Hair damp make look.

May 28, 2007 2:34 AM

Can I (a dude) use some kind of fabulous product to make my hair look the way it does when it's damp, all the time?

I'd dare say my hair looks pretty sexy a few minutes after I leave the shower, when it's a mix of dark brown and my regular brown color. I'm not looking to tame my wild curls, though--I'd just like something that preserves the feel and look of my damp hair. Incidentally, I learned what shampoo and conditioner do about this time two years ago, so I'm pretty clueless when it comes to hair. Is there a product for my need or should I just carry around a spray bottle of water?

posted by Citizen Premier to clothing, beauty, & fashion (20 comments total)

Oh, there are tonnes of things on the market; I'd say to buy a few different gels/waxes/muds and play around.
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:47 AM on May 28, 2007

black & white hair wax is good

gels tend to dry out during the course of the day, wax is best for long term effect.
posted by complience at 3:27 AM on May 28, 2007

Thirding wax. Quickly towel your hair, but leave it very, very slightly damp (more cool than moist). Put a pea-sized dab of wax on your finger tips, then rub your fingertips together to melt the wax and coat your fingers. Run your fingers through your hair, making sure to get the back of your head. Style / brush as normal.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 4:30 AM on May 28, 2007

Remember though - what looks pretty sexy to you might not to the ladies (assuming its ladies you're after)

Just personally, I hate guys that wear gel or wax or any other hair grossness - its not nice for the touching.

If you just want to feel sexy for yourself thats great but what looks good doesnt always feel good.
posted by missmagenta at 5:18 AM on May 28, 2007

Products to make hair look damp often instead make hair look greasy, and always look like product, not water.

If you like how the colour looks when it's damp, you can have your hair coloured to add 'lowlights' - streaks of darker dye. This can be expensive, though, and has to be repeated about every two to three months.

Since you have curly hair, I'm wondering if the difference is that your hair is somewhat under control when damp but becomes frizzy when dry. There are products that can help that without making it look damp/oily.
posted by watsondog at 5:27 AM on May 28, 2007

i also recommend hair wax... but try to get one with a water base rather than a petroleum base for two reasons. First, your hair won't look as greasy. Two, they're cheaper.
posted by tundro at 5:31 AM on May 28, 2007

You don't want something that makes your hair look really greasy or wet. I've got a friend who looks like he's been constantly taking a shower all day because of his hair. I'd recommend some Redken stuff anyhow.
posted by thelongcon at 5:56 AM on May 28, 2007

I'd say give regular, inexpensive gel a shot. A tube of LA Looks or a generic is around a dollar. Get a medium hold to start. Towel dry, but leave damp. Put about a half-inch diameter dab in your hand, and rub it between your palms. Now run your hands and fingers through your hair at all angles. Style as usual. You may not need a comb or brush.

The result is, your hair should NOT look wet or greasy, but it may preserve the wet color. In my case, gel dramatically reduces the appearance of my gray.
posted by The Deej at 8:24 AM on May 28, 2007

i also recommend hair wax... but try to get one with a water base rather than a petroleum base for two reasons. First, your hair won't look as greasy. Two, they're cheaper.

I would give the exact opposite advice. Use petroleum-based products, but with a VERY light touch. A can of Murray's Ultra Light will set you back $1.99, tops.

Most guys use it to slick their hair back. I, a girl, use it to control my short, very wavy curly hair. It definitely takes a bit of practice to not get the greasy look, but I like it better than many of the newfangled products. (E-mail me for more highly-specific advice, including how to remove residual built-up petroleum.)

Regular gel will make your hair crunchy.
posted by desuetude at 11:45 AM on May 28, 2007

I nth the wax suggestions. My boyfriend has used both wax and gel in the past (not at the same time, of course), and the wax definetly wins in the "natural look" department. I agree with missmagenta who said "hair grossness" [products] are not nice for the touching, but really, I'd rather have my bf looking good all day long, there's more of him to touch than just his hair.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 11:51 AM on May 28, 2007 [1 favorite]

Oh yeah, there's also a lot of creme-gel products out there, mostly intended for women. I use this one myself when I want the "wet hair" look. It's probably a good option to consider instead of wax.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 11:57 AM on May 28, 2007

Give a try to Artec Kiwi Shine Wax. It's beeswax-based, keeps my curly hair under control, and isn't either greasy or drying. As far as I can tell, it's actually good for hair health (a lot of styling products contain silicones, which aren't). Artec also makes a product called Piecing Paste, which might give you the look you want, but seems to be a bit more drying in the long term. Another option is Sebastian's Molding Mud, which has been on the market for what, 15 or 20 years at least?
posted by vers at 1:07 PM on May 28, 2007

I use American Crew Classic Wax once & a while when I go out. It stiffens up my hair a little more than I'd like it to, but it doesn't have much shine, which is nice. It can easily do the after-shower hair look, which is exactly what I usually try for too.
posted by devilsbrigade at 2:11 PM on May 28, 2007

Regular gel will make your hair crunchy.
posted by desuetude

Crunchy hair can indeed be a result of gel. However, the way I use it, it's not a problem. If you use the gel to hold your hair in place, crunchiness will indeed ensue. However, coating the hair with a small amount, as I suggested above, will not result in the crunch factor, nor will it look unduly sheeny. It will just add a little control, and keep the color closer to what it looks like when wet. No one ever guesses I use gel.
posted by The Deej at 5:12 PM on May 28, 2007

My brother used to use some gel called Wet or something like that for exactly this effect.
posted by salvia at 9:22 PM on May 28, 2007

Brylcreem, a little dab will do you.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:49 AM on May 29, 2007

Oh, and duh. Polishers. Not crunchy, not greasy, just shiny. I use Citreshine because it seems to be the cheapest at my drugstore. Rusk also makes a nice polisher.
posted by desuetude at 5:51 AM on May 29, 2007

The Deej, I bow to your superior gel usage-knowledge. Please go forth and evangelize.
posted by desuetude at 5:52 AM on May 29, 2007

The Deej, I bow to your superior gel usage-knowledge. Please go forth and evangelize.
posted by desuetude

It has been, and shall ever be, my mission in life.
posted by The Deej at 11:18 AM on May 29, 2007

Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade
posted by atomly at 3:25 PM on May 29, 2007