AXE Smooth & Sophisticated Look Shine Pomade

The AM Take

Pub. 2009-10-07

No matter the decade, every well-groomed man knows that hair can make or break you. The '80s saw the revival of a wet look with spiked hair stiff enough to cut glass, and most of us are still recovering from the tragic yellow-blond glare of '90s highlighting. At the turn of the millennium, everyone was (for some unknown reason) obsessed with hair that took forever to style yet appeared like you had literally just rolled out of bed. Sure, the pastes and putties that create perfectly imperfect dos still have their place, but we’re on the brink of a new day -- one that calls for new styling products. While pomade may not be anything novel, AXE manages to put its own spin on a classic '60s aesthetic. It’s a throwback to a time when life was arguably simpler but undeniably more refined. And it’s all bottled up in AXE’s Smooth & Sophisticated Look Shine Pomade.

Uniqueness

The blogosphere has been buzzing about AXE Smooth & Sophisticated Look Shine Pomade for the last several months -- for good reason. It’s not your typical greasy styling product that hardens into a hermetically sealed helmet on your head. Instead, it takes all the gentlemanly style of mid-century men’s dressing and updates it with relevance for today’s audience. In fact, it’s like a hearty helping of Mad Men hairstyling. The pomade creates defined styles like the long-lost side part, which is now being brought back in all its retro glory -- all thanks, in no small part, to the dapperness of Don Draper. Unlike pomades of old, though, this one doesn’t carry the same noxious smell from the past. Fragrance industry expert Ann Gottlieb, whom AXE brought on board to formulate their latest body sprays, made this pomade minty fresh.

Durability

Pomades are known for their ability to hold hair; just try washing traditional petroleum jelly and wax-based formulas out of your hair and you’ll see why. It normally requires a few rinse cycles with a harsh detergent like dishwashing liquid or a weak acid-like lemon juice. And attempting to get rid of it with your regular shampoo could take a week. Fortunately, AXE’s new formula is strong enough to keep your coif cool without the abrasive staying power of traditional pomade. And at an affordable $5.99 a tub, it creates a hard (but not too hard) look for tough times.