How can I get my hair gel without looking greasy?

So, you saw Kim Kardashian wear a snatched high ponytail and you thought you'd try it out for yourself — with the help of a little, no, a lot of hair gel. But to your dismay, the pony didn't work, and now you have no other choice but to take it out. There's only one problem: your hair is a crunchy, sticky mess.

Washing your hair and starting over from scratch may seem like the only viable solution when you've used too much product, however, there's another way. We turned to celebrity hairstylist Marc Mena who let us in on how to get all of the excess gel or hairspray — or maybe both — out of your tresses sans shampoo.

Keep scrolling for our step-by-step tutorial on fixing product-saturated strands.

1. Spray Hair With Water

First, take a spray bottle filled with water and spritz it all over the areas where you've overdone it with product. The water will actually help to break down the product by diluting it.

2. Loosen Up the Gel With a Brush

Next, use a soft boar bristle brush, like the pro-favorite Mason Pearson or Briogeo's Vegan Boar Bristle Brush, to loosen up the gel. Brushes typically work best if you have straight hair or are looking for a straight style. However, if your hair has more texture, consider using your fingers instead. Mana says to work quickly because once the hair dries it will get hard again. Also, start at the ends and make your way up to the roots to avoid breakage, he adds.

3. Comb Out the Remaining Gel

Follow up with a wide-tooth comb, like The Comb No. 002 by Crown Affair, to evenly distribute the remaining product throughout hair. A wide-tooth comb is also helpful in detangling — curly hair especially — while being gentle on the scalp.

4. Blow Dry in Small Sections

Use your blow dryer on a low setting to give your style a smooth finish. You can also opt for a curling iron if you want to throw in some texture. Alternatively, if you have curls, you can blow dry with a diffuser to enhance and define your natural texture. Bonus: The heat from the dryer will continue to break down the product that's weighing down your hair.

5. Finish With a Vent Brush

Use a vent brush, such as T3 Dry Vent Brush, when hair is completely blown out. This will help to create movement at the root for that photo-worthy finish.

To gel your hair, wash your hair to make sure it’s clean, then towel dry until it is damp. If you want to create a playful, messy look, choose a light, foamy gel. If you want spikes, choose a medium-hold gel, and if you want a slicked-back look that won’t move, opt for a thick gel. Put a small amount of hair gel onto your fingertips and rub your hands together, then rub the gel into your hands and style your hair according to the look you’re going to. Allow the gel to dry for a few minutes and you’re ready to go! If you want to learn how to style a part or a pompadour with gel, keep reading the article!

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OK, we have covered some of the ground rules but there are other issues we need to chat about. How many times have you seen someone with a slick back hair style that looks really greasy?

Styling

A wet looking slick back suits some men but its far better to use a styling product that doesn’t make your hair look like an oil slick. It’s quite easy to create a smart slicked back hairdo that doesn’t look shiny or greasy. The next job on your agenda is to make sure that you have the right type of hairbrush, comb and styling products.

With the popularity of Mad Men and recent period movies, the slick, parted, well-groomed styles seem to be making a comeback. Styles with side parts, combed back tops, and cleanly tapered necklines are popping up everywhere. These styles are normally worn with a liberal does of high-shine pomade, but what if you want the style without the wet look? Achieving that well-groomed dry look is actually VERY simple. Here's how:

After washing and towel drying your hair (while it is still slightly damp) apply a fairly liberal amount of firm hold gel (or light hold if your hair is fine). It's important to use a great, professional quality gel that won't flake. For this purpose, I recommend American Crew Firm Hold Gel (there's a light version for fine hair). After distributing the gel evenly throughout your hair, comb into place and let it air dry completely.

Once the hair is dry, simply run a comb through it (combing it into the same shape you created while wet) and you've got the dry look. The gel will "remember" the style so the hair retains it's shape. To ensure it stays in place, simply apply a very light application of dry look hair spray.

Why does my hair look greasy after using gel?