Reuzel Pomades Guide: Which One Is Right for Your Style?

Water-Based Pomades:

✔️ Wash out easily with water

✔️ Dry and create firm hold

✔️ Ideal for everyday styling

✔️ Range from high shine to matte finish

Oil-Based Pomades (Grease-based):

✔️ Never dry out

✔️ Maintain shine all day

✔️ Reworkable (restyle anytime)

✔️ Require special shampoo for complete removal

 Pink Grease (Oil-Based)

Hold: Strong (9/10) | Shine: Medium

The legendary heavy-duty grease created for unruly, thick, coarse hair. With a beeswax base, it's the barbers' choice for extreme pompadours, quiffs, and classic slick-backs that need to last all day. Not for beginners — requires experience and patience in styling.

 Green Grease (Oil-Based)

Hold: Medium (5/10) | Shine: Medium

The most "friendly" oil-based of the range. With tea tree oil that helps break down product build-up, it offers medium hold with a classic greaser look. Ideal for softer styles or for "cocktailing" with Pink for customized hold.

 Blue (Water-Based)

Hold: Strong (9/10) | Shine: High

Super concentrated water-based with no-dry formula. Designed for thick, coarse, stubborn hair that resists styling. Maintains firm hold without hardening or flaking, and washes out easily. Vanilla wood scent that stays subtle all day.

❤️ Red (Water-Based)

Hold: Medium (5/10) | Shine: High

The all-rounder of the range. Medium hold with high shine, suitable for all hair types. Easy rinse-out with vanilla cola fragrance. Ideal for polished looks without extreme hold — perfect for fine or medium hair that doesn't need aggressive control.

Popular Reuzel Pomades

Reuzel offers one of the most complete pomade ranges on the market — from traditional greases to modern matte finishes, every hair type and styling preference is covered with precision.

 Fiber Pomade (Water-Based)

Hold: Pliable (6/10) | Shine: Low (3/10)

The most versatile matte of the range. Fiber-infused formula that delivers definition, volume, and flexibility — perfect for messy, textured styles that look "effortless". You can restyle all day without hardening. Vanilla mint scent.

 Clay Matte Pomade (Water-Based)

Hold: Medium (5/10) | Shine: Matte (1/10)

Clay-based formula with buildable hold — the more you apply, the stronger the hold. Doesn't weigh hair down, ideal for high-volume styles. Contains antiperspirant qualities, so it holds well even with an active lifestyle. Light vanilla mint fragrance.

⬛ Concrete Hold Matte (Water-Based)

Hold: Firm yet Flexible (8/10) | Shine: Barely There (1/10)

Behaves like a wax — meaning you can rework your look all day. Strong hold without flaking or mess. Vanilla cola fragrance. For those who want control but also flexibility to change their hairstyle mid-day.

⚡ Extreme Hold Matte (Water-Based)

Hold: Ridiculously Strong (10/10) | Shine: None (0/10)

Stronger than your morning coffee — as they say. Adds volume and texture while washing out easily. For long, thick, unruly hair that needs serious control. Rich, sugary rum fragrance. The ultimate solution for extreme styles that need to last longer than your phone battery.

 Fine/Thin Hair

Fine hair needs lightweight products that won't weigh it down. Avoid heavy greases and go for:

✔️ Red (Water-Based): Medium hold with shine, doesn't weigh down

✔️ Fiber Pomade: For volume and texture without weight

✔️ Clay Matte: Buildable hold for high-volume styles

 Medium/Normal Hair

The most versatile category — almost all Reuzels will work, depending on the look you want:

✔️ For shine: Red or Blue (water-based)

✔️ For matte: Fiber, Clay, Concrete

✔️ For traditional look: Green Grease (medium hold)

 Thick/Coarse Hair

Thick hair needs serious hold and moisture retention:

✔️ Blue (Water-Based): Strong hold with no-dry formula

✔️ Pink Grease: Heavy-duty for extreme styles

✔️ Extreme Hold Matte: Maximum control with matte finish

 Curly/Wavy Hair

Curly hair needs products that hydrate and define without frizz:

✔️ Blue (Water-Based): No-dry formula, moisture retention

✔️ Green Grease: With tea tree oil for definition

✔️ Fiber Pomade: For natural texture with control

 Pro Tip: Pomade Cocktailing

You don't have to stick to one product. Barbers often "cocktail" — e.g., Extreme Hold at the roots for volume + Blue at the front for shine and definition. Or Green Grease base with Pink Grease on the ends for customized hold.

Step 1: Hair Preparation

✔️ For water-based pomades: Towel-dried hair (slightly damp) for better distribution and easier styling. If hair is too wet, the pomade will dilute — if completely dry, it'll be harder to distribute.

✔️ For oil-based greases: Completely dry hair. Water and oil don't mix — so even slight moisture will prevent the grease from "gripping" properly.

Step 2: The Right Amount

The classic advice "start small, add more if needed" always applies:

✔️ Short hair: Dime-sized amount (about the size of a small coin)

✔️ Medium hair: Nickel to quarter-sized

✔️ Long/thick hair: 2-3 scoops, applying in layers

⚠️ Pro Tip: With heavy pomades (Pink Grease, Extreme Hold), it's better to use less and add more than to start with too much — over-application creates a greasy, weighed-down look.

