Pomade (; French
pommade) is a greasy or waxy substance that is used to style hair. Pomade gives the user's hair a shiny, slick appearance, and does not dry it out. It lasts longer than most hair care products, taking up to several washes to remove. The original pomade of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries consisted mainly of
bear fat or
lard.
Lanolin,
beeswax, and
petroleum jelly have been used extensively in the manufacture of modern pomades. Stiffening properties of pomades make sculptured hairstyles such as the
pompadour or
quiff possible; while long lasting moisturizing properties make it popular with individuals with
Afro-textured hair.