Forming Cream Vs Pomade
Hair styling products can be confusing because creams, pomades, pastes, gels, and clays often overlap in hold and finish.
The easiest way to choose between them is to focus on hold, shine, texture, and how restylable you want your hair to be.
Your hair type, length, density, and preferred finish all matter more than the label on the jar.
Popular styling categories include pomades, gels, pastes, clays, and styling or forming creams.
If you are choosing between a forming cream and pomade, the main differences are usually hold, shine, weight, texture, and how easily the product washes out.
So, forming cream vs pomade – what’s the difference?
Forming cream is usually a creamy, medium-hold styling product with a natural to moderate shine, while pomade is a broader category that can range from matte to high shine and from light to strong hold. Creams often feel lighter and easier to distribute, while many pomades offer stronger control and better restyling throughout the day.
Below, we compare the two so you can decide which texture and finish make more sense for your hair and styling routine.
What Is Forming Cream?
American Crew popularized the term forming cream with one of its best-known styling products.
They have a lot of different products for hair, including several types of pomades, gels, and pastes.
Other companies also carry similar products to American Crew’s forming cream, but they are sometimes called “styling cream” or “shaping cream.”
A forming cream usually has a softer, creamier texture than a dense wax or traditional oil-based pomade, which makes it easy to scoop, emulsify, and spread through the hair.
Many forming creams are water-based and feel relatively light, but formulas vary. They often provide a medium hold with a natural to moderate shine rather than the very slick finish associated with some traditional pomades.
A forming cream usually sets with more structure than a loose leave-in cream, but it should not necessarily make the hair feel hard or crunchy.
Depending on the formula, the hair can remain slightly flexible and restylable while still holding a defined shape.
A forming cream can work especially well on short to medium hair when you want moderate control without an overly stiff or glossy finish. Fine hair can benefit from the lighter feel, but the amount you use matters.
Forming cream is useful for adding control, separation, and texture while keeping the finish relatively natural.
It can work for neat side parts, brushed-back styles, or more relaxed textured looks depending on how you apply it.
Forming cream can usually be applied to damp or dry hair, although you should still check the directions for the specific product.
Dry-hair application usually gives you more visible texture and separation, while damp-hair application can help distribute the product more evenly and create a smoother finish.
How To Use A Forming Cream
Forming cream works best when the hair is not overloaded with oil or previous styling product.
Heavy buildup can make the product harder to distribute and may reduce volume or make the hair look greasy.
You can start with damp, towel-dry hair or start with completely dry hair. Here is how forming cream should be applied:
- Start with a small amount, roughly pea- to dime-sized depending on your hair length and density. You can always add more.
- Warm the cream up between your palms by rubbing them together for a few seconds.
- Spread the cream through the areas that need the most control, then work the remainder through the rest of your hair. Fine hair often looks better when you avoid concentrating too much product directly at the roots.
- Work the product through evenly rather than coating every strand heavily. Focus on the sections that need shape, texture, or flyaway control.
- Style the hair while spreading the cream through it. Your technique depends on what look you’re going for, but generally, you should be moving your hair into the position you want it to stay in (e.g., slicked back or brushed up).
- You may choose to use a comb for a more slicked look or continue to move the hair with your fingers for a more natural look.
- Let the style settle. If you use a blow dryer, choose a heat setting appropriate for your hair and direct the airflow in the shape you want.
- Once the product settles, you can make small adjustments with your fingers. Hold time varies with the formula, hair type, weather, and style.
What Hairstyles Can You Do With A Forming Cream?
You can create a lot of great hairstyles with a forming cream:
- Side part – apply the forming cream and use a comb to brush your hair to the side, off-centre.
- Slicked back – use forming cream on damp hair for a smoother brushed-back look, then let the style settle
- Textured – apply the forming cream to your hair and use your hands to create spikes and textures for a natural and effortlessly messy look.
What Is A Pomade?
Hair pomade is a broad product category. Modern pomades can be water-based, oil-based, waxy, creamy, matte, glossy, light-hold, or strong-hold depending on the formula.
Many classic pomades offer medium to strong hold and noticeable shine, but modern matte and low-shine pomades are also widely available.
Traditional pomades may use petrolatum, oils, or waxes, while many modern pomades are water-based and wash out more easily. Their weight depends on the specific formula.
