The Pompadour haircut is back! Are you looking for that barbershop shiny greaser style, or the slicked-back pompadour scumbag look? While Elvis is credited with making the classic pompadour a popular hairstyle for men, this long top and tight sided look is also the latest and greatest retro or cutting-edge mop on the block.
Just because you've got the cut doesn't mean you've got the style. Your barber knows the styling tricks and products essential to rocking the pompadour hairstyle, but chances are good you aren't trained in the art of putting the attitude back in your roots. It's all good. We got you.
The Pompadour Hairstyle
Pompadour hairstyles vary for different face shapes. The classic pompadour calls for longer hair on top, styled up and back to create a voluminous look, while the sides are slicked back. The sides can be faded or abrupt, but it's how this cut is styled that paints the picture of your inner badass.
How to Style a Pompadour
First off, you're going to need some basic gear. To style your hair into a pompadour you need the right tools, a quality pomade, and a tonic. If you have curly, cowlicked, or thick hair, you'll need more extreme hold. If the locks are fine, lighter holds will give more volume.
Get a good Denman-style brush and a decent comb. A blow dryer is the key to the highest pomp in the dour. You'll want to carry that comb in a pocket or rolled up in your t-shirt sleeve, for dramatic combing gestures and to counteract the effects of running against the wind.
It takes some practice to master styling your hair into a pompadour. Start with towel-dried hair and brush or comb your hair backward. Before you start messing with the top, use a small amount of pomade to slick the sides back.
To build volume you'll need a pre-styler or grooming tonic before you fire up the heat. Spray or work the tonic through your hair with your fingers. Then, using your comb or brush and a blow dryer on low heat, gradually dry the hair on top while building extra height and attitude in front.
Keeping the height and structure requires one more essential step that makes or breaks a pompadour: the right pomade for the job. High gloss, light shine or matte — each gives a different greaser grade to your pomp.
Apply it to the hair on top of your head and use your fingers to distribute the product evenly through each strand, then comb the hair into perfect place, or rough it up and let it ride. That's it — the techniques you need to recreate every one of the pompadour styles below.
Types of Pompadours
From the classic to the razor fade to the shaved-in part, these fourteen variations cover everything from tight and low-maintenance to maximum attention. Pick the length and the effort level that suit you.
- Classic Pompadour
- Modern Pompadour
- Medium Pompadour
- Medium Fade Pompadour
- Long Pompadour
- Low Fade Pompadour
- Short Pompadour
- Hard Part Pompadour
- Side Part Pompadour
- Razor Faded Pompadour
- Long Trim Pompadour
- Undercut Pompadour
- Curly Pompadour
- Slicked-Back Pompadour
Classic Pompadour
You can never go wrong with the classic that Elvis made famous. You need the sides and back scissor-cut, slightly shorter than the top. The front fringe should be left longer to get the volume you need.
BUILD IT:
Styling a classic pompadour is easy when you start with towel-dried hair and apply our Grooming Tonic to achieve that classic Elvis look. Next, blow dry your hair, starting with the sides and drying those backward. Now use a brush to push the front up and back to build volume while blow drying.
Once fully dry, finish your badass look with our Extreme Hold Matte Pomade. You can also use some of our Pink Pomade Grease for a classic greaser look.
Modern Pompadour
The modern pompadour is similar to the classic, but it's a bit looser, with a drier texture instead of that slicked-back shine. The sides stay short and blended — the difference is all in the finish on top.
GET IT:
Tell your barber or stylist you want a pomp with short, blended sides and no hard undercut line. If they ask what clipper guard you want, ask for a #1.5 (roughly 5 mm) or longer. You'll want around an inch (2.5 cm) at the round of the head, so the top has enough weight to hold texture without going slick.
BUILD IT:
Spritz a generous amount of Reuzel Spray Grooming Tonic onto clean, thoroughly towel-dried hair to thicken it up and get it smelling good.
Blow the hair at the sides in an upward direction using a vent brush. Use your fingers and the dryer to style this modern pomp from the front and build volume.
Start by styling it like you would a classic pompadour. Then add that modern structure with our Extreme Hold Matte Pomade on top, to maintain the lift and hold the hair in place. Use pomade sparingly on the sides to keep them looking natural.
Medium Pompadour
The medium pompadour is for when you want big volume on top with tight sides — serious function, bold statement. Your hair should be clipped tightly on the sides and back, while the top is left a bit shorter than the classic or modern pompadour. You still want enough length on top to create the volume in front.
GET IT:
Ask your barber or stylist for a medium to long pompadour. They ought to understand. If you get a blank stare, tell them you want your hair clippered tight on the back and sides, with enough length on top to pile upwards and attract attention.
BUILD IT:
Get going with towel-dried hair and add a squirt of our Grooming Tonic to your hands, spreading it nice and evenly between your palms.
