Looking for the best pomades for thinning hair can be tough: Yes, you want to style your hair, but you’re not exactly rich in strands.
For guys with thinning hair—or even just fine hair—the best pomade will build volume and texture to give you a fuller look. It should also avoid any unnecessary damage to your hair, follicles, or scalp, which means forgoing stuff like sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and ingredients with hard-to-pronounce names. The best products for thinning hair often contain biotin as well, and several brands now make biotin-infused pomades that might be worth using, though biotin alone isn’t enough to solve your baldness. After testing out nearly a dozen pomades over two months, I’m ready to render a verdict on the top picks for men with thin hair.
The Best Pomade for Thinning Hair, at a Glance:
Best Pomade for Thinning Hair, Overall: Highland Glacial Hair Clay Pomade
Highland is a Boulder, Colorado-based company, and its pomade is produced in Los Angeles with just nine ingredients. I think this American-made hair clay is the best pomade for thinning hair because it’s the best pomade, period. In terms of men’s hair styling, you’ll get the best results with thick hair. However, because the high-quality natural ingredients are gentle on your hair and scalp, it’s also a good match for thin-haired fellas. This pomade uses a combination of beeswax, vegetable glycerin, kaolin clay, and Canadian glacial clay—not to mention hair-nourishing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E. With their powers combined, these natural ingredients offered a firm hold, fit for a pompadour, with a surprisingly natural effect.
The hold was stronger than I expected for a “low hold” pomade, locking in my breezy part throughout the day while keeping my hair high and wavy. When I applied this before a three-hour jet ski adventure, I wasn’t expecting any hold to survive the salty (and pretty gross) waters of the Hudson River here in New York. I was shocked by how well my hair held even while the rest of me was covered in salt. If my part can survive an afternoon on a jet ski, your style will hold up for a long day at work, so don’t let the term “low hold” scare you off. While wearing this pomade, it never looked like I was wearing pomade, which is exactly the look I’m going for. This pomade was easy to apply, though some guys may not like the grittier texture of clay pomade.
Best Pomade with Biotin for Thinning Hair: Keeps Thickening Pomade
That receding hairline giving you a fright? Hold onto those hairs, my guy. Men with thinning hair will probably be familiar with Keeps already, one of several subscription-based companies offering generic minoxidil and finasteride prescriptions. (Keeps is a popular alternative to Hims.) The brand also has robust a la carte offerings, and its Thickening Pomade is definitely one you’ll want to add to checkout. The pomade would have earned a spot on this list for its styling powers alone, but with biotin in the formula to support your hair follicles and support hair growth, it earns extra brownie points. (Biotin doesn’t stop or treat hair loss like prescription medications, but many hair loss physicians and dermatologists recommend it to support hair health.)
Keeps’s Thickening Pomade packs a one-two punch. First, the ingredients—biotin, caffeine, saw palmetto, green tea—nourish your hair and scalp. Second, the pomade itself builds volume for a fuller, thicker look. The cream pomade is the most lightweight formula of all the products I tested, and it was particularly easy and satisfying to apply. It has an almost whipped cream-like texture, and a relatively natural finish compared to the average pomade.
The Drug Store Pick: Old Spice Thickening Pomade with Biotin
For men that prefer drug store classics to bougie DTC brands, Old Spice’s Thickening Pomade with Biotin still offers an upgrade over standard-issue hair styling products. Not only is the formula packed with biotin to support your hair and scalp health, but it’s also a volumizing product made specifically for guys who need some help holding up their hair. In my testing, I found this product added some natural curls and waves, which made my hair look a bit thicker than normal. It wasn’t a massive difference, but it was noticeable to me, at least.
