Today is all about The Mane Choice Crystal Orchid (sometimes called “The Alpha) Bioten Infused Styling Gel.
I’ve been making it a point to try out and review new products and this gel is next up!
If you’ve made a suggestion in the comments about a product you’d like to see reviewed, please know that if I responded to you, I’ve added your suggestion to my list and am working to get my hands on the product and test it properly. I can’t promise when a product will make an appearance, but know I’m doing my best to get to it as soon as I can.
If you made a suggestion and I didn’t respond to you, it means I missed your comment. Please feel free to you leave another one!
Now, let’s dig into the Mane Choice Crystal Orchid Gel!
Keep in mind, I can only speak from my experience with my 3a/3b hair. My hope is that this review will be a good guide for all the curly girls out there, but your results may be very different from mine.
Side note: This page does contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase something using the product links on this page, I may get a small commission. This comes at no extra cost to you and helps keep this site running. Thank you!
Also, I follow the simplified version of the Curly Girl Method most directly derived from the Curly Girl Handbook. This means the only ingredients I look to avoid are sulfates, silicones, and drying alcohols. If you have more ingredients that you look to avoid, it would be a good idea to check the ingredients for yourself before making a purchase.
The pros
The smell
You know scent is a big deal for me. If it’s bad or too strong, I don’t care how great the gel is. Luckily, this gel is light, refreshing, and fades as the product dries.
The hold
I was pretty surprised by how well this gel performed. The packaging doesn’t specify the level of hold of this gel. However to me, it seemed to be a hard hold gel. I thought it was a step up from a medium or even a medium-hard, but not as strong as an extreme hold or extra hard hold.
I found that this gel created a very nice cast that broke up pretty easily. My curls looked great for days! I tend not to have a lot of success with harder hold gels. So, I was pretty impressed with how easily the gel cast broke up.
I was also impressed by how flexible, yet long-lasting the hold was. Typically, once my hair dries, my part is locked in. But with this gel, I was actually able to flip my part and have it look decent.
Moisture and Definition
This product boasts that it both moisturizes and defines curls and I found this to be very true. My curls had great definition for days and I found I could use less product and leave-in conditioner with this gel.
In fact, I cut my styling cream out completely and I’m contemplating cutting my leave-in conditioner to see what happens.
Granted, this could be that my hair is simply evolving and needing less product. If this proves to be true, I’ll come back and update this post.
Refresh-ability
My hair refreshed great with this gel! Similar to the previous point, I found that it did better with a lighter leave-in conditioner or at least with a bit of a lighter touch with a heavier leave-in. (ICYM my refresh post, I refresh with leave-in conditioner only.) But my hair was defined and frizz-free 3-4 days.
The cons
Potentially the price
You guys know I like to try to keep my products under $15 (unless there’s a product that’s really good and earns a higher price tag).
I paid $12 for this product, which falls under the $15 mark and I would absolutely pay again. However, I’ve seen it go for around $20. Personally, I liked this product enough to consider paying that price–especially considering I only wash 1-2 times a week.
But I absolutely would not be paying over $15 if I washed more frequently and would be going through the product more quickly. So, if you’re earlier in the curly girl method and/or would just rather care for your hair on a budget, shop around to make sure you’re getting the best price.
Potential for flakes
I’ve seen a lot of review on store websites for this product that talk about the product flaking.
Personally, I did have a few flakes, but I found this to be a sign that I was using either too much of the gel or too much product under the gel.
I think that’s because this product has moisturizing ingredients. I found when I cut my curl cream out and reduced the amount of gel I was using, the flakes went away.
This is just my personal experience, but it may be something to keep in mind
The bottom line
I actually really love this gel! If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know my favorite gel so far has been Biotera Styling Gel. There have been other gels that I’ve liked, but none that have ever given Biotera a run for its money. This gel does.
I will absolutely use this gel on a regular basis!
You can get it on Amazon here.
Looking for more guidance on your curly hair journey?
