Pomade is a classic hairstyling product that's been around for almost two centuries. Traditional oil-based pomade was the bear-fat-filled stuff that kept 19th-century men's hair sleek enough to see your reflection in. The modern versions give you far more options — including the choice of how reflective you want your hair to be in the first place.
Water-Based Pomade
True to its name, water-based pomade mainly consists of water and has a more gel-like consistency. It offers high hold and will dry and maintain your chosen hairstyle all day long. It's also the easiest to remove: rinse it out with water and it's gone.
In our range, Blue Pomade and Red Pomade are the water-based options with shine, while Fiber Pomade, Clay Matte and Extreme Hold cover the matte end.
Oil-Based Pomade
Oil-based pomade has a waxy consistency and gives your hair high shine with anything from medium to strong hold. Unlike the oil-based pomades of old, modern formulas are more mineral oil than bear fat — and they let you restyle your hair throughout the day rather than locking it in place once.
The trade-off is washing out. Oil doesn't dissolve in water, so a quick rinse won't do it. Work shampoo through dry hair before you add water, or use a clarifying shampoo. Our greases are Pink Pomade for heavy hold and Green Pomade for medium.
Which Should You Choose?
Go water-based if you wash your hair often, want an easy clean-up, or prefer a matte finish. Go oil-based if you need the style to survive rain, sweat or a long day, and you want the kind of shine that water-based formulas can't quite match.
Plenty of men keep both. One for the working week, one for when the look has to hold.
Whether you're after water-based or oil-based, there's a product for every taste — from gravity-defying hold to mirror-worthy shine. Browse the full pomade collection to find yours.
