squarepegnelson asked: I'm needing some advice on what products to use in order to give myself a more slightly disheveled, non/less-shiny pomp. Also, I'm pretty broke, so I can't spend a lot of money.
Hi, that’s a really good question! Now, I don’t claim to know everything there is to know about hair and styling products. However, I am in the process of going to school for my Cosmetology certificate and license. So I do have some knowledge about this stuff. What I can tell you is this… not all styling products work the same for everyone. Texture (straight, wavy, curly, kinky) and density (fine, medium, thick) along with the condition of your hair and scalp are going to really determine what types of hair products will work best for you.
If your hair and scalp are prone to naturally producing a lot of oil, this can affect how your hair reacts to certain styling products. Particularly if you’re using products whose main ingredients are very greasy/oily like in most pomades. Pomades are kind of what I would consider the classic pompadour styling products of choice. Here are two that I use fairly regularly, are really inexpensive ( one to two dollars ) and are available at most convenience stores.
Royal Crown Hair Dressing - It’s soft and super pliable, it smells pretty good. Though it can be very greasy/shiny if you use too much.
Murray’s Superior Hair Dressing Pomade
Now this stuff is super thick and can also be very greasy/shiny if you over do it. They key with using pomades and having them not be too greasy or shiny is to use a small amount. It also helps to really emulsify the product in your hands before applying it to your hair. Once you’ve done that, start with the tips of your fingers first to gently distribute it. Then work the rest of the product throughout your hair from back to front and root to tip with your whole hand. This will help with distributing it evenly.
Oh yeah and I almost forgot. I have used the above pomade Sportin’ Waves before. It falls kind of somewhere in between the two above mentioned pomades in how stiff it is. It has kind of a matte cream finish so it’s not as shiny as the other two either, but it’s still really inexpensive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it for more than $4.00.
Just some background info on Pomades: they were originally thought of and used as moisturizers because they slicked the hair down well and gave a sheen to it as though it was perpetually wet. In actuality though, pomades tend to seal moisture out of the hair because the molecules in petroleum are too large to penetrate the hair shaft. This can result in clogged pores and lead to a build up of oil and grease on the scalp and in your hair. Using small amounts helps to combat that problem.
Your hair is made up of mostly hydrogen bonds, and two things break those down: heat and water. You can use both to your advantage. I would recommend applying styling products when your hair is either just slightly damp or mostly dry. Water obviously will dilute styling products, which causes them to not work as effectively. This can result in you needing to use more of the product. So you don’t want to apply them with your hair really wet. Also, using a hair dryer after applying hair products for added volume and height can help with not having to use so much of them. Oh and if you’re going about your day and notice that your hair is starting to get a little too unruly or dishevled, just using a little water on your fingertips and running them through your hair can help to reset your style.
I can also hear what you’re saying, “what if I don’t want to use pomades at all?” or “what if I don’t want to use the pomades you’ve mentioned above?” I found this awesome website that list several different kinds of similar hair products ranging from liquid and water based ones to heavier wax like consistency ones.
I should mention that I’m an ethical vegan, so I don’t use styling products that consist of animal product ingredients or are tested on animals. The ones listed on that site are all vegan which is pretty amazing. Vegan products also tend to be better for you because they are mostly made up of more natural (sometimes even organic) plant based ingredients which are less harsh on your hair. So it’s a win win situation.
I also splurge from time to time and get more expensive hair styling products like texture and molding creams. Buble and Bumble and Paul Mitchell make some really nice ones, but again they are going to be far more expensive. I’m a believer though that you don’t necessarily have to pay a lot of money on hair products if you know what you’re buying and how to use them. If anyone else has any recommendations please feel free to submit them and I will post them for squarepegnelson and everyone else to check out.
-
oliverhyde liked this
-
fuckyeahqueerpomps posted this
