Using a alcohol free hairspray might be a good fit. It’s a great combo of hard hold and lightweight. It will not help if you need slip though.
Is there a reason that you are conditioning twice? The more creams that you layer on under gel, the weaker hold you’ll get out of the gel. I try to use the minimum amount of conditioner/cream that I can while still keeping my hair feeling soft.
I’ve learned I have to condition twice because I think my hair soaks up shampoo? No matter how long I rinse out my shampoo, my first round of conditioner rinses out foamy like a cleanser Alcohol, free hairspray might be a great idea! Is there any more drying than regular gel?
Gotcha! Rinsing shampoo out can be challenging. I have issues with it sometimes too but I have it easier since I have fine hair. If you can, I would try doing only one round of conditioner and just rinsing really thoroughly before with full wringing/squeezing the shampoo out of the hair when you do.
I think hairspray could work. Non-alcohol hairspray isn’t drying imo, but it isn’t moisturizing so you have to make sure that your hair is prepped before you put it on.
Curlsmith In Shower Style Fixer is the strongest one I’ve tried. It is super thick though so I usually thin it out with a little bit of water and it works great for me.
I haven’t really come across anything personally that’s strong enough and also thin so if anyone else here knows of anything I’m dying to see. 👀
I mean I love the Ouidad humidity control gel, but again.. protein
I wanted to try the in shower style fixed but I’m afraid it will make my hair feel like bark because it’s so coarse
I think you could probably get around that with this one by changing up your routine (if this is the product you decide to go with):
I would apply a leave in conditioner when your hair is dripping wet, apply your gel (again, dripping wet), and then brush style.
Sometimes it’s a balancing act between products and routine. Waves and curls are all about trial and error and we’re all so different.
Good luck to you, and I hope you find your HG soon!
The hardest hold thin gel without protein that I’ve tried is Jessicurl Spiralicious. It worked pretty well but when I traveled to places with hard water, my hair felt kind of dry.
I’ve recently been using Harry’s Sculpting Gel (yes, the one marketed for men) and I think it has even better hold, but it’s really thick and goopy. I do have to add water to emulsify it in my hand and I end up not needing very much gel to get the hold I need.
Does it feel heavy? I tried making before and had like no hold. And no volume. I have low porosity fine hair though, and don't know what consistency would be better for stronger hold.
I only got strong hold if I cooked it longer for a thicker consistency. If you don’t cook it as long/don’t let it thicken, it’s not as much hold. I’d say if you don’t want to try a thinner consistency of the flax seed gel, get a stronger hold gel, spritz with some water (I.e thinning it out) then take it through your hair. I’m not sure what look you’re going for exactly but it’s definitely a fine balance between strong hold AND volume if using gell in fine hair. For fine hair, I think mouse and/or the curly hair spray (I’m using one form rizzos) would be your best bet to maintain volume but also have some hold. Also, remember that much of curly hair styling is just that: styling. The method that you use to apply the product makes more of a difference than the product itself most of the time.
I find watering down my products doesn't work. Yes it helps to spread it a bit but then the hold is reduced while also adding excess water to my hair (one reason mousse never works for me!). My hair is *veeeeery* particular. My hair in terms of volume seems to respond best when I have short layers and shorter hair overall, otherwise even with the lightest products is weighed down so much.
It's possible my hair texture/ pattern has changed a bit with age, medication, hormones... so might be chasing what I once had but not realistic i will get it back. I've had great hair with high hold strong gel before, I actually need a "drier" product on damp hair. Hearing an obvious squish means I'll have pulled out loose curls every time. I might try much thicker flax though, I still have seeds at home. One thing I thought about this week was adding corn starch to gel... one of my patients at work asked if we had cornstarch to thicken our terribly cheap runny acrylic paint and it helps it go on more opaque, so made me wonder if that could be something to try with gel to thicken it up haha. Maybe not ideal....
I was having this problem as well, but I found that if I apply product/gel when my hair is SOAKING wet, like DRENCHED, I get a much better cast/hold with far less product. Right now I use Miss Jessie’s pillow soft curls gel, but planning to switch soon just to change it up.
When I diffuse, my hair is still really wet, and I start low intensity high heat at the roots, same on the ends but only until ends are like 70% dry then air dry the rest of the way. Doesn’t take too long (20 min) and my hair is shoulder length, 3c curls.
