What’s Exactly the Difference Between Wax Gel and Pomade?

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between wax gel and pomade? Yes, we did too. Among men’s hair products, those three are the most widely mentioned. Thus, it is only natural that people sometimes mix them up. However, worry not, because we already did the research and found the answers to your question so you don’t have to.

Pomade

Pomade is the oldest of the products and has been around for decades. Depending on the type of pomade, it can have more shine than wax. It also has a lightweight feel to it with medium to strong holding power. Generally, you can use hair pomade to add high shine and control fly-aways. Some of the hairstyles you can create by adding pomade are:

Slicked-back hair
Sharp side part
Pompadour
Ducktail
Cool comb-overs

There are two types of pomade, oil-based and the newer, water-based pomade. Unlike wax, pomade is best used for those with dry hair because it can make oily hair appear greasier.

Wax

The biggest difference between pomade and wax is its longevity. Wax has a stronger hold, and eventually dries after some time. If you have oily hair, hair wax can be the solution to give your hair a matte finish, appearing more natural compared to the heavy shine other hair styling products offer. Some hairstyles that are great combinations with wax:

Controlling curly hair
Adding structure
Supporting short spikes
Styling taper fades and undercuts
Quiffs

Gel

Hair gel is probably the most common kind of styling product, but also least flexible. Gel is best used for hairstyles that need a lot of support. Gel dries within minutes of application. When it does, it tends to become rock solid. Thus, you can’t restyle your hair after that. On top of that, gel can crack throughout the day, creating visible white flakes. This side effect typically happens when too much gel is used and can look like dandruff. However, gel could be a powerful product if you want the following hairstyles: