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.

Pomade is the backbone of every barber's styling kit, and our Detroit Barbers line was built by working barbers who push product through clippers and combs every single day. Whether you're running a tight side part, a textured crop, a slick back, or a modern pompadour, the right pomade has to do three things well — hold the shape you cut, finish the way the style demands, and wash out without leaving your hair brittle. Our men's pomade collection covers every hold and finish your cut might call for. Water-based pomades like Supra Dupa Fly rinse out clean and re-activate with water, which is why so many of our barbers reach for them on textured cuts and modern fades. Matte cream pomades give you a natural, lived-in finish — perfect for the messy crop, the textured quiff, and any cut where you don't want a wet, shiny look. Classic petro-based formulas like Gunsmoke still have a place for slick backs, executive contours, and old-school side parts where you need that signature shine and an all-day hold that doesn't quit. Scent matters too. Our line leans editorial — lavender and vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, lemon and bergamot, coconut and citrus — pulled from barbershop classics and refined for guys who care how their hair smells as much as how it looks. None of it is loud. All of it lasts. If you're not sure which pomade fits your cut, the easiest call is to ask your barber the next time you're in the chair at any of our 8 Metro Detroit shops. They'll match the product to your hair type, the cut they're giving you, and the look you're going for. Buy it online below, or grab it in-shop after your next haircut.

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 Pomade4 oz. Matte Cream Pomade

Hold: 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 Pomade4 oz. Supra Dupa Fly — Water-Based Pomade

Scent: 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 PomadeGunsmoke Premium Petro Pomade

Hold: 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 — Bubblegum4 oz. Fiber — Bubblegum

Scent: 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 & Vanilla4 oz. Cream — Lavender & Vanilla

Scent: Lavender & Vanilla

Hold: Medium · Low shine

4 oz. cream pomade with calming lavender and vanilla scent. Medium hold, low shine.

4 oz. Paste — Cinnamon & Nutmeg4 oz. Paste — Cinnamon & Nutmeg

Scent: Cinnamon & Nutmeg

Hold: Medium · Matte

4 oz. styling paste with warm cinnamon and nutmeg scent. Medium hold, matte finish.

4 oz. Texture — Lemon & Bergamot4 oz. Texture — Lemon & Bergamot

Scent: Lemon & Bergamot

Hold: Medium · Low shine

4 oz. texturizing pomade with bright lemon and bergamot scent.

4 oz. Mud — Coconut & Citrus4 oz. Mud — Coconut & Citrus

Scent: 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.

All Detroit Barbers products ship from our online store.

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