16 Best Edge Control Products to Ensure Your Baby Hairs Stay in Place

Whether you’re styling hair into a low bun, high ponytail, or braids, there’s one thing you must do to pull the entire hairstyle together—style those baby hairs! That’s where the best edge control products come into play. To create those artsy swoops, swirls, and slick-looking wisps, you’ll need to use the right edge control tools to get a natural finish.

“Edge control’s goal is to smooth and slick down the strands along your hairline. As well as control flyaways,” says celebrity hairstylist and African Pride ambassador Arrogant Tae, whose clients include Nicki Minaj. While it may seem similar to a hair gel, it’s important to note that edge control is not typically used in the same way as a gel. “The biggest difference between edge control and a styling gel is that it has a lot less liquid,” Tae explains. Since edge control is designed for slicking down the hair, its texture is often thicker and stickier, which allows it to secure the strands into place.

“I love that edge control allows you to find time and add details to your hairstyles,” says Ashley Lee, Bronx-based natural hair stylist and texture expert in New York City. “It can give a hairstyle flair or make it look extra slick and clean. I enjoy the variety it gives and how it can be used differently from client to client.”

Ahead, find the best edge control products that will keep your locks looking sleek and neat, according to stylists. And don’t forget to grab a fine-toothed comb or edge brush, to lay every strand into place.