AMERICAN CREWMen's Hair Pomade (OLD VERSION), Medium Hold with High Shine, 3 Oz (Pack of 1)

Update: Since I wrote this, I've changed how I do things. Now, I blow dry my hair bone dry, and then use the defining paste (matte, and holds good with just a tiny spritz of hairspray). I also have some left over forming cream, and it works really well too, just gives the hair a shinier look. For me, that shinier look is nice if I'm going to a wedding, or dressing up...that sort of thing.I blow dry the hair in the front up, blow dry the rest totally dry, put some defining paste in my palm, rub my hands together vigorously and warm it up, and then work it into my hair. I love the way the defining paste smells, matte looks nice, and it's super easy to get that messy but controlled look. I have slightly wavy hair, not stick straight or curly.I decided to leave the rest of my original review below. Funny how the process changes over time! Experiment and have fun, but I personally think the Defining Paste is awesome for matte, and forming cream if you want a little bit of shine (but it's harder to work into your bone dry hair, and doesn't smell as good).********************************************Original ReviewI've used four different American Crew wax/pomades, and they are all great. They smell great, and they are relatively inexpensive. The hard part is figuring out...what product is good for what hair?I've gone from very short guy hair, to longer guy hair...and as I've done that, the American Crew product that I prefer has changed.With my hair really short, I was using their "classic wax," which they no longer make. I started trying their Fiber product on that short hair, and it worked pretty well. Get my hair fairly damp, work the Fiber in, and it would give me good hold...little spike in the front. Another product I was using with my short hair was TIGI Bed Head Men Matte Separation Wax. That stuff is REALLY sticky...which is fine for short hair.Before I move onto the Pomade, the other thing to consider is...varying the dampness of your hair prior to the product will have a HUGE effect on how it works. For example, you can have your hair fairly damp with the stickier (ie high hold) products, and still be able to work it in really well. As your hair gets drier though, two things happen. The hold becomes even MORE pronounced, but it also becomes harder to work into the hair.So as I grew my hair out...the Fiber began to work less well. I had a lot more hair, and because it's a "higher hold," it actually started to weigh my hair down. Spiking up hair that's only an inch or two long worked fine...but as my hair got to 3+ inches, it would start to fall over. And the Fiber is fairly sticky...so your hair needs to be fairly damp to work it in, but then it doesn't want to stay up.Now I will FINALLY talk about the Pomade!I had to move to a "lower hold" product...and I wasn't used to this at first. I was leaving my hair fairly damp, and putting the pomade into that didn't give it much hold at all (though depending the style you want...like a more traditional mad men kind of look without a lot of spike, then that would be fine). I wanted a little more spike and "verticalness" to my hair, so what I had to do was start drying it more. I've started using a blow dryer to "train" my hair in the direction I want, and to get it much drier (not 100% dry, but maybe 75%). Now the pomade has much more hold!The other product I've been using is the Forming Cream. It's similar to the pomade...but a little less shiny. It has worked well in my longer hair, and like I said before...to get any hold, I need my hair drier.You will probably have to try a couple different products until you find the one you really like. But before you give up on any one product, vary the dampness of your hair first. Hopefully my experience will point you in the right direction. For short hair, use the high hold products with damp hair. For longer hair, use the low hold products with drier hair.

It is odd to say, but this product actually changed my life! I have very thin hair. Just combing it after a shower was useless, because it never stayed in place, and the least wind made it blow in all directions. For decades I used to have to use hair spray to hold it in place. This looked OK until... any big wind came up and blew it out of place ONCE, or I accidently hit/ran into something that dislodged my hair. Then the look was gone. It refused to go back in place until I got home or back to work and could re-spray it. The alcohol in the spray also made my scalp scale up and itch.Then one day... I had just washed my hair, and had not put in hairspray yet, and I went to the barber and after the haircut he asked me if I wanted to try Crew Pomade. I was skeptical, but at that moment, for some reason, I said sure, I will give it a try. I was amazed my hair actually acted like I had thick hair! It actually stayed in place when I combed it, and looked pretty natural (and as a bit of a bonus it made some of my gray hair look a bit more of my original color). I didn't have to use the hair spray any more until I showered again and washed it all out, and I have to put it back on (The amount takes a few times to know how much to put on). But no more worry about wind, (or getting hair knocked when I get in the car and the sun visor hits it unexpectedly...) If it get out of place, just comb it again, and you're as good as new!(As a note: One thing that confuses me is sometimes I get a new container and inside it looks like the lighter color and consistency of say Vaseline, and other times I open a new one and it looks like a dark brownish clear thick jel. They both seem to work the same but I don't understand why the difference.)But for me, I can say it is one of the few products I have EVER used, that I can say it literally changed my life!

I got this hair wax for my boyfriend, and he loves it! It provides a strong hold without making his hair look stiff or greasy. The texture is smooth, easy to apply, and lasts all day. It also has a nice, subtle scent that isn't overpowering.Definitely a great choice for styling with a natural finish!