Top Pomades for Curly Hair: Expert Buyer’s Guide

Having a curly hair can be troublesome.

It becomes even more problematic to find a suitable pomade for such hair.

There are plenty of products out there, but not all of them work well.

Finding an unsuitable pomade can have long-lasting effects on your hair.

There are plenty of mistakes that can happen that you don’t want to make.

That’s why we recommend doing things in a methodical way.

Start your search based on your needs, or better yet, your curly hair needs.

Here you will find the things that you should be looking for when picking a pomade for curly hair.

We break down everything as thoroughly as possible and teach you the best way to make your pick.

What Is Pomade for Curly Hair

Pomade for curly hair resembles hair wax. Its function is to add shine and slickness to curly hair and make styling easy. 

The level of hold and shine differs from one brand to another. All in all, pomade helps curly-haired people unlock more ways of styling their hair. It also offers different effective ways to soften a beard if you have one. 

If you don’t want to style your hair, you can still use pomade to add texture to your hair, making it look stylish and more sophisticated. 

Whether you are looking at having a suitable beard for your job interview or more general ways how to straighten curly beard, pomade is a must-have in your grooming kit.  

Benefits of Using Pomade for Curly Hair

Provides Control and Hold

Curly hair is frizzy and seems messy all the time. It’s one of the unprofessional hairstyles for men to avoid. Pomade provides both hold and control, allowing you to style your hair the way you want. 

Helps With Restyling 

Water-based pomade, unlike sprays and gels, can be restyled with water. This allows for easy tweaking of your hairstyles as you go on with your day. 

Provides Good Shine

Pomades come in shiny or matte finishes. This helps give your hair either a textured or dapper look, depending on the look you are going for. 

Healthy Ingredients 

Hair products made of natural products are the best since it ensures that your hair doesn’t get damaged. 

Most pomades are made of natural ingredients giving you the freedom to style your curly hair without worrying about hair damage in the long run. 

How Do Pomades for Curly Hair Work

Pomades for curly hair are designed to give hair a neat finish plus hold if you want to style it. Pomades should be applied after showering when the hair is still damp rather than wet or dry. 

Applying pomade on very wet or dry hair will not do much in the hold. Most pomades require warming before use since they are hard. 

Scrape a small amount of the pomade and rub it in your palms until it is warm enough and easy to apply to the hair. 

Make sure that you apply the pomade even to the roots of the hair, start small, and increase the product amount depending on your hair needs.

Use a premium beard comb to distribute the pomade and work your facial hair into your desired style. 

Pros and Cons of Using Pomades for Curly Hair

Pros

• Pomades provide supreme hold when build-up has been achieved.
• Most hair pomades contain ingredients that nourish and strengthen the hair, like coconut oil and castor oil.
• Gives the hair a natural shine.
• Helps moisturize the hair in the process.

Cons

• Applying pomade can be real messy since anything the hair touches becomes greasy.
• Some pomades, especially the oil-based ones, can prove challenging to wash out and require multiple shampoo treatments.

Types of Pomades for Curly Hair

Oil-Based

This is the most common and old-school type of hair pomade. Oil-based pomades have been around for decades and remain popular to date for a good reason.

This pomade provides a unique hold and has a one-of-a-kind formula giving it a classic look that most hair enthusiasts look for. 

The consistency of the pomade is slick, smooth, and a little greasy. It doesn’t dry as quickly as water-based pomades. Instead, it creates a look that can be restyled during the day. 

It is no wonder people who used pomades in the 50s always had a comb with them. The comb was for restyling the hair during the day. 

If you are looking for that traditional look popular in the 50s, this is the right pomade for you.

Water-Based

Water-based pomades are soluble in water. Generally, the product makes use of a formula that contains water. 

The best thing about water-based pomades is that the products break down quickly, making it easy to not only apply them but remove them. 

Unlike oil-based pomades, you don’t need special shampoos or soaps to wash off water-based pomades. The pomade comes with a rich and creamy consistency that is easy to work into the hair.

When applied, the water evaporates and the remaining product holds the hair in place, making sure it looks good all day long. 

Water-based pomades work for all hair types but work better for thick and curly hair that can sometimes be hard to style with other products.

How to Choose the Best Pomade for Curly Hair

Your Style

The first thing you need to consider is the style you are going for. Water-based pomades make it easy to style and restyle your hair during the day. 

Water-based pomades also wash out easily and don’t damage your hair as much as oil-based pomades. If possible, go for a product that provides medium to firm hold if your hair is too curly. 

Hair Type

When you are buying a hair pomade, your hair type will determine the ideal product in the end. 

Some people have curly, dry hair, while others have curly soft hair. If your hair is coarse, it will require a stronger hold to maintain the style. On the other hand, fine hair will do with a medium hold. 

