Hair pomade is an important part of hair routines for men and women with short hair. It helps keep unruly and hard-to-manage hair looking groomed and can help keep it from falling into your eyes. There are numerous pomades available in stores and online, and they all have different ingredients, and different finishing textures, ranging from glossy to matte. No matter what you’re looking for, there is a pomade out there for you and your hair type. Still, it can be hard to find the right one for you. That’s why we’ve made a list of the 5 best hair pomades for men, or anyone with short hair, for that matter.
No time? No problem! Check out our list of top picks, below:
Our Top Picks
Best pomade overall: Pacinos Styling Pomade This pomade by Pacinos is perfect for all hair types and will keep your hair in place all day. | |
Best budget pomade: Cantu Cream Pomade Cantu’s moisturizing pomade is ideal for curly hair, and also works for those on a budget! | |
The green pick: Organic Hair Pomade John Masters Organics made this high-quality, USDA-certified organic hair pomade. It is safe for you, and the Earth. | |
Best for fine hair: Extreme Hold Matte Pomade The perfect pomade for thin or fine hair, this will add volume and texture to your locks. | |
Best for thick hair: Superhold Hair Pomade This super strong hold pomade will keep your hair in shape all day long, even if it is coarse and thick. |
A Closer Look: Best Hair Pomades for Men
To keep things in place, here’s a more detailed look at each of the hair pomades in our list.
1. Pacinos Styling Pomade
The best hair pomades for men overall
Brand: Pacinos | Type: Strong/Medium Hold | Amount: 4 oz | Price: 💰💰💰
Pacinos pomade is formulated to shape your hair and to give it some shine, unlike matte-finish pomades. It is water-soluble, meaning you can easily rinse it out of your hair at the end of the day. It may be used on damp or dry hair, and works for all hair types. Pacino’s pomade is cruelty-free, as well as being dye, paraben, and aluminum-free. And, unlike many popular products, it is made right here in the US.
The majority of buyers loved this pomade. It kept their hair in place all day and allowed for easy styling. The icing on the cake for most buyers was that it smelled great. There weren’t many who didn’t like this product, the only complaint reviewers had was that it didn’t have the desired hold they needed.
Reviewers Like
- Smells great
- Perfect for styling
- Keeps hair in place all-day
Reviewers Dislike
- Doesn’t hold as well as some brands
2. Cantu Cream Pomade: Men’s Collection
The best budget pomade
Brand: Cantu | Type: Medium Hold | Amount: 8 oz | Price: 💰💰
Cantu’s styling pomade is functional with any hair type but works best with wavy, coarse, or curly hair. It is formulated to define curls, while also keeping them in place. Caffeine, hemp seed oil, and shea butter help nourish hair and encourage health and growth. This pomade is free of parabens, mineral oils, and sulfates, to keep you and your locks healthy. Best of all, this high-quality pomade is available at a very low price!
Overall, buyers were happy with this budget pomade by Cantu. Most thought that it was the perfect styling pomade for curly hair, due to its moisturizing properties. They also loved the smell of the pomade. However, some didn’t think the quality of the pomade was up to par. Some simply didn’t think it was a good product, and some mentioned that it just didn’t work with their specific hair type.
Reviewers Like
- It smells great
- Moisturizes hair
- Is great for curly hair
Reviewers Dislike
- Not great quality
- Didn’t work well for some
3. Organic Hair Pomade
Best hair pomades for men: the green pick
Brand: John Masters Organics | Type: Medium Hold | Amount: 2 oz | Price: 💰💰💰
This pomade from John Masters Organics is one of the best on the market. It has a medium hold, and works to nourish hair, and even helps protect it against heat damage. The product will keep your hair where you want it, but will also keep it soft and smooth. It even works to help keep curls in position, while remaining curly.
This pomade is made of USDA-certified organic ingredients, and comes in an eco-friendly tin, making it our Green Pick! John Masters Organics products are made of at least 70% organic ingredients, except for water and salt. This pomade in particular is made of at least 95% organic ingredients, which is a requirement for a product to be USDA-certified organic. As the cherry on top, they never test products on animals and have no harmful ingredients in their products.
Most buyers loved this hair pomade. It helped them manage their hard-to-manage hair, eliminated their frizz, and they loved that a little went a very long way. Despite the good, there were still a few buyers who weren’t impressed. A couple of buyers mentioned that the pomade did not have a strong enough hold for their hair and that it made their hair shiny.
Reviewers Like
- Eliminates frizz
- A little goes a long way
- Helps manage unruly hair
Reviewers Dislike
- Causes shine/too oily
- Doesn’t have a stronghold
4. Extreme Hold Matte Pomade
The best pomade for fine hair
Brand: Reuzel | Type: Strong Hold | Amount: 1.3, 4, & 12 oz | Price: 💰💰💰
This matte pomade has a strong hold and delivers a dry, textured look. The pomade is also perfect to add volume and fullness if your hair tends to be flat. It works on coarse, thick hair, but of course, works with thin hair as well. Due to its matte finish, if you don’t like the glossy look that some pomades or gels can give, this is perfect for you.
The majority of buyers love this pomade. They found that it held their hair in place all day, but didn’t look like there was product in their hair. Several buyers said they thought it was the best hair pomade for men on the market. Unfortunately, on Amazon, quite a few reviewers noted they may have either received a bad batch of pomade or that the seller wasn’t Reuzel. Needless to say, if you are worried about getting a knock-off product, buy from Reuzel’s website, directly.
Reviewers Like
- Great quality product
- Pomade holds all-day
- Doesn’t look like there’s any product in
Reviewers Dislike
- Didn’t have the strongest hold (Could’ve been a bad batch or knock-off
5. Superhold Hair Pomade
The best pomade for thick hair
Brand: Layrite | Type: Strong Hold | Amount: 4.25 oz | Price: 💰💰💰
This water-based hair pomade is formulated to keep hair in place, no matter what style it’s in. It is advertised as being capable of holding fauxhawks and other high-elevation styles without flaking or losing hold by the end of the day. It will rinse off with water, so you don’t need any special product to get it out of your hair. Layrite’s pomade comes in a mild cream soda scent.
Buyers couldn’t be happier with this hair pomade for men. It worked for reviewers’ thick, curly, and hard-to-control hair, all while keeping it feeling soft. There were no negative reviews about this pomade, everyone gave it a 5-star rating!
Reviewers Like
- Perfect for curly hair
- Hair still feels soft with pomade in
- Keeps coarse, thick hair under control
Reviewers Dislike
- No negative reviews!
Our Process
For this guide on the best hair pomades for men, our team spent 6 hours researching the most popular options from over 11 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read over 150 user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each pomade. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 5 men’s hair pomades on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.
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