So you’ve decided to upgrade your hairstyle from your boyish, middle school spiky in the front get-up to a manly Mad Men haircut with a nice taper and a sharp, crisp part. Bully for you! But to get that handsome, Cary Grant shine, you’ll need to man-up your hair products from the sticky blue hair gel you’ve been using since you were first sprouting armpit hair.
Below I’ve compiled a list of five old-school hair products that are guaranteed to give you that shiny, silver-screen leading man look. Chances are your grandpa used (and maybe still uses) these same products. Not only did Gramps know a thing or two about shaving, he also knew how to get a smooth do to match his smooth swagger.
Brylcreem
For nearly 90 years, Brylcreem has been a staple in men’s medicine cabinets. Its mineral oil/beeswax base provides maximum sheen and all-day hold, while keeping your hair soft and pliable. Plus, it leaves your hair smelling delightfully clean and manly. This is my favorite old-school groom and the one Kate says looks best in my hair.
According to the makers of Brylcreem, just “a little dab will do ya” to get maximum shine and hold. In my experience, I’ve had to use more than just a little dab. It might be because I have pretty thick hair. So you’ll have to experiment to find the amount that works for you.
To use Brylcreem, simply rub a little (or large) dab into your hair while its still damp. Style as desired.
A big tube of Brylcreem will set you back about $7, but it will last you a fairly long time. When I was using Brylcreem regularly, a tube lasted me about 6 months. Pretty good value, if you ask me.
On the downside, Brylcreem (and many of these old-school hair products) can leave your hair feeling greasy on account of its oil base. If you do use Brylcreem, wash your hair every day or else you’ll get a super thick build up of grease in your hair. I found that it would take two or three hair washes to completely rid my hair of it.
The extra oil in Brylcreem can also cause acne flare-ups around your hairline. I’ve had this problem with Brylcreem in the hot and humid Oklahoma summers. I end up sweating Brylcreem out of my hair and onto my face, and I start looking like a pimply 16-year old. Consequently, I just use Brylcreem during the winter months.
Vitalis Hair Tonic
Touted as a greaseless alternative to pomades and other grooming products, Vitalis Hair Tonic was the go-to hair product for up-scale gents who wanted shiny hair without looking like some greasy punk kid. (Fast Fact: Vitalis and its users often referred to products like Brylcreem as “greasy kids’ stuff.”) Vitalis is able to provide the shine without the grease because of “the greaseless grooming discovery V7.” (I still haven’t been able to figure out what this magical V7 stuff is exactly).
While Vitalis provides a handsome sheen to your hair and makes it easier to comb and style, it doesn’t provide much hold. You’ll have to keep applying it throughout the day to keep your hair looking wet. At least that’s been my experience.
The high alcohol content leaves your hair with a pleasant antiseptic smell to it. You’d think smelling like rubbing alcohol would be a bad thing, but somehow Vitalis makes it work. Just make sure you keep your head away from any open flames as the alcohol is a fire hazard. Fire-hair only works for the Heat Miser.
A bottle of Vitalis will set you back about $5.
To use, simply pour a small amount of the golden liquid into your hand and massage into your scalp and hair for 60 seconds. Comb. Bada-bing! You’re looking like Sinatra before his toupee days.
And freaking Bob Allison of the Minnesota Twins used Vitalis. If he did, why wouldn’t you?
Groom and Clean
Groom and Clean is my second favorite of all the old-school men’s hair products. It’s water based so it doesn’t leave your hair feeling greasy, yet it still gives you that slick, vintage Hollywood look. Groom and Clean provides excellent all day hold, so you’re looking dapper from morning until night.
Because it’s water based, it washes out easily. You just have to rinse your hair with water and it’s gone. Much better than Brylcreem and other oil based hair grooms.
Another benefit the Groom and Clean manufacturers tout is that it cleans away dirt and dandruff. I’m not sure if there’s any evidence to back up the cleaning properties of Groom and Clean, but based on my experience, I can say that my hair feels cleaner throughout the day when I use it. So that’s a bonus.
It also has a very pleasant, spicy smell to it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. It’s sort of like zucchini or pumpkin bread. Whatever it is, I like it.
Groom and Clean comes in a big tube and has the consistency of modern hair gels, without their usual stickiness. A tube will set you back about $5, and it lasts a long time.
If none of the above convinced you to try Groom and Clean, just be aware of the fact that sultry voiced mermaids love a man who uses it:
Murray’s Pomade
Since 1925, Murray’s Pomade has been providing shine and hold to the hair of men from all walks of life. Invented by C.D. Murray, an African-American barber from Chicago, Murray’s Pomade was originally designed for and marketed to black men to achieve that classic wave look, but white dudes soon discovered that the orange tins of goop provided amazing hold, lift, and shine for their hair, too. It’s the perfect substance to mold massive pompadours.
