• Hair gel comes in many colors, but its properties remain largely the same regardless of the manufacturer.deep blue 2 image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  Hair gel is a miracle product for people whose hair is frizzy, poofy or otherwise difficult to manage. Just a little applied to hair can hold a style in place for hours and add a noticeable shine. Though different companies make hair gel differently, there are common properties most hair gels share. They all contain a polymer to hold hair in place, and many companies use coloring and perfumes to distinguish their brand from the rest.
  
  

Consistency

• Hair gel is similar in consistency to gelatin in that it is thick and spreadable yet not entirely fluid. In fact, recipes for homemade hair gel often contain unflavored gelatin as the main ingredient. Yet commercial hair gels don't commonly contain gelatin. Instead, they rely on other ingredients to provide hold and preserve the hair gel indefinitely. Water makes up the bulk of the product's volume and acts as a medium for other ingredients.
  
  

Active Ingredient

• Poly N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (PVP) is a polymer commonly used in hair gel. It gives gels many of their popular characteristics, such as styling hold, stickiness and flaking on the hair. It works by coating each strand of hair with a clear film. Hairs coated with this film stick together, an occurrence known as "capillary effect". Once dry, the film may break into white flakes when hair bends. When gelled hair comes in contact with water, the capillary effect between strands becomes fluid again. Other polymers, such as polyvinyl acetate (PVA), may replace PVP as the active ingredient, changing the hair gel's capabilities under various circumstances.
  
  

Aesthetic Factors

• Even with all its active and inactive ingredients, hair gel would be virtually clear in color without added coloring. The color of dye a manufacturer chooses for its gel is more the result of branding than anything having to do with the product's function. Some manufacturers choose bright colors, like yellow, orange and blue, to market their products to young consumers. Others choose black or brown to match the hair color of their target audiences. Still other manufacturers leave their gels colorless or white for a classic appearance. The end result is always a translucent product, however. Since gel is nearly odorless on its own, it's not uncommon for manufacturers to add perfume to their recipes for a light, added scent.