Hairstyles, just like fashion, change by the season. A few years ago it seemed like everybody was rocking the classily nappy look while twisting their hair into the kinkiest of concoctions. This year it seems the men decided to bring back waves.
Waves are a hairstyle where your curls create a ripple pattern when brushed and flattened. This effect is made possible by lots of brushing, wave grease, and a wave cap. Wave grease or wave pomade to some is the magic that keeps your hair moisturized, full of sheen and holds it in place. However, there are some greases that you should stay away from.
The History of Pomade
Pomade is a hairstyling product that generally has a greasy or waxy texture to it. When pomade came into prominence in the early to mid 20th century it was made with just a few ingredients: beeswax, petroleum, lanolin, and fragrance. This product was especially popular for men with slick back, side part and pompadour hairstyles.
Ask your grandparents about the term “greasers”. Greasers referred to the people who used pomade to achieve the comb-back hairstyles of artists like Elvis Presley. The 20th century brought about a new change in the way men styled their hair because gel and mousse became the new hairstyling products.
Pomade went out of style because people found it hard to wash out and the newer products still achieved the desired results. Since its inception pomade has gone through a number of changes, but it still remains a go-to product for many.
Oil-Based vs Water-Based Pomade
Oil-based pomades are the traditional pomades you probably grew up with. If the side of the bottle says petrolatum, mineral oil, petroleum or soft paraffin then it’s an oil-based pomade.
These types of pomades aren’t able to be dissolved by water. If you do decide to use an oil-based pomade then you’ll probably have to wash your hair multiple times to get it all out.
Traditional oil-based pomades contain