Men's Pomade — Matte, Water-Based & Petro Pomades
Barber-tested men's pomades — matte cream, water-based, and classic petro formulas for the cuts we do every day at Detroit Barbers. Shop the line online.
Types of Men's Pomade
Pomades aren't one product — they're a family of styling tools, each tuned for a different finish, hold, and hair type. Here's how the main types break down.
Water-based pomade
Strong-to-medium hold with light-to-medium shine. Re-activates with water, washes out with one shampoo. Best for slick backs, side parts, pompadours, and modern cuts where you want shape without commitment. Our Supra Dupa Fly is the workhorse here.
Matte cream pomade
Medium hold with a natural, no-shine finish. The default daily pomade for textured crops, quiffs, fringes, and any lived-in style. Works on every hair type. Our Matte Cream Pomade is the go-to.
Paste & fiber pomade
Pliable, slightly stiffer hold with a low-shine matte finish. Fibers add the appearance of thickness — great for medium-density hair. Paste gives more shape memory for textured styles. See our Paste (Cinnamon & Nutmeg) and Fiber (Bubblegum).
Mud / clay pomade
Heavy matte hold with maximum grip and texture. Built for messy, exaggerated styles and thick or coarse hair. Our Mud (Coconut & Citrus) is the heaviest matte in the line.
Classic petro pomade
Heavy, all-day hold with high shine. The traditional barbershop pomade for slick backs, executive contours, and old-school side parts. Needs a clarifying shampoo to wash out. Gunsmoke is our take on the classic.
Shop Men's Pomade
4 oz. Matte Cream PomadeHold: Medium · Matte
Detroit Barbers 4 oz. Matte Cream Pomade — medium hold, zero shine. Built for textured crops, modern quiffs, and natural everyday styles.
4 oz. Supra Dupa Fly — Water-Based PomadeScent: Passionfruit
Hold: Strong · Medium shine
Strong hold, medium shine water-based pomade. Re-activates with water, washes out clean. Passionfruit scent. 4 oz.
Gunsmoke Premium Petro PomadeHold: Heavy · High shine
Classic petro-based pomade. Heavy hold, high shine, all-day stay. Perfect for slick backs, executive contours, and old-school styles.
4 oz. Fiber — BubblegumScent: Bubblegum
Hold: Medium-Strong · Low shine
4 oz. fiber pomade for thickness, texture, and pliable hold. Bubblegum scent. Great for matte, textured styles.
4 oz. Cream — Lavender & VanillaScent: Lavender & Vanilla
Hold: Medium · Low shine
4 oz. cream pomade with calming lavender and vanilla scent. Medium hold, low shine.
4 oz. Paste — Cinnamon & NutmegScent: Cinnamon & Nutmeg
Hold: Medium · Matte
4 oz. styling paste with warm cinnamon and nutmeg scent. Medium hold, matte finish.
4 oz. Texture — Lemon & BergamotScent: Lemon & Bergamot
Hold: Medium · Low shine
4 oz. texturizing pomade with bright lemon and bergamot scent.
4 oz. Mud — Coconut & CitrusScent: Coconut & Citrus
Hold: Strong · Matte
4 oz. styling mud with coconut and citrus scent. Strong matte hold for textured looks.
How to Choose & Use
Start with finish, then hold. If you want a wet, polished look — slick back, side part, executive contour — reach for a petro pomade like Gunsmoke or our water-based Supra Dupa Fly for a medium shine that re-activates in the shower. If you want a natural, lived-in finish — textured crop, modern quiff, messy fringe — go matte with our Matte Cream Pomade, Mud, or Paste. Fine or thinning hair benefits from a fiber pomade or matte cream layered over Texture Powder for lift. Thick or coarse hair handles heavier holds (Mud, Gunsmoke) without going stiff. When in doubt, water-based pomade is the safest first product — it works on almost every cut, washes out clean, and forgives over-application.
USED IN OUR BARBERSHOPS
Tested daily in all 8 Metro Detroit locations
Every product in our line is built, tested, and used by working Detroit Barbers staff every single day. Try it in the chair at any of our shops — or order online and we'll ship it from the Detroit Barbers Shop.
Frequently Asked About Men's Pomade
What's the difference between water-based and petro pomade?
Water-based pomades wash out with water and re-activate when wet — great for textured, matte, and modern styles. Petro pomades use petroleum or wax bases for stronger hold and high shine, best for slick backs and classic side parts.
Which pomade has the strongest hold?
Gunsmoke Premium Petro Pomade is our heaviest hold. For water-based, Supra Dupa Fly holds shape all day and still rinses out clean.
What's the best matte pomade for textured cuts?
Our Matte Cream Pomade and the Mud (Coconut & Citrus) give a natural, low-shine finish that works perfectly with textured crops and quiffs.
Is water-based or oil-based pomade better for thick hair?
Thick hair handles both, but oil/petro-based pomades like Gunsmoke give more grip and shine. Water-based works great if you want flexibility through the day.
Related Grooming Categories
Texture Powder
Detroit Barbers texture powder adds instant volume, lift, and a matte finish to any men's haircut. Lightweight, easy to apply, no residue.
Texture Spray
Detroit Barbers 8 oz. Texture Spray gives men's cuts effortless texture, grit, and a natural matte finish. Perfect for crops, quiffs, and waves.
Beard Balm
Detroit Barbers beard balm conditions, shapes, and tames every beard. Available in Bay Rum, O.G., and Royal Oak scents — barber-tested.
All Grooming Products
Browse the full Detroit Barbers grooming line — pomades, powders, sprays, beard balms, and aftershaves.
All Detroit Barbers products ship from our online store.
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