Styling Products & Pomades Reviews

Layrite Superhold Pomade feels like a modern homage to classic barbershop grooming: firm, disciplined hold in a water-based formula that behaves beautifully in real life. In our testing, it excelled on thick, coarse, curly, and even 4C textures, smoothing chaos into intentional, polished styles without the heavy, greasy sheen of old-school waxes. The mild cream soda–vanilla scent lends a quietly nostalgic charm, and the fact that it rinses out cleanly at night makes daily use feel effortless.

It isn’t without its trade-offs: extreme humidity, long or very dense hair, and scent sensitivities can expose its limits, and we did notice variability between older, deep-orange jars and newer, lighter batches. But when you hit the sweet spot—applied to the right hair type, in the right amount, on reasonably dry strands—Layrite Superhold earns its cult status as a barbershop staple that makes difficult hair not just manageable, but genuinely handsome.

18.21 Man Made Hair Paste is less a utilitarian styler and more a grooming ritual. In our hands, it behaved like a hybrid of cologne and hair product—wrapping strands in a sweet tobacco haze while quietly delivering a controlled, touchable medium hold. Hair looked groomed yet effortless, with a natural sheen that read as quietly expensive rather than over-styled. The water-soluble, conditioning formula kept our hair feeling healthy, never crunchy, and it played beautifully with both fine and thick textures when applied thoughtfully. The trade-offs—an assertive, long-lasting scent and a decidedly luxe price per ounce—mean it won’t be everyone’s everyday paste. But for those who want their styling product to feel like a signature, almost sartorial detail, this is a standout in the men’s grooming landscape.

Layrite Natural Matte Cream feels like a modern barbershop secret: discreet in the hair, indulgent in the hand. In our testing, it delivered that elusive combination of structure and softness — hair stayed where we wanted it, yet never felt lacquered or overstyled. The finish leans convincingly natural, especially on dry hair, giving the impression of good genetics and a great cut rather than obvious product.

The texture is a pleasure: smooth, creamy, and instantly workable, making it a joy for those who hate stiff clays or sticky gels. The cream-soda-vanilla scent is charmingly nostalgic but undeniably bold; you’ll either adore its cozy sweetness or wish for an unscented twin. Hold skews light-to-medium, shining on fine to medium, wavy, and curly hair, while very coarse or rebellious textures may crave more muscle.

If your ideal styling product disappears into the hair, supports your cut, and lets you forget you’re wearing anything at all, this sits firmly in holy-grail territory. Just approach the fragrance and the amount you use with intention — and it rewards you with quietly polished, touchable hair day after day.

American Crew’s classic pomade is less a trend piece and more a grooming uniform: reliable, polished, and quietly confident. In our testing, it excelled at the kind of hair that needs to look impeccable at 8 a.m. and still respectable after a commute, a meeting, and a late lunch. The water-based formula delivers that barbershop gloss without the punishment of old-school, oil-heavy pomades—hair stays soft, combable, and easy to rinse clean. The trade-off is honest: truly thick or long hair may outmuscle the medium hold, and this old-version stock has visible batch inconsistencies. But when you land the classic clear gel texture, you get a prestige-level pomade that makes everyday styling feel like a small, deliberate ritual rather than a chore.

OSiS+ Thrill Fibre Gum is the styling equivalent of a perfectly cut blazer: structured, polished, but never stiff. In our testing, it brought layered bobs, pixies, and short crops to life with elastic hold, airy volume, and that coveted piecey, editorial texture. The fibrous, gum-like consistency looks intimidating in the jar, yet melts into hair with a glossy, healthy sheen that feels more ‘lived-in luxury’ than ‘over-styled product.’

We did note trade-offs: on very fine or long hair, it can skew shiny and a touch heavy if you’re not extremely restrained, and those craving concrete-strong hold will want something firmer. But for most short to medium cuts, Thrill strikes a beautiful balance between control and movement. It’s the product we kept on our desks and in our kits because it quietly, consistently made hair look better—without ever shouting for attention.