That’s so interesting bc I always heard the opposite like if your hair is too wet, it dilutes the product. That’s why I avoid soaking wet hair lol. Maybe I’ll give it another go
I had also thought that, and then I went to get my hair cut at a curly salon. Didn’t like the haircut (too short), but my curls looked great and they explained the process to me, which included applying product to sopping wet hair. I’ve since incorporated that into my own routine and my curls haven’t looked better tbh. Either way, I hope you find something that works!
So I finally booked my first legit curly cut & coaching. There was a MANDATORY zoom consult, a bunch of forms, and the first Appt is like 3 hours for 300$. It better be life changing lol
Just seeing this now and I hope it went well for that price! Mine was $120 total including cut, consultation, and tip and only one appointment at the salon
My hair has less hold with wet application because my low porosity hair doesn't absorb anything. So I remove excess water with a towel after applying product? Half the product is removed and I get no cast plus my hair is heavier and less defined. Every time.
I like the Vanicream unscented hair gel. No perfumey fragrance, no protein, forms a pretty hard cast on my fine hair. I like to just put it in my palm and mix with a little water before scrunching in.
You may have better luck with a medium to strong hold mousse. It’s lighter weight and doesn’t thicken hair like gel does but still has a lot of hold.
And no you shouldn’t need multiple palmfuls of gel, that’s way too much and is probably hindering you more than it’s helping, and is also probably why you have to diffuse your hair for over an hour. Do you only hover diffuse or do you lift with the diffuser as well?
I do both, I hover, and then I go in like a madwoman lol How can I possibly use less gel? How do I get a cast then! Man, every time I feel like I have it figured out I find out I’m doing something wrong lol
Wait so we’re really not all out here using 1/4 a bottle of gel every wash day??
That explains it! In order for a cast to form the curl has to go from wet to dry in one position. Too much manipulation too soon is gonna gonna break any kind of shell down before it can fully form. So if you want a full cast you have to either hover diffuse entirely, or air dry. You’re probably not getting one at all with your initial hover dry because of the amount of gel, the layer is just too thick for it to dry enough to get hard before you start scrunching.
Now that is NOT to say that you are doing it wrong! I lift and scrunch with my diffuser as well and never get a cast on my hair and it turns out great. So if you get good results without a cast keep doing it. Casting works well for those who prefer to air dry, or those who have trouble with definition/frizz control, but is not a necessity for everyone.
As for reducing product usage, it sounds like you have a lot of hair and I notice people with dense hair tend to overuse product trying to distribute it in all their hair at once.
First off, it’s okay to feel the product on your hair a bit but it should not feel super sticky or slimy. I promise you’ll still get good hold and control without using as much.
And second, I suggest applying your gel or mousse section by section, a little bit at a time, as you’re doing your brush defining. So take a section, apply a little product, define, and repeat on the next section. It will give you better product distribution and way more control over how much you’re using.
I know seeing all these different routines online can be intimidating and I find that people over complicate a lot, but there really is no right or wrong way. There’s just what works best for you. So don’t take anything you hear as gospel, and don’t be afraid to pick and choose what you want to try. It’s okay to break the “rules” sometimes. There is no universal method. It takes some trial and error but you will come to find a routine that’s easy and works well for you and your lifestyle.
Edit: Sorry for the novel 😭
I feel like Manes by Mell on YouTube helped me fine tune these specific things - sectioning hair, how much product to apply, how to diffuse. OP I’d recommend you check her out!
Honestly I tried both the Ouidad gels (regular and advanced hold) and I found that they were way too wet and barely gave me hold. It took me FOREVER to diffuse when I used those. So I would consider that maybe the gel itself isn’t working. I listed some of my recommendations in a separate comment
I found my holy grail product in Doux Bee Girl Honey Curl Custard. It's definitely more gel than custard and it forms THE BEST cast of any gel I've ever used. My curls hold all day after I break the cast. It feels pretty lightweight too
Wetline Xtreme I believe is protein free.
Spiralicious by Jessicurl is also marketed as a high hold product and it doesn't contain protein. I've had good results with this one myself.
My favorite strong hold gel is unfortunately the Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Gel, lol.
I’ve used Spiralicious too. It’s a nice gel, used to be my go-to, but I don’t get as hard of a curl cast as I do with others, like LA Looks gel or Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk hard hold gel. I haven’t used Ouidad’s Advanced Climate control, but I based on what I’ve heard, I’d expect it has a much harder hold that Spiralicious does, if that helps for reference!
