Quick answer: the best hair product for men depends on the finish you want. Choose a matte pomade or clay for natural, no-shine texture, a fibre paste for piecey, textured styles with flexible hold, a wax for shine and definition, a gel for maximum hold and slick looks, and a texture powder or sea salt spray for volume and a messy, undone finish. Curly hair usually does best with a curl cream or wax.
Walk down any men's grooming aisle and you'll find pomades, clays, pastes, waxes, gels, creams and powders, often promising the same thing. They're not the same, though. The difference comes down to two things: how strong the hold is, and how much shine it leaves. Here's how to choose.
Men's hair products at a glance
- Matte pomade / clay: medium to strong hold, zero shine. Best for short to medium textured styles, quiffs and crops.
- Fibre paste: medium-strong, flexible hold, natural finish. Best for piecey, separated texture you can restyle through the day.
- Wax: medium hold, glossy finish. Best for defined, polished styles, waves and curls.
- Gel: strong to extra-strong hold, shiny or wet look. Best for slick-backs, side partings and structured styles.
- Texture powder: light hold, matte. Best for volume at the roots and fine or flat hair.
- Sea salt spray: light hold, matte. Best for messy, beachy texture and pre-styling.
- Curl cream: soft hold, natural. Best for curly and wavy hair.
Pomade vs wax vs paste vs clay
Matte pomade and clay are the go-to for a modern, natural finish. Clay-based formulas absorb a little oil and give grip without shine, so hair looks touchable rather than "done". Mattifying Pomade combines kaolin and hectorite clays for a matte finish with strong-medium hold, plus organic juniper and orange extracts. It's reworkable through the day and tames flyaways and baby hairs.
Paste sits between a pomade and a wax. It's ideal for textured crops, messy fringes and anyone who wants separation and movement. Elastic Fibre Paste has a stringy, fibrous texture and medium-strong hold that defines every strand, with organic olive oil and sweet almond extract.
Wax adds shine and definition. It's great for polished, combed looks and for defining waves and curls. Elastic Moulding Wax won Best Defining Styler at the HAIR Awards 2024, with medium hold and a glossy finish.
Pomade vs wax in one line: choose matte pomade or clay for no shine, and wax when you want your style to look polished and glossy.
Wax or paste? A barber's rule
One of the simplest rules comes straight from the barber's chair:
- Short, textured cut? Use a matte paste. Elastic Fibre Paste gives messy, piecey texture with no stiffness and no shine.
- Curly or wavy hair? Reach for wax. Elastic Moulding Wax defines and shapes waves and curls with a glossy finish. On a short, textured cut, wax can look clumpy, which is why paste wins there.
Real cuts from MGC Coventry
Here's how the barbers at MGC Coventry, the barbershop owned by award-winning barber Connor Evans, style real clients with Insight. All three cuts are by Reece.
Before and after: curl cream
For curly cuts, Reece uses Curls Defining Hair Cream to define curls and control frizz without crunch.
Watch Reece's curl cream before and after on Instagram
Subtle taper: sea salt spray and hairspray
For this 0.5 taper, Reece builds texture with Texturizing Sea Salt Spray and locks it in with Strong Hold Ecospray.
Watch Reece's textured taper on Instagram
Styled with Shaping Cream
For more control and hold, Reece styles with Shaping Cream.
Watch Reece style with Shaping Cream on Instagram
Hair gel for men
Gel gives the strongest, most precise hold, perfect for slick-backs, sharp side partings and structured styles. Strong Hold Styling Gel gives lasting hold with shine, while Extra Strong Hold Styling Gel is for complex styles and short hair that needs to stay exactly in place. Both contain organic aloe and ginkgo biloba to keep hair hydrated rather than crunchy and flaky.
For a slick-back: apply gel to damp, towel-dried hair, comb back, then blow-dry for extra hold. For a softer, matte slick-back, use Mattifying Pomade on dry hair instead.
Hair powder and sea salt spray for men
If your hair is fine or falls flat, start with volume rather than hold. Texture Volumizing Powder gives instant lift and invisible, matte hold at the roots. Use it on dry hair only: shake a little onto the roots and work it in with your fingertips.
For a messy, beachy look, mist Texturizing Sea Salt Spray through damp hair, rough-dry with your fingers, then finish with a little paste or pomade. Our guide to sea salt spray vs texture powder explains how to layer them.
Products for men's curly and wavy hair
Strong gels can leave curls stiff and crunchy. For defined waves and curls, a wax like Elastic Moulding Wax works well on dry hair. For softer, touchable curls, use a curl cream on wet hair and let it dry without touching. Curls Defining Hair Cream defines curls and controls frizz without crunch, for men and women. For thick, coarse waves and curls that need more control, Shaping Cream gives strong hold and is also suitable for beards and moustaches. Read more in our guide on how to use curl cream and our curly hair oil guide.
Medium-length, wavy hair: this look was styled with Shaping Cream for shape and control, and Mattifying Pomade for a natural, low-shine finish.
Men's long hair
Longer styles need moisture and control more than hold. A lightweight anti-frizz fluid such as Oil Non Oil smooths and shapes without grease, and a leave-in conditioner keeps lengths soft and tangle-free.
Finishing and hold
For styles that need to last all day, finish with a light mist of Strong Hold Ecospray, a non-aerosol, gas-free hairspray that holds against wind and humidity.
How to apply men's hair products
- Start with clean, dry hair for pomade, clay, paste and wax. Gel and curl cream go on damp hair.
- Take a fingertip-sized amount. You can always add more.
- Warm it between your palms until it's almost invisible.
- Work it in from the back to the front and from the roots up, so the front doesn't get overloaded.
- Shape with your fingers for texture, or a comb for a neater finish.
What about shampoo?
Styling products last longer and look better on clean hair. If your scalp gets oily, read our guide to the best shampoo for oily hair; if you have flakes, see our guide to dandruff causes and treatment. Wash regularly so product doesn't build up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hair product for men with short hair?
For a natural, textured look, a matte pomade or fibre paste. For a polished, combed finish, a wax. For maximum control, a gel.
Is clay or pomade better?
Traditional pomades are often shiny; matte pomades and clays give a natural, no-shine finish. Mattifying Pomade is clay-based, so it gives a matte finish with strong-medium hold.
What's best for thin or fine hair?
Lightweight products that add volume: texture powder at the roots, sea salt spray, and a small amount of matte pomade or paste. Avoid heavy gels and greasy waxes.
Should I use wax or paste?
Paste for short, textured cuts and a matte finish; wax for curly or wavy hair and a glossy, defined finish.
What do barbers use on curly hair?
At MGC Coventry, Reece styles curly cuts with Curls Defining Hair Cream for definition without crunch.
Can I mix hair products?
Yes. Barbers often layer products, for example sea salt spray for texture and a hairspray to hold it, or Shaping Cream with a little Mattifying Pomade.
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About the author
Charlotte Read has spent six years in the hair industry with Insight Professional and holds a First Class BSc in Business Management and Marketing. She writes with reference to real salons across social media and the wider Insight community, and draws on the Insight office team, who between them bring over 100 years of combined experience on salon floors.
Where technical expertise is needed, Charlotte consults Lorraine Matic, Head of Insight UK Education, who brings over 38 years of global experience in colour, technique and hair science.