Murray’s Pomade is heavy and greasy. It has the thick consistency of Vaseline petroleum jelly. Because Murray’s is so thick, you’ll have to soften it up with heat before you can use it. People who use Murray’s all have different tricks for warming their pomade. Some just use the friction between their hands while others will scoop some out with their comb and run a hair dryer over it until it melts a bit, then they comb it into their hair.
Murray’s was designed to stay in hair for a long time, so it’s a booger to wash out. (This is the complaint I had when I used the product.) The company’s website suggests using liquid dish washing soap to wash it out of your hair. Some customers claim rinsing your hair with Coca-Cola will do the trick.
Like any oil based hair product, Murray’s can cause acne along the hairline. Wash your hair and face regularly to avoid outbreaks.
A three ounce can of Murray’s Pomade will only set you back $3.
You can pick-up a can in the African-American haircare section at most drugstores.
Note: Murray’s has expanded their product line beyond their original pomade. Check out their Nu Nile Hair Slick Pomade for an especially wet look.
Wildroot Cream Oil
Infused with lanolin, Wildroot Cream Oil keeps hair slick and oh so shiny throughout the day. Wildroot has a thinner consistency than the other hair products. It feels almost like sunscreen lotion. Consequently, it doesn’t feel as heavy on the head as a product like Brylcreem does. It has a subtle talc scent that blends well with other manly smells. A large bottle of Wildroot will set you back about $7. Again, like many of these products, it will last you a pretty long time, so it’s a good value.
I’ve used Wildroot off and on for a few years, and it’s my least favorite of the old-school men’s hair products. My biggest complaint (despite what advertisements for the product claim) is how oily the stuff is. While it doesn’t feel as thick in your hair as Brylcreem, I feel like Wildroot doesn’t do a good job of staying on my head where it belongs. By the middle of the day, my face is all greasy, even if I haven’t been sweating. I tend to break out with acne more with Wildroot, too.
My other complaint with Wildroot is that it doesn’t comb in as well as pomades or Brylcreem. I’m often left with white streaks in my hair. Granted, I could be doing something wrong, but I’ve never had this problem with any of the other products.
While Wildroot doesn’t work for me, it seems to work fantastically for Wildroot Charlie. Just a whistle, wink, and a bit of Wildroot and the girl is his. Let’s see your hair gel do that.
Where Can I Buy This Stuff?
You can buy all of these old-school hair products at most drug stores and big box retailers like Target and Wal-Mart. You’d think these items would be in the haircare section along with the gels and other modern hair styling products, but you’d be wrong. They’re typically shelved along with the men’s shaving stuff next to bottles of Electrashave and A Touch of Gray. I learned this when I bought Brylcreem for the first time and scoured the haircare section at Walgreens for half an hour. An elderly clerk finally pointed me to where the old-school hair products were and noted that it was kind of strange to see such a young man buying a big tube of Brylcreem.
Also, I highly recommend checking out Pomade Shop. It’s a German-based website that’s dedicated to old-school men’s hair products. They have 107 different kinds of pomades in their online store including once popular brands like Royal Crown and Sweet Georgia Brown.
Modern Alternatives
Alright, so some of you might not be into the whole retro man stuff like me and other AoM readers. You might be asking, “Are there any modern products that can give that Cary Grant shine?” Why, yes. Yes there are.
American Crew Grooming Cream High Shine, High Hold. Gives you a nice shine, but with less grease than the old-school stuff. In fact, apparently the hairstylist for the T.V. series Mad Men uses American Crew products to give Don Draper and the other gents of Cooper Sterling their dapper do’s. The biggest downside to using American Crew is the price. A jar of the grooming cream will set you back about $16 at most retail stores. (Though Amazon.com has it for $6.45)
Axe Smooth and Sophisticated Look Shine Pomade. As much as I can’t stand Axe’s gag inducing adolescent smelling “double pits to chesty” body spray, they do make a pretty decent and affordable pomade. It holds hair well and gives a nice shine but washes out more easily than traditional pomades. Instead of the traditional musty smell of most pomades, Axe Smooth and Sophisticated Pomade has a sort of minty scent. A 2.64 ounce can costs $8. Not too shabby, but still not as good a value as the old-school stuff.
Hawleywood’s Layrite Pomade. Developed by Hawleywood’s Barbershop and Shave Parlor in California, Layrite Pomade provides the sheen and hold of old-school pomades without the greasiness. It’s water based, so it washes out easily. A four ounce tube is a little pricey at $15, but it might be worth it if you’re looking for a cleaner alternative to traditional pomades.
What’s been your experience with old-school hair products? Have a favorite one? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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I use the American Crew Grooming Cream (medium shine), and it works well for my thick hair. It holds all day and doesn’t shine too much. My face and general persona don’t fit well with a high-shine hairstyle and I have yet to break out with acne from it (knock on virtual wood). My only complaint is the price, I bought my current tub at Hannaford’s, a grocery store (where I also got a great shaving brush/bowl/soap “starter” kit, and it set me back $16. But now that I know they have it on Amazon for cheaper I think I’ll stock up!
