* How to pick the right hair product
* The difference between mousse, pomade, wax and gel
* Products for every look from messy to slick side parts
Unless you’re rocking a buzz, you should have some type of hair product in your bathroom cabinet. The right product will take your hair to the next level, and give you much more power over your daily hairdo.
But once you’ve decided to equip yourself with a great hair product, then comes the hard part: picking the product. There’s a huge market that uses its own lingo, with products from firm-hold wax to high-shine pomade. Needless to say, it can get confusing.
If you’re having trouble discerning the right product for your desired hairstyle, you’re not alone. To help figure out which product is right for your hair, we narrowed down the search to four options: gel, mousse, wax and clay/pomade. Out of these four, one should get your hair looking its best.
FOR VOLUME: MOUSSE
If you want some extra bounciness to your hair, or you want to show off those great curls, go for mousse. Other products will slightly weigh down your hair, so curls can get stunted. Mousse is great if you’re happy with your current hairstyle, and simply want to kick it up a notch.
FOR MESSY LOOKS: WAX
Wax is great for nailing that nonchalant, slightly messy look that’s everywhere right now. It’ll tame your hair just enough to style, and won’t add any shine like gels or pomades. In other words, it’ll look like you just woke up with a handsome mane.
FOR OLD SCHOOL LOOKS: POMADE
For slicked-backed hair, side parts, and pompadours, go for pomade. The old school product has gotten bigger recently as 50s and 60s hairstyles have come back into style, as it provides a strong hold and a high shine without the extreme stiffness of gel.
FOR LONG HAIR: GEL
Gel is the hairstyling classic that should be in most people’s bathroom, but it’s especially good for long, unruly hair that needs to be put in check. It’ll give a shiny finish, and you won’t have to worry about your hair moving throughout the day. But when buying a gel, avoid the cheap drugstore stuff – it’ll ruin your hair. Go for a slightly better brand, like the American Crew gel below.