Darned and glued: Hair gels tested by K-Tipp
3.10.2025
Translation: machine translated
Many hair gels still contain fragrances that can trigger allergies. This is shown by the latest test by "Kassensturz" and "K-Tipp". The test winner proves that there is another way.
When I hear hair gel, I can't help but think of this one scene from «There's something about Mary» with Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller ... If you know, you know.
The fact that I haven't used hair gel for a long time has nothing to do with this film, but rather with the length of my hair. For everyone else, «K-Tip» and «Kassensturz» have been busy styling hairstyles.
A sticky affair
The SGS Institut Fresenius in Austria tested 12 hair gels. In the practical test, five experts aged between 18 and 65 applied the products to their hair and evaluated the following criteria:
- Hold and styling effect (60 per cent)
- Handling (30 per cent)
- Skin irritation (10 per cent)
The laboratory also analysed the hair gels for 28 fragrances that can trigger allergies. Depending on the quantity found, half a grade to a whole grade was deducted.
From Saul to Paul
You won't find any sensitive ingredients in Nivea gel. With a Swiss school grade of 5.5, it earned the only «Very good» in the test. Remarkable: Just five years ago, the same product was still penalised with a «Unsatisfactory» in the «balance» test. Something has obviously changed in the meantime.
With the hair gel from Nivea, the hairstyle still looks flawless even after seven hours, according to the «K-Tipp». It is also less sticky than before and is easier to wash out.
«Styled well»
The product from got2b landed in second place with an even 5. L'Oréal Studio Line follows close behind (score 4.9). The latter missed out on a better score due to allergenic fragrances. Nevertheless, according to the experts, it is one of the «Good».
The midfield
The six «satisfactory» hair gels with scores between 4.6 and 4.3 are most likely to be found in Migros or Coop. Two of them contain allergenic substances. Of all things, they are the ones we also have in our shop. The Schwarzkopf Taft product (4.4) received a half mark, while Syoss (4.3) received a full mark.
Failed
An entire mark was deducted for three other hair gels. Because they didn't really come off well in terms of hold and styling ability either, the products from Balea (3.3) and Cien (2.7) were unsatisfactory in the final ranking «» .
With the gel from Goldwell (3.8) you can style your hair quite well. But it contains benzyl alcohol. And this substance can not only trigger allergies, but also pollute water and harm aquatic organisms, as «K-Tipp» writes.
Which gel do you use to style your hair? Write it in the comments.
Header image: SRF / Kassensturz
I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here.
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