What, no VO5? That’s what my grandpa always used, and he had a pretty happening head of hair up through his 70′s.
Ever heard of beau kreml hair tonic?
My barber still usues this on customers, only by request now.
There are other beau kreml products as well.
It looks like you left out Butch. This was a stick of some kind of hair wax applied to the front of a “crew” or “butch” hair cut. Smelled great. But since the hair was so short to begin with, it didn’t do much more than keep the front hair off the forehead. That is, until it melted in the summer sun. As a child of a GI who fought in the Pacific and who kept his hair warrior short all his life, I was going to wear my hair that short no matter what and no matter what I thought about it. The barber didn’t ask me how I wanted it. He asked the old man.
I’ve had good luck with v05. My hair doesn’t look as shiny as with something like brylcream, but it’s pretty oily and thick to begin with so I’m not sure I’d notice. More importantly it actually seems to hold my hair in place and it’s not crunchy like gel. Something no other product I’ve tried has managed to do.
Groom and Clean for as long as I can remember.
Another good current day pomade is American Greaser Supply. They make 3 different strengths: 40 weight pomade and 90 and super 90 weight flat top waxes. I use super 90 weight because I have thick hair, and it holds my pomp in everything from rain to our lovely Los Angeles 95 degree sun. Same warnings apply as Murrays as far as washing and acne
Great entry, Brett. One question though…
You say that you like Brylcreem more than Groom & Clean, but from your descriptions it sounds like the latter does everything you want and isn’t as greasy.
Why do you prefer Brylcreem? Is it just that the hair presentation looks better? Better smell?
I feel less manly for having read this.
I shave my head and have a glorious VanDyke beard–that’s Manly.
Hi. I have thick coarse hair and its hard to keep down. Anyone try using a relaxer before ???
I swear by Murrays. I have curly hair and Murrays actually keeps it straight. I dont find it terribly hard to wash out, just takes a few lather rinse repeat cycles. Honestly though I only do that when I head to the barber to make their life easier.
The key to success with Murrays is to warm it with a hair dryer or set it on the stove for a short period (its in a metal can). That makes it pliable and easy to move throughout your hair.
Another benefit? Just about any grocery store, walgreens, rite aid etc… is going to have Murrays.
I tried Groom and Clean once. It smelled like an old time barbershop, but I can’t recommend it. I kept smelling it all day and eventually my hair felt pretty greasy. My wife hated it. I haven’t tried the others.
If you guys like Hawleywood, you can try Suavecito Pomade. Basically the same “recipe” and only 10 bucks per 4oz can. Good stuff, water based and washes out in a snap. Another good option is Crew Comb. It is oil based, so watch your pillow case, but has a nice hold and smells mighty fine too. 16oz for 13 bucks.
I’ve been using Murray’s Pomade for about 5 years. I’ve got a mohawk and it makes it so that I only have to “reload” on the hair product every 2-3 days instead of every day. That stuff stays in your hair so well, it doesn’t even come out with a good shampooing!
I love it!
I don’t really like the greasy, shiny look. But, I do try to keep it cut professionally quite regularly–so it looks very business-like.
Thank you for the tips!
My hair pretty much grows straight forward, and seems to be really stubborn. The best anything I put in it will do is help me comb to the side. Is there anything I can use that will allow me to comb it back a little more so it doesn’t automatically fall back forward (besides growing it out, I prefer to wear it shorter for the times I don’t put anything in)?
I used my Dad’s Wildroot & Vitalis back in the day. Both work May give the G&C or Brycleem a shot.
Currently, I use Japanese brands Lucido & Nudy. Lucido cream while damp and blown back with a dryer then some gel of the same to hold. These provide a workable hold without staying too greasy throughout a day. Pick these up @ a local japanese market for around $7-8. Nudy comes in two small jars. The milky wax and gel wax I use in the same process. The gel wax is very greasy/sticky and its easy to use too much if my do is not slicked back in 1 round. These run a little higher up to $15, and I only see these @ supply stores. Both brands have a mild smell. I’m trying to remember the green tea wax gel carried exclusively by Rudy’s Barber Shops.
I use Pluko Black & White pomade. Consistency of lithium grease, but smells nice. Just warm it up in your hands first so it’s spreadable.
Suavecito (as mentioned above) is the same as Layrite.
Another similar water-based pomade is Grant’s Golden Brand Pomade (more expensive however)
I use Groom and Clean, Murray’s, Layrite, and others. PInaud makes a hair gel that is pretty good as well (doesn’t get crunchy like modern hair gel).
Murray’s also make a “Super Lite” which is very high shine and easier to apply, easier to wash out than their regular pomade. Great stuff for pompadours and the like.
