Grand classic grooming – heavy hold oil based pomade

THE COMPANY

Today, I go back to Grand classic grooming co out of Australia. Jay Peters, its brewer offers all sorts of pomades with the grand classic as a main theme.

Updates:

• 2019: These are not available anymore.
• 2020: new line with a firm oil based pomade, a tonic and a texture balm.

POMADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Pomade I will be showcasing is Jay’s heavy oil based, a petro base. Quoting: ‘If you’re looking for a strong hold, high shine oil based pomade, our heavy delivers in spades. Through rain, hail or shine, rest easy knowing your hair will stay high and tight all day. Scoops out easily and has a buttery finish on breakdown, making it easy to work into the hair. Buildup is a key feature of this product, getting better with each day and requiring less product as the natural oils nourish your hair and scalp, and the waxes get to work in giving you the hold you desire. Our heavy hitter is our go-to choice for flattops, tight contours and pomps.’

The heavy is presented in a 100 g (3.5 oz) aluminum tin with screw lid to close it firmly for protection against humidity and dirt. Labels are stickers. On the front, will find the brand’s name and product type. At the back: info on the pomade and brand, ingredients, hold and shine levels, directions for use.

Pomade itself is light yellow.

Jay was so friendly to send me his heavy to test it out for a review! Thanks, Jay!

More info: http://grandclassicgrooming.com/

INGREDIENTS

Petrolatum, natural beeswax, candelilla wax, castor oil, coconut oil, shea butter, lanolin, fragrance.

Seeing several waxes in the front and some lanolin predicts it’s gonna have some good strength. Jay added a few healthy oils and butters. In fact, every ingredient in there is good for your hair and skin.

SCENT

Sandalwood, cedar wood with base notes of jasmine and violet. It smells clean and masculine, sort of cologne with old-fashioned, classic notes. It reminds me of my grandmother: nostalgia.

Opening the tin, you get a not overly strong and well-balanced aroma. I do like it. Once it is in the hair, you’ll notice subtle, clean whiffs from time to time. It won’t interfere with your cologne.

STYLING PROCESS

My hair: I have medium thick, wavy, somewhat unruly hair of medium length. Wear a contour.

My styling equipment: I use a boar hair brush, Denman brush, detangler (Tangle teezer) and Bixby comb. Use brushes most.

Application: damp hair. It softens the waves and makes styling much more comfortable. 3 average licks in there.

Scoop-ability: there’s tension on the top layer of the pomade. It is softer beneath. But for a heavy: no hassle at all, no fingernail or hair dryer required.

Breakdown: the pomade feels thick, sticky, waxy, but not too waxy. It breaks down into a creamy texture, not much of a sticky feel noticeable. It’s not greasy and not dry either. I had a few little clumps of wax that were easy to melt between the palms (this applies to the top layer only).

Bringing in the hair: slight, innocent tension. Disperses easily throughout the mane.

Slicking back: experienced some slight resistance combing with my trusted Denman brush. It’s not an issue to switch the hair’s direction and making a clean part.

Control: all the hairs stayed down within a few seconds. Don’t think of a waxy, rough product pushing the bangs into the desired direction as some heavies do. Jay reached a great balance between good strength and comfortable styling. My cowlick was pretty easy to tame. Sides were slicked down well. This pomade does not feel dry at all and therefore no stray hairs but instead of that: an agreeable slickness. My waves were gone and the front was nicely and easy to lift.

SHINE

4 out of 5 according to the tin’s info. That’s a high score for a heavy. To me it’s around medium, a bit less if you compare it to Goon grease from Lockhart’s. The sheen persisted.

HOLD

5 out of 5, it says on the tin or heavy hold. In my bangs: a firm with the advantages of a medium. It works really well for me, just the right amount of slickness and hold.

ENDURANCE

My hair kept stayed put the whole day! No sag or splits, nearly no loose hairs; it laid as good as in the morning, period! Circumstances I was in: no heavy-duty, temperatures around 50° F (10° C), not much of a wind, no sun, rainy and a little rain on my bangs.

RESTYLING

For it is oil based, easy to restyle during the day. You can comb through without ripping out hairs and nearly no loss of the great hold.

BUILD UP

For me build up is: adding water and tonic on top, without washing the hair every day. What I sensed was a manageable build up. Hold was yet great on day 1.

WASH OUT

3-4 rounds of shampoo for it’s oil/petro based. It all depends on your hair type, type of shampoo and the amount of build up in the hair. My hair felt good afterwards due to the nourishing content.

SIMILAR POMADE(S)

• Lockhart’s, goon grease.
• Big slick heavy.
• Tremolo’s, ace’s high.
• Quixote heavy.
• Be strong.

Interested in oil based pomades only? You can join our ‘Oil Based Pomade Enthusiasts’ Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/OilBasedPomadeEnthusiasts/