THE COMPANY
Today I’m going to have another look at an American grooming company: Prodigal pomade co. This company offers handcrafted pomades. The brewer behind Prodigal pomade co is Chris Young from California. Chris started his brand in 2017 and has made 2 pomades so far: a medium-firm and heavy.
Update 2020: Chris brews the medium-firm only.
More info – https://www.facebook.com/ProdigalBoss/
POMADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
I will be reviewing Prodigal’s medium-firm oil based: a petrolatum base. The 4 oz (113 g) amber glass jar has a solid paper sticker around it with some nice, clean, well done design: a yellowish-dark gray color pattern that looks very professional plus inviting. It has a black, plastic screw top lid with a small lid inside which closes off the jar for extra protection. Spinning it around, you read: the brand’s name, handcrafted/small batches, established year 2017, 2 spaces to write down the scent and hold, the ingredients list and where to find it on Facebook. Triangular figures in the same yellow-dark gray, starting on both sides from the brand’s name make it look even more fantastic and classic. The pomade inside is white.
INGREDIENTS
Petrolatum, beeswax, microcrystalline wax, coconut oil, shea glycerides, castor oil, hemp seed oil, fragrance, vitamin E oil.
Prodigal pomade co shows a modern take on the classic pomade. It is full of nurturing ingredients for a healthy scalp and hair. I really dig that!
A few ingredients explained:
- Shea glycerides: composed of the glycerides of vegetable fat extracted from the fruit of the Shea tree. Can be used as regular shea butter or as an emulsifier. It provides a soothing, rapidly-absorbing non-greasy feeling to the skin and natural conditioning on the hair. It helps to wash out the pomade easier.
- Hemp seed oil: this oil is very good for the hair. It makes it look thicker, promotes growth and prevents hair loss.
SCENT
Chris calls it: ‘the cut’. It is his take on a barbershop scent, made out of quality fragrance oils. Sniffing in the jar: absolutely fresh, clean, manly, cologne alike and a tad soapy. In the hair: it will follow you in a not overpowering way. You can use it as a stand-alone cologne. It faints a bit during the day but you will be catching pleasant breezes. I got compliments smelling fresh. On the second day, I did notice more of a citrus cologne alike note. I like the scent.
STYLING PROCESS
My hair: medium thick, wavy, somewhat unruly hair of medium length. Wear a contour.
Styling equipment: air motion (tangle-free) brush, Bixby comb and sometimes: a boar hair brush.
Application: always damp hair for me: no struggle with the waves and easier interaction hair-pomade. 3.5 moderate sized licks suffice.
Scooping out: no pressure needed to get it out. No hard top layer.
Breakdown: feels slightly waxy, not dry, not greasy. It breaks down easy after a few thorough rubs. No beads of wax.
Working in: no big amount of tension working it in. It’s facile to disperse evenly. Switching the mane’s direction to the side + to part: slight tension.
Combing back: use my air motion brush, this one aids to reduce tug and pull to a minimum. Other styling equipment will get the job done facile as well.
Control: Prodigal lays down the hairs immediately. It’s slick, so no strays or dry feeling, hairs falling apart. It tamed my waves very well and lifted my contour easily. I got a nice shape, clean and neat hair do. My cowlicks weren’t struggling with the pomade.
SHINE
For me: a few steps below medium. The sheen didn’t disappear during the day.
HOLD
Chris describes it as a solid medium, a medium-firm. I second that.
ENDURANCE
I tested it in relatively hot weather: around 80° F (27° C), a trip per bike, windy, lots of sweating. Just one stray of hair was out of place, the rest was still intact! It endures well for a solid medium.
RESTYLING
As it is an oil based, restyling is key. No hassle (tension) to restyle. It held its good hold with a tad of waving.
BUILD UP
Very manageable. I don’t build up washing or rinsing. Just add water and tonic, then a few licks of pomade and start off styling. Don’t use too much shampoo since it rinses out quite easily.
WASH OUT
Around 2 times with shampoo. Rinses easy. The hair feels healthy afterwards.
SIMILAR POMADE(S)
- Apothecary87, grease mogul.
- B’s grease.
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 