We take a look at the best waxes, pomades, pastes and clays on the market.
Pomades typically have a high-shine finish and lack the crunch factor of gels.
- Redken Water Wax 03 hair shine defining pomade gives hair the brilliant shine and control of a wax in a water-based formula. It works to separate and define with flexibility.
- Bed Head for Men by TIGI Slick Trick combines beeswax and premium styling ingredients to give a firm, workable hold for easy styling, and flexibility without the stickiness.
- Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Paste features soy and cocoa extract to deliver texture and separation as well as hydration without grease.
Pastes are a bit thicker in consistency than pomades and give hair a medium to very firm hold, usually with a natural-matte finish or just a touch of shine.
- UNITE Creamy Paste is both petroleum-freeand creamy. The paste offers serious textureand hold without stickiness or added weight.
- R+Co Badlands is one part dry shampoo, one part styling paste. Use it for adding second-day texture and absorbing oil.
- Wella Professionals EIMI Rugged Texture gives your client's hair edgy, strong definition with a light-matte finish.
Waxes tend to have a lighter overall hold. In their truest form, waxes won’t harden and have a medium- to high-shine finish.
- American Crew Liquid Wax offers the styling power of a gel with the convenience of a liquid. It’s suitable for all hair types, even curly hair.
- Rusk Gloss Wax delivers light hold and high shine. Plus, the complex of hydrolyzed quinoa, silk amino acids and hydrolyzed keratin strengthens hair and provides color protection.
- L’Oréal Techni.Art Lumi Controle gives glossy hold and sculpted definition. It also contains a UV filter and Vitamin E Acetate for an added level of protection and shine.
Clays range from thick to very creamy, with a clay ingredient as the workhorse.
- Evo Cassius Styling Clay contains diatomaceous earth and kaolin clay to add volume with a natural finish.
- M Mitch Matterial creates a dry, ultra-matte finish, while thickening agents and strong fixatives grip hair and lock it into place.
- Label.m Mud Clay becomes soft and workable in the hands to smooth away frizz and provide a long lasting style with soft shine.