Product Review: Design Essentials Sleek Edge Control

Why read review after review when you can just read one? We’ve “combed” the web to get the verdict on Design Essentials Sleek Edge Control.

Design Essentials’ Sleek Edge Control is a smoothing gel that lays down edges and gives your hairstyle a beautiful sleek and polished finish. It offers a firm hold to curb messy hair and moisturizes your strands.

The Verdict

This product seems to do wonders for 3A to 4C hair types. For those who have thicker/courser or kinky and curly hair, Sleek Edge Control lays down your edges perfectly and catches fly-away hairs as well. This gel doesn’t seem to leave any residue or flake up (if used properly). Transitioners seem to love this product, especially those who want to straighten their natural hair growth to match their relaxed ends. Most even agree that Sleek Edge Control lasts all day with no problems.

On the other hand, there are some who really hate this product, saying that even though the gel works, it’s way too sticky and dries their hair out. Others say that the gel is really itchy, and it flakes easily. Most users weren’t too happy about the price of the 2.3 oz product.

Pros

Professional product
No reversion on edges
Long lasting/holds all day
Doesn’t harden hair
Light fresh scent
Adds a polished look to your hairstyle

Cons

Only comes in the 2.3 oz size
Isn’t sold in many retail stores
A little pricey
Can be sticky

What the Manufacturer Says

Design Essentials® Sleek Edge Control is a moisturizing, firm hold smoothing gel that smoothes edges while creating sleek styles. Provides a firm hold to tame unruly hair. Moisturizes and smoothes hair edges. Provides a beautiful finished polish to hair styles with an intense shine. Provides texture to short styles.

What 3A-3C Users Say

Youtuber MsAvalon25 discusses her experience with several different edge control products. When it comes to Design Essentials’ Edge Control she found it good, but not great. She was expecting it to be better than what it was, and thought it thought it would hold all day.

“Design Essentials Sleek Edge Control has a moisturizing, firm hold that gives great shine and polished look. What I love most about this one is that it has castor oil and glycerin. If you have thinning edges, this one is a good one to try because castor oil is known to assist in the protection and regrowth of perimeter hair and glycerin gives hair “slip” that aids in styling. This one retails for $10.99 through online vendors like Sleek Hair or find a stylist or salon in your area that carries the Design Essentials line.”

— Mo Knows Hair

“This is my favorite edge control whether I’m wearing my hair curly or straight. It doesn’t take much to lay my hair down and it really stands up against the humidity hear in Houston. It also dries clear, leaves my hair manageable, and isn’t sticky.”

— Freaux

“I have ethnic hair somewhere between a 3 and 4 hair type I guess. All natural, no chemicals, just heat from blow drying and the occasional beveling/curling. …At first [this product] was great, but by the end of the day I had a dull white sticky film on my edges. Other users… suggested using a bit more product to rectify that issue, and that did work… but just for a few hours. Again, by the end of the day the dull white film is back, and now it’s caked up. I think this will work best on wet hair styles.”

-– LaTisa Smith

Similar to MsAvalon25, vlogger LaluvesLa wasn’t a fan of the product, preferring Silk Elements edge control to Design Essentials’. She found that she had to use a lot of the gel in order for it lay her hair down, and it left a white residue.

What 4A-4C Users Say

Hair stylist and Youtuber GambianBeauty101 swears by this product; she uses it on all hair types in her salon, and even has some for herself at home. Although she currently has relaxed hair, she used it (and loved it) when her hair was still natural as well. She explains, you don’t have to use a comb or a toothbrush to use this edge control, but she also considers the product pretty pricey.

“The consistency of it is like most other edge controls so a little goes a long way. This is not a product you need to overdo it with or it’ll be real noticeable that you have applied product to your hair. Funny enough, when applied correctly, it absorbs more like grease in your hair and doesn’t leave a lot of product build up since it has a staying power for at least 6 (if not more) hours.”

-– Kay’s Ways

“I like this a lot. It lays my hair down when I where a puff… It brings out my wave pattern when I pull my hair back. Good control and a lightweight product.”

– Cheles08

“Ok, this works unbelievably well. I have locks and my ends are very coarse. Also it really creates an illusion of thickness, my fine hairs and the slight balding I have in front..it covers it up perfectly. No crazy, greasy residue, no leakage on pillowcases or clothes. Last almost 24 hrs. you can even add a little water and it’s like you put on more!.”

– S.D. James