For some people, hair gel is better than hairspray at holding their hair in place. Because hair gel is a much thicker consistency, it can tame thicker, curlier hair. Curly-headed people may prefer this to keep their locks at bay. On the other hand, a gel may be too thick for people with thinner hair. Hairspray works great for fine hair, but you may notice that it struggles to keep thick, curly hair in line.