The Best Styling Cream for Texture: Blvd & Co. Sculpting Fiber Creme
BLVD & CO
Sculpting Fiber Creme
You don’t want your hair to fall flat, do you? Blvd & Co’s styling cream is an excellent product for giving your hair the piecey definition and texture you so badly ask your hairstylist for when you’re getting it cut. It conditions the hair, and while it doesn’t lock your style into place like hairspray, it does provide just the right amount of hold and softness for all-day touchups. And the smell—citrusy and floral—can sub in for your everyday cologne with ease.
The Best Hair Cream for Thinning Hair: Living Proof Full Thickening Blow-Dry Cream
Living Proof
Full Thickening Blow-Dry Cream
This cream amps up your strands with tiny thickening molecules that, when applied across your entire dome, give volume and density to otherwise thin strands. It’s lightweight but texturizing all at the same time, and it also conditions strands simultaneously (for longterm strength). Normally, guys with thinning hair should be wary of hair dryers, but if you prefer to style this way, then always apply this product first. As you’d expect from a blow-dry product, it gives your hair added heat protection so that hair dryers won’t leave your precious locks parched and burnt. This cream comes with a citrus scent.
The Best Hair Cream for Straight Hair: Davines This Is a Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid
Davines
This Is a Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid
Davines’ hair cream promises straightforward results—and if we’re being literal, straight down results. No frizz, no poofing. Only smooth relaxedness. Humidity has met its foe.
The Best Hair Cream for Wavy Hair: Moroccanoil Molding Cream
This nourishing molding cream is infused with silky argan oil which is great for taming frizz and strengthening hair at the root to prevent breakage and split ends. Apply a dollop for a flexible, medium-hold that delivers maximum shine.
The Best Hair Cream for Curly Hair: Ouai Curl Crème
Ouai’s popular curl cream is targeted toward women, but it will work just as well on men’s hair. If you’ve got big, well-defined curls, this cream can provide volume and definition while keeping pesky flyaways and frizz under control. The fragrance has notes of bergamot, Italian lemon, rose de mai, violet, and musk. And if you like Ouai’s hair products, be sure to check out the popular Ouai Anti-Frizz Cream, too.
The Best Hair Cream for Coiled Hair: Miss Jessie’s Multicultural Curls Cream
Miss Jessie’s “Multicultural Curls” cream
Not all curls are the same which is why you want a formula that enhances your curl pattern without making it unrecognizable. This curl lotion is packed with moisturizing oils that won’t leave you looking like greasy mess but will deliver a lightweight hold that’ll keep your curls nice and smooth–minus any weird crunchiness.
The Best Hair Cream for Thick Hair: Jack Black Texture Cream
No matter your thick hair’s texture, this cream from Jack Black will add separation, body, definition, density—whichever other word you choose from that school of thought. It gives even the driest strands a healthy glow, and delivers day-long, touchable hold without any crunch or residue.
The Best Hair Cream for Short Hair: Malin + Goetz Sage Styling Cream
Malin + Goetz
Sage Styling Cream
Most short-styled guys would probably overlook a cream, and instead opt for a choppy clay, paste, fiber, or wax. But keep a cream like M+G’s at the ready: It allows your strands to sit down, and to look intentionally styled, as opposed to ignored, frizzy, and poofy. It even delivers a healthy shine that won’t transfer to your hands as you run your fingers through the mane; that’s the kind of effortlessness it provides you—it works hard while barely being noticed.
The Best Air-Dry Hair Cream: R+Co Cool Wind pH Perfect Air Dry Crème
R+Co Cool Wind pH Perfect Air Dry Crème
Certain hair creams are definitely air creams, in that they’re meant to be air dried instead of blow dried. Now, don’t let that confuse you, because most hair creams can be left to air dry, or applied to barely wet strands—or even applied to dry strands as a finisher/tamer. But when you see an air-dry cream like R+Co’s, the name says it all: Apply this product to towel-dried hair, and then go about your business as it gives your hair lightweight and touchable control. It thwarts frizz, humidity, heat, and all the other headaches hurled your way in a day.
The Best Ultralight Styling Cream: Oribe styling Cream
Oribe’s styling cream moisturizes to keep your hair healthy without adding any weight—it’s a must-have for guys with even a slight hint of curl or wave. There’s a good reason you’ll find top-tier stylists stocking up on this stuff: “Crème for Style” gives a slightly higher hold than the other products here, making it perfect for teasing out a bit more texture, or tamping things down for a hard-parted slicked-back style.
The Best Minimalist Hair Cream: Imperial Freeform Cream
Imperial Barber
Freeform Cream
This is one of the most straightforward, no frills styling creams out there. It rinses clean as if you never had it in your hair to begin with—not that you could feel it when it was in your mane. It’ll prevent you from looking windswept and maintain tidiness throughout the day while taming frizz and flyaways. But it won’t do much beyond that—and that’s exactly the point.
More Hair Creams We Love
What to Look for in a Hair Cream
Before you start slathering anything all over your precious dome, you’ll want to consider a few things first: namely, your hair type and styling preferences. For those with straight hair, you might want to opt for something that lends a little more texture to your strands; for those with wavy or curly hair, something with moisturizing ingredients to help tame flyaways and frizz is probably in order. Length also comes into play: Short-haired guys might find some creams a little thick and oily, whereas medium- to long-haired guys can get away with heavier, higher-hold products.
How We Tested
Our grooming writers and editors have decades of combined experience and have tested a ton of hair creams along the way. You’ll find many of these half-empty tubes, tubs, and pumps on our desks here at GQ HQ—and even more in our respective medicine cabinets at home. Plus, we always cross-check our opinions with the web’s too: Just because we like something doesn’t mean it’s the best in class. Sorting through product reviews is crucial for spotting any shoddy quality control issues, shipping problems, or other not-so-good stuff. Luckily, the products on this roster are well regarded amongst consumers, too.
Hair Cream FAQ
What is the best hair cream for men?
What’s the difference between hair cream and pomade?
Hair cream is a lighter product that provides a lighter hold while strengthening and protecting hair, while pomade is usually thicker and gives a stronger, more flexible hold.