I’ve noticed washing with baby oil shampoo or using straight up mineral oil in your hair care easily remove pomade. I used to start rinsing with hot water then use baby oil shampoo. Rinse,comb it out, then wash with regular shampoo. If you use a lot you may need to wash and comb with baby oil a couple of times to get it out. I suggest other products due to the difficulty of cleaning it out unless you are looking to have huge lift in your hair.
I’ve used every single one of the products mentioned (the old-school ones, not the modern stuff). I think Brett’s description for most of these is spot one. Now that I have a grown-up hair cut (college cut), my favorite is still Brylcreem, which I use for most of the year, and then Groom & Clean for the summer months. When I still wanted more of a hold (before I outgrew the just-rolled-out-of-bed look) I found that Murray’s Beeswax was the best product. It wasn’t as hard to work with as traditional Murray’s, washed out without the need for industrial-strength detergents and was cheaper than anything else out there.
I used Fiber Grease (Japanese product that smells like Candy) for a while, as strong as a hold as Murray’s and Royal Crown, but it’s water soluble so it washes right out. Only problem was I could only order it from one place in Cali (I’m in Canada).
My Barber here (shameless plug, go Jon! http://www.crowsnestbarbershop.com/) in town uses Layrite and its awesome.
That is all…
Vitalis will hold all day with just a morning application, as long as you work indoors: go out in the wind, and all bets are off. Vitalis you have to apply in combination with water: Brylcream will work on dry hair. My experience, however, is that Brylcream gets all over stuff: it’ll make your forehead greasy even while it’s holding your hair well up and in place. Quite odd.
I used Layrite until I discovered Groom & Clean. Both are outstanding products, Groom & Clean is just cheaper. Groom & Clean doesn’t have as much hold, so you may prefer Layrite if you need more hold.
Mark G. I had that problem with Groom & Clean at first, I just started using less of it.
I warm up Murray’s simply by filling the open can with very hot water for a few minutes while I apply deodorant or brush my teeth. By the time I’m done, the pomade is warm enough to spread around nicely. Just empty the water, shake it out, and apply. It’s oil-based, so the water beads up and runs right out.
To wash it out just use a clarifying shampoo every day to get most of it out. At the end of the week you might want to wash several times to get the week’s worth of build-up out.
No Dapper Dan?! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/
I really like the Axe pomade, which I honestly was convinced was the only alternative to the American Crew products that I don’t want to pay $11 for at my local target / cvs. It does a great job of maintaining shine / hold without the stiff feel of gel, and seems to wash out reasonably easy. Plus it is only like $4-5 per jar. Of course, you do have to have an Axe product in your house, which does make you look like a 13 year old boy. I try to ensure it’s in a drawer when guests come over.
I may check out some of the old school varieties now that I know where to find them, just for the sake of comparison.
Been using Am. Crew pomade for over a year now. Highly recommend. Its a little pricey for the budget concious but worth it for me. I think I read that they use it on Mad Men set.
SoftSheen Carson’s ‘Sportin’ Waves’: http://www.softsheen-carson.com/_us/_en/products/mensgrooming/sportinwaves.aspx
Very neutral smell and not particularly greasy. I throw a little in my hair after my post-gym shower at night, shuffle everything back in the morning, and I’m good to go all day. I’m in the military, and it handles the headgear on/off cycle great. It’s less than $3 for a tin and I can even get it in the ‘stan. With just a little spritz of water I can go from parted on the side to that spiky up front thing that you’re complaining about. Of course, I wore my hair parted on the side in middle school, which weren’t very pleasant years, so I wear it spiky as much as possible.
I only use Murrays, or preferably the heavyweight tin of SW when I’m out of the black tins or on really hot days. I have to take the Murray’s into the shower with me to get it soft enough to use.
Blue Magic. You can get it at Wal*Mart for about $4 or less; it’ll last you for at least six months. It’s usually with the African-American hair cair products.
@Dante-
The benefit of Groom and Clean is also its drawback. Because it’s not as greasy as Brylcreem, it dries out my hair after a few hours, making the hairs look stiffer and individuated instead of all smoothed together. More like a modern hair gel. The Brylcreem keeps the smooth look going all day.
For a rock and roller like myself, Brylcreem is the ONLY way to go!
All of these sound sketchy. I will stick to my $25 Bumble and Bumble and avoid the acne and numerous washes…These were pretty funny.
I’m a Groom & Clean guy, myself. I especially like the fact that it works like a shampoo when you shower. It even says so right on the box!
For the times when I’ve worn a shorter cut, I’ve always gone straight to Butch Wax, per my Barber’s instructions.
I’ve used Groom & Clean for years. If you put it on while your hair is still wet, you only need a small dab.
The smell is gone in a matter of minutes.
My hair does NOT look shiny using it after my hair dries (15-20 minutes). You don’t even know you’ve used anything.