One of the main reasons people like pomade is restylability. Many formulas let you reshape the hair with your fingers or a comb instead of locking it into a rigid cast.
Pomades usually feel more pliable than a hard-setting gel, although strong water-based formulas can still become firm as they dry.
Compared with gel, pomade often gives a softer, more restylable finish. Compared with forming cream, some pomades provide more hold or shine, but that depends on the formula.
Pomades can work on many hair types. Thick or coarse hair may benefit from a stronger formula, while fine hair usually needs a lighter amount to avoid losing volume.
For very curly, coarse, or resistant hair that needs stronger control, a high-hold pomade may outperform a lighter forming cream, although some strong creams can work well too.
Just like forming creams, pomades can be applied both to damp and dry hair, depending on the look you want to achieve.
Some waxier or oil-based pomades resist humidity better than lighter creams, but weather resistance varies considerably by formula.
If humidity is a concern, look for a pomade or styling product that specifically mentions humidity resistance rather than assuming every pomade will hold up in rain.
How To Use A Pomade
You can apply a pomade to damp or dry hair, and the results will look slightly different.
Damp-hair application usually creates a smoother, shinier finish, while dry-hair application often emphasizes texture and reduces the appearance of shine.
We recommend playing around with it until you find the technique that works best for you.
Here are the steps for using a hair pomade:
- Scoop out a dime-sized amount of the pomade from its container.
- Warm it between your palms for a few seconds so the pomade becomes easier to spread.
- Then, apply the pomade first to the areas of your hair that need the most hold, then spread the pomade to the rest of your hair.
- Use your fingers or a comb to move your hair into the shape and style you want.
- Let the product settle, then restyle with your fingers or a comb if the formula stays pliable. Some water-based pomades firm up more than traditional oil-based ones.
Washout depends on the formula. Water-based pomades usually rinse out more easily, while traditional oil- or petrolatum-based pomades can leave buildup and may require a stronger shampoo or occasional clarifying wash.
If your hair still feels coated after normal shampooing, use a clarifying shampoo occasionally rather than automatically clarifying on a fixed weekly schedule.
If you notice buildup, use less product the next time and make sure your scalp and hair are being cleansed thoroughly enough for the formula you use.
Here’s a great tutorial from Jay The Cyborg on YouTube.
What Hairstyles Can You Do With Pomade?
Hair pomade is versatile and works especially well for styles that benefit from control, definition, and some degree of restylability:
- A quiff – hair above the forehead is pulled up and back or to the side.
- Combover fade – if you already have a fade going on the sides, simply use the pomade to comb your longer hair over to the side
- Tousled – use your fingers to spread pomade through your dry hair and spike it up in a “just woke up like this” way.
- Slick back – use the pomade to pull your hair back for this classic look.
Final Thoughts
Forming cream and pomade overlap, but they are not the same category.
If you want stronger control, more restylability, or a slicker finish, a pomade may suit you better, provided you choose the right formula.
If you prefer a lighter feel, moderate hold, and a more natural finish, forming cream is often the easier choice.
Thick, coarse, or resistant hair may benefit from a stronger pomade, while softer or finer hair may need less product and a lighter texture.
For fine hair, forming cream can be easier to use without flattening the style, although a lightweight matte pomade can also work well.
You can create many of the same hairstyles with either product. The deciding factors are usually hold, shine, texture, washout, and how much movement you want.
Once you know the finish and hold you want, choosing between these styling products becomes much simpler.
Forming Cream Vs Pomade FAQs
Which Is Better For Fine Hair?
Forming cream is often easier to use on fine hair because it usually has a lighter texture and moderate hold. If you prefer pomade, start with a very small amount and look for a lightweight or matte formula so you do not flatten the hair.
Which Product Gives More Shine?
Traditional pomades are more likely to give a glossy finish, while forming creams usually sit closer to natural or medium shine. Modern pomades vary widely, though, so always check the finish listed on the product.
Which Is Easier To Wash Out?
Forming creams and water-based pomades usually wash out relatively easily. Oil- or petrolatum-based pomades can leave more buildup and may need a stronger shampoo or an occasional clarifying wash.
Can You Use Forming Cream And Pomade Together?
You can, but you may not need both. One approach is to use a small amount of forming cream for texture and shape, then add a tiny amount of pomade only where you want extra definition or shine. Start light so the combination does not weigh down the hair.
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