What is the difference between wax, clay and other styling products?

There are all kinds of styling products for men and in recent years many new products have been launched on the market. Many of these product categories are used interchangeably and it seems like there is no good overview anymore.

Introduction

A good example of this is that many customers talk about hair gel when asking for advice. “Do you know a good hair gel for me?” is a question often heard and I hardly have any hair gels in the Frizzies.fr store to be honest.

But it is absolutely not strange that many men ask this question, because until recently most men used hair gels. Everyone knows those big jars of slimy stuff with a very bright color that you can buy for less than a dollar at any drugstore or supermarket. So when most men talk about hair gel or pomade, they are sort of referring to a "hair product" in general.

If you are now thinking that you would be one of those guys who say hair gel when it is actually clay, pomade or wax, don't worry at all. Many companies, manufacturers, and even brands themselves use all sorts of product names interchangeably. In English I see that a lot of people use the term pomade to talk about hair products in general. And when even the “professionals” no longer seem to know the difference, so who does.

That's why in this blog post I tried to clarify and talk about the different categories of men's styling products and their properties.

Hair wax

Hair wax is one of the most versatile styling products for men. In fact, we see that many people also talk about hair wax when they talk about styling products in general. Hair wax generally offers quite a high hold and that is why it is a popular choice for most men.

The finish can be matte to very shiny. A hair wax is generally a relatively dry product that you use for texture, definition, and hold. A hair clay is a little drier and a paste would be slightly wetter than a hair wax, if you were to put it into perspective.

Basically, there are two types of hair wax, those that are water based and those that are oil (petroleum) based, but you have, of course, hybrid products that contain a bit of both. An oil-based hair wax provides better hold, but it would be more difficult to wash out compared to a water-based product.

Due to all these properties mentioned above, a hair wax is considered a very versatile styling product that can be used on short to medium length hair . It is also ideal for a wide variety of hair styles. Hair waxes are best not used on very long hair and they aren't really a good choice for straight (back) looks either.

Hair clay

Hair clay is a very interesting styling product that can be used for many hairstyles. The properties of hair clays are ideal for men looking for hairstyles with high hold and a matte finish. Hair clay is generally drier and a little stiffer compared to a regular hair wax and this is what gives the product its hold and matte finish.

For men with finer hair, a hair clay may be an option for a little more volume when you apply it to damp hair before blow-drying. This way your hair will look fuller and thicker. But when your hair is fine, you also need to be careful not to pull too much as it may be too dry for you in some cases. Avoid clays for very dry hair and choose one with a semi-matte or medium shine finish.

Men with thick hair can also benefit from hair clays as they can control thick hair. You should not use too much because otherwise you may experience problems with application as it may be dry to distribute it evenly in thick hair.

So, when choosing a clay, you need to be careful and test what works for you. If a product is too stiff, then perhaps you should move down a lower holding category (high to medium for example). This is definitely one of the best styling products to have in your bathroom because "high hold, matte finish" hairstyles are more popular than ever, and they are here to stay.

Ointment

A pomade is a specific product with special properties that are only suitable for certain hairstyles. You have water-based ointments and oil-based ointments and each group has its own properties. Water-based pomades are easy to apply, easy to wash out, and dry into your hair.

Oil-based pomades don't dry out in your hair, so they stay softer and provide heavier hold, but washing them out completely is more difficult. Salves are generally slightly wetter products than clays, waxes and pastes. Only hair creams are noticeably more humid. Pomades are particularly suitable for classic looks from the 1950s and 1960s and refined looks. Think red carpet hairstyles, side parts and slick backs. Hold can be light to heavy, but pomades generally always offer a bit of shine.

An exception to this rule is the category of clay ointments. It's basically a hybrid between a pomade and a hair clay. These specific clay pomades generally provide better hold and a matte finish. Pomades are probably the largest category of men's styling products. There are so many brands of pomades larger and smaller. It's also because some products are called ointments, even though they may technically be something else.

Most regular pomades aren't too drying either, so you can use them on wavy or curly hair. Other products can sometimes be a little more difficult to apply to wavy or curly hair, but pomades are generally quite easy to distribute throughout your hair and can help straighten or straighten your hair, if desired.

Hair gel

Hair gel is somewhat similar to water-based or gel-like pomades. Both are relatively moist products, but hair gel is slightly moister. The staying power of a gel is generally not very high, as the product is wet and breaks down easily. If you want to get the best hold from your gel, you should apply it to completely dry hair. Hair gel usually dries in your hair, so it's ideal for a spiky look or other looks that need to stay in place.

The downside to hair gel is that it's not very versatile and usually not as natural-looking as a product. Cheap hair gels are quite chemical and can leave white flakes in your hair when the product dries and you touch it too much. Restyling is not possible unless you wet your hair again. That's why it's best to wash out hair gel every night before going to bed, otherwise you risk waking up like a snowy Christmas tree.

