Which Layrite Pomade Is Right for You? (Take the Quiz)
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Which Layrite pomade is right for you? Six products, one simple way to choose: how much hold you need, how much shine you want, and what your hair actually does.
By the Henkey's Grooming Team · Updated September 2026
Layrite makes a lot of hair products. Most people call all of them "pomade," but the lineup is really three pomades, two matte styling products and a pre-styling spray.
You probably don't need to try all of them to figure out which one works for you.
The easiest way to choose is to forget the names for a minute and answer three questions:
How much hold do you need? How much shine do you want? And what does your hair naturally do?
Which Layrite Pomade Is Right for You? (20-Second Quiz)
1. After you style your hair, what usually happens?
2. How much shine do you want?
3. Which sounds most like your hair?
Answer all three questions to see your match.
First: How Much Hold Do You Actually Need?
This is probably the most important question.
A stronger product isn't automatically a better product. If your hair stays where you put it with medium hold, extreme hold may just make it feel heavier and less flexible.
Think about what usually happens after you style your hair.
If your hair generally cooperates and you mostly want shape, texture and definition, start in the medium-hold range: Natural Matte Cream or Original Pomade.
If your hair fights back—it's thick, coarse, curly, stubborn, or your style tends to collapse—you probably need more control. That's where Superhold Pomade and Cement Clay come in.
Then there's Supershine Cream, which sits in the middle on hold but has a very different reason for existing: shine.
So that brings us to question two.
How Much Shine Do You Want?
This decision cuts the Layrite lineup almost perfectly in half.
Natural Matte Cream is the one we'd start with for a lot of guys who want their hair to look styled without looking overly styled.
It adds texture and definition while keeping the hair flexible and touchable. You can run your hands through it, reshape it later and still have some natural movement.
It's especially good for textured fringes, casual quiffs, loose side parts and wavy or curly hair that needs definition without stiffness.
Choose Natural Matte Cream if: you want texture and control but still want your hair to move.
Skip it if: your biggest problem is getting stubborn hair to stay where you put it. You probably need more hold.
Cement Clay is Layrite's strongest-hold styling product.
It gives you serious grip and structure without adding shine, making it particularly useful for short textured styles, quiffs, short pompadours and styles that need height or strong separation.
This isn't Natural Matte Cream turned up slightly. It's for a different problem.
Superhold makes the most sense when you like the classic pomade look but your hair requires more convincing.
It gives you more grip than Original while maintaining a medium-shine finish, making it especially useful for thicker, coarser, curlier or generally less cooperative hair.
It's a strong choice for slick-backs, pompadours, side parts and higher-volume styles that need to stay put.
The easiest way to decide between the two:
Like the Original Pomade look but need more hold? Choose Superhold.
Supershine isn't trying to disappear into your hair.
This is for the guy who wants a deliberately slick, polished finish with noticeable shine.
It gives you medium hold while staying flexible enough to comb and restyle, making it particularly good for slick-backs, side parts and other classic looks where the shine is part of the style.
Choose Supershine Cream if: you want a polished, high-shine finish without maximum hold.
Skip it if: you're looking for anything remotely matte.
Grooming Spray is the odd one out because it isn't really competing with the five products above.
It's a pomade primer and thickening spray.
Use it on damp hair before blow-drying to add volume, body, texture and grip—particularly if your hair is fine, flat or thinning. Then apply your cream, clay or pomade afterward.
You can also wear it alone if you want some extra body and texture with very little product feel.
Choose Grooming Spray if: your problem is flat hair or lack of volume rather than simply needing more hold.
And yes, you can use it with one of the other Layrite products.
Which Layrite Is Best for Your Hair Type?
Fine or thinning hair
Start lighter.
For most guys with fine hair, we'd look first at Natural Matte Cream if you want a matte finish or Original Pomade if you want some shine.
Both provide medium hold without immediately jumping to Layrite's strongest products.
If lack of volume is the bigger problem, Grooming Spray becomes particularly useful. Apply it before blow-drying to build body and texture, then use a small amount of your finishing product.
The important thing with fine hair is not to assume stronger is better. Too much heavy styling product can work against the fullness you're trying to create.