Comb the Grooming Tonic through your hair, working from crown to tips. Finish drying your medium pompadour with a blow dryer, using a Denman-type brush to direct your hair back and up.
Once your hair's dry, you've got a couple of options to finish. Use Reuzel Blue Pomade for a shiny rockabilly look, or Reuzel Pink Pomade for a greasier, biker-just-in-from-the-highway style.
Medium Fade Pompadour
Not liking the hang-over of most pompadours? A fade keeps it smooth. On a medium fade pompadour the sides are shortest at the bottom in the back and around the ears, where they fade up into the longer hair. You want the fade to start about two inches (5 cm) above your ears. The length on top is the same as a medium pompadour.
BUILD IT:
Apply Reuzel Grooming Tonic to clean, towel-dried hair. This'll make your hair easier to control, and smell very nice indeed.
Blow your hair dry, using a 7–9 row Denman-type brush to direct it. The sides go backwards. The front goes up, then back over your crown.
Finish the fade with Blue Pomade for a clean, shiny look, or Pink Pomade Grease for biker bar cred.
Comb this medium fade pompadour into place, lifting the front up and back if you want even more height. For a looser look up front (as in the picture) finish by running your hands through the hair.
Long Pompadour
Looking for the biggest, baddest pompadour going? The long pompadour is the ultimate in attitude, with longer hair on the back and sides. This gives you style to burn and plenty of hair to rock the ducktail, spikes, or a rolling-in-from-a-road-race look.
GET IT:
Tell your barber you want an Elvis — but you want it to look like the classic young Elvis if he'd been shipwrecked on a Blue Hawaiian island for four or five months. If they reach for the clippers, run. This one needs scissors to make perfect.
BUILD IT:
Styling this long pomp will take some serious holding action. Start with a generous amount of our Grooming Tonic and apply it to the sides, back, and top.
Next, use a vent brush to blow dry the sides. Then, once the sides are dry, blow dry the top upward, then backward.
Once dry, apply a generous amount of our Extreme Hold Matte Pomade to keep your shine-free style rocking all day. If you'd rather get the sheen of a greaser and comb it in, use a generous amount of our heavy hold Pink Pomade Grease.
Comb either product into place, lifting the front with a pick comb if necessary, and get ready to raise some hell.
Low Fade Pompadour
The low fade pompadour is a looser look, where the fade blends about an inch (2.5 cm) above your ears. The length on top can vary between a short and medium pompadour.
GET IT:
Ask your stylist for a low fade pompadour. The most common question you'll get is "how low do you want to go?" The proper reply is that you want the fade to blend one inch above your ears.
BUILD IT:
- Apply Reuzel Grooming Tonic to clean, towel-dried hair. This will make your hair easier to control, and smell very nice indeed.
- Use a comb to create a part, pushing the hair over and back.
- Blow your hair dry, using a 7–9 row Denman-type brush to direct it. The sides go backwards. The front goes up, then back over your crown.
- When you're done drying, scoop out a knuckle's worth of Reuzel Blue Pomade for a clean, high shine. Or use Reuzel Pink Pomade, which will thicken your hair into pure grease.
- Rub the product between your palms and smooth it through the hair, front to back and away from the part.
- Comb everything into place, lifting the front up and back if you want even more height.
Short Pompadour
When you're too hot for a hi-top and not down with a mop, the short pomp suits. The sides and back are cut short or faded above the ears. The length on top in front is about three inches (7.5 cm), so you can still get some volume up front.
BUILD IT:
You're probably sporting this practical pompadour because you don't want a lot of hassle. We get it. Towel dry and use Grooming Tonic or Reuzel Surf Tonic for some volume. Once it's completely blown or air dried, rub in Blue Pomade for a wet shine, or Pink Pomade Grease for greaser glow.
Hard Part Pompadour
Want a side part pompadour that stays in place in a high wind? A hard part pompadour has the part shaved into the hairline, either on the left or right. A parted pomp styles with a swoop to the side.
GET IT:
Ask your stylist for a hard part pompadour. They may confirm whether that means you want your part shaved in. Take a sip of courage and say, "hell yes."
BUILD IT:
- Get your hair nice and clean, then give it a good towel-dry.
- Use a comb to set the general style in place, using the hard part as your guide.
- Pick up a 7–9 row Denman-style brush for a smooth look. Or a common vent brush if you like a bit of wave.
- Use your blow dryer and brush to smooth the hair on top of your head away from the hard part.
- Now turn your attention to the front. That, you want to blow up and backwards for height.
- When your hair's completely dry, fix the style in place. Use Reuzel Blue Pomade for a high-shine look, or Reuzel Green Pomade for grease.
- You're just about done. Comb any stray hairs downward from the hard part.
- Use that comb to tug the hair up in front until you've got all the height you need to stand out.