MR NATTY AND HIS HAIR PREPERATIONS
are very good
http://www.mrnatty.net
An English preperation used by a English Master Barber
Interesting. Thank you.
No Royal Crown, huh? I love that stuff!
Mad Men stylists doesn’t actually use American Crew…or any of these products.
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/look-the-part-2-mad-men-hair-uncovered/
@Brandon-
I’ve seen that article, but I’m not sure if that’s all they use. I actually talked to another hair stylist for the show and got the American Crew recommendation from the horse’s mouth as they say.
I’ve used both Brylcreem and American Crew products before. I agree with Brett’s summary that Brylcreem can make one’s hair feel greasy even after several washes. Currently, I personally use an old English hair dressing made by G. F. Trumper called Eucris, which I believe was first made at least a century ago. It contains immiscible layers of oil (on the top) and an aqueous fraction (on the bottom). One shakes the bottle so that the two layers form an emulsion which is then applied to the hair. The subsequent shininess and hold is dependent on how much is applied. Personally, for my light coloured hair, I tend to use small amounts as any additional shininess to my hair tends to make it look dirty. The drawback is that Eucris doesn’t come particularly cheap, unfortunately. However, a small bottle of it should last for many months.
What if my grandfather didn’t have any hair?
I’ve used Brylcreem and some of the American Crew products with great success. My wife noticed when I used the Brylcreem; she would observe that my hair looked greasy at the end of the day. The American Crew products are on the pricey side but are very good. I have found a good option to the American Crew products though: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shaping Cream. It smells good, has all day hold and doesn’t leave you looking like an oily teenage mess at the end of the day. http://www.paulmitchell.com/en-us/Products/TeaTree/TeaTreeSpecial/Pages/TeaTreeShapingCream.aspx
I have been interested in wearing something in my hair for a while so this article has come at a good time. Groom & Clean sounds pretty good and I will have to see weather I can find a local Sydney source. My only concern is what effect these products have on the inside of my hat (an Akubra Sydney) I regularly wear. Do they leave a residue that can easily come off?
It sounds like my experience with Brylcream is a bit different than most. I have light, fine hair that has a mind of its own if left to its own devices. I work a pea-sized amount of Brylcream into my hair while it’s still wet. The control lasts all day, with absolutely no greasiness. No problem with melting on hot days, either.
I use American Crew Pomade, it’s far less oily than Brylcreem which didnt work for me. I live in a hot climate in Australia, and the American Crew seems to hold in the heat unlike Brylcreem. But as Brett said, the price is a killer.
I use a glob of good old Pinaud Clubman right after the shower and it holds all day. Not a high shine like the five in the article, but that is how I want it.
I completely agree with Maxb22, this website recommended this product and it works fantastic. I would never switch to anything else
As a woman, I think the best hair product for a man is none at all. Obviously opinions differ, but I’m turned off by a guy who looks like he has the head of a Ken doll with hair that is disgusting to touch.
omade Vendor: I can get the part from Bristol. It’ll take two weeks, here’s your pomade.
Ulysses Everett McGill: Two weeks? That don’t do me no good.
Pomade Vendor: Nearest Ford auto man’s Bristol.
Ulysses Everett McGill: Hold on, I don’t want this pomade. I want Dapper Dan.
Pomade Vendor: I don’t carry Dapper Dan, I carry Fop.
Ulysses Everett McGill: Well, I don’t want Fop, goddamn it! I’m a Dapper Dan man!
Pomade Vendor: Watch your language, young feller, this is a public market. Now if you want Dapper Dan, I can order it for you, have it in a couple of weeks.
Ulysses Everett McGill: Well, ain’t this place a geographical oddity. Two weeks from everywhere!
Dad was a Brylcreem man. I’m a Brylcreem and Groom and Clean man. The trick to avoid “greasy” is to use it sparingly, and accept the reduced holding power. For me, soft and healthy is much more important than “stuck into place.” If I’m going out and want some hold or a wetter look, I’ll use a separate product for that.
Brylcreem works better if you let go of the idea that it holds hair strictly in place. The beauty of just a dab of brylcreem is it lets you comb your hair back into shape. It’s the perfect cure for hat head.
I’ve been experimenting with most of these products for years now and Brett is pretty much right on the money. One that he left out is Royal Crown, extreme grease from back in the day they sell it at the A.A. section and is similar to Murrays. Be careful with it, for all those cool rockabilly cats, use enough of it and your hair will start breaking off in your conair comb. Though nothing smells as awesome as Crown Royal I’ve moved on to Brylcreem and am loving the scent. More and more hair products are releasing pomades and I recently got a Suave version that was popular with the ladies. But for me I need to worry about possible burglars breaking into my house and finding some teeny bopping bottle of Bead Head in my cabinet, so I’ll stick with the old man stuff.