Want some shine and a classic pomade look? Superhold.
Want a dry, matte finish with maximum grip? Cement Clay.
If your thicker hair isn't particularly difficult to control, though, you can still use one of the medium-hold products. Hair type matters, but so does the style you're trying to create.
Curly or wavy hair
Don't automatically reach for the strongest product.
If you want to define your natural texture while keeping movement, Natural Matte Cream is a good place to start. It works particularly well when you want waves or curls to look more intentional without making them rigid.
If your curls are harder to control and you're trying to create a more structured style, Superhold Pomade gives you significantly more grip.
Again, the question isn't just What kind of hair do I have?
It depends on the hold and finish you want. For most guys, Original Pomade is the best starting point if you want some shine, and Natural Matte Cream is the best starting point if you want a matte finish. Choose Superhold for stubborn hair with shine, Cement Clay for maximum matte hold, and Supershine Cream for a high-shine, slick look.
Which Layrite product has the strongest hold?
Cement Clay is Layrite's strongest-hold product, with extreme hold and a matte finish. If you want strong hold with some shine instead, Superhold Pomade is the pick.
Which Layrite products are matte?
Natural Matte Cream and Cement Clay. Natural Matte Cream is medium hold with movement; Cement Clay is extreme hold for maximum control.
What's the difference between Layrite Original and Superhold?
Both have a medium-shine, classic pomade finish. Original is medium hold for fine to medium-thick hair; Superhold is high hold for thick, coarse, curly or stubborn hair.
Which Layrite is best for fine or thinning hair?
Start with Natural Matte Cream for a matte finish or Original Pomade for some shine. If volume is the problem, use Grooming Spray on damp hair before blow-drying, then finish with a small amount of either.
Can you use Layrite Grooming Spray with pomade?
Yes. It's designed as a pomade primer: spray it through damp hair, blow-dry for volume, then apply your cream, clay or pomade.
Is Layrite water-based?
Yes. Original Pomade, Superhold Pomade, Natural Matte Cream and Cement Clay are all water-based, so they rinse out with regular shampoo instead of leaving the greasy buildup of traditional oil-based pomades.
The Henkey's Standard
Great grooming doesn't add complexity; it adds confidence. Match the hold and finish to your hair, use a light hand and build from there.
We're a little different than most product guides. We're not pay-to-play.
Every product we recommend is something we carry in our own store. We buy the inventory and ship it direct to you. Nobody paid for placement here. We put skin in the game because we've tested everything first.
Which Layrite Pomade Is Right for You? (Take the Quiz)
Which Layrite pomade is right for you? Six products, one simple way to choose: how much hold you need, how much shine you want, and what your hair actually does.
Jump to the quiz ↓
By the Henkey's Grooming Team · Updated September 2026
Layrite makes a lot of hair products. Most people call all of them "pomade," but the lineup is really three pomades, two matte styling products and a pre-styling spray.
You probably don't need to try all of them to figure out which one works for you.
The easiest way to choose is to forget the names for a minute and answer three questions:
How much hold do you need? How much shine do you want? And what does your hair naturally do?
Quick Guide:
Still not sure? Take the 20-second quiz, or keep reading and we'll narrow it down.
Jump to: Quiz · Hold · Shine · Natural Matte Cream · Cement Clay · Original · Superhold · Supershine · Grooming Spray · By hair type · FAQ
Which Layrite Pomade Is Right for You? (20-Second Quiz)
1. After you style your hair, what usually happens?
2. How much shine do you want?
3. Which sounds most like your hair?
Answer all three questions to see your match.
First: How Much Hold Do You Actually Need?
This is probably the most important question.
A stronger product isn't automatically a better product. If your hair stays where you put it with medium hold, extreme hold may just make it feel heavier and less flexible.
Think about what usually happens after you style your hair.
If your hair generally cooperates and you mostly want shape, texture and definition, start in the medium-hold range: Natural Matte Cream or Original Pomade.
If your hair fights back—it's thick, coarse, curly, stubborn, or your style tends to collapse—you probably need more control. That's where Superhold Pomade and Cement Clay come in.
Then there's Supershine Cream, which sits in the middle on hold but has a very different reason for existing: shine.
