Why You Should Switch From Hair Gel To Organic Pomade
Well Johnny, before you tell me why to switch, what’s the difference between hair gel and organic pomade?! Great question! Pomade and Gel are very different even though they both are used for hairstyling. Let’s first quickly look at the history of both.
The History of Hair Gel
The oldest record we have found on the use of hair gel was back in ancient Egyptian times. There are records of mummies having fat-based gel in their hair upon discovery of their tombs. Gel has been used throughout history since then to style and keep hair styled over long periods of time. Most gels were made from tree sap or animal fat, which is very different from gels made today.
The History of Pomade
Usage dates back to the Roman era and was used widely by European tribes. The product “pomade” wasn’t called pomade though. It was actually a soap! The English word “pomade” is derived from the French word pommade which means ointment. 19th-century pomade contained bear fat as the main ingredient for hold.
Johnny’s Fun Fact!
In Latin, pomade means “fruit” or “apple”. The original recipe for pomade had mashed apples in it!
History In Summary
Gel is much older than pomade but originated with the same intention, to style hair. Gel was made with animal fat or tree sap while pomade was made with mashed apples and animal fat.
Pomade provided a looser hold while gel provided a “stay all day” hold.
Now that history class is over, lets get into the good stuff!
Modern Day Gel And Pomade
Today, gel and pomade couldn’t be more different. Both are used for styling hair but have different intentions. The main difference is the end result. Here are a few pros and cons of each.
The Pros of Using Hair Gel
- Hardens and locks your style in place for a long time
- Usually cheap to purchase and easy to find
The Cons of Using Hair Gel
- Almost completely made with chemicals
- Ingredients will dry out hair follicles and scalp causing hair loss over time
The Pros of Using Hair Pomade
- Healthier ingredients (depending on who makes them; the majority are still made with chemicals)
- Freestyling - meaning it won’t lock your style so you can adjust throughout the day
The Cons of Using Hair Pomade
- More expensive compared to gel
- Much harder to find “the one” for you because of how many different types exist
Each has its pros and cons but overall, pomade is the healthier choice and offers more options compared to gel.
Gel Ingredients vs. Pomade Ingredients
Gel Ingredients
Since we don’t make gel (for good reason) I’ve reviewed some and found the most common list of ingredients. Surprisingly, gel has a very short list of ingredients!
This is what a common gel ingredient list contains:
- Water,
- Carbomer,
- Disodium EDTA,
- Glycerin,
- Benzophenone-4,
- Diazolidinyl urea, or iodoprophynyl butylcarbamate,
- Water,
- PVP K-90 PVP/ dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer,
- Oleth-2,
- And Aminomethylpropanol.
If you are wondering what those ingredients are…so am I!
This list of ingredients should already be off-putting because each of them will be absorbed into your body. Especially if you are wearing it every day all day. We have a simple rule for choosing grooming products, if it has a number in it or you can't pronounce it, get rid of it. No natural substance has a number in it (take a walk to your local park or head to a national park, pick up anything you naturally find there, and think of what it's called. Doesn’t have a number in the name does it?).
Pomade Ingredients
We do of course make pomade!
Actually, we make one of the healthiest pomades found anywhere!
I break pomades down into 2 main categories and then 3 sub-categories.
Pomade Main Categories:
- Organic
- Non-Organic
A product is either organic or it isn’t. “Natural” falls into the non-organic and you can read why HERE. At Johnny Slicks, we make Organic pomades.
Pomade Subcategories:
- Oil-Based Clay-Based
- Water-Based
Currently, Johnny Slicks is the only maker of an Organic Clay Based pomade as others are made with “natural” ingredients (which is the same as using chemicals and then hiding the chemicals behind a word people feel safe with).
Our healthy hair pomade is made with ingredients you can actually read:
- Beeswax,
- Fractionated Coconut Oil,
- Purified Water,
- Castor Oil,
- Bentonite Clay,
- and Fragrance (Body Safe).
As mentioned above, we also make one of the healthiest Oil Based Pomades on the market. With some of the best organic pomade ingredients like:
- Beeswax,
- Coconut Oil,
- Tea Tree Oil,
- Argan Oil,
- Jojoba Oil,
- Fragrance (Body Safe).
Unfortunately, there isn’t a single Organic Water Based pomade in existence…yet!
Conclusion - Switch to The Best Organic Pomade
Gel seems to be finding its way out of modern styling products. It’s used for specific purposes and special occasions but every single day that goes by, users are realizing the harmful effects of the chemicals and making the switch to healthier options.
I get at least 8 messages a day about hair loss or thinning hair and roughly 25% of them are users of hair gel. I tell everyone the same thing, stop using those products!
Pomade can be a healthier alternative to hair gel. I say “can” because you have to look at the ingredients and determine if it's better, same, or worse than your previous product. Some pomades are much worse than hair gel. Most of the time, you’ll see this happen from large grooming companies because they are cheaply made in china and do not have your health in mind.
But I'll make it simple for you!
We make every single product right here in the great US of A with only organic ingredients. To us, the cost of ingredients do not and will not ever replace the cost of your health.
So, if you are looking to make the switch to a healthy hair pomade, look no further! You are at the right place to get the worlds healthiest grooming products. We are constantly expanding our product lines and creating innovative formulas to offer you something you’ve never experienced before.
