The 10 Best Hair Styling Products for Men, According to Grooming Experts

Styling creams aren’t ever going to give you an overly-styled look, like as sharp slicked back ‘do, but that’s exactly the point of using them. What they do best is create a natural, healthy, smooth look that looks like you did nothing to your hair. That’s because they tend to do double-duty by conditioning and smoothing hair but also imparting a little bit of hold so your style stays in place without crunchiness or, typically, shine.

This one is the creme de la creme of creams, packed with moisturizing plant-based ingredients like sweet almond oil and shea butter to smooth and condition hair, even overly dry or frizzy strands. There’s a little bit of hold to help keep your style in place, but not so much that it lacks movement or you can’t run your fingers through your hair from time to time. Use it on dry hair for additional smoothing and anti-frizz benefits or damp hair and let it air dry or use a blow dryer to set your style in place. Not only is it suitable for all hair types, but it leaves behind a subtle, clean sage scent.

Read More: Best Hair Cream for Men

Gels can get a bit of a bad rap because so many of them leave your hair crispy, crunchy and helmet-like, not to mention shiny. That’s largely thanks to the old school gels of decades past which relied heavily on alcohol to slick back and shellack hair into place (or keep curls in shape). But if you haven’t tried a gel since the 80’s, then you’re missing out. Gels are actually super versatile styling products that, yes, can slick back your hair, but can also give it definition, imbue it with texture and curl or tame frizz and smooth flyaway hairs.

This workhorse product is the epitome of a modern gel. It won’t leave your hair crunchy or crispy and instead gives it a soft touch which still imparts a high hold that means your hair stays locked in throughout the day. It’s also not shiny, thanks to the charcoal included in the formula, which not only gives it a gray color but also a semi-matte, natural-looking finish. It’s ideal for short to medium-length hair and can be used to smooth but also define texture. Plus, unlike many other goopy gels, it washes out cleanly without leaving residue behind on your hair or scalp.

Read More: Best Hair Gels for Men

Pomades are a wide ranging category in styling products and can be anything from a light water-based cream to something more oily or waxy that’s meant to lock hair into place. Typically they all make hair look sleeker and smoother and, with a varying amount of hold, can create natural-looking casual styles to something more coiffed like a pompadour or a classic slicked-back ‘do. Generally, what kind of pomade you pick will depend on what look you’re going for and how much hold it requires.

This water-based pomade, however, is a great option for a variety of styles thanks to its versatility. It’s water-based and has a light hold, which means that it washes out of your hair easily but also gives it a natural finish that doesn’t look overworked. It’s also developed specifically for coarse and coily hair types, which will find this formula moisturizing to dry-prone hair and ideal for wave styles without leaving them crunchy. It leaves a bit of shine, but not too much, and gives your hair a healthy look without flaking throughout the day.

Read More: Best Pomades for Men

Pros

• Strong, durable hold
• Flexible finish
• Matte

Clay lies somewhere between pomade and wax on the spectrum of hold, but unlike those two it has a dry texture, which lends itself to messier, piecier styles and natural, matte finishes. That said, since clay typically has a strong hold and is somewhat water resistant (it’s usually not water-based), it’s a good option for lots of styles when what you’re going for most is durability. Apply a clay with your hands, for instance, for a messier look or finish it off with a brush for a sleeker vibe that’s still going to hold all day without any shine.

This beloved clay is popular because first, it just works and second, it’s incredibly versatile. Just a little bit of this oily clay is enough to cover your whole head no matter what kind of look you’re going for. The oil content in the clay makes it a little bit smoother, which lends itself to sleeker styles, but since it’s a clay it’s ideal for piecer texture and messier looks, of course. Like a wax, it’s also great for detail work to get every single strand of your hair exactly how you want it. And while it gives your hair a gritty look, it’s still going to leave a matte finish that doesn’t look greasy or shiny.

Read More: Best Hair Clays

On the spectrum of hair styling products, wax is one with the highest amount of hold. That’s because it’s, well, wax which is inherently strong and also water repellent. Putting wax in your hair may seem a little extreme, but when you want a high hold that’s really going to stay in place for a really long time, wax is going to be your best friend. It’s also ideal for detail work, like flattening cowlicks, keeping straggly hairs out of your face and generally locking any amount of hair in place and it’s ideal for messy, textured or piecey styles.

The thing about using wax is that it can be difficult, especially if you’re new to the game. It can take a while to warm up in your hands and can clump up when applied to hair. That’s why this spray wax is so innovative. Not only does it give you the extreme hold of a wax, but the spray application is way easier. Apply to dry hair, making sure to spray the whole length of your hair including the roots, and you get full coverage without clumping. There’s even a lower setting on the nozzle that allows you to apply less of the stuff for a more flexible, touchable finish. It’s the most foolproof wax we’ve ever used.