So that brings us to question two.
How Much Shine Do You Want?
This decision cuts the Layrite lineup almost perfectly in half.
If you don't want shine:
Look at Natural Matte Cream or Cement Clay.
Both give you texture with a matte finish. The difference is hold.
Natural Matte Cream = medium hold + movement
Cement Clay = extreme hold + control
If you want some shine:
Look at Original Pomade or Superhold Pomade.
Both give you a classic pomade finish with medium shine.
Original Pomade = medium hold + medium shine
Superhold Pomade = high hold + medium shine
If shine is part of the look:
That's Supershine Cream.
It gives you medium hold with high shine for slick, polished styles where you actually want people to see the finish.
Once you know your preferred hold and shine, the Layrite lineup gets considerably easier to understand.
Natural Matte Cream: For Natural Texture and Movement
Layrite
Natural Matte Cream
$24.50 | 4.25 oz
Natural Matte Cream is the one we'd start with for a lot of guys who want their hair to look styled without looking overly styled.
It adds texture and definition while keeping the hair flexible and touchable. You can run your hands through it, reshape it later and still have some natural movement.
It's especially good for textured fringes, casual quiffs, loose side parts and wavy or curly hair that needs definition without stiffness.
Choose Natural Matte Cream if: you want texture and control but still want your hair to move.
Skip it if: your biggest problem is getting stubborn hair to stay where you put it. You probably need more hold.
Cement Clay: For Maximum Matte Control
Layrite
Cement Clay
$27 | 4.25 oz
Cement Clay is Layrite's strongest-hold styling product.
It gives you serious grip and structure without adding shine, making it particularly useful for short textured styles, quiffs, short pompadours and styles that need height or strong separation.
This isn't Natural Matte Cream turned up slightly. It's for a different problem.
Natural Matte Cream vs. Cement Clay: the full comparison →
Choose Cement Clay if: you want a matte finish but need serious staying power.
Skip it if: your hair already behaves with a medium-hold product. You may be sacrificing flexibility for strength you don't need.
Original Pomade: The Classic Middle Ground
Layrite
Original Pomade
$24 | 4.25 oz
If the word pomade describes the look you're picturing, Original is probably where to start.
It gives you enough hold for a clean, controlled style with enough shine to look polished, but neither is pushed to an extreme.
Think side parts, slick-backs and other classic styles where you want your hair controlled but still workable.
Because it's water-based, it also rinses clean rather than leaving behind the greasy buildup associated with traditional oil-based pomades.
Choose Original Pomade if: you want a classic, polished hairstyle with medium hold and some shine.
Skip it if: you want either a completely matte finish or significantly stronger control.
Superhold Pomade: When Original Isn't Strong Enough
Layrite
Superhold Pomade
$24.50 | 4.25 oz
Superhold makes the most sense when you like the classic pomade look but your hair requires more convincing.
It gives you more grip than Original while maintaining a medium-shine finish, making it especially useful for thicker, coarser, curlier or generally less cooperative hair.
It's a strong choice for slick-backs, pompadours, side parts and higher-volume styles that need to stay put.
The easiest way to decide between the two:
Like the Original Pomade look but need more hold? Choose Superhold.
Supershine Cream: When Shine Is the Point
Layrite
Supershine Cream
$24.50 | 4.25 oz
Supershine isn't trying to disappear into your hair.
This is for the guy who wants a deliberately slick, polished finish with noticeable shine.
It gives you medium hold while staying flexible enough to comb and restyle, making it particularly good for slick-backs, side parts and other classic looks where the shine is part of the style.
Choose Supershine Cream if: you want a polished, high-shine finish without maximum hold.
Skip it if: you're looking for anything remotely matte.
Grooming Spray: The One You Use Before the Others
Layrite
Grooming Spray
$19 | 6.7 oz
Grooming Spray is the odd one out because it isn't really competing with the five products above.
It's a pomade primer and thickening spray.
Use it on damp hair before blow-drying to add volume, body, texture and grip—particularly if your hair is fine, flat or thinning. Then apply your cream, clay or pomade afterward.
You can also wear it alone if you want some extra body and texture with very little product feel.
