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Short or long, curly or sleek, our hair is one of our standout features, and finding the right products goes a long way to keeping our morning routines efficient and boosting our confidence. But with so many to comb through, it can be hard to determine which ones will treat your tresses right — and what’s the difference between gels, waxes, and pomades, anyway?
Generally speaking, a gel will give you a strong hold, usually with a glossy finish. Pomades provide a slightly less intense hold and are often matte rather than shiny. A wax will deliver a pleasing pieceiness or get those frizzies under control. With that in mind, here are our picks for the best gels, pomades, and waxes for the most common styling needs, broken down by hair type and style.
Sometimes, it’s less about the style and more about keeping your natural locks looking sharp. These products are made for the days when you just want to keep the flyaways and frizz under control, whether it’s the wind, the humidity, or your hair’s natural tendencies to blame.
Sleek and slick have surged back into style, so you’ll want to add a high-shine, “I got out of the shower like this” product to your arsenal. Whether you prefer to get that glossy look by styling your hair while it’s damp or you want to add a sheen to your pre-dried ‘do, we have the perfect picks.
There’s a time and place for a glossy, up-swept pouf or a wet-look style, but sometimes the day-to-day just calls for something with a little less shine. When you want a true matte finish that still holds, adjusts, and defrizzes, turn to one of these hand-picked products.
If your hair is longer or it doesn’t need much help in your keeping chosen style in place, reach for the gentle assistance of a light-hold styling product. Most often chosen for texturizing purposes, these formulas give you control without holding you to a singular shape. Play around with your style throughout the day, or be carefree and let the breeze toss your tresses.
Disclaimer:The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.