Dry Primer. It’s in a purple tube and it’s a creme instead of a gel but I feel like it has the same effect as the melting gel. It removes the frizz, you don’t feel it when your hair is dry, and it’s a heat protectant. My hair feels so nice and smooth but not gunky. I’d love for others to try it and let me know what you think!

      1. I tried the “Ever Pure” Weightless Blow Dry Primer. I still have 2 of the Loreal Melting Gel to compare it to.
        First, it does not have the same hold. The feel and texture of the hair is similar to what I get with Melting Gel but it does not have the same hold.
        It gives a slightly thinner hair look which I dont like. Finally the smell is too strong.
        The search continues …………………

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