Best Men's Hair Products A Guide by Hair Type
Most men buy hair products by brand recognition, barber recommendation, or the look of the tin. That's a reasonable starting point but it's not why results are often a bit off. The real variable isn't hold strength or finish. It's hair type. Fine hair and thick hair need completely different things from a styling product. Using the wrong one doesn't just give you a mediocre result. It can actively work against the hair you're trying to style. These are the best men's hair styling products matched to the hair actually on your head.
Fine or thinning hair: keep it light
The biggest mistake with fine hair is going heavy. Anything with real weight collapses the volume you're trying to get rather than creating it. Paste is the safest starting point by some distance. It goes into dry or damp hair, doesn't clump and sits light enough that you can build on it without everything going flat.
Start with a thumbnail amount on medium-length hair. Less than that if it's shorter.
Clay can work on fine hair but the margin for error is narrow. Use roughly half what you'd use on thicker hair and add more only if the hold genuinely isn't there. A little too much and the weight drags everything down rather than lifting it.
One thing that often gets missed: shampoo matters more for fine hair than for any other type. A product that doesn't rinse clean adds invisible weight to the hair before any styling product goes in. Our Shampoo 300ml is SLS-free and rinses properly clean, which keeps fine hair feeling light between washes rather than gradually accumulating residue.
Thick hair: clay first, sea salt spray for wave
Thick hair holds product well but it can be hard to get it through evenly. That's why a lot of men with thick hair end up with clumps rather than a clean finish. Clay is the strong pick here. Work it between your palms for a proper 20 to 30 seconds until it breaks down completely before it goes anywhere near your hair. Then work it through in sections. The grip and volume combination clay gives is genuinely difficult to replicate on hair that has real body.
On thick wavy hair sea salt spray becomes the most useful product in the range. A few spritzes into damp hair, scrunch once, leave it alone. It works with the natural movement already in the hair rather than trying to override it, which for wavy hair is usually the exact result you're after.
Wavy or curly hair: work with it, not against it
Wavy hair is arguably the easiest hair type to style badly. Most men with natural wave reach for heavy products trying to control the movement and end up with something that looks neither styled nor natural. The better approach is starting with sea salt spray into damp hair. It amplifies the wave, adds texture without weight and gives a finish that looks genuinely effortless.
For more control without losing the texture, a small amount of paste worked through after the spray has dried does the job well. It adds hold without fighting what the spray created. Avoid pomade here. The oil base and the salt don't get on and you end up with neither finish coming through properly.
Straight hair: two directions, two products
Straight hair gives you the most product options but the least natural texture to work with. For structure, pomade is the right call. Side part, slick-back, any look where the comb lines should stay visible and the finish should have some shine. Apply to dry hair, work from roots to ends and comb through quickly before it starts to set. The product stays pliable for a few minutes so have a rough idea of the style before you start.
For something closer to a natural look, paste on dry or damp hair gives you shape without the product showing. Low shine, medium hold, stays flexible through the day. You can run a hand through at midday and it resets rather than cracking. For most men with straight hair who just want their hair to look like hair, this is the everyday answer.
Best men's hair products by hair type: quick reference
| Hair type | Product | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Fine or thinning | Matt Paste | Lightweight, won't collapse volume |
| Thick | Matt Clay | Strong hold with even distribution |
| Thick and wavy | Sea Salt Spray | Amplifies natural movement without weight |
| Wavy or curly | Sea Salt Spray + Paste | Texture first, flexible hold on top |
| Straight, structured look | Pomade | Shine and definition that stays all day |
| Straight, natural look | Matt Paste | Low shine, flexible hold through the day |
If you want the full breakdown on what separates pomade, clay, paste and sea salt spray from each other, the detail is in our guide to how to style men's hair with pomade, clay and paste.
A few questions that come up
Does shampoo affect how styling products perform?▼
Yes, more than most men realise. A shampoo that leaves residue adds invisible weight to the hair before any styling product goes in. On fine hair especially, starting from a clean base makes a noticeable difference to how much hold and volume you get from whatever you apply on top. Our Shampoo 300ml is SLS-free which means it cleans without stripping or leaving anything behind.
Can you use sea salt spray on straight hair?▼
You can and it's worth trying if you want texture or body without product weight. The effect is lighter on straight hair since there's less natural movement to amplify. It adds body that's difficult to get any other way without also adding shine or hold and it won't turn straight hair wavy but it does stop it lying completely flat.
How often should I wash my hair if I use styling products every day?▼
Most men can wash every other day without any issues even with daily product use. Washing every day strips the natural oils from the scalp which tends to make hair harder to style over time rather than easier. Our Shampoo and Conditioner are both SLS-free so they're gentler for men who do prefer to wash daily.
Should I use conditioner if I use styling products?▼
Yes, particularly if you use sea salt spray or clay regularly. Both draw moisture from the hair shaft as part of how they work and over time that adds up to dryness and rough texture, especially on colour-treated or naturally dry hair. A conditioner after every wash or every other wash keeps the hair manageable and means your styling product goes in more evenly.
Every product in the range is vegan, cruelty-free and made in the UK. Free delivery on orders over £15.99.