There is nothing more frustrating than leaving the salon with your hair sitting exactly how you want it, then trying to recreate the same look at home and ending up with something that feels too shiny, too flat, too stiff or too greasy.
We see this a lot. Most men are not doing anything wildly wrong. More often, it comes down to using the wrong product for their hair type, applying too much, or choosing a finish that does not suit the haircut.
The right products for men’s hair should make styling easier. They should help your haircut sit better, give you the hold or texture you want, and still feel like your hair. Whether you use hair gel, clay, wax, paste, pomade, hair cream or sea salt spray, the trick is choosing the product that suits your hair, not just the one that looks good on the shelf.
Before choosing any men’s hair products, start with your hair type. Fine hair, thick hair, curly hair and short-cropped styles all need slightly different support.
Fine hair usually works best with lighter products. A heavy wax or shiny pomade can make fine hair look flat or greasy quite quickly. We would usually suggest a light paste, sea salt spray, texture spray or a small amount of styling cream if you want shape without weight.
Thick hair often needs more control. Clay, wax, pomade or stronger-hold products can help shape the hair and keep it in place through the day. The key is still to start small. Thick hair can take more product than fine hair, but too much can still make it look overloaded.
Curly or wavy men’s hair usually needs softness, shape and frizz control. A hair cream, lighter paste or curl-friendly styling product can help enhance the curl pattern without making the hair feel hard or coated.
A good product is not always the right product for your hair. The best men’s hair product is the one that works with your haircut, hair type and how you actually want your hair to look.
If your hair looks greasy after using styling product, it is usually one of three things: the product is too heavy, you have used too much, or it has been applied too close to the scalp.
This is especially common with waxes, pomades and richer creams. They can be great products, but on fine hair or oily roots they can quickly make the hair look flat. If you want texture, volume or a more natural finish, a clay, paste or sea salt spray may suit you better.
Another thing we often see is product being layered on top of yesterday’s product. If the hair has not been washed properly, or there is still product sitting at the roots, adding more will usually make it feel heavier.
If your product is making your hair look greasy, it does not always mean you need a stronger hold. You may just need something lighter, more matte or easier to spread through the hair.
Hair usually looks too stiff when the product has too much hold for the style, or when too much has been used.
Hair gel can give strong hold and a sharper finish, which works well for certain hairstyles. But if you prefer natural movement, it can feel too firm. Hairspray can also help a style last, but too much can make the hair feel crunchy.
For a more natural look, paste, clay, cream or sea salt spray may be a better fit. These can still give shape and control, but the hair has a bit more movement.
It helps to think about the finish before the product. Do you want matte texture? Soft movement? Strong hold? Shine? Volume? Once you know the answer, choosing the right product becomes much easier.
This is one of the simplest changes, but it makes a big difference.
Start with a small amount of product. Warm it between your hands first so it spreads evenly, then apply it through the hair before adding more. You can always build up, but once there is too much product in the hair, it is hard to fix without washing it out.
A lot of men put too much product straight at the front of the hair. This can make the fringe or hairline look greasy or stiff, while the rest of the style does not hold properly.
A better approach is to work the product through the middle and back of the hair first, then use what is left on your hands to finish the front. This gives a more balanced result and stops the front from looking overloaded.
Some products work better on damp hair, while others work better on dry hair.
Damp hair usually gives a softer, smoother finish. This can work well with hair cream, gel, pomade or products designed to control the hair while it dries.
Dry hair usually gives more texture and definition. Clay, wax and paste often work better when the hair is dry, especially if you want shape, separation or a more matte finish.
If you want volume, blow-drying can help before you add your styling product. You do not need to do anything complicated. Even drying the hair in the direction you want it to sit can give the product a better base to work with.
Sea salt spray can be used before blow-drying to add texture and body, or lightly on dry hair when you want a more relaxed finish.
If you want a natural, easy style, try a paste, light cream or sea salt spray. These are good options when you want the hair to look styled without looking too done.
If you want a matte, textured finish, clay is usually a strong choice. It works well for crops, fades, textured cuts and shorter styles that need control without shine.
If you want flexible hold, wax can help shape the hair while still giving you room to restyle it during the day.
If you want shine or a more polished result, pomade may suit you, especially for slicker styles, side parts or smoother finishes.
If you want very strong hold, hair gel or a stronger clay can work well, particularly for shorter hair or styles that need to stay firmly in place.
The product should suit the haircut. A quiff, crop, fade, longer style, curly shape or pompadour will not all need the same finish.
One of the most common mistakes is keeping the same product after changing haircut. What worked for a short crop may not work for longer hair. What worked for a textured style may not suit a smoother finish.
Another common mistake is using more product to try to make the wrong product work. If your hair looks greasy, stiff or flat, adding more usually makes it worse.
We also see men applying product only to the front, using shiny products when they wanted texture, or skipping the drying stage when the haircut needs lift.
None of this is difficult to fix. Sometimes it is as simple as using less product, changing from wax to clay, swapping gel for paste, or adding sea salt spray before blowdrying.
The right men’s hair grooming routine does not need to be complicated. For most men, one well-chosen styling product is enough. Others may need a shampoo, texture spray, clay, wax, paste or cream depending on their hair type and haircut.
If your current product leaves your hair greasy, stiff, flat or difficult to style, it may simply not be the right fit. At Stonehills Hair, we can help you choose products for men’s hair based on how your hair behaves, how your haircut is shaped and the kind of result you want day to day.
Explore our Men’s Hair & Grooming range for hair products for men, including gel, wax, clay, paste, pomade, sea salt spray, hair cream and styling products, or speak to our team for friendly, practical advice.
Get in touch with our expert team in Welwyn Garden City for luxury, in-salon hair services.
