There are simple things each man can do in order to maintain his best self-image. One of the easiest is making sure your grooming routine is in check, and the best place to start is your haircare routine. Finding one of the best hair creams for men can add a ton of quality and value to your grooming routine and overall appearance.
Every guy can make use of an effective hair styling cream, even if they think their hair is too frizzy or unruly to be properly tamed. Unlike pomades or gels, hair styling creams often have a more matte finish and provide flexible control rather than an ultra sleek, slicked-back look (although there’s a time and place for that hairstyle, too); in which pomades or gels are best.
The best hair styling creams can add another dimension to your haircare routine, providing just enough hold to keep your hairdo looking fresh all day long. Hair styling creams are also ideal for the warmer months when a flexible hold and breezy style fit right in with the rest of your warm-weather ensembles. We took the liberty to round up the best hair creams for men, so you can find the one right for you.
Patricks M1 Matte Finish Light Paste
Patricks has been setting the bar very high for men’s grooming products for the past few years, and its M1 matte finish, light hold paste is no different. This is the perfect gentle hair styling product, especially for men with thinning hair. Packed with active ingredients for hair health, it’s finished with the perfect scent in vetiver.
MALIN+GOETZ Sage Styling Cream
The great thing about this MALIN+GOETZ styling hair cream is that, while it’s perfectly suited for all hair types, it should prove especially useful if you want to add volume and texture to shorter hairstyles without getting an overly shiny finish. We also love the use of natural botanicals in its formulation. It’s a winner all around.
Baxter of California Styling Paste
This liquid formula is one of the more innovative hair styling creams we’ve seen, using ingredients like cactus extract to add thickness and a medium hold. It’s but another stellar grooming essential from Baxter of California to add to your grooming routine.
American Crew Matte Styling Cream
American Crew’s famed Matte Styling Cream packs a serious punch as far as effective formulas and ingredients are concerned. It’s designed to promote and improve hair thickness and health, and thanks to sodium PCA, it’ll also help your hair retain moisture much better than normal.
Huron Hair Styler
Huron’s Hair Styler is specifically designed to tame frizzy hair and prevent static buildup, which makes it an ideal addition to your daily routine if you tend to encounter those problems frequently. It goes on smoothly and also adds fullness to your hair, which are attributes we also appreciate (and we think you will, too).
Redken Brews Molding Paste for Me
Designed with high hold in mind, this Redken hair styling cream could just be the best pickup if you want more control over wavy hair. If it’s a smooth finish you seek as you try to keep your wavy hair at bay, this is the way to go.
Jack Black Sleek Finish Texture Cream
“Normal” hair might be a relative term, but if you find your hair is neither too dry or coarse, nor too wavy or curly, a texture cream like this one from Jack Black is a great way to provide flexible style for your hair. It’s made in the U.S. of A., and it’s designed to smooth and soften your hair, all at once.
Cremo Premium Barber Grade Hair Paste
Turn toward a hair paste loved and recommended by barbers to get the real thing, a barbershop-quality hair styling experience, all from the relative comfort of your own home. Cremo seriously delivers if you want a smooth, sleek hair style.
Kiehl's Creative Cream Wax
It’s hard to go wrong with any Kiehl’s product, let alone the aptly named Creative Cream Wax. It’s designed to add vitality and spark to your hair, with flexible styling top of mind. Sounds pretty great to us, and we think you’ll agree.
John Masters Organics Hair Paste
John Masters Organics lives up to its name as far as natural ingredients are concerned, and it’s also helpful that this hair paste works especially well for those with longer hair. Give yourself flexibility, volume, and texture, all at once.
AXE Messy Paste
This isn’t the AXE styling product of your youth. No sir, this is an amped-up take on hair styling cream, all the better to give your hair a medium hold and a natural finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Styling cream and styling gel are both hair styling products, of course, but they achieve different results because of their composition and how they interact with your hair.
Hair cream is primarily a water-based product with conditioning ingredients like emollients and humectants. Some may also contain additional ingredients like glycerin for shine or UV protectants. Styling creams coat the hair shafts, providing light to medium hold while adding moisture, reducing frizz, and enhancing shine. Cream can also define curls or waves without stiffness, leaving hair soft and touchable. Styling creams are best for all hair types, but especially good for dry, damaged, or frizzy hair. They’re also ideal for creating loose waves, textured styles, or enhancing natural curls.
Styling gel is mostly a water-based hair product with higher concentrations of polymers and resins. Gel forms a stronger hold on the hair by creating a flexible cast around the hair shafts. This provides medium to strong hold for controlling flyaways and defining styles. Gels can also add shine and reduce frizz. Gel is best for all hair types, but is especially ideal for thick, coarse, or curly hair that needs taming or specific shaping. It’s good for sleek styles like slicked-back hair, wet looks, or defined spikes.
However you decide to style your hair is totally up to you, and using the best men’s hair styling cream products will definitely help individualize your own style.