Step 3: Emulsification (Warming in Hands)

This is the step many skip — and it's critical:

✔️ Rub the pomade between your palms for 15-20 seconds

✔️ The heat from your hands will "melt" the product and make it creamy

✔️ You need to cover both palms and fingers evenly

If you see "clumps" or lumps in your hands, keep rubbing — it's not ready yet. The pomade must be fully broken down before applying to hair.

Step 4: Application Technique

✔️ Start from the roots: Run fingers from scalp toward ends, pushing hair upward (spike motion). This ensures even distribution.

✔️ Don't skip the back: Many forget the back of the head — apply extra pomade there for holding power.

✔️ Finish with styling: Combing, brushing, or finger-styling depending on the look you want. For high pompadours, use a fine-tooth comb and work from back to front.

 Classic Pompadour (High Volume)

You need extreme hold and all-day staying power:

✔️ 1st Choice: Pink Grease (oil-based) — the ultimate for sky-high pomps

✔️ 2nd Choice: Blue + Extreme Hold combo (roots: Extreme Hold | front: Blue for shine)

Styling tip: Blow-dry with round brush for pre-styling volume, then pomade application and final comb with fine-tooth comb.

 Slick Back (Professional Look)

Smooth, polished, boardroom-ready:

✔️ For high shine: Blue (water-based) or Green Grease

✔️ For medium shine: Red (water-based)

Styling tip: Comb backward while hair is still damp. For extra smoothness, run hands with a little water mid-day.

 Textured Quiff / Messy Style

Natural, effortless, "I woke up like this" vibe:

✔️ 1st Choice: Fiber Pomade — pliable hold, low shine

✔️ 2nd Choice: Clay Matte — for more volume

Styling tip: Apply with fingers, ruffling motion. No comb — hands give the natural texture.

✂️ Side Part (Traditional Gentleman)

Clean lines, defined part, timeless elegance:

✔️ For fine hair: Red (medium hold, won't weigh down)

✔️ For thick hair: Blue or Concrete Hold

Styling tip: Make the part while hair is wet, then apply pomade. Use the comb's end for a crisp, clean line.

 Wash-Out Tips

Water-Based: A regular shampoo is enough. For heavy build-up (if used daily), do a deep cleanse 1-2 times per week.

Oil-Based: Requires pomade-specific shampoo or dishwashing liquid. The technique: apply on dry hair first (break down the oils), then rinse with water. Repeat if needed.

Top Pomade Picks

From the traditional grease era to today, pomades have evolved — yet brands like Reuzel maintain the connection to barbering heritage, inspired by historic names that survived until today.

 Vanilla Wood (Blue, Pink Grease)

Warm, masculine, slightly sweet — the classic barbershop scent. Combines vanilla with woody notes that stay subtle but distinct all day. The fragrance that reminds you why you fell in love with traditional grooming.

 Vanilla Cola (Red, Concrete Hold)

Playful, nostalgic, slightly retro — reminiscent of old-school American diners and rockabilly culture. Sweeter than Vanilla Wood, with cola undertones that give a fun twist.

 Vanilla Mint (Fiber, Clay)

Fresh, clean, invigorating — the scent that fits the modern, active lifestyle. The mint gives a cooling sensation without being aggressive, while vanilla makes it balanced and approachable.

 Sugary Rum (Extreme Hold)

Bold, rich, indulgent — for the pomade with the strongest hold, an equally intense fragrance. Sweet rum notes with a hint of caramel — not for those who prefer subtle scents.

 Tea Tree & Peppermint (Green Grease)

Natural, therapeutic, refreshing — the only Reuzel with a herbal profile. Tea tree oil isn't just for scent — it has antiseptic properties and helps break down product build-up.

 Tested by Real Barbers, Daily

Reuzel pomades weren't made in a lab by chemists — they were made in a barbershop by Leen and Bertus, two barbers with 25+ years of experience each. Every formula was tested on real customers, daily, until it reached perfection. When you buy Reuzel, you're getting a product that's been through thousands of hands — and heads.

 Rock 'n' Roll & Kustom Kulture

Reuzel isn't just a hair product brand — it's a lifestyle. Inspired by rockabilly, psychobilly, greasers, and the underground working-class culture of the Netherlands. The branding, graphics, even the tin colors reflect this aesthetic. They're not just selling pomade — they're selling an attitude.

⚡ Traditional Meets Modern

Reuzel achieves something rare: respecting tradition while innovating. The oil-based greases are tributes to classic 1950s pomades — but the water-based formulas are cutting-edge, with no-dry technology and advanced ingredients that didn't exist in the old days. The best of both worlds.

✅ The Final Verdict

If you're looking for a pomade that "gets the job done" — almost any brand will work. But if you're looking for heritage, attention to detail, products that have soul — Reuzel is the choice. Every tin carries the experience of thousands of haircuts, the love for the craft, and the honest pursuit of the perfect pomade.

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Giannis – Owner of HairMania Greece & Founder of HairMaker.Gr

Professional barber with 25 years of experience in hair and beard care. Owner of HairMania Greece and founder of HairMaker.Gr.

Together with the HairMaker.Gr team, I publish articles based on real testing, customer feedback and barbershop experience.

Questions about hair or grooming? Email us at info@hairmaker.gr.

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