THE COMPANY
Pomps Not Dead (PND) is a noted brand in the pomade game on the same level as Lockhart’s, Big slick, O’Douds, Flagship and Shear revival.
The company was founded in 2012 by Edwin Carson out of Houston/Texas. His brand contains all hand brewed grooming products. His pomades are noted for the classy and classic labeling (handmade by his wife), great scents and lost of slickness and easy styling.
Edwin also made an unorthodox water based with a medium hold. There are 2 batches available which are both a great addition to this list!
Edwin offers too: hair tonic, laces, guitar picks, caps, … .
More info:
POMADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The one I’m going to highlight will be Edwins flagship: PND OG (original), a medium petrolatum based. Sick, beautiful designed 4 oz (113 g) tin! The OG inside the tin has a caramel, light brown color.
INGREDIENTS
Petrolatum, beeswax, microwax, coconut oil, olive oil, scent.
SCENT
Cool water, coconut: a fresh, agreeable manly cologne. Reminds me of Suavecito firme but PND is more subtle, not as strong, there’s a better balance. During the day, I caught whiffs: subtle and modest ones. Towards the mid of the day, I did not smell it that much anymore. Really dig this scent, one of my favorites! I just open the tin to sniff its aroma from time to time. Can be used together with the Davidoff cool water eau de toilette.
STYLING PROCESS
My hair: I’ve medium thick, wavy hair. I wear a side part with a contour.
My styling equipment: at the moment, I’m using a brush with wild boar hair, a Denman brush plus a wide tooth comb (detangler). During styling, I use brushes most.
Application: 3 normal sized scoops on damp hair was the quantity I was in need of.
Scooping: its top layer feels a tad sticky and not hard. Scooping out goes like butter.
Breakdown: buttery smooth. You get a buttery, oily, sticky, vaseline texture that breaks down instantaneously after rubbing through the hands.
Working in: super easy without any tension and super easy to spread evenly.
Combing back: so easy, hassle-free.
Control: gives a good, sticky grip as you slick it back with a Denman brush. Not much of a resistance or tug. Hair tends to wave in the front, nearly all mediums do that for me unless I apply on damp hair. Cowlick area: managed okay, same thing for my sides. Because of the slickness, you won’t have to deal with many loose hairs. Got a nice, clean, slick hair shape with nice comb lines. Okay height in the front. Styling time: average. Overall easy and agreeable to work with!
SHINE
It says: light shine. For me around a medium. All day long present.
HOLD
Labeled as a medium hold. For my hair type: medium-light.
ENDURANCE
After initial styling, my front waves became more prominent, hair did sag somewhat. Strays or flyaways: not much, very slick! My cowlicks and sides were held down okay, no splits. Endurance in more extreme circumstances (wind, rain, cycling and a walk): a few strays, that was it. In real heat, you’ll need a stronger pomade. Day end/endurance: a few flyaways, hair did sag somewhat, some waves present. The OG doesn’t weigh down the hair. It gives a bit of a greasy feel in the hair.
RESTYLING
No resistance restyling with my Denman brush. Hold about the same after combing through. Waves did not show up much more, no loose hairs or much sag.
BUILD UP
Build up is on the greasier, sticky side: this keeps the hair together and slick. Good build up properties: overall results improved, towards a straight medium hold with less front waves and better endurance. Applying on wet hair helped as well to control the mane better.
WASH OUT
3-4 washes. Afterwards, hair felt alright and soft.
SIMILAR POMADE(S)
- Pomps not dead, pompage.
- Lockhart’s, fire and brimstone medium.
Interested in oil based pomades only? You can join our ‘Oil Based Pomade Enthusiasts’ Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/OilBasedPomadeEnthusiasts/
POMADE IN WORDS 