Choose Grooming Spray if: your problem is flat hair or lack of volume rather than simply needing more hold.
And yes, you can use it with one of the other Layrite products.
Which Layrite Is Best for Your Hair Type?
Fine or thinning hair
Start lighter.
For most guys with fine hair, we'd look first at Natural Matte Cream if you want a matte finish or Original Pomade if you want some shine.
Both provide medium hold without immediately jumping to Layrite's strongest products.
If lack of volume is the bigger problem, Grooming Spray becomes particularly useful. Apply it before blow-drying to build body and texture, then use a small amount of your finishing product.
The important thing with fine hair is not to assume stronger is better. Too much heavy styling product can work against the fullness you're trying to create.
Why your hair looks thinner than it did five years ago →
Thick, coarse or stubborn hair
Now we'd look at Superhold Pomade or Cement Clay.
The choice mostly comes down to finish.
Want some shine and a classic pomade look? Superhold.
Want a dry, matte finish with maximum grip? Cement Clay.
If your thicker hair isn't particularly difficult to control, though, you can still use one of the medium-hold products. Hair type matters, but so does the style you're trying to create.
Curly or wavy hair
Don't automatically reach for the strongest product.
If you want to define your natural texture while keeping movement, Natural Matte Cream is a good place to start. It works particularly well when you want waves or curls to look more intentional without making them rigid.
If your curls are harder to control and you're trying to create a more structured style, Superhold Pomade gives you significantly more grip.
Again, the question isn't just What kind of hair do I have?
It's What am I trying to make my hair do?
The Layrite Lineup at a Glance
The Easiest Way to Choose a Layrite Product
If you've made it this far and still aren't sure, don't overthink it.
Want matte + flexible? Natural Matte Cream.
Want matte + maximum hold? Cement Clay.
Want some shine + medium hold? Original Pomade.
Want some shine + strong hold? Superhold Pomade.
Want lots of shine + medium hold? Supershine Cream.
Want more volume before you style? Grooming Spray.
That's the Layrite lineup.
The names may be different, but the decision really comes back to three things:
Hold. Finish. Your hair.
Get those right and choosing a styling product becomes a whole lot easier.
Not sure you want a Layrite at all? Read our clay vs. paste vs. pomade guide →
Layrite FAQ
What's the best Layrite pomade?
It depends on the hold and finish you want. For most guys, Original Pomade is the best starting point if you want some shine, and Natural Matte Cream is the best starting point if you want a matte finish. Choose Superhold for stubborn hair with shine, Cement Clay for maximum matte hold, and Supershine Cream for a high-shine, slick look.
Which Layrite product has the strongest hold?
Cement Clay is Layrite's strongest-hold product, with extreme hold and a matte finish. If you want strong hold with some shine instead, Superhold Pomade is the pick.
Which Layrite products are matte?
Natural Matte Cream and Cement Clay. Natural Matte Cream is medium hold with movement; Cement Clay is extreme hold for maximum control.
What's the difference between Layrite Original and Superhold?
Both have a medium-shine, classic pomade finish. Original is medium hold for fine to medium-thick hair; Superhold is high hold for thick, coarse, curly or stubborn hair.
Which Layrite is best for fine or thinning hair?
Start with Natural Matte Cream for a matte finish or Original Pomade for some shine. If volume is the problem, use Grooming Spray on damp hair before blow-drying, then finish with a small amount of either.
Can you use Layrite Grooming Spray with pomade?
Yes. It's designed as a pomade primer: spray it through damp hair, blow-dry for volume, then apply your cream, clay or pomade.
Is Layrite water-based?
Yes. Original Pomade, Superhold Pomade, Natural Matte Cream and Cement Clay are all water-based, so they rinse out with regular shampoo instead of leaving the greasy buildup of traditional oil-based pomades.
The Henkey's Standard
Great grooming doesn't add complexity; it adds confidence. Match the hold and finish to your hair, use a light hand and build from there.
Shop all Layrite →
How We Work
We're a little different than most product guides. We're not pay-to-play.
Every product we recommend is something we carry in our own store. We buy the inventory and ship it direct to you. Nobody paid for placement here. We put skin in the game because we've tested everything first.