11 Best Hair Pomades of 2024 for Slick, Sculpted Styles, According to Hairstylists

Editor Tip: Nothing from Verb is over $20 for our budget-conscious shoppers. May we suggest prepping your hair with their Hydrating Shampoo?

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, sunflower seed extract, argan oil | Who It’s For: Those with oily hair, as the clay will absorb excess oil for a shine-free look

Best Natural: Moroccanoil Texture Clay

Why It’s Worth It: Moroccanoil’s Texture Clay Pomade isn’t too much of anything (not too shiny, too sticky, or too matte), and that’s why we love it for natural ‘do days. It certainly won’t leave your hair feeling stiff or hardened despite having clay in it—in fact, it’ll do quite the opposite since it’s formulated with conditioning shea butter and vitamin-rich aloe leaf juice.

Editor Tip: This takes a few minutes to dry before it sets, giving you ample time to perfect your style.

Key Ingredients: Bentonite clay, shea butter, aloe leaf juice | Who It’s For: Those having trouble controlling wispy baby hairs

Best for Edges: Maui Moisture Lightweight Curls + Flaxseed Edge Control Pomade

Why It’s Worth It: Tame stubborn edges with this medium shine pomade from Maui Moisture, which will conveniently infuse thick hair types with a nourishing blend of flaxseed, coconut water, and citrus oil as it holds. Aside from being a mainstay for edges, the formula also boosts texture for those with waves, curls, and coils without weighing it down.

Editor Tip: This doesn’t contain any alcohol, so it’s ideal for those with dry hair.

Key Ingredients: 100% aloe vera, flaxseed, coconut water, citrus oil | Who It’s For: Curly hair that needs moisture

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are hair pomades best for?

Pomades are best for classic hairstyles like slick backs, side parts, and pompadours, but truthfully, you can use them for any style you’re looking to add piecey, lived-in texture. Anyone can use a hair pomade, too, as Washington says there’s no real difference between styling pomades for men’s and women’s hair, and most formulas are universal. “It all just comes down to your personal preference, hair type, and styling needs,” he says. For instance, for those with curly hair, Washington says you wouldn’t necessarily use a pomade on your entire style, but rather to tame the edges and minimize flyaways. For people with straight hair looking to add lived-in texture, Washington says you’ll have more wiggle room. “This is because pomades make the hairstyle touchable, not stiff,” he says.

How should I use hair pomade?

The way in which you use a hair pomade will differ based on your desired look. For sleek, pulled-back ponytails and buns, tie your hair up and emulsify a small amount of product onto your fingers tips, afterwards rubbing it gently onto the roots or wherever you have flyways, such as around the hairline, says Hurtado. You can also use a boar bristle brush (Hurtado likes the Rpzl Polisher Brush) to brush down stubborn flyaways. To dame down tiny baby hairs, Hurtado recommends applying a small amount of hair pomade onto a clean mascara wand and pressing it into the roots. Regardless of your specific hair texture and length, both Washington and Hurtado recommend always starting with a pea-size amount and adding more as needed.