I use Murray’s Super Light, great hold and shine, and it washes out really easily. With the normal stuff you have to use like olive oil, dish soap and shampoo, or so I’ve heard…sounds like a pain in the ass to me. At $3 a tin you can’t go wrong with Murray’s!
I have been using brylcreem for about 2 years. It is easy and doesnt smell nasty. I like the shine and the predictable results. Downside, I can not find an airport approved container. I have to squeeze it into hotel shampoo bottles and I travel a lot for work so… it is a downside for me.
I’m a pomade guy. i like the hold and shine. I currently use Everyman Jack Pomade, and it does the job. you gotta wash your hair more often when using pomade or else the grease build up becomes burdensome.
I just had a flash of George Clooney saying “I’m a Dapper Dan man!”.
If you’re considering using Murray’s (it IS awesome!), also consider buying a bottle of baby oil. When shower time comes, wet your hair, splash some baby oil into it and massage throughout your hair. It’ll break down the pomade and make it MUCH easier to wash out. But be prepared, standing in the checkout line with a tin of pomade and a bottle of baby oil gets you some odd looks!
I use Brylcreem and love it. It holds and shines all day. But it is oily. You WILL leave a mark on couches and chairs. And sometimes, the girls get it on their fingers and don’t like it. But you will look like a movie star. Just check this pic out of me. I had that stuff in my hair for about 7 hours at this point. Not brushed or anything since AND I had the car window down.
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6418/25115377853537790517652.jpg
Anyway, I’m gonna try Groom and Clean next. BTW, the tube o’ Brylcreem lasts about 7 months for me and I use about 2 or 3 dabs worth since my hair is thick.
The BIGGEST secret though, have a good comb with tight teeth.
Greetings Men,
I am 15 and in the young marines. we have hair regulations that say our hair cannot touch our ears or be over 3in. can anyone give me any tips on how to get a ‘Mad Men’ and still be in regs.
Semper Fi
P.S. i am also thinking Groom & Clean, but i guess ill have to try them.
double up on the Royal Crown. I use it and Vitalis. Honestly it depends on how long you’re going to be out and about. Royal Crown for 3 hours or more, Vitalis for less. Everything else is child’s play.
No love for Lucky Tiger? My barber swears by it.
Hey Guys
I would also check out Crew Comb for you guys that have shorter hair cuts. An old Barber I had use to use it. Good stuff and smells great. Has the hold of a palmade, but not so stiff. and it makes your hair feel so good.
I have used Murray’s, Royal Crown, American Crew, and a ton more. I discovered a small barber/tattoo shop in Arizona called Electric Haven Tatoo. They make a great product line called High Life Pomade. The pomade not only smells like coconut (which the ladies love) but it has several holds. It also has a pomade known as Voodoo Brew, which caters to indiviuals with darker hair. Even with shipping (I’m in Portland, OR) it is still a bargain for the quality. I have used their products for some time and threw my Murray’s away. Check them out at http://www.highlifepomade.com.
I used Brylcreem up until recently when I decided to give Wildroot a try. It may be a bit easier on the hair, but it just doesn’t have the same hold. I’ll be switching back to Brylcreem when I’m done with this one. No problems with sweat though.
I use Murray’s myself, but I want to try both Layrite pomade and Black and White pomade sometime. I’ve found the best way to warm Murray’s is to use one of those plug-in coffee warmers. I just turn on the warmer and place the open tin of pomade on it before I get in the shower. By the time I’m finished wet shaving after the shower, the Murray’s is usually somewhere between soft butter and liquid consistency. This lets the pomade, my fingers, and my comb glide through my hair while styling it unlike the “rub it between the fingers” method that feels like I’m going to pull my hair out trying to comb it through. Plus it’s a whole lot easier to wash it off my hands. To wash the pomade out of my hair, I’ve found that shampoo with Tea Tree Oil does a pretty good job. Just remember to wash, rinse, and repeat.
I used to use Brylcreem, and still do when i let my hair get a little longer or when I am in the in-between stages of letting it grow out (which seems to be a strange ritual with me… i buzz it for a while, shave it for a while, let it grow a bit and keep a high and tight for a while, and then i just let it grow longer and longer until i get tired of it and buzz it all off again..)
for the times when i have a high and tight or the buzz cut is getting a bit long, i use leave-in conditioner/moisturizing lotion…. it might not seem as manly, but it really does the trick and leave my hair looking and feeling good.
You’ve missed an obvious old-school grooming product: Bay Rum. All the proper old barbershops had it, some still do. It’s the perfect way to keep a “short back-and-sides” tidy, and the only grooming product I allow in my hair. My bottle cost NZ$15 and has lasted me over two years — you don’t need much, just a small splash, worked well into the scalp.
As the name implies, it is alcohol based (but don’t drink it!) so it is non-greasy.
Yes, George Clooney in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou. I thought of him immediately, and his pomade and hairnets. Seeing him attack that goop with his black pocket comb reminded me that I had seen actual men do the same thing when I was a child.