For beginners
If you’re new to curly hair care and looking for some help, you should check out the No-Stress Guide to Curly Hair Care!
After spending two years learning and caring for my curly hair, I wanted to create my own, in-depth guide to help fellow curlies create incredible curls in the easiest way possible.
It took me a while, but I eventually found an approach that helped me create a curly hair routine that fits into my life in the simplest way possible. And now I want to help you do the same!
For more intermediate/advanced guidance
If you’ve been on your curly hair journey for a while but still have some struggles, check out Curly Hair Problems!
After spending hours scouring the internet looking for solutions to my own curly hair problems, I found myself wishing for an easier, more comprehensive guide to the most common problems.
So that’s what I created!
Curly Hair Problems offers you 78 total solutions to the five most common curly hair care problems, including frizz, curl clumps, limp curls, product issues, and scalp issues.
Sound off: Have you tried The Mane Choice Crystal Orchid Biotin Infused Styling Gel? Tell us about your experience! Be sure to tell us a little about your hair type too!
Hi, thank you so much for the review. I might be worth while to mention The Mane Choice has recently been reformulating this gel drastically. It used to be a glycerin-free gel with Biotin as a second ingredient and they have reformulated it to a gel with glycerin in position 2 on the inci. As brands never recall products from the shops when they reformulate there are still different versions sold online. Personally I fail to get most brands obsession with glycerine (I live in a humid climate) but next to water it is one of the cheaper ingredients for manufacturers 🙂 The Mane Choice (I tried a bunch of their products) dried out my hair to the point of damage. Except for the Ancient Egyptian Line, they all lack oils and most of their products are very heavy on the glycerine. For reference: wavy, hp, 2-a-b, thin strands, medium density, dry hair. Most of the MC soy-line is glycerin free (not all) but that line (for me) also lacks oils. It’s lightweight though it might suit other curlies just fine and it smells delicious. Personally I might still try the MC Ancient Egyptian gel. My favorite (glycerin-free) gel thus far is the Botanical Gelle from Curls: a product that sails under the radar but is a hidden gem imho.
Hey, thanks so much for sharing your experience and your favorite gel! I may have to try it out! 🙂
Hey Meghan!
Let me start off my saying that your site has been so helpful in my “second” curly girl hair journey (I also love your introvert info–I’m an introvert as well and so many people just don’t get it!). I have always had curly hair and dealt with the same issues as you have (little to no focus on curly hair practices as a child, TONS of straightening through HS/college, using the wrong products, etc.) After a few recent years of neglect due to some major life changes and just “forgetting” what to do, I’m back to trying to get my hair as healthy as it once was! I’m trying to grow it out long again and yes, it takes FOREVER! So, I really appreciate all the info you include here–I can’t wait to try this gel once my hair is a bit healthier, but I did have a question about another product you often use.
I love the Tresemme Boutanique conditioner and have gotten really good results from it, but the last time I went to buy it I noticed it looked completely different (different size AND ingredients), so I did a little searching online and it looks like Tresemme has reformulated it–which is such a bummer (especially since I’m still only a couple of months into the method again). Have you heard anything about this or have any suggestions for a comparable product once I’m unable to find it anywhere?
Thanks so much and your hair is GORGEOUS! I have cherub curls and am so envious of your thicker curls! 🙂
Hey Katie,
Thanks so much for your comment! I’m so glad to know the blog has been helpful to you–both as a curly girl and an introvert. 🙂 As for your question, I hadn’t heard about this, but it’s super disappointing that they changed the formula! I stopped using that conditioner about two years ago because it got too heavy for my hair, so I can’t say for sure I know of anything comparable, but I’ve used a few different conditioners from the Not Your Mother’s Naturals collections and I’ve liked them all quite a bit. I also know people really like the Shea Moisture conditioners–especially early on in the curly girl method. The only downside to these is that they’re both a little more expensive than the Tresseme.
If I learn of anything that’s closer, I’ll definitely come back to this comment and give you an update!
I hope this is some help!
Meghan