Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Hair Products from Primer to Hair Putty

Grooming for men has come a long way. From 4-in-1 do-it-all products to individualized treatments such as facial exfoliators, the industry is still growing, and for the better. It has been able to help men everywhere elevate their game to their female counterparts. One of the best improvements in men's grooming comes down to hair products. You've washed and conditioned your hair -- now what?

How you style your hair today can seem like a bit of a task with the numerous different hair creams, clays, pastes, and gels. On top of that, there are hundreds of brands to choose from and multiple options for each hair “type.”

Contrary to popular belief, men’s hair products can get very complicated and overwhelming. And using the right products for your hair is just as important as finding the right barber and what works for you. Styling products help keep your hair in check, and for many, their hairstyle is their defining characteristic. We rounded up some of the best products that you can find in 2022 to help you make the most of your mane.

PATRICKS | High Performance Grooming for Men | Pomade Style Hair Product Without Greasy Wet Look | 75g (M2)
Best Overall Hair Product: Patrick's M2 Matte Finish Medium Hold
Jump to details
L'Oreal for Men Paris Studio Line Clean Gel 
Best Hair Gel: L'Oreal Paris Studio Line Gel
Jump to details
R + Co Bleu Surreal Styling Serum
Best Hair Serum: R + Co Bleu Surreal Styling Serum
Jump to details
Jack Henry Clay Pomade
Best Pomade: Jack Henry Clay Pomade
Jump to details
Men's Hair Forming Cream by American Crew
Best Styling Cream: American Crew Forming Cream
Jump to details
Head & Shoulders Anti-Dandruff Texturizing Putty 
Best Hair Putty: Head and Shoulders Texturizing Putty
Jump to details
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer, scent with sweet, fruity hints 8.5 Fl Oz
Best Hair Oil: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer
Jump to details
Malin + Goetz Scalp Mask
Best Hair Mask: Malin + Goetz Detox Scalp Mask
Jump to details
Patricks M2 styling cream.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best Overall Hair Product: Patrick's M2 Matte Finish Medium Hold

Purpose: This is best for styling medium to thicker hairstyles that want a more natural-looking hold.

Best for: This styling product is our best all-around winner to give you a nice medium hold with a matte finish. It has the workability to style hair into different styles with enough hold to last the entire day. To top it off, its bergamot and sandalwood scent gives you that nice woodsy smell.

PATRICKS | High Performance Grooming for Men | Pomade Style Hair Product Without Greasy Wet Look | 75g (M2)
Best Overall Hair Product: Patrick's M2 Matte Finish Medium Hold
L'Oreal for Men Paris Studio Line Clean Gel
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best Hair Gel: L'Oreal Paris Studio Line Gel

Purpose: If you're looking to tame wild hair with long-lasting hold and maximum shine, this is the gel for you.

Best for: We recommend using a gel for only those stray aways that just don't want to cooperate. Using a hair gel as a primary styling option can leave for a very dramatic and glossy look -- which is fine if that's what you're going for!

L'Oreal for Men Paris Studio Line Clean Gel 
Best Hair Gel: L'Oreal Paris Studio Line Gel
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best Hair Serum: R + Co Bleu Surreal Styling Serum

Purpose: This serum is for all hair types and can be used on hair that's air-dried, blow-dried, or still damp.

Best for: This styling product is a great option for those who like to play around with a variety of hairstyles. Being super lightweight and flexible, this hair serum provides hold and texture for any hairstyle.

R + Co Bleu Surreal Styling Serum
Best Hair Serum: R + Co Bleu Surreal Styling Serum
Jack Henry clay pomade.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best Pomade: Jack Henry Clay Pomade

Purpose: As a daily medium-hold product for classic styles, this pomade provides a high sheen. Apply it to damp hair for a more wet styled look or apply to dry hair for a natural firm hold look.

Best for: Other than hair gels, pomades have been around for generations and are considered THE go-to styling product. Think the classic slick back and pompadour. The pomade has definitely evolved over the years and is great for a multitude of hair types, from straight to curly. A little goes a long way here when applying a pomade -- a little too much can give your hair a greasy appearance.

Jack Henry Clay Pomade
Best Pomade: Jack Henry Clay Pomade
American Crew forming cream.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best Styling Cream: American Crew Forming Cream

Purpose: Medium hold with medium shine, this cream is the perfect option for a natural shine that just so happens to make your hair look thicker as well.

