I grabbed Pattern Beauty curl gel because my 4A hair is a diva and I was tired of $40 products that lie. Tracee Ellis Ross didn’t personally hand-deliver it to me — just a cardboard box from Amazon.
The real test: does this stuff work on a Tuesday at 9am, not just on a red carpet with a glam squad? Spoiler — my coils didn’t shrivel into defeat.
It’s a medium-hold gel. $20 for 8 oz. The claim: “maximum definition with zero crunch.” I call BS on most crunch-free promises, but my hair doesn’t lie.
Slip Factor
Slides through damp hair like butter — no tugging, no tears.
Drying Time
20 minutes on medium-thick coils. Not fast, but not a full morning commitment.
Crumble Test
Zero white flakes. I wore it to a sweaty subway commute — still intact.
Photo: Glenna Haug / Unsplash
No sulfates, no silicones — standard for curly brands, but here’s the twist: they actually used humectants that don’t backfire in humidity. Aloe and glycerin are the stars, but there’s a specific castor oil derivative that’s the real MVP.
- Aloe Leaf Juice: Locks in moisture without greasy residue
- Castor Oil Derivative: Shapes curls without weighing them down
- Glycerin: Draws water in — works in 70% humidity, not just dry climates
- Panthenol: Adds slip so you don’t need a second product
Photo: Tamara Bellis / Unsplash
Scooped out a dime-sized blob. It’s thick — almost like a clear jelly — but spreads thin. First week: my curls looked defined but a bit stiff. I almost rage-quit.
Week three, I stopped using a towel and just shook my head like a wet dog. That was the trick. My coils softened, shrinkage dropped by 30%, and I got second-day hair for once.
Photo: Fleur Kaan / Unsplash
My curl pattern is more defined — not miraculously changed, but visibly sharper. Frizz stayed low for 2 days, then crept back. No product can fix that without a silk scarf.
Photo: George Bohunicky / Unsplash
Pattern’s curl gel doesn’t need Tracee’s face on the bottle. It works because the formula respects curly hair, not because of a famous name. I’d buy it again — and I’m picky.