Here’s What you Need To Know

The pompadour haircut is a favourite for men all over the world regardless of age, face shape, and hair type.

In this article, we’ll look at the different types of Pompadours, the tools and specific products needed, and, most importantly, how to style it.

We teamed up with UK hair care brand Hairbond United Kingdom to suggest products a full pompadour styling routine, from washing to finishing with their quality UK made products.

What Is the Pompadour?

The pompadour is a hairstyle that calls for your hair to be big and swept back over your head. The sides and back are closely cropped, followed by what some argue is like a voluminous quiff at the fringe. This isn’t as complicated as it sounds.

Everyone from businessmen to teenagers, and fashion icons the world over can sport the pompadour. However, the pompadour hasn’t always been for men only either. Women use to rock it in the 50s, before Elvis adopted it and showed the world that this heightened, shiny hairdo isn’t just for ladies.

Today the pompadour is one of the best and most versatile hairstyles for men.

Should I try out the Pompadour?

If you are thinking of trying out the pompadour, we can’t blame you. It’s one of the best there is. Here are some things you might want to remember before you take a trip to the barbers.

1. The Pompadour works best on straighter, finer hair.
2. Make sure your hair is long enough at the top, you don’t have to worry about the sides.
3. Try with a beard. Before your appointment, grow your beard out for more exclusive results. It’s quite the combination, the beard with the pompadour, and if you decide you don’t like it, you can always remove it after your haircut.

The 3 Most Popular Pompadours

 1. The Classic Pompadour

As earlier mentioned, the classic pompadour goes way back to the good old days of Elvis Presley. This is the best style for gents who are trying to put in serious styling time. The pompadour is exceptional with great volume and the classic look comes with a glossy shine. For the classic look, you need well-tended hair and a clean scissor haircut. Unlike the top, keep the sides and back shorter. While the hair above your forehead is longer and contrasts the crown of your hair. Use a smooth pomade to style the classic pompadour in the best way possible. This gives a slick, shiny finish that the pomp is all about. For best and safest results we recommend professional products only. We teamed up with UK haircare brand and their water-based pomade is perfect for finishing this classic look; Hairbond’s Gripper Professional Hair Pomade.

 2. The Modern Pompadour

Want to go modern with this classic? Then, the modern disconnected pompadour could just the right style. As you might have probably guessed, this hairstyle stands out because of the cool contrast between the long hair on top, and the short back and sides. The modern pompadour works well with a skin fade haircut and as well with just a regular clipper short back and sides. But with shorter sides and at the back than the classic version, this version doesn’t need too much styling or combing in neither of those areas, which makes it perfect if you are often in a rush in the morning. We suggest trying the Hairbond Shaper Professional Toffee or the Hairbond Mattifier Professional Hair Cement to finish with.

3. The Short Pompadour

The short pompadour is an easier alternative. It can be a savior for those who wish to look a little younger, it has less volume and requires less maintenance. This type of pompadour requires a short back and sides as usual. Ensure the hair on top isn’t more than 4 cm.

This results in classic pomp with a modern twist that saves you plenty of time in the morning. Due to the shorter lengths to the hair, you will likely find better product choice in something not as strong which specializes in natural-looking volume and texture instead. The Hairbond Distorter Professional Hair Clay would be just as ideal, as the Hairbond Moulder Professional Hair Shaper. Both matte clay/wax products, but ranking 3/5 and 4/5 for hold.

How To Style a Pompadour

If you want the top-styled or sleek pompadour or you want some texture or a beachy mess, follow these steps to style your pompadour.

Step 1: Freshly wash and condition your hair so that it’s completely free from excess oil, dirt and product residue. We suggest considering premium quality products so Hairbond’s shower trio, including their body, wash, shampoo, and conditioner is a great place to start your new pompadour styling routine.

Step 2: Depending on your hair length, after drying your towel-dried hair, first distribute between 3-6 pumps of pre-styling spray and then dry the product in with a hairdryer. Then blow-dry your hair backward from your forehead to your crown. We recommend Hairbond’s Texturiser Sea Salt Spray for a rich, protected drier, matte finish or the Hairbond Wonder Primer spray for more of a softer, more conditioned matte and natural results, to lock in and protect the foundations of your new pompadour hairstyle.

Step 3: When your hair is totally dry, you can move on to the finishing products and let them work their magic. As mentioned, a pomade is necessary for the classic pompadour, but if you are looking for texture and/or volume, a gritty clay wax, or creamy shaper is what you want. Take a small amount of the Hairbond product, remember you can always go back for another scoop if you wish, and first rub through your hands, then through your hair to finish the product application.

Step 4: Grab your comb again and after you have distributed the product to your hair, ensure you keep combing. Comb with one hand and shape with the other, then smoothen the hair so as to get what you are looking for. Tip, if with product in, your hair refuses the comb action, apply a small amount of water down the side of your comb. This water will dry out later from matte products, or when added to a pomade, can give you a small amount of additional shine.

Step 5: Now comes the interesting part – creating the pomp. Push your combed hair forward, then finish off by creating an up and back motion with the comb. These curves back the fringe over the front and crown of your head.

Step 6: Once you like the shape of your pomp, use a spritz of hairspray to finish off and all that is left is the volume of a pompadour worth admiring.

Hairbond products can only be purchased from partnered stockists or in popular online market places. For trade pricing on Hairbond United Kingdom products visit Finest Barbers