new thread
I just checked out the Baltimore Sun article (by the way, thanks for posting that link, Pete_J). Can anyone tell me how to get the 50s-style hair in the second picture? Here's the caption:
"Riding a new wave: Vinnie Saulsbury of Baltimore believes in big hair for men. He keeps his 1950s-style pompadour piled up between 3- and 5-inches high."
I've always wanted to try that but never knew how to do it.
- J.B.
I'm into the 50s rockabilly scene, and so had hair like that for a while--I'm actually trying to change things up now (I'll post my own Q later).
It's really helpful to find someone who really knows the way to cut a pomp. I used to go to a guy who learned in the 50s, so he was the real deal. But you can still get by with a good modern stylist.
Maybe the biggest tip is this--pomade. Don't screw with the expensive stuff, like Crew for instance. You want to head straight for the "ethnic grooming section." Murrays is great. It's thick and will hold anything in place. Be advised--it's tough washing out.
There are other sorts of pomade, and all of them act a little differently, and it all depends on your hair. Something like Murrays is about the strongest, and keeps the hair really thick. If you want a loser pomp, there are products like Royal Crown and Murrays Super Light.
Just try out the pomades. Hey, at about 2 bucks for a can, you can afford to experiment.
-Andrew
Andrew, have you used beeswax? All the products you just mentioned are right next to beeswax on the shelf at the store, but I never tried them, If you have used wax, maybe you can tell me where it is on the strength scale, compared to the 3 products you mentioned?
slacker
You know, I never have...but i think when i grow my hair out again I will. Murrays is really strong, but I have friends that have ordered pomade for some place called, uh, something or other's chop shop, maybe Rob's chop shop...whatever, and that stuff is even stronger. I've used pomades with beeswax in them, and they work really well. I find that the pomades with more petrolatnum are more greasy.
I'm not sure how strong the beeswax is by itself...but now that you remind me of the stuff, i think i'll try it out myself.
-andrew
You can almost tell just by looking at pomade if it's gonna be strong. Open up a can--if it's shiny and wet looking, it's probably not all that thick--if it's sort of dry looking (like murrays) it's probably pretty thick. If you use a lot of something like Murrays, it's good to heat it up with a blowdryer in your hand before even attempting to comb that stuff through.