African Pride Black Castor Miracle Extra Hold Braid, Loc & Twist Gel

When you’re maintaining locs, especially during the messy middle months, you need a product that gives you control without destroying your long-term health. African Pride’s Extra Hold Gel is one of the few budget gels that delivers strong hold while still respecting the structure of your locs.

This is not a wax. It doesn’t coat your hair in a hydrophobic shell the way beeswax and petroleum blends do—those are known to cause buildup, trap lint, and block moisture from entering or leaving the hair shaft. Instead, this gel stays light, applies smoothly, and rinses out cleanly when you wash your hair with a residue-free shampoo. That alone puts it ahead of many traditional products.

How It Performs

Hold

You’ll get a firm, reliable hold that keeps your new growth tight without creating crunchy, stiff roots. For palm rolling and basic retwists, the hold lasts several days—longer if you wrap your hair at night.

Washability

Our research shows that gels with water-soluble bases are far easier to remove than waxes, which cling to the internal matrix of the loc and lead to long-term buildup. This gel rinses out with standard warm water and shampoo, giving it a strong 7/10 washability score.

Consistency

Smooth, spreadable, and not sticky. It sets clear and adds a polished shine without leaving a greasy layer behind.

Scalp Feel

Thanks to the oils in the formula, your scalp stays comfortable during retwists. If you’re sensitive to oils, use a lighter hand.

Who Should Use It

Perfect For

Teen locs that need frizz control, mature locs needing neat roots, coarse or thick textures, and anyone avoiding heavy waxes.

Not For

Baby locs that unravel easily, freeform journeys, or oil-sensitive scalps.

How to Get the Best Results

• Start on clean, fully dried locs.
• Apply a small amount to the roots.
• Retwist using your preferred method.
• Sit under a hood dryer so the gel sets evenly.
• Wrap your locs at night to keep the roots neat.

Why This Gel Stands Out

Your dreadlock journey has stages, and some of them are rough. The teen stage (the “ugly stage”) can make you feel like your hair has a mind of its own—loops, frizz, bumps, and sticking out everywhere. You need control without suffocating your locs. This gel gives you exactly that balance.

Unlike heavy waxes that trap lint and water—potentially causing slow drying or even rot—this product lets your locs breathe. It smooths, holds, and cleans out easily. That is the core of healthy long-term loc maintenance.