my hair that has a tight curl pattern..when my hair was permed..i was able to slap gel on the sides, put a silk scarf on it, and wake up with an "up do"..

now that i have let the perm grow out (and break off)..it seems that my once "manageable" hair is no longer "manageable"..when i want my sides to lay down..i put the gel on...and my hair just laughs at it..i liked the gel called amino pro because didn't make the hair stiff and "more likely to break off"...

any gel that i use on my hair just kind of sits on the hair without doing anything..it's even worse when i decide to wear extensions and have my hair "out" for bangs..it's like two different type textures of hair..when the beautician put a gel on my hair to "blend" in with the weave, it didn't anything but make my hair look gloppy..

If you want your sides to lay down...you should put the gel on your edges then tie that area with a scarf to make it lay flat. 

I'm not exactly sure what you are going for? Your hair is not going to do what it did when relaxed.

femmemuscle wrote: my hair that has a tight curl pattern..when my hair was permed..i was able to slap gel on the sides, put a silk scarf on it, and wake up with an "up do".. now that i have let the perm grow out (and break off)..it seems that my once "manageable" hair is no longer "manageable"..when i want my sides to lay down..i put the gel on...and my hair just laughs at it..i liked the gel called amino pro because didn't make the hair stiff and "more likely to break off"... any gel that i use on my hair just kind of sits on the hair without doing anything..it's even worse when i decide to wear extensions and have my hair "out" for bangs..it's like two different type textures of hair..when the beautician put a gel on my hair to "blend" in with the weave, it didn't anything but make my hair look gloppy..

Any gel that doesnt contain alcohol should be able to tame your edges down along w/ a scarf. I think that once you find the right products that work for your hair, it will become much more easier to manage your hair, even with the two textures.

You can try Fruit Of the Earth Aloe Vera...it is multipurpose (shaving, hair gel/moisturizer).  You will not find it in the hair isle...you would have to go to the isle with suntan lotions because it is also used to help heal sun burns.

There are 2 sizes...here is apicture of the larger bottle  http://www.roshini.net/prodtool/prod_FOTEAloe.html - http://www.roshini.net/prodtool/prod_FOTEAloe.html

thanks ladies..i went out and bought a satin scarf, and i can see the difference..and you're right, my hair is not going to behave the way it did when i had the perm on it..

and it's certainly growing a lot thicker without the perm as well..