You love the shine, the strong hold, and the classic look that only an oil-based pomade can deliver. Whether you’re rocking a slick back, a towering pomp, or a tight DA, oil-based pomades keep your style locked in from sunrise to last call. But when it’s time to wash it out, that same staying power can feel like a fight. Here’s how to keep your hair clean—without ditching your greaser pride. These pomades are designed to resist water, simply hopping in the shower and shampooing often won’t cut it. Fortunately, there are proven techniques to get your hair clean without stripping it dry. Back in the day many pomade rockers simply did a basic wash and kept some of the grease behind for yet another application and styling. However, it is best to do a thorough cleasing often—perhaps weekly—to keep the scalp clean and healthy.
Step 1: Break Down the Pomade with Oil
Oil-based pomades respond best to—you guessed it—oil. Fight oil with oil. Before shampooing, apply a generous amount of natural hair friendly oil like coconut oil, olive oil, or grooming oil to dry hair. Massage it in thoroughly to break down the pomade and loosen buildup. This makes washing it out much easier. Some users may just skip this step and go right to #2 depending on how much product is to be removed.
Step 2: Use a Clarifying or Pomade-Removing Shampoo
After pre-treating in step 1, wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo or a degreasing shampoo formulated for removing heavy buildup. These products cut through oil-based pomades better than regular shampoos. Use water as hot as you are comfortable with as heat helps soften the styling product. For stubborn pomade, lather thoroughly and warm water rinse. For stubborn pomades or waxes, repeat as needed. Some people found that simple dish detergent like Dawn are great for dissolving wax and pomades in a pinch as dish detergent can be rough on hair is used too often. So stick to a clarifying shampoo formulated for hair whenever possible.
(Shop our Shampoos, many designed specifically to tackle tough oil-based products while protecting your scalp and hair.)
Step 3: Consider Conditioner First (Reverse Washing)
For extra-stubborn residue, try “reverse washing.” Apply conditioner to dry hair first, let it soak in for a few minutes, then rinse and shampoo as usual. This softens the pomade while keeping your hair hydrated and protects your hair from over-drying.
Step 4: Condition and Rehydrate
After removing oil-based pomade or waxes, follow up with a hydrating conditioner or a leave-in conditioner. Oil-based pomades can dehydrate your hair when fully stripped, so restoring moisture keeps it soft, healthy, and ready for restyling.
(Check out our Conditioners to keep your style strong and your hair healthy.)
Pro Tips:
- Use less or layer wisely. Heavy pomade users may not get every trace out in one wash—and that’s okay. Overwashing or aggressively scrubbing can irritate your scalp. If you’re removing pomade daily, you can use a lighter amount during styling or consider alternating with a water-based product on off-days to make cleaning easier.
- If you use oil-based pomades daily, consider layering with a small amount of water-based pomade first as a “barrier layer.” Then add your pomade or wax. This makes future washing easier while still delivering that iconic look.
- Use slightly less product while still maintaining the hold and ease of styling you need. This makes the oil-based pomade or wax easier to wash out while still giving you that classic look.
Final thought
If you love oil-based pomades and waxes for their unbeatable hold, shine, and styling benefits but hate the cleaning process, with the right method, removing them doesn’t have to be a chore. It’s all about breaking down the product before washing and finding the right pomade, wax, shampoo, and conditioner that work best for you and your hair type.
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