Side Part Pompadour
Never want to be tied down to a shaved-in part? You can add your own side part to medium and long pompadours with the know-how and the righteous product to make it hold. Grab a comb and choose your own dividing line.
BUILD IT:
Dry with a towel and apply Surf Tonic or Grooming Tonic. Draw the comb front to back to create a part, then comb down from there on the shorter side. Switching sides every time you style your hair can get you more volume on the high side. Finish with Blue Pomade for shiny hold, or Pink Pomade Grease for a rougher road.
Razor Faded Pompadour
This razor faded pompadour has the sides and back shaved down to the skin. The fade begins about two inches (5 cm) above the ear with shortly trimmed hair. The length on top is entirely up to you, and can be a short, medium, or long pompadour.
GET IT:
Tell your barber you want to go all the way down to the scalp, all the way up your sides and back. You want a pomp on top without a part. (They might ask if you're asking for a bald taper fade. They're similar, but this cut is a bit longer on top and shows a bit more scalp higher up on the sides and back.)
BUILD IT:
- Apply a palmful of Reuzel Grooming Tonic to clean, towel-dried hair. Breathe it in and enjoy the moment.
- Blow dry your hair, using a 7–9 row Denman-type brush to lift it up and backwards.
- Time to get greasy. Smear on a good dollop of Reuzel Pink Pomade, which'll hold even the most stubborn hair in check.
- Comb hair into place and use a pick-type comb to lift and accentuate the height. Skull tattoos not required. Recommended, but not required.
Long Trim Pompadour
The long trim pompadour is similar to the classic pompadour, except there's no separation or undercut at all between the sides and the top. The sides and back are scissor-cut and left long — two to three inches (5–7.5 cm) — so the whole shape flows together rather than stacking on a shorter base.
GET IT:
Tell your stylist you want a traditional pomp with scissor-cut sides and no clipper work anywhere. If they reach for a guard, ask for the shears instead. You want a good two to three inches (5–7.5 cm) of length left on the sides — noticeably longer than a modern pomp, which is the whole point of this one.
BUILD IT:
- Apply a palmful of Reuzel Grooming Tonic to clean, thoroughly towel-dried hair to thicken it up and get it smelling good.
- With a 7–9 row Denman-type brush in one hand and a blow dryer in the other, direct your sides back and the front up and over your crown.
- When everything's completely dry, get out a tin of Reuzel Extreme Hold Matte Pomade. Emulsify it good and hard in your palms, then smear it evenly back through your hair.
- Use a wide-tooth comb to get everything smartened up, and a pick to tug up the front for more volume.
- If extra shine is desired — and we'd say extra shine is always desired — use your palms to apply a smidge more Reuzel Grooming Tonic over the surface of the hair.
Prefer shine over the lived-in matte finish? Work in Red Pomade for medium hold and shape it with your fingers instead.
Undercut Pompadour
This pompadour style is one of the easier ones to maintain. The sides and back are clipped short while the length on top stays, with no fade.
BUILD IT:
Slick it back with our Spray Grooming Tonic before blow drying. Use our Green Pomade for a messy medium hold you shape with your fingers, or go gritty with our Extreme Hold Matte Pomade to keep it strictly matte and darkly dangerous.
Curly Pompadour
If you have thick, curly or wavy hair, this type of pompadour lets it do the work for you. You've already got the texture and chaos going on. All you need to do is decide how you want the back and sides cut or trimmed, and whether you want a fade.
BUILD IT:
Curly hair hates heat. Use Grooming Tonic to prevent frizz and air dry, or blow dry on low. Work Blue Pomade or Pink Pomade Grease in when it's good and dry. Comb through for waves, or just take tight grips through the top to crimp in those chaotic curls. Give it a good shake and laugh at the flat-headed all day.
Slicked-Back Pompadour
You know this look, but there's a trick to getting it on. The sides and back can be short or faded, with enough left to hold the greasy sheen.
BUILD IT:
The slicked-back pompadour should be towel dried and generously worked through with Surf Tonic or Spray Grooming Tonic, then blow dried upward to get the volume you need. Now you need that wet look shine and the strong hold of our Blue Pomade. Comb in as much as you need to outshine everyone else.
Pompadour Upkeep
Get yourself to the barber every two weeks for tight fades and undercut pompadour cuts. Other, longer styles will survive three to four weeks or longer before you need the blades. The type of pompadour hairstyle you select and how you style it is what keeps a gritty greaseball or rockabilly legend going strong.
Get Your Pomp On
A serious pompadour hairstyle needs serious styling products. Don't mess around with floofy products designed for the masses. Get your greaser groove on with the real-deal pomades, grooming tonics, Clay Matte Pomade, and fiber pastes at Reuzel. Explore our products and more pompadour hairstyling tips online, or use our contact form to get connected with the right products to grease up, slick down, or comb back your ultimate scumbag style.