Best for: Creams are a great option for guys who aren't really interested in too much styling but want a bit of hold. The American Crew Forming Cream provides a medium hold to shape the hair naturally for a very easy flowy look.

Men's Hair Forming Cream by American Crew
Best Styling Cream: American Crew Forming Cream
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best Hair Putty: Head and Shoulders Texturizing Putty

Purpose: Apply this for a long-lasting hold to damp or air dry hair, leaving hair with a natural shine compared to a pomade.

Best for: Hair putty's are great to tame shorter hairstyles whereas clays would be better for mid-length hair. Putty's create a long-lasting hold and texture. Hair putty also tends to be a lot less sticky in the hair and not as greasy.

Head & Shoulders Anti-Dandruff Texturizing Putty 
Best Hair Putty: Head and Shoulders Texturizing Putty
Bumble and Bumble hair oil.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best Hair Oil: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer

Purpose: This leave-in hair product helps to defrizz, detangle, and hydrate dry and brittle hair while protecting it from the sun's harmful rays.

Best for: Hair oil is a great option to build on top of your primary hair styling product. Naturally, hair oil promotes a higher shine when added with or after your hair clay, pomade, or putty. Hair oils also have ingredients that help nourish and hydrate the hair.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer, scent with sweet, fruity hints 8.5 Fl Oz
Best Hair Oil: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best Hair Mask: Malin + Goetz Detox Scalp Mask

Purpose: Apply this to damp hair to revitalize, moisturize, and soothe the scalp while removing any build-up.

Best for: If you feel your scalp is filled with product build-up, is dry, or just needs an overall reset, the Malin + Goetz Detox Scalp Mask is a great product to use for well... a detox from your hair routine. After using this mask, your hair will feel revitalized and refreshed and will improve the overall application of products.

Malin + Goetz Scalp Mask
Best Hair Mask: Malin + Goetz Detox Scalp Mask

Our hairstyle is a way we can express ourselves and our individual personalities. In order to get that perfect look for you and your style, you want to make sure you are using the best hair products available. Try out some of those products and get ready to take your hair to a whole new level.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jeff Turbett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jeff Turbett is a health and wellness coach with over three years of experience transforming clients lives and physical…
The best beard brushes: Our top picks for achieving the perfect look
The 6 best beard brushes for taming your whiskers in 2023
beard brush

Beards are a great sense of personal style so long as you keep up with the regular maintenance of it. If you have had one for a while you’re probably well-acquainted with the tools of the trade, from nourishing beard conditioners to beard balms and beard oils. If you sport longer facial hair, or if your whiskers are growing longer than you anticipated, there’s another essential tool you need in your grooming arsenal: a high-quality beard brush.

The best beard brushes can help you in multiple ways from taming lengthy beards, reducing irritation and beard itch, and adding a bit more style and polish to unruly facial hair. While high-quality beard combs are helpful in their own right, longer beards require a brush. The ideal beard brush features a wooden base or handle with bristles crafted from the finest materials like boar hair, as you need dense bristle materials to work through disheveled facial hair, all the better to slowly but surely soften your beard as you brush.

Read more
Get your facial hair in order: The best beard combs
These beard combs can help with styling, detangling, and so much more
best beard combs mid adult man brushing with comb while looking at mirror in living room

When you look in the mirror at your growing beard, do you like what you see? While we don’t doubt your beard-growing progress, every face needs some TLC. Luckily for you, these best beard products offer the boost your mane deserves.

When looking for ways to groom your beard, a beard comb is the one tool you shouldn't overlook. As we get ready for Valentine's Day and spring cleaning season, investing in good self-care tools is always a good idea, so take a closer look at this guide to the best beard combs and see which one may be right for you.

Read more
The best beard care products for 2023
How to present your best groomed chin to the world
profile of man with beard

A man’s beard practically has a life of its own, landing, as it does, front and center on his face, speaking just as much about his choices than any haircut, pair of glasses, or wardrobe ever could. If you're new to growing a beard, you've doubtless realized that this conscious style choice requires care and attention to detail.

That’s all the more reason the right products make all the difference. Beard care requires fastidious devotion;, shaped and trimmed to meet the desired effect (even if that effect is wild and wooly), and proper cleaning and conditioning for a healthy, comfortable, and great-looking facial display. Here are the products that we feel offer some of the best attributes for the category, from beard oils to beard conditioners.

Read more