Curly hair comes with its own set of needs, namely lots of moisturization. Since the natural oils from your scalp have a harder time reaching the ends of curly hair (it’s the shape of the follicle), curly hair tends to dry out quickly and is more susceptible to humidity which makes it frizz. The key to not just styling curly hair, but also keeping it healthy is to use products that impart lots of moisture but that don’t weigh it down too much (which can make the curls lose their shape).

This curl cream checks both those boxes. Think of this as a combination leave-in conditioner and styling cream. It’s packed with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter to deeply condition hair, as well as peptides which help promote hair strength and elasticity. Then there are the resins, which help curls to keep their shape without resorting to traditional styling polymers (like in a gel) that could leave them crispy or crunchy. What you get is a natural look that you can run your hands through but won’t frizz out in humidity and keeps your curls looking defined all day long.

Pros

• Provides lightweight texture
• Can be paired well with other styling products
• Non-drying formula

You know how good your hair looks after you spent a day at the beach? The combination of salt, water and sun is somehow the perfect combination for weightless texture that is the definition of effortless. But unless you’re a professional surfer, chances are you can’t spend every day at the beach. That’s why salt sprays were invented – to give you that same look without the need to trek to the beach every morning. These sprays are ideal for pumping up volume on fine hair, defining texture and bringing out natural waves and curls for a cool, casual look without adding a lot of weight like some heavier products do.

Many salt sprays, however, can leave your hair feeling a little dry (it’s all the salt). This one, however, does not. While it still contains the necessary ingredients for a beachy look (salt, water), it also contains botanical extracts that help keep hair soft and moisturized as well as work to strengthen it and give it natural volume. Spray some of this on damp hair and let it air dry or use a blow dryer (rough your hair up with your hands while you dry instead of with a brush) and you can even pair it with other styling products like creams and pomades if you want a bit of hold since there isn’t any in the formula. It works great on all hair types and lengths, but is especially good at giving volume to thin and fine hair.

Read More: Best Sea Salt Sprays

The reason you should always condition your hair after you shampoo it is that the act of cleansing strips away the natural oils that your hair needs to keep it healthy and moisturized. Conditioners replenish those oils and help soften hair to make it more manageable. But what if you do if your hair tends to get dry or frizzy and you can’t just hop in the shower so easily to re-condition it? A leave-in conditioner is your answer. They’re products that help to keep hair moisturized even after you get out of the shower.

While not your traditional styling product (there isn’t any hold), this leave-in conditioner is sometimes all you need. It’s incredibly easy to use – just spray it on damp hair and either let it air dry or use a blow dryer. You’ll be left with softer, healthier-looking hair that has natural shine. Compared to many leave-in conditioners, which tend to be creams, this spray is easier to apply and better to use on thin or fine hair without weighing it down with extra oil.

Read More: Best Leave-In Conditioners

You’ll notice that most hair stylists always – always – finish off a style with hairspray. That’s because no matter what style you have, hairspray is going to help lock it in, give it a little extra hold and help protect it from the elements. If you’re spending any amount of time styling your hair, you want it to last and hairspray is always going to be your best bet to make that happen.

You may think hairspray is going to leave your hair feeling crunchy or looking helmet-like and, sure, maybe in the olden days it would have. This modern spray, however, is nothing like what you’re thinking. It delivers flexible hold, which means that it allows you hair to still move while still staying in the style you want.

You can even run your fingers through it without worrying about messing up the style. The finish is soft, not crunchy and not only does it help protect your hair from humidity, but UV damage as well. It even contains keratin which helps to strengthen hair from the inside out. All in all, it’s nothing like the hairsprays of ye olden times and that’s why it’s so good.

Texture sprays have a lot in common with dry shampoos in that they help to soak up oil and grime from your hair and scalp to help volumize strands and pump them up. Unlike dry shampoos, texturizing sprays often will have a little bit of hold and other ingredients to help not only make hair look piecey and more textured, but also keep your style in place. They’re essentially multi-use products that can take the place of multiple stylers in your routine depending on what you’re using them for.

This texturizing spray may be one of the most iconic hair products of all time because it’s just that good. It instantly takes limp hair and adds incredible volume and natural-looking piecey texture as well as making it look cleaner, shinier and healthier. Not to mention the hold, which is akin to a light hairspray, keeps your style in place all day long. It’s ideal for all hair types, but is especially good for thin or fine hair since it adds insane volume without any weight at all. Plus, the high-end fragrance-like scent makes your hair smell incredible but doesn’t linger too much on your clothes.