The 8 Best Hair Styling Products for Men, According to Grooming Experts

Styling creams won’t give you a slick, structured look—and that’s the point. They’re made to create a natural, healthy finish, like you didn’t style your hair at all. Creams condition and smooth while adding light hold, keeping your look in place without crunch or 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, although you can also use it on damp hair and let it air dry, or with 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 that’s great for blending with other fragrances.

Read More: Best Hair Cream for Men

Gels can get a bad rap because so many of them leave your hair crispy, crunchy, and 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 place). But if you haven’t tried a gel since the ‘80s, then you’re missing out. They’re 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 of 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 the best option 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 developed specifically for coarse 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.

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Clay sits between pomade and wax in terms of hold but offers a dry texture ideal for messy, piecey styles and matte finishes. With its strong, water-resistant hold, it’s a great choice when durability matters. Apply with your hands for a tousled look, or use a brush for a sleeker finish—either way, it holds all day without shine.

This clay is a favorite for two reasons: it works, and it’s incredibly versatile. Just a small amount spreads easily across your whole head, no matter the style. Its oil content smooths the texture for sleeker looks, while the clay base adds grip and definition for messy, piecey styles. Like a wax, it excels at detail work, letting you shape every strand. It gives hair a gritty texture but finishes matte—never greasy or shiny.

Read More: Best Hair Clays

Wax offers some of the strongest hold among styling products, thanks to its naturally firm, water-repellent texture. It’s perfect for locking styles in place all day, taming cowlicks, smoothing flyaways, and adding texture or piecey definition. When you need serious hold, wax delivers. 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 out there.

Putty is a versatile styling product that offers strong, flexible hold with a matte finish—unlike pomade, which adds shine, or wax, which can feel heavier—making it a top choice for men who want textured, controlled styles without the grease. This product delivers a reliable medium hold that keeps your hair in place while still looking relaxed and natural—never stiff, shiny, or greasy. There’s a reason we recently gave it a Smell Fresh Award.

It creates a styled-but-effortless finish that lasts. For those who have sensitive scalps, finding any hair styling product that doesn’t cause a reaction can be a chore. But this putty, thanks to its reliance on natural ingredients like Manuka honey, paw paw, and kiwi extract, helps soothe the scalp and keeps irritation at bay.