There is a very disturbing lack of Dax Wax here.
I’ve been using Brylcreem for about a year, looks and smells as a man ought. One cautionary note: Brycreem your scalp and don a straw hat or a lightly colored hat and you will soon find your beloved fedora to be grease stained beyond repair.
Works superbly with darker colored hats though.
I’m bald. But, I do enjoy growing out massive beards. I’ve been experimenting with grooming creams and gels and pomades for about 4 years now. Nothing ever does the trick, and once my beard gets too long, it’s practically impossible to not look unkempt.
Two weeks ago, I randomly bought Bryllcream, and it has been the best thing I’ve ever purchased. I have my beard crazy thick right now, and the bryll cream works perfectly. My beard shines all day, but more importantly, my beard (which is thick and unruly) stays right where it’s supposed to.
I 2nd the motion from Reese around Dax – It’s a lot like Murrays but easier to manipulate, and smells a little better too (more like honey). I use that a little dab of Royal Crown for some extra shine, and find I don’t need to heat it up. Royal Crown doesn’t give me much hold, it’s more for sheen. I have very thick black hair, and I am growing it out so I need a lot of hold for my “Dapper Dan” / “Don Draper” look.
I am going to try Groom & Clean and Brylcream and see how that goes though, because I DO have the acne problem on my forehead and it’s really annoying. It’s hot horrible, but a couple of zits on your forehead pretty much look like you’ve been shot with red paintball in pictures. Very uncool.
I just started using American Crew a few weeks ago, but I’m looking for something cheaper. Thanks, Brett!
Kory: I think of that movie every time i hear or read the word pomade.
Brett, love your review. The only thing in which I must correct you on is the reference to “Mad Men”. You switched the agency names around, it’s not Cooper Sterling, but Sterling Cooper. And technically (starting from the end of Season 3), it is now the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce — which is usually abbreviated to SCDP.
Good day and happy hair to you.
I have very fine hair that can get dry and fly-away. Many years ago I tried Alberto VO5 Daily Conditioning Treatment…. comes in a tube like Brylcreem, but in various styles… fine, normal, and greying hair. I squeeze out a very little dab… about the size of a pencil eraser…. rub it in and comb. It gives my hair a nice sheen without feeling or looking oily… and is good for my hair as well. There’s none of the acne problems of the above products.
I prefer Pinaud-Clubman products. I love the smell of their original products and the hair tonic does a great job of holding my hair in place without gumming up the works.
By the way, the “Comments” link in the email points to a URL that is “404: Page Not Found”.
i’ve moved over from regular Murray’s Pomade to Murray’s Hair Nourisher With Olive Oil. i found that with the regular pomade, i was pulling hairs out of my head when i ran it through with my fingers and comb, which is, as a 28 year old who is quickly losing his hair to begin with, undesirable.
for days when i need extra hold and shine, i mix the two together and it’s perfect.
Layrite is by far the best. You get the shine, hold and control of all the classic products, but with a much better scent and washability. If you live anywhere close to So Cal check Hawleywoods out and pick some up. Nowhere else can you walk in for a cut and shave and get offered a Pabst Blue ribbon while you wait.
Its great to see an article for those of us who still have hair.
Sorry but I think I’ll pass on the hair gel.
I recently experimented with making my own Macassar oil, the hair care product of our great grandfathers, or perhaps great great grandfathers.
Its Coconut oil, a bit of jojoba oil for hair conditioning, and essential oils for scent and additional hair conditioning. The hold was ok, not as strong as the american crew pomade I sometimes use, but significantly better than nothing. I theorize hold would be improved if I were to go get 96 degree melting point coconut oil rather than the 76 degree melt point I had on hand. The shine was amazing, and oh the aroma! I used Clove and Sandalwood essential oils, which left a nice mild manly scent.
Oh and a 4 oz tub cost me about $0.60 to make, so its certainly economical.
Of course I had to lay antimacassar’s over the backs of all the upholstry in the house to avoid oil spots, made my house look like my grandmother lived there…
It was a fun experiment. Ultimately I’m not going to be using macassar oil for my daily styling product, but I’ll use it when I’m feeling unusually anachronistic and historical.
Been a Royal Crown kind of guy for 7 years now and swear by it. I do occasionally drop a dab of Brylcreem to the dome if I don’t want so much hold. But, the old RC works the best for me and I can’t argue with the price. All day hold and with a great shine for my thick, dry hair. I will admit it does get kind of runny in the hotter months, but keep a handkerchief in your pocket and your sweat/runny pomade problem is easily conquered.
Also, any barber or hairstylist that is worth their salt will tell you that you shouldn’t be shampooing your hair daily anyways. Washing out all your natural oils (along with the foreign ones) will do far more damage to your hair than anything else. Get down with the shampoo once or twice a week and you’ll look and hold better without using a lot pomade, your hair and scalp will thank you for it.