Hair gels are very easy to wash out with lukewarm water because they are water-based. In the store you can find some better quality hair gels, especially compared to those you usually find in your local pharmacy or supermarket. Hair gels serve their purpose, but you can usually find better alternatives.

Hair paste

Hair paste is difficult to define as a hair product category because it has many similarities to hair wax. You could say that hair paste generally offers a little less hold and is slightly wetter than most hair waxes. A hair paste is one of the best choices when you like to style your hair a lot during the day. It stays more flexible than a hair wax or clay and also doesn't dry out in your hair like a water-based hair gel or pomade.

The variety between hair pastes is, like hair waxes, quite large. Some provide high hold and a matte finish, while others will simply provide definition with a bit of shine. It is a very versatile type of styling product that can help with a wide variety of hairstyles. Hair pastes generally work well for hairstyles that require more texture and flexibility.

Because of its versatility, it's good to have a premium hair paste in your bathroom cabinet that you can always come back to. There are many excellent hair pastes available in the store and most of them are paraben and sulfate free.

Hair cream

Hair cream is a fairly broad category. This is essentially the wettest category of products, but that's to be expected from a hair cream. Creams tend to have a little weaker, or even average, staying power. They are primarily intended to add texture or control to your hair. You don't use them for very tight outfits or looks, but they are great for messier hairstyles.

When it comes to shine, you will generally get a medium to high shine when you apply hair cream. Most hair creams won't give you a matte finish because they are too wet for that.

Creams are ideal for out-of-bed looks and messy hairstyles. It will seem like you have almost nothing in your hair, but that is of course not true. Creams are also great for wavy, curly or natural hair, if you like a little more control or want to make your hair smoother. When clays and waxes are too dry and stiff for you, you can take a look at a hair cream and maybe even mix a high hold product with a hair cream to get a good mix of hold and applicability.

Hair creams can also be used when you have dry and frizzy hair as they contain ingredients that nourish and moisturize your hair. It works best for definition, hydration and some control.

Styling powder

Styling powders are relatively new to the men's styling product category. Styling powder is a product that you apply directly to your roots and then apply to your hair. This type of product is ideal when you want to get more volume in your hair and make it appear thicker and fuller. Your hair will have more body, especially if you add it directly to your roots.

Styling powders are also great pre-styling products, but the difference is that you apply them to dry hair. Other pre-stylers apply to damp hair and then you use a hairdryer in most cases, but, for obvious reasons, you shouldn't do this when applying powder. So, always apply styling powder to dry hair and never dry it afterwards. You can then apply your favorite post-styler if you want to add a little more hold and style.

When your hair becomes thinner, you can use styling powder to create thickness in your hair. A powder puffs up in your hair, so it helps hide the fact that your hair is a little thin. They also work great for hairstyles with more texture, like faux hawks, Caesar cuts, and other fringe hairstyles.

Hair spray

Hairspray was initially associated with women's hair products, but now it is definitely a great hair product for men as well. Hairspray can just give your hairstyle a little something extra when needed. You have many different hair sprays. While some are primarily styling products, like wax or clay, most sprays will be used with other styling products. Consider pre-styling sprays (sea salt) or finishing sprays.

A pre-styling spray that you apply to damp hair before using the hairdryer. This helps for smoother hair or more volume. Finishing sprays are post-stylers and you apply them after applying your favorite styling product to extend the hold of your look and "set" your hair.

As you can see, there are many different hair sprays and they all have their own function. Sea salt sprays are an interesting category and are a relatively new product category for men. They're meant to give you lots of volume and that kind of beachy texture.

This is ideal for men with fine hair if you need volume and texture. Due to these properties, it is also used a lot as a pre-styler. If you love your hairstyle, you'll probably have a few different sprays in your bathroom cabinet to achieve all those different looks.

Conclusion

As you have just read, there are many styling products for men. And to be honest, I even deliberately left out some categories for convenience. Perhaps you have seen products called putty, fiber or mud, for example. The first two are essentially a waxy type product and a slime is essentially a hair clay. One brand will call their product a sealant and another will call their product a fiber wax, but they are essentially very similar. A putty might be a little less dry and stiff than most waxes, so you could position it between a wax and a paste, but this is almost getting into a semantic discussion, so let's not do that for now.

I really hope I've given an overview of all these different types of products and categories. Of course there will be other people with other opinions, but if you take away from this blog post that there are many different products out there and you need to look carefully at which product is best for you, then I am already a very happy man. So, read the product descriptions carefully and don't blindly buy the same product as your best friend, but check whether this particular product is good for your hair type and whether it can achieve your desired hairstyle!