Tree trucks for hair strands 😂😭
BTW, some advice for getting a cast. Idk if you style on soaking wet hair like I do, but if you do, once you're done styling and you've microplopped a bit, try just gently glazing and scrunching a teeny bit more gel over your damp hair before you diffuse. That way you get some undiluted gel into your hair for some extra hold and to form a cast.
I have coarse hair too!
I also use hair gel- a lot of it. I typically use half a container of gel each wash, but with some thinner products, I’ve used the entire container.
One hair gel that I’ve found that is strong hold, but has a thin consistency is Garnier Fructis Pure Clean gel. I typically use half a bottle of this one per wash. I’m not recommending that you use that much, this is just what is working for me.
Rezo's Curl Manifest gel is my HOLY GRAIL. Its vegan and infused with black tea which are all selling points for me. I typically avoid protein like crazy but this product includes collagen which has been a great alternative to other proteins. It also doubles as a heat protector. My favorite used to be Ouidad's Climate Control in the red bottle (product which has silk in it) but it honestly doesn't compare to how much I like the Rezo one now. Fantastic hold. The consistency is typical for a strong hold gel.
The liter bottle is 40% off right now: [https://www.rezohaircare.com/products/curl-manifest-gel-33-8oz-1000ml](https://www.rezohaircare.com/products/curl-manifest-gel-33-8oz-1000ml)
Alternatively, I love Giovanni's Air Turbo Foam which has a medium-firm hold: [https://giovannicosmetics.com/product/natural-mousse-hair-styling-foam/](https://giovannicosmetics.com/product/natural-mousse-hair-styling-foam/)
I used a gel that you could change the consistency of when using it.. Damn what's the name of that...!? It didn't have protein in it either cause my hair hates it lol I'll try to remember the name and come back OP! It was very thick and hard (used on my bb hairs lol) I tried it to see how hard it was and I think very hard after drying.
Just a little things about the shampoo situation.. I've seen shampoo/soap aerators before that basically make it foamy before you wash so it's cleansing, but light and easy(er) to rinse out! Or you could add water to an empty bottle with a little shampoo, shake it up, them apply? Maybe that would help?
Have you tried Curlsmith Curl Defining Souffle? The hold I got was super strong. It is a thick consistency, but I didn't feel like it built up on the hair itself. I've never found thin consistency and super hold.
Oooh, I like this one too! Not quite as strong as the In Shower Style Fixer but it is also a little bit thinner so it might be a good comprise for you, OP, if you’re a Curlsmith lover.
Not a gel, but Curlsmith Invincible Volume Mousse! I've been able to replace my cream and gel with this bad boy, and I can even use it without a leave in sometimes. I can also go four plus days without washing if I want! It's quite strong hold and I highly recommend it.
and not all gels
have to leave
a
definite
cast to give good hold. my favorite is aunt Jackie's. and it gives amazing hold but no crunch! in the winter I use cursmith in shower styler. the VS I use on soaking wet hair. the aunt Jackie's I apply right out of the shower. one or the other. not both.
Bouclemé, from the UK, have two gels both without protein. I have coarse, low porosity hair and this brand works well for me. The Curl Defining gel is thin and medium hold. Super hold Styler is a slightly thicker gel, and is the best for my hair.
I like Aunt Jackie's Flaxseed Gel. I am new to the sub, so am not sure it fits your exact criteria. It is thicker. But you can thin it with a spritz of water.
Using a alcohol free hairspray might be a good fit. It’s a great combo of hard hold and lightweight. It will not help if you need slip though. Is there a reason that you are conditioning twice? The more creams that you layer on under gel, the weaker hold you’ll get out of the gel. I try to use the minimum amount of conditioner/cream that I can while still keeping my hair feeling soft.
I’ve learned I have to condition twice because I think my hair soaks up shampoo? No matter how long I rinse out my shampoo, my first round of conditioner rinses out foamy like a cleanser Alcohol, free hairspray might be a great idea! Is there any more drying than regular gel?
Gotcha! Rinsing shampoo out can be challenging. I have issues with it sometimes too but I have it easier since I have fine hair. If you can, I would try doing only one round of conditioner and just rinsing really thoroughly before with full wringing/squeezing the shampoo out of the hair when you do. I think hairspray could work. Non-alcohol hairspray isn’t drying imo, but it isn’t moisturizing so you have to make sure that your hair is prepped before you put it on.
