A guide on mens grooming products and how to use them.
So, you've bought some product, taken it home, woken up the next morning and now you have to style it yourself.
"Uhh, how did my barber tell me to do this?"
No worries, we've got you covered. Whether you use a matte clay, creme or pomade, you can still get that fresh out of the barber chair look at home.
But first...
Product Terms To Know
Matte- Dry
Texture- Visable movement in hair (choppy/messy)
Hold- Strength and staying power
Shine- Duh.
What type of product do I need?
There are many options when it comes to hair product and finding the right one can be daunting to say the least.
Here's a brief run down on the differences between them:
Clay
For textured(messy) haircuts. If you're going for that "rolled out of bed and naturally looked awesome" style, a clay is for you.
NOTE: waxes, gums, fibers, etc. are often very similar to clays.
How to style: Rub a dime sized amount into your palm, making sure there are no chucks visible. Starting in the back of the head and moving forward, work product directly into the roots/scalp. This will provide lift and texture. Style as desired.
Pomade
Think old school shine and slickness. This stuff is often heavy enough to hold down stubborn hair. It is made either water-based and oil-based.
Water- Often holds a bit stiffer and can be washed out with no problem. If you're an active person, however, sweat can make it run onto the forehead.
Oil- More maneuverable and able to be combed throughout the day. It usually will remain in the hair throughout several shampoos, thus eliminating the need to apply everyday.
How to style: towel dry wet hair until most water is removed. Establish your part before applying pomade. Scoop a nickel sized amount of pomade into your hands and spread evenly. Coat the entire top with pomade as well as the sides for the slickest look. Comb hair into desired style.
Creme
Think of a pomade that doesn't look quite so shiny and feels much more natural. Great for a casual side part or feathered looks.
How to style: Place dime sized amount into palm and spread evenly. Starting in the back of head and working forward, work the product through to ends. Comb in desired style.
BLOW DRYING
There is no shame in blow drying your hair; it is often the only way to add significant volume to the hair. To blow dry:
Get hair completly dry, blowing in direction you want to style hair into.
For maximum volume in front (using a brush) blow dry hair up and away from the side you part it to using warm air first, followed by a blast of cold air( hold button on blowdryer) to lock into place. Always finish with cold air.
Style as desire with product of choice.
Hopefully this was a useful guide for those of you that needed a little extra help at home. If you have any other questions, don't be afraid to mention them to your friendly Mammoth barber.
Look sharp,
Marcus