Hair products can be confusing to navigate — do you need hair paste? Hairspray? Hair gel? Hair paste hits a magical middle ground between a hair gel and a hairspray. You can apply it strategically like spray without losing hold anytime something touches your hair. It also has the long-lasting strength of a gel without getting hard and crunchy. Paste is the best option to keep your hair's natural texture and allow it to move around a bit throughout the day. A good paste allows you to tweak your style anytime you catch yourself in a mirror and see that something is just a little off, because if we're being honest that happens to all of us.
We rounded up a list of the best hair paste for men available now. Their properties and functionality vary a bit because, like a fingerprint, we all have unique hair. Half the battle of achieving the hairstyle you want is finding the product that works best for your hair. That can be a daunting task with so many pastes on the market so we've narrowed down the options for you. Just remember, we can help you find the best product to achieve your new hairstyle but we can't stop your mom from criticizing it.
Best hair paste for an all-natural look
R+Co Control Flexible Paste
When you want to style your hair but keep your natural texture, R+Co Control Flexible Paste is the way to go. Use it sparingly to get control of your hair and make people question whether you're actually using a product or if your hair just looks that way.
Best hair paste for an all-day hold
Bravo Sierra Hair Grooming Paste
Don't get us wrong, each of our hair paste picks offers plenty of all-day hold and style. Bravo Sierra's Hair Grooming Paste, however, is field-tested by members of the U.S. Army and designed to offer styling potential in adverse conditions. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for you.
Best hair paste for a dressy look
Baxter of California Liquid Styling Paste
When you want a hairstyle with some polish, reach for this easy-to-use, liquid-based hair styling paste. It's a more unique option as far as hair paste is concerned, but you'll get the hang of using it right away. While you shop for this hair paste, consider picking up other Baxter of California grooming essentials, too.
Best hair paste with an invigorating scent
Tea Tree Shaping Cream
Tea Tree hair products are known for simple ingredients and invigorating scents. The brand's shaping cream provides a matte texture that is great for a natural or slightly messy look and for taming medium-length hair. Most importantly, the cool mint, tee tree, and citrus scent will provide you with an aromatic boost all day. It’s subtle but a pleasant surprise for anyone that catches it.
Best hair paste for textured hair
Fellow Barber Texture Paste
It's right in the name, but this texture paste is great for creating definition and, naturally, texture. It's a fan favorite and trusted by the pros, so consider this a ringing endorsement as far as the best hair paste for men is concerned.
Best hair paste for dry hair
Murdock London Texture Paste
Murdock London's Texture Paste provides a low-shine finish and is ideal to use in dry hair to generate a soft hold. If you don't want to fuss too much with your hair in the mornings, this could be an ideal solution.
Best hair paste for short hair
American Crew Fiber
American Crew's legendary Fiber is designed to increase volume and texture all at once, while also providing a pliable hold and a matte finish for shorter hair. That sounds like an ideal hair paste to add to your shopping cart ASAP.
Best hair paste for relaxed hairstyles
Aveda for Men Pure Performance Grooming Cream
Aveda: Men made a hair paste to help fix the damage that wearing the wrong hair paste can cause your hair. Pure Performance Grooming Cream acts like a styling product and a conditioner at the same time. It has a light hold so it is for more relaxed hairstyles.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to styling product manufacturer Aiir Professional, the best way to apply hair styling paste, is to put some on your hands and rub them together to warm up the product. This will soften it from a stiff consistency to more of a cream. Then apply the paste, and as it cools it will thicken to give you style and all-day hold.
For the most part, when you use gel in your hair, it leaves your hair stiff and it will not move around. Since many of them are alcohol-based hair products, hair gels can also dry out your hair over time. A hair paste allows for more flexibility with your hair without damaging it or drying it out.
Just like the name suggests, hair clay contains powdered clay. It will add volume to your hairstyle, but it isn't as flexible as hair paste, which will allow you to brush your hair to change the style much easier than hair clay.
It's up to you. While it's probably best to at least towel dry your hair before applying hair paste, the product can by applied to wet or dry hair, so it's not a big deal if your hair isn't completely dry before using hair paste.
