Today, I want to talk about a subject that I’m very passionate about — hair products. I started Pete & Pedro over 11 years ago. Back then, options ranged from gels and mousse to hairsprays and pomades. You’d also have some sort of cream or paste.
Over the last decade, options have changed, and now thickening creams, sea salt sprays, texturizing creams, and curl creams are available. Texture powder has also been a game-changer. Confusion can develop from all of these different options on the market. What’s best for your hairstyle or hair type? Another challenge is the expense of these products. If you’re using cheap products from the grocery store, they may be a bit more affordable, but the quality is not good for your hair. Your hair can dry out or become unhealthy.
So, to help you maximize your hairstyle, I will present the ultimate hair product selection tutorial. I want to discuss hold, application, movement, and shine. I also want to talk about application.
Pro Tips
- Remember, any product has a learning curve. It’ll take a few uses while trying different styling methods, such as with heat, without heat, on damp hair, on air-dried hair, and more. Don’t just throw out the product if your hair doesn’t look super good.
- Make sure you emulsify as well. Activating the hair product, whether it’s a pomade, paste, cream, clay, or putty is critical. Emulsification ensures that the product is activated or heated up. It will almost disappear into your hand before applying it to your hair. You need to make sure you work the emulsified product down to the roots.
- Another tip is that less is more. Men often think they need more product if their hair is not staying or holding or doesn’t look how they want it. The right product is what’s needed.
- Another note is that if you have thinner, finer hair, don’t use a heavy product that clumps your hair together. You want a lighter product that will add bulk and thickness to individual strands to make your hair look thicker. Sea salt spray and texturizing powder are a must. Also, if you let your hair grow, it will look thinner and stringier. Get a better cut. Then, use some hair clay, a matte product that won’t clump your hair together. It’s lighter and does not have as much hold, but it’ll give your hair volume, bulk, and control.
Product choices and what they do
- Sea salt spray. Sea salt spray is a pre-styler that adds texture and volume to hair, making it look like it has life.
- Texturizing powder. This product will make it look like you don’t have any product in your hair. Texture Powder is amazing on dry hair or hair that you just applied sea salt spray (then dried). You can periodically restyle your hair throughout the day with texture powder. It holds up well to heat without melting or going flat and is a matte product.
- Thickening and texturizing cream. This product is perfect for a guy who doesn’t want to look like he has a product in his hair. THICK Cream gives a little hold with low shine and is also relatively light. This is a great product if you have thinner or thinning hair because it won’t weigh your hair down. It’ll add a bit of thickness to individual hair strands, making them look fuller and thicker.
- Hair cream. This is a lighter-hold product with a bit of a shiny glow without looking wet or like a gel. Hair Cream is good for longer hair, rocking the bro flow. It allows your hair to look natural and healthy.
- Smooth. This leave-in hair conditioner is a perfect product to help with flyaways and frizz.
- Curl cream. This product is recommended for guys with curly hair who want a natural look that’s not wet, oily, or crunchy. Curl Cream will make curls more pronounced without being hard, crunchy, oily, or greasy. It will add texture and smooth flyaways.
- Hair paste. This product has a stronger but moderate hold and is a bit shinier than cream or a leave-in conditioner. Hair Paste is perfect for medium to long hairstyles that are pushed back or want a bit of shine. It allows for manageability, so your hair can move around, and you can run your fingers through it. You can reset and reposition hair, too.
- Hair clay. These are pretty popular and allow for medium hold and low shine. Applying Hair Clay to wet hair will make it look shiny and wet until the hair strands are broken up (messed up with your hands). You can also use a hair dryer to do this. How you style your hair will make a big difference.
- Hair pomade. This is the OG of hair styling products. Hair Pomade has a stronghold and a bit of shine for slick-back or come-over styles. Pomades are typically better for shorter styles. Make sure you select one that’s water-based, as some pomades are non-water-based and very difficult to get out of your hair.
- Hair putty. It’s incredibly versatile, with high hold and low shine. Sometimes, Hair Putty is challenging to dig out of the container, but emulsification softens it. Put it into dry hands, as it won’t emulsify with damp hands.
- Gel. With maximum shine and hold, GELous will make your hair crunchy and wet-looking. If you’re looking for a super shiny and spiky look, this product is what you’re looking for. This is an optimal product if you’re going for a slick back and don’t want your hair to move.
- Hairspray. I don’t recommend hairspray often because it stiffens hair and doesn’t allow for natural movement. Freeze is a bit crunchy, but if you want to style your hair and then set-it and forget-it, you can opt for a hairspray.