Pomade may sound like a tropical fruit but it’s actually a hair styling product. If you’re curious about how to apply pomade, how much pomade to use, and other such questions, we’ll try to quickly answer everything in this article.
What is pomade?
Pomade is a general term for a wide range of hairstyling products and isn’t too specific. It comes from French where pommade means “an ointment”, which itself comes from the Latin pomum which is “fruit or apple”.
So pomade is simply “a hair ointment”. Pomade products can be waxy, water-based, or greasy. Traditionally, most pomade products were oily but water-based pomades have grown in popularity in recent years.
The difference between these types of pomade is in how much they hold – water-based pomade is lighter while a more greasy pomade is stronger. The strength of the pomade should be mentioned on the packaging together with how much shine it offers.
You may have heard some people talk about pomade and hair loss and wonder “Is pomade bad for your hair?” Don’t worry, it’s not.
How to use pomade?
There are several simple steps to applying pomade, almost regardless of what type it is. If you’re wondering how to use pomade on curly hair, the process is virtually the same as with straight hair. Here’s what you’d do:
- Wash and towel-dry your hair first. Like most hairstyle products, pomade works best on clean hair so you should take a shower before you use it. If you want to use shampoo and/or conditioner before the pomade, that’s fine, just make sure to rinse and towel-dry your hair before the pomade. You don’t need to use a heat drier, your hair can still be moist when you apply the pomade, as long as it’s not dripping wet. In fact, most types of pomade work best on damp hair.
- Put a little pomade in your palm. For medium-length hair and for most types of pomade you can use as little as a dime-sized portion. If your hair is longer or if the specific pomade you’re using says otherwise, you can use a little more. Generally, you should get a feel for what quantity you’re comfortable with after a couple of applications. To apply the pomade, just run your hands evenly through your hair and make sure the pomade is spread to all parts of your hair but not to the scalp – pomade is not harmful to your scalp, it’s just not needed there.
- Style your hair however you want. You can go with the currently-trendy messy look and just spike it in whichever direction you prefer. Or, you can grab a comb and slick your hair to the side or backward. You can also style your hair in a shiny ponytail or a bun.
