Are All Edge Controls Created Equal? – Everything You Need To Know

How slick is too slick?

There are products designed to smooth out your edges and add a little shine. These work for those searching for minimal hold or to tame pesky fly aways.

Next in line are the set of products that claim to completely straighten out your edges and keep them straightened out all day. Many naturals turn to this kind of edge control because if you’re looking for long term hold, it’s usually because you have hair that isn’t likely to stay smooth all day without help. Curly hair tends to want to return to its curly state, even after it’s been styled.

Last, but not least, you have the bad boys of the bunch. This final set of edge control products will lay your edges smooth, give you shine and keep your edges laid all day, night and the next day too.

Holding products that work in this manner are not always best for your hair, but for those with especially hard to manage edges, this is exactly what they’re looking for in a product. Another consumer likely to reach for this kind of edge control, are those who are prepping their hair for an event or performance, and they need the intensity of an extremely hard hold.

Who does what?

When sifting through the different offerings at the beauty supply store, make the ingredients lists your friends. That is where you’re going to get your most accurate clues to how a particular product will perform. There will still have to be some trial and error on your part, but what the product is made up is an excellent starting point.

Let’s keep with the three tier system. The first tier of products is light hold. If this is your thing, look for ingredients like flaxseed and oils*. Pastes and pomades tend to fall into this category.

Next up are mid range holds. Edge controls that give you a solid hold that will last multiple hours. Ingredients like water and glycol are common in these types of products. They have staying power but are water soluble so they do wear off or are easily washed out of the hair without causing dryness.

The bad boys of the group are usually in the form of gels. These will take you through a tsunami and keep your edges in tact. Things like alcohol are common in super long lasting and hard hold edge controls. They will also usually have some notation on the packaging that they’re strong hold. Look for numbering systems printed on the containers to help you decide when purchasing.