I remember my dad using pomade when I was just a toddler. That distinct scent of the pomade never fails to trigger the memory of him in my childhood. Though I never use it myself-only when the occasion or an event warrants it, I do wonder if hair pomade is bad for your hair.
At this age where my own hair is susceptible and close to hair loss, I can’t stop thinking about my dad’s thick hair and my thinning hair. Sooner or later I may need to resort to scalp micropigmentation for men, for my receding hairline, or perhaps I need to watch and read tips for caring for a bald head when I’m at it.
Let's Talk About Pomade
The pros and cons of a product is a way to look at how it measures other chemical-based products capacity. The pros and cons of pomade.
Pros
- Supreme hold once a build-up is achieved
- Often contain ingredients known to nourish the hair such as castor oil and coconut oil
- Time-honored and traditional form of hairstyling
- Natural-looking shine
- Helps rid-off dry hair
Cons
- Everything hair touches, like pillow and clothes, turn greasy.
- Difficult to wash out, may take several shampoo treatments to completely remove product entirely
First thing, let me set the record straight, the wax and hair gel use by young people today are both types of pomade. The only difference is, one is oil-based pomade and the other is water-based pomade.
Oil-Based Pomades
Oil pomades have a list of ingredients like beeswax, petroleum, coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, fragrance etc. This type of pomade is harder to wash out, needing several washes with shampoo. Oil-based pomades provide the maximum shine and slickness.
Pros
- Re-style throughout the day
- Last longer than water-based pomade
- Delivers great moisture
- Provides strong hair hold
Cons
- Doesn’t wash out easily
- Causes build-up
- Hair looks greasy
- Will smother the hair shaft and potentially clog and suffocate the hair
Water-Based Pomades
Easily washable and are a great choice for greasy and oily pomades, which cause buildup. Since this pomade is water-based, it dries up quickly, which requires using water to re-style throughout the day if needed.
Pros
- Super easy to wash out
- Long-lasting hold
- Doesn’t make hair greasy
- Less prone to cause acne
Cons
- Less shine than oil-based pomades
- Dries hair and scalp
- Not easy to re-comb
Can Pomade Cause Hair Loss?
No, pomade doesn’t make your hair fall out. Improper care of your scalp can do that. And because you comb your hair a lot when you style with pomade, the hairs that naturally fall out during a day can come out all at once, making it look like chunks of hair are coming out.
But if you use pomade too much, this bad for your hair, you can close or block the pores on your scalp and forehead causing them to break out, so, starting with a very small amount when styling with pomade is recommended.
Is it bad to put pomade in your hair every day?
Yes, it’s bad to put pomade in your hair every day. If your scalp is not used in having anything other than shampoo, conditioner, and the natural oils it produces on it, chances are, it’s gonna react to it by producing oils to counter the greasy hair product.
Why Pomade is Bad For Your Hair?
Pomade is not bad for your hair, per se. Only the kind and way you use pomade made it a culprit. Poorly-formulated pomades that don’t protect against dehydration and oil-based/wax-based pomades that clog hair follicles and don’t get washed out regularly are bad for your hair. Bad enough to cause hair and skin problem.
What also happened is that the human body needs time to adjust to the changing environment. When pomade applied for the first time, the hair and scalp take their time to adjust to the new condition their in.
Can Styling Products Cause Hair Loss?
People scalp problems like scalp irritation known as contact dermatitis for men and women are some times linked to hair styling product used for hairstyles. Companies who made these things put ingredients such as chemical agents that weaken hair strand. Your grooming routine of washing your hair thoroughly with shampoo or olive oil and dish soap will clear away those pomade oils.
Bottom Line
Don’t close your mind yet if you remain unconvinced of my argument, here’s more. Some research found a connection between DHT(dihydrotestosterone), a sex hormone, and hair loss for both men and women. Foods that promote your hair growth by naturally blocking DHT levels are legumes, bananas, soybeans, black pepper, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.
Even allergic reactions, acne, dandruff, and other skin issues that can lead to permanent hair loss can be the culprit. So, there is no saying who really is at fault, when you think of it.
Those myths about pomade that passes through word of mouth were debunked by my dad, that for almost his entire life of applying pomade doesn’t show any sign of baldness, instead of having his crowning glory intact is a sight to behold, indeed.