Waxes and Pomades

What is the difference between wax, pomade and gel?

A wax is a pasty styling product that gives hold and volume, often with a matt finish. It stays flexible, so you can restyle your hair during the day. Fibre paste, such as American Crew Fiber, is a variant that stretches into strands between your fingers.

A pomade smooths and tames, for slicked-back retro looks or styles with height on top. Oil-based pomades give a lot of shine and wash out badly. Water-based pomades rinse out easily with shampoo. Gel sets the hair as it dries, with a wet-look effect, and cannot be restyled once dry. Hairspray, for its part, fixes a finished style. Taft, a Schwarzkopf brand, covers both of these families.

Between these products there are intermediate formulas. Styling paste sits between wax and pomade, with a medium hold and a natural finish. Styling powder, sprinkled on the roots, adds volume to fine hair without weighing it down.

Our waxes and pomades section brings together the barbers’ brands: American Crew, Reuzel, born in a Rotterdam barbershop, and Uppercut Deluxe, which comes from Australia.

How do you choose your hair waxes and pomades?

Two criteria matter: hold and shine. The hold ranges from light to extreme and shows how firmly the style stays in place. Reuzel Extreme Hold, as its name suggests, offers a very strong hold with a matt finish.

Shine changes the whole style. A matt finish gives a natural look, like hair that is simply tousled: that is the choice of Uppercut Deluxe with its matt pomade. A shiny finish recalls 1950s hairstyles. Also match the product to your hair. Fine hair gets weighed down quickly: a small amount of light wax is enough. Thick or unruly hair calls for a strong-hold pomade.

Think about scent and washing out too. Barbers’ pomades often have a pronounced fragrance, fruity, vanilla or woody, that stays in your hair all day. If you style your hair every morning, a water-based formula rinses out effortlessly in the evening. Your hairstyle also guides the choice. A short, tousled cut calls for a matt wax or a fibre paste. A side parting or a retro pompadour is easier to style with a shiny pomade and a comb.

A neat cut is easier to style: our clippers and razors help you keep the nape and sides tidy between visits to the hairdresser.

How do you apply a wax or pomade?

Take a small amount of product, the size of a pea for short hair. Warm it between your palms until it softens. Apply from back to front, so as not to overload the fringe. Put a matt wax on dry hair, then shape it with your fingers. A water-based pomade spreads better on slightly damp hair, with a fine-tooth comb to draw a neat parting.

To remove the product, a water-based pomade comes out in a single shampoo. A greasy pomade often needs two washes, or a clarifying shampoo. For the beard, choose a balm from our beard care range, made for the face.

For a style that lasts all day, layer two products: a little pomade for shape, then a cloud of hairspray to set it. In rainy weather, a water-based pomade can soften, whereas a greasy pomade stands up better to humidity.

Wash your hands after applying: any leftover greasy pomade leaves marks on clothes and on your phone. Keep the jar tightly closed, otherwise the wax dries out, hardens and becomes hard to scoop. Clippers, grooming products and stylers are all brought together in our men and beard range.