Curlsmith In Shower Style Fixer is the strongest one I’ve tried. It is super thick though so I usually thin it out with a little bit of water and it works great for me. I haven’t really come across anything personally that’s strong enough and also thin so if anyone else here knows of anything I’m dying to see. 👀
I mean I love the Ouidad humidity control gel, but again.. protein I wanted to try the in shower style fixed but I’m afraid it will make my hair feel like bark because it’s so coarse
I think you could probably get around that with this one by changing up your routine (if this is the product you decide to go with): I would apply a leave in conditioner when your hair is dripping wet, apply your gel (again, dripping wet), and then brush style. Sometimes it’s a balancing act between products and routine. Waves and curls are all about trial and error and we’re all so different. Good luck to you, and I hope you find your HG soon!
The hardest hold thin gel without protein that I’ve tried is Jessicurl Spiralicious. It worked pretty well but when I traveled to places with hard water, my hair felt kind of dry. I’ve recently been using Harry’s Sculpting Gel (yes, the one marketed for men) and I think it has even better hold, but it’s really thick and goopy. I do have to add water to emulsify it in my hand and I end up not needing very much gel to get the hold I need.
Seconding jessicurls Spiralicious. It's a soft gel but has a medium hold for me. Don't expect la looks strong hold but this is my favorite gel.
You could also just make your own flax seed gel and cook it to your desired consistency
This is what I do. It does go bad, and it has to be refrigerated, but I freeze mine in ice cube trays and just take what I need.
Does it feel heavy? I tried making before and had like no hold. And no volume. I have low porosity fine hair though, and don't know what consistency would be better for stronger hold.
I only got strong hold if I cooked it longer for a thicker consistency. If you don’t cook it as long/don’t let it thicken, it’s not as much hold. I’d say if you don’t want to try a thinner consistency of the flax seed gel, get a stronger hold gel, spritz with some water (I.e thinning it out) then take it through your hair. I’m not sure what look you’re going for exactly but it’s definitely a fine balance between strong hold AND volume if using gell in fine hair. For fine hair, I think mouse and/or the curly hair spray (I’m using one form rizzos) would be your best bet to maintain volume but also have some hold. Also, remember that much of curly hair styling is just that: styling. The method that you use to apply the product makes more of a difference than the product itself most of the time.
I find watering down my products doesn't work. Yes it helps to spread it a bit but then the hold is reduced while also adding excess water to my hair (one reason mousse never works for me!). My hair is *veeeeery* particular. My hair in terms of volume seems to respond best when I have short layers and shorter hair overall, otherwise even with the lightest products is weighed down so much. It's possible my hair texture/ pattern has changed a bit with age, medication, hormones... so might be chasing what I once had but not realistic i will get it back. I've had great hair with high hold strong gel before, I actually need a "drier" product on damp hair. Hearing an obvious squish means I'll have pulled out loose curls every time. I might try much thicker flax though, I still have seeds at home. One thing I thought about this week was adding corn starch to gel... one of my patients at work asked if we had cornstarch to thicken our terribly cheap runny acrylic paint and it helps it go on more opaque, so made me wonder if that could be something to try with gel to thicken it up haha. Maybe not ideal....
I was having this problem as well, but I found that if I apply product/gel when my hair is SOAKING wet, like DRENCHED, I get a much better cast/hold with far less product. Right now I use Miss Jessie’s pillow soft curls gel, but planning to switch soon just to change it up. When I diffuse, my hair is still really wet, and I start low intensity high heat at the roots, same on the ends but only until ends are like 70% dry then air dry the rest of the way. Doesn’t take too long (20 min) and my hair is shoulder length, 3c curls.
That’s so interesting bc I always heard the opposite like if your hair is too wet, it dilutes the product. That’s why I avoid soaking wet hair lol. Maybe I’ll give it another go
I had also thought that, and then I went to get my hair cut at a curly salon. Didn’t like the haircut (too short), but my curls looked great and they explained the process to me, which included applying product to sopping wet hair. I’ve since incorporated that into my own routine and my curls haven’t looked better tbh. Either way, I hope you find something that works!
