Yes. Hair gel, pomade and hair cream count as gels or creams, so carry-on containers must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less in your quart bag. Any size is fine in checked bags.
TSA allows hair gel in carry-on bags in containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less. Its liquids rule also covers creams and pastes, so pomades and hair creams belong in the quart-size bag too.
Hair gel is allowed in checked bags with no TSA size limit. Aerosol styling products such as mousse follow the FAA aerosol limits of 0.5 kg (18 oz) or 500 ml (17 fl oz) per can and 2 kg (70 oz) or 2 L (68 fl oz) per person.
Checked against official TSA, FAA and government pages on . These are US rules unless we say otherwise; the TSA officer at the checkpoint makes the final call.
The rules in numbers
- Carry-on: 3.4 oz (100 ml) per container, in your quart-size bag
- Checked non-aerosol gel/pomade: no size limit
- Checked aerosol mousse: max 500 ml (17 fl oz) per can, nozzle capped, 2 L (68 fl oz) per person total for restricted toiletries
Packing tips
- Firm waxes and pomades in tins are still treated as creams/pastes, so put them in your quart bag to avoid a bag check.
- Aerosol mousse is an aerosol, not a gel, so keep the can capped if it goes in checked luggage.
Outside the US
- UKGOV.UK lists hair gel as a liquid: 100 ml per container at most UK airports, while some airports allow up to 2 litres. Source
- EUGels and creams must be 100 ml or less per container in one transparent bag of up to 1 litre. Source
Flying somewhere else? See the rules for the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.
Questions people ask
Does hair pomade count as a liquid at TSA?
Yes. TSA's liquids rule includes gels, creams and pastes, so pomade in a carry-on must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less in your quart bag.
Can I pack a large tub of hair gel in my checked bag?
Yes. TSA places no size limit on hair gel in checked luggage.