Ease of Use

Not all hair pomades are easy to use. Before buying pomade, read the usage instructions to see if that works for you.

Control and Hold

This all comes down to your type of hair and the kind of hold you are looking for. For coarse hair, you need a pomade that provides a strong hold.

You can go for a pomade that provides a medium hold for fine hair. The whole point of using pomade is to control and hold, so go for what works best for your hair. 

Level of Shine

Pomades come in either shiny or matte finishes. What level of shine are you looking for? Do you want overly shiny hair or are you good with a matte finish? The kind of pomade you choose comes down to your personal preferences.

Ingredients

The health of your hair matters when you are using hair products and it’s no different with hair pomades. 

Go for pomades that contain natural ingredients since there is little risk of hair damage after use. 

Price

Different types of pomades exist on the market. The products differ in features and ingredients, thus the variation in pricing. 

Always have a reasonable budget when you are buying any product. Most of all, go for a product that suits all your needs and make sure you go through customer reviews to determine the best product for your hair type. 

How to Apply Pomade for Curly Hair 

Step 1 – Wet the hair

A major misconception about using pomades is that you need to apply pomade on dry hair. This is wrong. 

Instead, the hair should be damp. This is because most pomades are chemically activated by water. Therefore take a shower first and dry your hair with a clean towel such that it still retains a little moisture. 

Step 2 – Apply pomade to the hair roots

The roots are the best place to start using pomades for curly hair. After all, the whole point of using pomade is to help with styling, and what better place to start than the base of the hair? 

Scoop enough pomade and apply to the roots of your hair, massaging gently to distribute the product. 

Step 3 – Spread the pomade around

Once your roots are covered, you can apply pomade to the rest of your hair.

Step 4 – Comb to distribute the pomade

Just like when you are using hair relaxing creams to tame and straighten your beard, use a comb to distribute the pomade throughout your hair.

At this point, you already know how to trim and shape your beard. Use those beard-shaping tips to style your beard or hair the way you want. You can use barber shears to remove unwanted hair and make styling easy. 

What happens if you can’t grow good hair or beard? Hair tonics for growth exist for that reason. It is also worth noting that there is no harm in using other products like beard oil. 

Step 5 – Let the pomade dry

Your hair should be damp when you are applying pomade. To maintain the hold, let the hair dry naturally. If you need to restyle, you can always apply a little water, especially using water-based pomade. 

You can also use a hairdryer since it helps the hair stay in place for longer while providing more texture and bounce. 

The importance of beard oil cannot be overlooked when you are using pomade. Feel free to use beard products as you would normally do to maintain the health of your beard. 

Does More Spending Mean More Quality

When it comes to hair pomades, you don’t need to go for the most expensive one. In this case, more spending doesn’t always mean high quality.

The most important thing to consider is whether the hair pomade works for your hair type. You also need to consider the ingredients and the kind of hold the pomade provides. 

Do’s and Don’ts With Pomade for Curly Hair

• Talk to your hairstylist or barber first before buying any hair pomade. They will tell you what will work for you and what won’t. 
• If you have hard to tame curly hair, comb it in a certain way every time you apply pomade to train it to grow in that direction. 
• Buy hair pomade made with natural ingredients to ensure that your hair is damaged.
• Before applying hair pomade, wet your hair first and make sure it’s damp. 
• Never be afraid to try something new when it comes to styling. Using hair pomade for curly hair gives you the freedom to style your hair however you want. 

FAQ About Pomades for Curly Hair

What type of hair is good for pomade?

You can use hair pomade on both straight and curly hair.

Is pomade good for curly hair?

Pomade is perfect for curly hair since it helps you achieve a distinct look by making it easy to style your frizzy hair. 

Does hair pomade cause hair loss?

Hair pomade doesn’t cause hair loss. However, not caring for your scalp the right way while using hair pomade can lead to hair loss. 

Can you use hair pomade on your beard?

Yes, you can use hair pomade to style an unruly beard. Beard pomade smells good and helps style the beard while hydrating your facial hair. 

Is hair pomade better than wax?

Depending on hair pomade, some are better than wax since they provide more shine. Hair pomade also has a lightweight feel and offers a medium to firm hold. 

Can hair pomade go bad?

Most pomades can last for a year, but some go bad after six months. You must check the product’s expiration date before you buy if you want something that will last more than a couple of months. 

Conclusion 

Men with thick, wavy, and curly hair struggle to find suitable styles. Hair pomade is made to provide the right kind of hold that is enough to style your curly hair however you want. Long gone are the days when you had to endure unruly and messy hair because you had no option. Using hair pomade gives you the freedom to style and restyle your hair all day long.