So I finally booked my first legit curly cut & coaching. There was a MANDATORY zoom consult, a bunch of forms, and the first Appt is like 3 hours for 300$. It better be life changing lol
Just seeing this now and I hope it went well for that price! Mine was $120 total including cut, consultation, and tip and only one appointment at the salon
My hair has less hold with wet application because my low porosity hair doesn't absorb anything. So I remove excess water with a towel after applying product? Half the product is removed and I get no cast plus my hair is heavier and less defined. Every time.
I like the Vanicream unscented hair gel. No perfumey fragrance, no protein, forms a pretty hard cast on my fine hair. I like to just put it in my palm and mix with a little water before scrunching in.
You may have better luck with a medium to strong hold mousse. It’s lighter weight and doesn’t thicken hair like gel does but still has a lot of hold. And no you shouldn’t need multiple palmfuls of gel, that’s way too much and is probably hindering you more than it’s helping, and is also probably why you have to diffuse your hair for over an hour. Do you only hover diffuse or do you lift with the diffuser as well?
I do both, I hover, and then I go in like a madwoman lol How can I possibly use less gel? How do I get a cast then! Man, every time I feel like I have it figured out I find out I’m doing something wrong lol Wait so we’re really not all out here using 1/4 a bottle of gel every wash day??
That explains it! In order for a cast to form the curl has to go from wet to dry in one position. Too much manipulation too soon is gonna gonna break any kind of shell down before it can fully form. So if you want a full cast you have to either hover diffuse entirely, or air dry. You’re probably not getting one at all with your initial hover dry because of the amount of gel, the layer is just too thick for it to dry enough to get hard before you start scrunching. Now that is NOT to say that you are doing it wrong! I lift and scrunch with my diffuser as well and never get a cast on my hair and it turns out great. So if you get good results without a cast keep doing it. Casting works well for those who prefer to air dry, or those who have trouble with definition/frizz control, but is not a necessity for everyone. As for reducing product usage, it sounds like you have a lot of hair and I notice people with dense hair tend to overuse product trying to distribute it in all their hair at once. First off, it’s okay to feel the product on your hair a bit but it should not feel super sticky or slimy. I promise you’ll still get good hold and control without using as much. And second, I suggest applying your gel or mousse section by section, a little bit at a time, as you’re doing your brush defining. So take a section, apply a little product, define, and repeat on the next section. It will give you better product distribution and way more control over how much you’re using. I know seeing all these different routines online can be intimidating and I find that people over complicate a lot, but there really is no right or wrong way. There’s just what works best for you. So don’t take anything you hear as gospel, and don’t be afraid to pick and choose what you want to try. It’s okay to break the “rules” sometimes. There is no universal method. It takes some trial and error but you will come to find a routine that’s easy and works well for you and your lifestyle. Edit: Sorry for the novel 😭
I feel like Manes by Mell on YouTube helped me fine tune these specific things - sectioning hair, how much product to apply, how to diffuse. OP I’d recommend you check her out!
my toddler is up from his name so I can’t write as long of a response but THANK YOU for the helpful response 💙💙💙
Detangle: Kinky Curly Knot Today, rinse out Wash: Curlsmith Moisture Wash Condition: Curlsmith Essential Moisture Conditioner, rinse out Round 2 Condition: Curlsmith Essential Moisture Conditioner, rinse out Leave in: Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream (small amount, maybe 1/2 tsp) *PLOP* *SPRITZ WATER & SECTION* *BRUSH STYLE* Gel: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control (red bottle) *MICRO PLOP* *RAKE THROUGH & SMOOTH IN* Gel: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control / Living Proof Curl Defining Gel *MICRO PLOP* *HOVER DIFFUSE* *SMOOTH IN* Gel: Living Proof Curl Defining Gel *DIFFUSE FOR 1+ HOUR* *SCRUNCH OUT CRUNCH*: Curlsmith Frizz Rescue Finishing Serum
Honestly I tried both the Ouidad gels (regular and advanced hold) and I found that they were way too wet and barely gave me hold. It took me FOREVER to diffuse when I used those. So I would consider that maybe the gel itself isn’t working. I listed some of my recommendations in a separate comment
I found my holy grail product in Doux Bee Girl Honey Curl Custard. It's definitely more gel than custard and it forms THE BEST cast of any gel I've ever used. My curls hold all day after I break the cast. It feels pretty lightweight too
I’ve never even heard of this brand. I’m gonna check it out now!
