Edge controls are styling products that lay down the baby hairs along your hairline. You can use them if you have natural hair, wear wigs and sew-ins, or are relaxed. Plus, both experts and your favorite celebs secretly rely on them because they offer such great styling versatility.
The best edge controls are inexpensive, readily available, and can give you Lori Harvey-inspired baby hairs. But how do they compare to the hair gels you probably already have in your medicine cabinet? And how can you use them without damaging your hair? To answer these questions and more, I consulted hairstylists Alicia Bailey, Courtney Foster, and Chrissy Zemura for their expert guidance.
What Is the Difference Between Edge Control and Hair Gel?
Edge controls are thicker and stickier than traditional gels because they're created with less liquid. They have a pomade-like feel to smooth your fine baby hairs without making them wet. Edge controls also dry quickly, so you’ll need to style your baby hairs faster when compared to using hair gels.
Is Edge Control Good for Your Hair?
Edge controls have many aesthetic benefits, but unfortunately, they can damage your hair if you apply them incorrectly. “Using them too much and not taking them off daily can use the hair follicles along the hairline to become clogged, and possibly cause hair loss,” notes Foster.
If you must sleep with edge control in your hair, be sure to follow Bailey's tip: Wrap your hair with a silk or satin scarf, or use a hair bonnet to protect your hair and hairline.
What Are the Best and Worst Edge Control Ingredients?
Not all edge controls are created equal, so you’ll need to research products and look out for ingredients that work with your hair type, advises Foster. Ideally, you'll find edge controls infused with moisturizing properties, while also offering great hold. Here, all three experts share their favorite and least favorite edge control ingredients.
Use nourishing ingredients: It can get confusing when you see a slew of ingredients listed on a label, so keep an eye out for easy-to-pronounce ones that you likely already know and love. A few reliable options include aloe vera and honey, plus avocado, coconut, argan, and tea tree oils.
Avoid alcohol, petroleum, and fragrances: Whether on their own or combined, all three ingredients are incredibly drying. Alcohol causes breakage, petroleum is moisture-blocking, and fragrance can irritate your scalp.
Edge Control Tips, According to Hairstylists
Apply edge control before makeup:This will stop your products from mixing together, and will prevent excessive flaking that will ruin your look, suggests Foster.
Start small:They are difficult to remove, so working with less edge control helps. If you use too much product, your hair will look greasy, shiny, and flakey, cautions Bailey.
Ready for Insta-worthy baby hairs? Keep reading for the best edge controls sold at your favorite online retailers, including Walmart, Amazon, and Ulta.
Edge controls sometimes have a bad rep of possibly damaging your hair, but Tgin’s version is infused with two hair-growing nutrients: black castor oil and biotin. Together, they help protect your strands and reduce breakage, while laying down your edges.
This top-rated edge control boasts extra hold protection, so you know it has you covered for special occasions, or on particularly humid days.
If you love when your haircare products smell like your favorite fruit, you're in luck! Kiss created edge controls that are available in six fruity scents, ranging from tangy pineapple and cherry to sweet strawberry acai and watermelon.
Despite what the colorful packaging might lead you to believe, these edge controls are clear, and so shouldn't deposit any residue on your hair.
And just like Tgin's offering, these edge controls are infused with biotin — but cost a third of the price.
Zemura’s all-time favorite edge control is Aveda’s pricey option. “Control Paste has a smooth consistency with a workable hold and matte finish,” notes Zemura.
She recommends dampening the perimeter of your hair before applying this edge control. Afterward, you can tie a silk scarf around your hairline for about 15 to 20 minutes to help prolong the style.
Like all Aveda products, Control Paste has a sweet, botanical scent, thanks to ingredients like ylang-ylang, clove, and clary sage.
Bailey is the global education manager at Design Essentials, so naturally, her edge control of choice is from the brand. “Sleek Edge Control provides a touchable hold, has an intense shine, and works on all hair types,” she says.
Foster is also a fan because it “moisturizes the hair while providing a smooth finish to the hairline.”
Although the jar is small, you only need a dime-size amount of this product to slay your edges, so it should last you a while.
With an impressive 15 fragrance options to choose from, you're bound to discover multiple scents that you adore. In fact, most aromas are inspired by gems, including Blue Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald. There's even an earthy option called Amber, which is fossilized tree resin.
Edge Booster feels silky in your hands, but has an incredibly strong hold. It's also formulated with nourishing ingredients like argan oil that can help hydrate and thicken your edges.
Foster is also a fan of KeraCare’s edge control because it has great consistency. You can apply it to your edges or along your part to tame flyaways.
Plus, it’s the sole option on this list featuring a cute Push Pop-inspired design: Just push up the base of the stick to reveal the clear product.
What’s most functional about this design is that you likely won’t have to worry about it spilling out in your bag if you travel with it to the gym or out to dinner.
Gabrielle Union and hairstylist Larry Sims co-created Flawless, an affordable natural hair care line that earned rave reviews on Amazon. Their edge control is infused with passionfruit seed and acai palm oils to rehydrate your edges, while biotin promotes hair growth.
It boasts a light and refreshing cooling sensation that relieves the itching you're dealing with. Plus, it doesn't feel crunchy on your hairline.
Nicole SaundersBeauty EditorNicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty.
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