Dep works well for me. Cheap, too.
It isnt mentioned, but I’m a big fan of “Black and Whites Original Plucko” its a sort of waxy pommade and it works well in short hair, lasts for ages too.
Gotta champion High Life here – makes a fine coconut-scented pomade in Light, Medium, and Heavy and also recently added a fine shaving soap. Their pomades are a bit of a “commitment” the way Murray’s is, so I sometimes will reach for the Layrite.
I used most of these products growing up but then came gel and blow driers. Tired of the extra time an trouble in the a.m. I decided to go back to the boyhood products a few years ago. I was not happy with the heavy greaser feel so I tried some VO5. It is anhydrous, so applying a little bit to wet hair works great. Results are a natural but not greasy shiny look. Experiment for the right amount that works for you.
I found this article interesting because I’ve tried all these products over the years, trying to find the right look and hold for my hair. I’ve finally settled on American Classic, which I believe is made by the same company that makes the American Crew. American Classic seems to be exactly the same quality and the jar pretty much looks the same. But American Classic costs six dollars at the local barber supply shop, Sally’s Beauty Supply, which is a chain here on the east coast. It’s what I recommend to anyone that likes a light pomade that’s water based, washes out easily and doesn’t break the bank.
I’m a dapper dan man.
Thought I would weigh in here, too. I’ve used Brylcreem for about three years. My Dad did, too. I’m 40, by the way. What I do is use a small amount of Brylcreem in the front of my hair, which is in a bit of a pompador. Then I shoot just a touch of unscented hair spray in a couple of areas that need extra hold. I wash the back of my head everyday, letting the hot water run through the front of my hair, which also getting touch a little washing my face. But I only really wash my whole head once a week. Twice then, usually.
It looks great and I’ve never had any troubles with pimples or staining chairs or hats.
“which is also getting touched a little when washing my face.”
And I’m a writer, fer Pete’s sake.
I have very thick wavy hair and I typically use a mix of Vitalis as soon as I get out of the shower. Then after my hair is dry I use Murrays. The problem with Murrays is that you get a lot of grease build up. Once it gets to that point I will use Groom and Clean untill the Murrays starts to wash out. There are quite a few newer pomades out there but for me I like the “Old School” appeal of something my Grandfather used to use [ thats why I use Prell and Irish Spring soap also]. Happy greasing my friends!
By the way Dave H. hairspray is for chicks!
For many people, pomade causes the so called pomade acne. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/pomadeacne.html
So, if you start using pomade an notice zits all over your forehead, you should stop using it.
Regards, Gentleman’s Gazette
I’ve been using Wildroot for quite a while now, though I actually cut it with hair tonic (generic Walgreen’s stuff, not the name brand) at times. My problem isn’t hold, but a size 8 head and thick hair…I can keep it fairly longish without bulking up to the size of a pumpkin thanks to using the old school stuff.
I’ve tried all of these (with the exeption of wildroot) and I have to say, Vitalis all the way!
I loved the old TV commercials. This post was nostalgic for me; not only because I grew up with these products, but because I haven’t had a hair on my head since my late twenties. I haven’t owned a comb for the past 30 years. My current hair grooming solution is my Gillette Fusion razor. So I will never look like Cary Grant or the Mad Men, but I have Patrick Stewart down pat.
My father (70 years old) still uses Vitalis. I still remember him putting it in my hair on school picture days. The smell of it brings back fond memories.
This article is great! I always hated moose and gel. I had never heard of pomade before so I went to Walmart and bought some Axe pomade. It works great! Now I don’t have to deal with the stickiness and flakes from moose and gel.
Brett- well done article, really enjoyed it. I hope it inspires more guys to try this clean cut, very sharp style. I use the Groom and Clean Daily-for the shine, and mix in a stronger pomade to get the hold and to keep what I call the “50′s flip” in the front, in check. The Groom and Clean also allows for everything to wash out easily. I also agree with the comment, not enough mentions regarding Dax. I am wanting to try in particular the Dax with Bergamot-see picture. I have heard review after review that this product is perfect for the slicked back side part and has the highest shine of any product out there. I was hoping to find it in a store in Tulsa, but have yet to find it stocked anywhere. I have read the same review on it at:www.thegreaseshop.com.
Which I am planning to order some from there- see picture of product. Another product I give Kudo’s to is Black and White Pluko Pomade, wonderful smell and perfect weight product for this style. I just ordered their Black and White Lite version and should have it in a day or two. The other thing I will add is you need the right cut to pull this style off and that is a real Barbershop: My barber I recently found knows how to cut your hair for a side part, what I mean by that is he will cut it so the part is easily found each day and also uses thinning shears to make it lay more smoothly, he also puts a nice taper on it which looks even sharper once you slick it into place. Thanks for the great article Brett….
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