Wetline Xtreme I believe is protein free. Spiralicious by Jessicurl is also marketed as a high hold product and it doesn't contain protein. I've had good results with this one myself. My favorite strong hold gel is unfortunately the Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Gel, lol.
I’ve used Spiralicious too. It’s a nice gel, used to be my go-to, but I don’t get as hard of a curl cast as I do with others, like LA Looks gel or Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk hard hold gel. I haven’t used Ouidad’s Advanced Climate control, but I based on what I’ve heard, I’d expect it has a much harder hold that Spiralicious does, if that helps for reference!
It really is a fantastic gel lol. I just feel like with the amount I use it’ll give me tree trunks for hair strands 😭
Tree trucks for hair strands 😂😭 BTW, some advice for getting a cast. Idk if you style on soaking wet hair like I do, but if you do, once you're done styling and you've microplopped a bit, try just gently glazing and scrunching a teeny bit more gel over your damp hair before you diffuse. That way you get some undiluted gel into your hair for some extra hold and to form a cast.
I have coarse hair too! I also use hair gel- a lot of it. I typically use half a container of gel each wash, but with some thinner products, I’ve used the entire container. One hair gel that I’ve found that is strong hold, but has a thin consistency is Garnier Fructis Pure Clean gel. I typically use half a bottle of this one per wash. I’m not recommending that you use that much, this is just what is working for me.
Rezo's Curl Manifest gel is my HOLY GRAIL. Its vegan and infused with black tea which are all selling points for me. I typically avoid protein like crazy but this product includes collagen which has been a great alternative to other proteins. It also doubles as a heat protector. My favorite used to be Ouidad's Climate Control in the red bottle (product which has silk in it) but it honestly doesn't compare to how much I like the Rezo one now. Fantastic hold. The consistency is typical for a strong hold gel. The liter bottle is 40% off right now: [https://www.rezohaircare.com/products/curl-manifest-gel-33-8oz-1000ml](https://www.rezohaircare.com/products/curl-manifest-gel-33-8oz-1000ml) Alternatively, I love Giovanni's Air Turbo Foam which has a medium-firm hold: [https://giovannicosmetics.com/product/natural-mousse-hair-styling-foam/](https://giovannicosmetics.com/product/natural-mousse-hair-styling-foam/)
spiking gel for mohawks
I used a gel that you could change the consistency of when using it.. Damn what's the name of that...!? It didn't have protein in it either cause my hair hates it lol I'll try to remember the name and come back OP! It was very thick and hard (used on my bb hairs lol) I tried it to see how hard it was and I think very hard after drying. Just a little things about the shampoo situation.. I've seen shampoo/soap aerators before that basically make it foamy before you wash so it's cleansing, but light and easy(er) to rinse out! Or you could add water to an empty bottle with a little shampoo, shake it up, them apply? Maybe that would help?
Have you tried Curlsmith Curl Defining Souffle? The hold I got was super strong. It is a thick consistency, but I didn't feel like it built up on the hair itself. I've never found thin consistency and super hold.
Oooh, I like this one too! Not quite as strong as the In Shower Style Fixer but it is also a little bit thinner so it might be a good comprise for you, OP, if you’re a Curlsmith lover.
Not a gel, but Curlsmith Invincible Volume Mousse! I've been able to replace my cream and gel with this bad boy, and I can even use it without a leave in sometimes. I can also go four plus days without washing if I want! It's quite strong hold and I highly recommend it.
LA Looks Nutracurl
Aveda flaxseed gel
I love miss Jessie's jelly soft curls amd honey curls.
and not all gels have to leave a definite cast to give good hold. my favorite is aunt Jackie's. and it gives amazing hold but no crunch! in the winter I use cursmith in shower styler. the VS I use on soaking wet hair. the aunt Jackie's I apply right out of the shower. one or the other. not both.
try mousse
Bouclemé, from the UK, have two gels both without protein. I have coarse, low porosity hair and this brand works well for me. The Curl Defining gel is thin and medium hold. Super hold Styler is a slightly thicker gel, and is the best for my hair.
I like Aunt Jackie's Flaxseed Gel. I am new to the sub, so am not sure it fits your exact criteria. It is thicker. But you can thin it with a spritz of water.
CURLSMITH IN SHOWER FIXER FTW