Grooming Tips · 15 February 2026
You've just had a fresh cut. You walk out of the barber looking sharp, everything sitting exactly where it should. Then the next morning you wash your hair, towel it off, and suddenly it looks nothing like it did when you left the chair. Sound familiar?
Nine times out of ten, the missing piece isn't the haircut. It's the product. Your barber uses styling products to finish your cut, and those products are doing a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to texture, hold, and shape. The good news is that using product at home isn't complicated. You just need to know which type works for your hair and your style, and how to apply it properly.
Hair on its own doesn't always cooperate. Fine hair falls flat. Thick hair goes wherever it fancies. Wavy hair can look brilliant one day and chaotic the next. Product gives you control over that. It's not about creating something artificial or spending twenty minutes in front of the mirror. It's about giving your hair a nudge in the right direction so your cut looks the way it's meant to look.
The key is matching the right product to your hair type and the style you're after. Using the wrong one is worse than using none at all. A heavy pomade on fine hair will make it look greasy and flat. A light sea salt spray on thick, unruly hair won't do a thing. Get the match right and you'll wonder why you didn't start using product years ago.
If you could only own one product, this is the one. Matte clay is the most versatile option for men's hair, and it's what we reach for most often here at BB's Barbers.
What it does: Provides medium to strong hold with a natural, matte finish. No shine, no wet look. Your hair looks like it's just naturally sitting well, which is the goal for most modern men's styles.
Best for: Textured crops, quiffs, side parts, messy styles, and pretty much anything with a fade. It's particularly brilliant for medium-length hair on top where you need some hold but don't want a stiff, crunchy finish. If you've got a skinfade with a textured top, matte clay is your best friend. Our guide on maintaining a skinfade covers this in more detail.
Hair types: Works on almost everything. It's slightly better suited to normal and thick hair, but fine hair can use it too in smaller amounts.
How to apply: Scoop out a pea-sized amount (genuinely pea-sized, not a heaped blob). Rub it between your palms and fingers until it's evenly distributed and slightly warm. Then work it through towel-dried or dry hair, starting at the back and sides before shaping the top. Use your fingers, not a comb, for a more natural texture.
Common mistake: Using too much. If your hair feels heavy or looks clumpy, you've overdone it. Start small. You can always add more, but you can't take it out without rewashing.
Wax is clay's slightly shinier cousin. It provides similar hold but with a low-to-medium sheen, giving hair a healthier, slightly polished look.
What it does: Medium hold with a natural sheen. More pliable than clay throughout the day, meaning you can restyle without adding more product.
Best for: Slicked-back styles, side parts with a polished finish, and medium-length styles where you want some movement and shine. It's also good for taming flyaways and adding definition to thicker hair.
Hair types: Best on normal to thick hair. Can weigh down finer hair if you use too much.
How to apply: Same as clay. Small amount, warm it between your palms, and work through hair from back to front. Because wax stays pliable, you can reshape during the day by running damp fingers through your hair.
Common mistake: Applying to soaking wet hair. This dilutes the product and gives you almost no hold. Towel-dry first, or apply to fully dry hair for maximum effect.
Pomade is the classic. It's been around since the 1950s teddy boy era, and it's the product behind every slick, high-shine style you've ever seen.
What it does: Strong hold with a high shine. Keeps hair firmly in place with a glossy, polished finish. Water-based pomades wash out easily. Oil-based ones give stronger hold but are harder to remove.
Best for: Slick-backs, pompadours, hard parts, and any style where you want a clean, defined, shiny look. Think classic barbershop styles. It also works well for formal events where you want your hair looking particularly sharp.
Hair types: Thick and straight hair gets the best results. Wavy or curly hair can use it for slicking back, but you'll need a stronger hold to keep things in place. Not ideal for fine hair, as the shine emphasises thinness.
How to apply: A little goes a long way. Warm it between your palms until it's spread thin, then comb or brush through damp hair. Use a fine-tooth comb for a sleek finish or your fingers for a slightly more relaxed look. Style into shape and leave it alone.
Common mistake: Using pomade for a matte, textured style. It's the wrong tool for the job. If you want texture and no shine, put the pomade down and pick up a clay.
Gel has a bit of a reputation problem. For a lot of men, it brings back memories of rock-hard, crunchy hair from the early 2000s. And honestly, cheap gel does still do that. But a decent quality gel is a legitimate styling product with its own strengths.
What it does: Strong to very strong hold with a wet-look shine. Sets firm once dry, which means your style stays exactly where you put it. All day. In wind. In rain. It's not moving.
Best for: Very short styles that need to stay precise, spiky styles, and wet-look finishes. It's also genuinely useful for curly hair, where a gel can define curls and reduce frizz without the heaviness of a pomade.
Hair types: Short to medium hair. Curly hair benefits particularly. Not recommended for longer styles, where the stiffness looks unnatural.
How to apply: Apply to damp hair. Use about a 10p-coin-sized amount, spread evenly through your palms, and work through your hair from root to tip. Style into place and then genuinely leave it alone. Touching gel once it starts setting creates flaking and that awful crunchy texture nobody wants.
Common mistake: Touching your hair after applying. Set it and forget it. That's the deal with gel.
Sea salt spray is the most underrated product in men's grooming. It doesn't get the attention that clays and pomades do, but for certain styles and hair types, nothing else comes close.
What it does: Adds texture, volume, and grip without any real hold. Gives hair a natural, slightly tousled look, like you've spent the day at the beach. Matte to very low sheen finish.
Best for: Longer, textured styles. Messy fringes. Surfer-style hair. Anything where you want movement and body without obvious product. It's also brilliant as a pre-styler. Spray it in, let it half-dry, then add a small amount of clay on top for a textured style with proper hold. This combination is what a lot of barbers use as a finishing technique for textured crops. If you're curious about trending styles that work with sea salt spray, check out our best men's haircuts for 2026 guide.
Hair types: Perfect for fine hair that needs volume. Great for wavy hair that just needs a bit of encouragement. Less effective on very thick, straight hair that needs stronger hold.
How to apply: Spray into damp hair from about six inches away. Three to five sprays is usually enough for short to medium hair. Scrunch lightly with your fingers, then either let it air-dry for a natural finish or blow-dry for more volume. Don't comb after applying; the whole point is texture.
Common mistake: Overspraying. Too much salt spray makes hair feel dry and straw-like. If your hair feels crunchy, you've used too much. Rinse and start again with less.
A quick mention for texture powder, which doesn't get talked about enough. It's a lightweight, dust-like product that you sprinkle into the roots of your hair. It absorbs oil and adds instant volume and grip.
It's particularly useful for fine-haired men who struggle with flat, lifeless styles. A light dusting transforms thin hair into something with body and movement. It's also handy as a mid-day refresh when your style has gone flat.
Use it sparingly. A tiny amount goes a surprisingly long way, and too much leaves a visible white residue.
The single biggest mistake men make with hair products is using too much. Every product works better in small amounts. Here's a rough guide:
If you're ever unsure, start with less. You can always build up. But starting with too much means you're washing your hair and starting again, which nobody has time for on a Tuesday morning.
The best advice will always come from the person cutting your hair. Next time you're in the chair at BB's Barbers, ask Andrew or Isaac what they're using to finish your cut and how much they're applying. We're always happy to talk through what works for your specific hair type and style, and we can show you the technique in person, which is worth more than any written guide.
Browse our full haircut services and prices, or book your next appointment online. We'll make sure you leave with a style that works and the knowledge to keep it looking sharp at home.