Guide

HENRI's Product Guide: The difference between our hair waxes

Which hair wax suits your hair?

Most men choose their first hair wax the same way. They look at the front of the product, read a few words about the end result and go with whatever sounds reasonable. Sometimes they get it right. More often they end up with a product that works against them instead of with them.

Pomade, cream or clay – what is what?

Although the market can seem endless, there are three product types that dominate men's hair styling, and they differ primarily on two things: finish and hold.

A pomade gives shine. The polished, combed look you know from classic styles like slick-backs and side parts. Anything that requires the hair to look intentional. A pomade is typically water-based and easy to refresh throughout the day.

A cream is softer than a pomade. It gives a natural finish and light control. You do not get a look that shouts styling and hard edges, but a more natural look that appears as if the hair simply falls the right way on its own. A cream-based wax works best for men who want the feeling that they have not spent time in front of the mirror.

A clay wax gives the hair a more matte appearance and delivers more grip than the other two forms. It builds structure, holds the shape and creates an expression that is deliberate and defined without any shine. It is the product for the man who wants his hair to sit correctly all day, but does not want the overly polished look that a pomade would give him.

Know your starting point

Before you choose a product, it is worth understanding what you have to work with.

Fine hair drowns easily under too heavy a product. If you have fine hair, it needs grip and volume, not extra weight, as fine hair easily gets weighed down by a product that is too heavy. A light cream or pomade is therefore the ideal product choice to avoid an overly greasy and heavy result.

Thick and coarse hair can carry more hold and structure and responds well to a clay wax that takes control of the hair rather than following it.

Hair with natural movement or a slight wave works best with products that work with the hair's natural fall. Here a cream or a clay wax with flexible hold is the strongest choice.

What matters is not whether you have the right hair for a particular look. It is whether you are using the right product for the hair you have.

Which HENRI product is best for you?

Crystal Pomade

Crystal Pomade is for the man who knows exactly what he wants. A polished, combed look with high shine and clean lines. The gel-cream texture glides easily through the hair, and the medium hold keeps the shape without locking it in place. Crystal Pomade is water-based, meaning you can easily rework the product during the day with a lightly dampened hand.

Suited to medium to long hair with natural structure or thickness. The right choice for classic slick-backs, side parts and all styles that require shine and control in the same movement.

Advanced Forming Cream

Advanced Forming Cream is the opposite of a product that tries too hard. It gives medium hold and a natural finish that looks as though the hair simply falls correctly. It tames fly-aways, builds light definition and remains pliable throughout the day. The result is an expression without stiffness, without too much shine and without any visible trace of product.

Suited to short to medium hair across all hair types. Particularly effective on normal to coarse hair and hair prone to dryness. The everyday choice for men who want a neat look without overthinking it.

Texture Clay Pomade

Texture Clay Pomade is for looks with edge. Strong grip, matte finish and clear separation – it is a product that builds shape and holds it there. Not the softest choice, but the most precise when you want texture and definition to work for you.

Suited to short to medium hair with thickness and natural structure. The right choice when you want a look that is deliberate and defined without appearing lacquered.

Upgraded Signature Clay

Upgraded Signature Clay is the most versatile of the four. A modern clay wax that builds natural, tangible texture with a matte finish – hold and shape, without locking the hair in place. It still moves. It still looks alive.

Suited to all lengths and hair types seeking a matte finish with structure and movement. The daily choice for men who want something that works regardless of what the day demands.

Create the foundation for a great result. Every time.

Even the right product can only do so much if the hair is not properly prepared. Regardless of which of the four waxes you choose, a great result starts with a primer.

Refined Salt Water is the first step. A few sprays into slightly damp hair, worked in from root to tip, add texture and natural grip that makes the hair receptive to what you apply on top. It lifts the root, activates the hair's natural structure and ensures that your wax takes hold instead of sliding through.

Skip this step and you are working against your own hair. Use it and the products work for you.