hair wax, hair gel or pomade – what’s the difference?
As a consumer, you often come across different classifications of hair styling products. The most common is hair wax, but there is also hair gel, while pomade is a classic product category that has increasingly experienced a renaissance in recent years. But what exactly is the difference? Do you have the right product for your hair type? Here, we will attempt to clear up the jungle of different concepts within the world of hair styling.
Summary
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Hair wax provides flexible styling and comes in many variations suited to different hair types.
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Hair gel offers strong hold and high shine, but may feel drying on sensitive scalps.
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Pomade delivers natural shine and is ideal for slick backs and classic hairstyles.
Hair wax
“Hair wax” remains the most common and popular product category for styling hair. The great advantage of wax is the enormous variety of textures and finishes available, designed for different hair types. There is essentially a wax for every hair type, divided according to consistency and level of shine.
If you have short hair and want a matte look with very strong hold or a “spiky”, messy character, Sailor's Fiber Wax is a safe choice. Matte waxes are also excellent if you are aiming for that tousled “just got out of bed” texture, a style that can also be recreated with so-called clay waxes (often referred to simply as “clay” or “mud”). The easiest choice for someone looking for medium shine and medium hold is often the green Sailor's Foaming Wax, while waxes for longer hair can be more challenging – especially if you also want some shine.
If you are looking for a wax with strong hold and low natural shine, Benjamin Barber’s Hair Wax is an excellent option. It is easy to work with and strikes a perfect balance between hold and flexibility. If you are also a fan of Benjamin Barber Oud, you will probably appreciate this wax even more thanks to its subtle and elegant oud fragrance with notes of leather, dates and sandalwood.
Start by taking a small amount of wax in your hands and rub your palms together so the wax “warms up”. Apply the wax in the same way you would shampoo your hair. Massage it all the way down to the roots and work it through to the ends.
Hair gel
Hair gel is a runny transparent product that is usually applied to wet hair. As the hair dries, the gel hardens and becomes very firm and stiff, effectively holding the hair solidly in place. It is perfect for a wet look with very strong hold, which makes it especially popular among people with slightly longer hair and slicked-back styles, although gel is also used for shorter hairstyles where the goal is pronounced texture combined with shine.
Aside from the fact that hair gel can create a heavy appearance on the wrong hair type, the ingredients themselves are often the main issue unless you can find organic alternatives (which do exist). Drying alcohols as well as chemicals such as sulfites and ammonia are not uncommon among the ingredients, something worth considering if you have a sensitive scalp. Hair gel most commonly comes in tubes but is also available in spray form.
Pomade
The old-fashioned pomade has experienced a strong resurgence in recent years among those seeking a slick-back hairstyle or simply a shine that appears more natural than what hair gel typically provides. It is a product with classic heritage often associated with retro aesthetics, but pomade has evolved and gained renewed popularity thanks in part to actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio. Pomade is also a great option for people with dry and brittle hair – some even mix a small amount of pomade into a stronger wax to achieve the best of both worlds.
Many people still associate pomade with a greasy look, but modern pomades are now largely water-based, making them less oily and easier to use. Pomades also come in different levels of hold; the Italian brand Tenax offers both a softer and a firmer version, both of high quality (and pleasantly scented). American Crew’s pomade is also highly popular on the market.
Apply pomade to dry or towel-dried hair, using an amount roughly the size of your thumbnail, and warm it between your palms. Style as desired, although the best results are generally achieved with a hairstyle combed backwards.
