People with medium-to-coarse waves, curls, or coils who want a strong hold to lock in curl definition and fight frizz. DevaCurl positions it as the higher-hold option in their gel range — for waves or curls that need "that extra oomph" — so it's not the pick for fine, thin, or looser-wave hair, where DevaCurl's own Light Defining Gel is a better match.

Also worth noting for anyone with fragrance sensitivities: this version is scented (Bright Breeze); DevaCurl sells a separate fragrance-free/hypoallergenic version of the same gel for that need.

This is DevaCurl's answer for curls that need real hold, not just light definition: the polymer blend is strong enough to lock a curl's shape while it dries, which matters for medium-to-coarse waves and coils that tend to lose their shape or frizz out before a lighter gel has even finished setting. The trade-off DevaCurl designed around is the temporary hard cast that forms while drying — it's stronger hold in exchange for that one extra scrunch-out step once hair is dry.

Rub a small amount between your palms and scrunch it into soaking-wet curls right after conditioning. Do not rinse it out. Style as usual, using a diffuser if you like. Once your hair is completely dry, shake at the root and scrunch gently to soften and break the gel's cast, revealing the finished curl definition.

• Genuine strong hold without the stiff, brittle feel some gels leave once you scrunch the cast out
• Sulfate-free, silicone-free, and paraben-free, so it's less likely to build up on curls than gels containing those ingredients
• Works into soaking-wet hair, fitting the standard wet-styling method used for curly hair

• Strong-hold formula can feel heavy or slightly sticky on fine or thin strands before the cast is scrunched out
• Requires breaking a hardened "cast" once hair is dry — an extra step compared with gels that dry soft
• It's fragranced (Bright Breeze); fragrance-sensitive users would need DevaCurl's separate fragrance-free version instead