F.A.Q.

What’s your favorite pomade?

A) Brand wise, I don’t have a personal favorite – I can’t have one! There’s just too many great pomades out there. Consistency wise, I do highly favor medium ranged pomades. They have just the right amount of hold to get a decent sized pomp, don’t have a matte finish, and aren’t too thick, to the point where it doesn’t blend well at the crown or D.A.

I want to sport a pompadour, but I don’t know what to ask for. What are the dimensions of your haircut, so I can tell my barber/stylist?

A) Unfortunately, I don’t know the specific dimensions of my haircut! I just let my barber go to town, letting him know that I want to keep the top at a decent length, with a D.A. The longest my hair has been (while pomp’n) has been about 7-8 inches, and the shortest has been about 4. There isn’t a specific length you need, in order to pomp. It’s all about preference and styling technique.

The easiest and best way to get a proper “pompadour haircut,” is to bring in a picture! Stylists and barbers will always prefer this, over you trying to describe the cut. Our terminology is completely different from barbers/stylists, so you may say something wrong, and get what you asked for, and not what you imagined. If your barber or stylist can’t even remotely emulate what’s pictured, you may need to find a new barber/stylist!

What pomade did Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash use?

A) Legend has it, Johnny Cash used Royal Crown Pomade, and Elvis Presley used: Black & White, Royal Crown, Dixie Peach, Lovers Moon, Slick Black, Murray’s, Sweet Georgia Brown, and the list goes on. In the end, whatever either of those men used, will always vary from fan to fan. Without that one, definitive answer from someone who was there, the speculations will continue until the end of time. But, researching what either of em used and how, is the fun part, right?

Will pomade make my hair fall out?

A) Only if your genetics call for it. While there are certain ingredients in pomade that have pore-clogging properties, it all depends how you (genetically) react to em. And while there are pore-clogging ingredients in the pomade, there are also several other ingredients in the pomade, to help counter-balance it. Unless someone filled your tin of pomade with Nair, there’s no reason why your hair will fall out from pomade.

For the most part, anyone who has experienced actual hair-loss from a pomade, has been from user error. Meaning, they’ve either never taken care of their hair by not thoroughly washing the pomade out of their hair, every once in a while, or they’ve caked on so much pomade, that their scalp couldn’t breathe! It’s the same concept as wearing a hat everyday. You aren’t letting your scalp breathe, causing your hair to fall out.

Where do you get your grease from?

A) Nowadays, I rarely order any grease from the internet. I go around to various places, trying to find stuff I haven’t seen before, or see if a semi-local shop stocks a pomade that’s usually only found online. But if I do order online, I prefer to get it directly from the brand itself. If you’re gonna support the brand by buying their products, might as well buy directly, so they get the full support, instead of the middle man.

I like X pomade, but it’s getting too expensive to keep buying, any suggestions?

A) Situations like this happens way too often. People find a pomade they like, but in the long run, it ends up being too expensive to buy on a bi-weekly/monthly basis. Which is completely understandable. Depending on the type of pomade, you should take into consideration amount and price, when looking at the competitors.

For instance: You’re buying a 4oz pomade that’s about $18, (depending where you buy it from.) Say you pay the $18, you’re paying $4.50 per ounce. Then you find a competitive product, which charges say $21 for 6oz; that’s $3.50 per ounce. Now, I’m no math whiz… but, I’m pretty sure you’re getting a better deal paying $21 for 6oz.

And if the product is sold in a “family size,” always go that route. You’ll always save more when you buy the “family size” container. If you plan on buying the product again, chances are, YOU ACTUALLY LIKE IT, so why not?

Just some food for thought…

I can’t get the sides to slick down properly, anyway to deal with it?

A) There are several ways to deal with this, but you may need to invest in some new ware!

Most of the time, the comb won’t do the trick. So, you’ll need to go for a brush. Not just any brush, but a boar hair brush or Military brush. I’ve found that these types of brushes really work well to keep the hair slick. Depending on how hard you brush, you can get hair slicked down to the skin! I prefer to use the coarse ones, but depending on the sensitivity of your scalp, you may need to use the softer bristled boar brush.

If that’s not your thing, then you can always use those “finger combs” that you usually find at the liquor store or barbershop display window. They’re about $1, and do the trick. The teeth are no longer than a CM, which helps slicking down those trouble spots.

Note: Both of these products also work extremely well for slicked back hairstyles, or any other hairstyle where the hair is meant to be slicked down, without volume.

What’s the easiest way to wash out pomade from my hair and hands?

A) Use these links as a reference:

Product Review: Groom & Clean
Washing Out Pomade: How-to
Washing Out Pomade: Part 2

What are some good pomades that hold up in the heat/humidity?

A) Personally, I find that water-soluble stuff is best for heat/humidity. Chances are, the bugs will be out and about, and I highly doubt you want any of those little bastards to find a home in your ‘do! Plus, they don’t melt, so you won’t have to worry about a greasy forehead.

How do you deal with your hair at night? (Before bed.)

A) Depending on my narcissistic mood, I’ll either comb it into a pomp for no damn reason, experiment to try out something new, or I’ll just slick it back, so it won’t stick directly to my face. I don’t worry about dealing with it the next day, because I shower the next morning, anyways.

If I’m using a super greasy pomade, I’ll actually dip my head under the sink and rinse it out a bit. It gets rid of the greasiness, so I don’t have to worry about caking my face with it. Or whenever I use a thick/heavy pomade, I’ll lay a towel/shirt over the pillowcase.

Anything else we should know?

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