how to hair?
April 5, 2022 7:42 AM Subscribe
During the pandemic, I changed my regular hairstyle to something that involves putting some product (pomade) in my hair. I am a man, 50s, with , midlength sort-of-curly hair. It usually looks good for a few hours before I need to re-apply. Next week, I'm going to a conference where I'll be out all day. Do I need to carry pomade around with me all day? I don't usually carry a bag - it seems like a hassle to carry one just to keep my hair in check. How do people do this?
Is there some easy way to carry this stuff? Some solution that doesn't involve carrying hair-grooming stuff with me all day? Something else?
Is there some easy way to carry this stuff? Some solution that doesn't involve carrying hair-grooming stuff with me all day? Something else?
Many people keep a backpack or laptop bag with them these days, but it's not uncommon to see basic combs and pomade sample sizes in people's items they carry in a pocket.
But, also, sometimes people just look a little dishevelled by the end of the day. I'm positive, like with most things, you notice yourself 50x more often than others notice you. When was the last time you thought about how someone else's hair was (not in relation to your own?).
posted by bbqturtle at 7:53 AM on April 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
But, also, sometimes people just look a little dishevelled by the end of the day. I'm positive, like with most things, you notice yourself 50x more often than others notice you. When was the last time you thought about how someone else's hair was (not in relation to your own?).
posted by bbqturtle at 7:53 AM on April 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Game changer for me was using a dryer. I have short hair so I used to just towel dry but using a dryer after towelling will seal the cuticle and make your hair stay in place longer.
posted by lemur at 7:54 AM on April 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by lemur at 7:54 AM on April 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
What are you trying to do here - slick the hair back? Up? Enhance the curls?
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:59 AM on April 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:59 AM on April 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Yes, what's the desired style? You may be using the wrong product, too little of it, the incorrect strength of hold, or possibly need to add a second product to get all day hold.
posted by ananci at 8:29 AM on April 5, 2022
posted by ananci at 8:29 AM on April 5, 2022
Best answer: I suspect you should be using a gel or cream rather than pomade. For a dirt-cheap experiment, you can try drugstore products like Fructis Curl Sculpt Cream Gel, Aussie Miracle Curls, or Not Your Mother's Curl Talk gel.
With curly/wavy hair, you want a product that a) prevents curls from getting frizzy b) keeps them from drooping straight c) holds the curls together in clumps. Pomade will do A, but B and C not terribly well because it is heavy and doesn't have much hold.
For best application, scrunch your hair with a towel (brush it before washing, not after) to get the drips out, and then scrunch in your product, and then after it dries scrunch out the crunch if you're using a firm enough hold product that it gets a little crunchy when dry.
This should at least hold you through one sleep, and depending on the nature of your hair you may be able to scrunch with damp hands the next day without re-washing.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:46 AM on April 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
With curly/wavy hair, you want a product that a) prevents curls from getting frizzy b) keeps them from drooping straight c) holds the curls together in clumps. Pomade will do A, but B and C not terribly well because it is heavy and doesn't have much hold.
For best application, scrunch your hair with a towel (brush it before washing, not after) to get the drips out, and then scrunch in your product, and then after it dries scrunch out the crunch if you're using a firm enough hold product that it gets a little crunchy when dry.
This should at least hold you through one sleep, and depending on the nature of your hair you may be able to scrunch with damp hands the next day without re-washing.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:46 AM on April 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Would it be feasible to put a small amount of pomade into a container that will fit in your pocket? Or is the consistency something that would be wrecked by body heat?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:42 AM on April 5, 2022
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:42 AM on April 5, 2022
I use a fairly stiff pomade that comes in little pucks and I keep one at my desk. This pomade has no gloss so it is as close to invisible as possible when I wear it. For some reason I am self conscious about hair product - I don’t feel comfortable looking like I have put a lot of product in my hair or achieved a style that would be impossible without product. It’s fine for other but for myself I want maximum norm.
I have found that wetting my hair (short, thinning, a bit wavy) first and then applying extra pomade in the morning keeps the hair held longer. Also if I slightly overapply in the morning, later in the day if I wet my hands and run them through my hair it kind of reactivates the pomade and I can tidy things up and tame stray clumps. This can work for an entire day and into evening.
posted by sol at 10:03 AM on April 5, 2022
I have found that wetting my hair (short, thinning, a bit wavy) first and then applying extra pomade in the morning keeps the hair held longer. Also if I slightly overapply in the morning, later in the day if I wet my hands and run them through my hair it kind of reactivates the pomade and I can tidy things up and tame stray clumps. This can work for an entire day and into evening.
posted by sol at 10:03 AM on April 5, 2022
It is totally reasonable to go "freshen up" in the middle of your day. Splash your face, touch up your hair, etc. You can probably get a travel size pomade and just take a few minutes in the restroom at your lunch break.
Mousse on damp hair seems to hold for at least 8 hours on me. But, hair texture and style are very individual.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:24 AM on April 5, 2022
Mousse on damp hair seems to hold for at least 8 hours on me. But, hair texture and style are very individual.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:24 AM on April 5, 2022
Keep in mind a gel is like a (light) glue, and when you add water it perks back up again. Some folks get decent second-day hair that way. If you like the effects of the pomade, but need it to last longer, I would recommend you just mix in a little gel, rather than use hairspray. From what you describe, it sounds like your pomade (think wax) may be a little weak for your hair. Also note that wax can build up over time, and be hard to wash out, which can change how well your hair reacts to it. Whatever you put on your hair, mix it up well in your hands, and try to distribute it evenly through your hair, under, over, top, bottom.
As for what kind of gel (or pomade), a lot of it depends on the thickness of your hair. For curly hair, at all levels of curl, I like Ouidad, but there are many curly hair products at this point, including Deva and, more recently, JVN which has gotten good reviews.
posted by Violet Blue at 12:27 PM on April 5, 2022
As for what kind of gel (or pomade), a lot of it depends on the thickness of your hair. For curly hair, at all levels of curl, I like Ouidad, but there are many curly hair products at this point, including Deva and, more recently, JVN which has gotten good reviews.
posted by Violet Blue at 12:27 PM on April 5, 2022
Best answer: I am a lady with very thick, wavy short hair and I concur with the above commenters that your pomade may be a little too weak for your hair. I use American Crew Fiber Cream to hold my hair in place - for up to 3 days. It has a little bit of stiffness to it, but you can fluff the stiffness out by fluffing your hair with your fingers. Use it sparingly, I use a pea-size drop. It's also available at Great Clips salons (at least in Illinois), if you don't want to order from Amazon.
posted by sarajane at 12:35 PM on April 5, 2022
posted by sarajane at 12:35 PM on April 5, 2022
Response by poster: Ah! Gel was the answer. I never really thought much about hair products, or how they differ from each other. Turns out gel does its stuff all day without much extra care. Thanks!
posted by ManInSuit at 4:46 PM on April 15, 2022
posted by ManInSuit at 4:46 PM on April 15, 2022
« Older How do you, a person with bipolar, keep a healthy... | All Relationships Are Temporary Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
I don't have any recommendations as to which spray would be best for your texture, but Youtube is a treasure trove of hair info for anyone's style.
posted by kimberussell at 7:52 AM on April 5, 2022