The Pomade on water basis is now an established product. The number of Brands that have one on the shelves is also hard to keep track of; we know Uppercut Deluxe, Reuzel, Suavecito, Layrite and many more! Still, it's not all the same, or yes, it's wet, but not all the same. There are differences in Hold, Shine, but certainly also other quality differences, which are determined by how hard the product becomes and what it does to your Hair.
Among that whole pile of Pomade there are a few that stand out, which are known to the general public for a reason. One of them even comes from Dutch soil, Reuzel! The first Pomade on water basis from Reuzel is the Reuzel Red High Sheen Pomade. In our opinion, still the best Pomade from Reuzel. Not too hard, but strong enough. We all know the story of Reuzel by now, and if not, you can read it here.
Another Pomade that the red Reuzel is often compared to is the Uppercut Deluxe Pomade. Also a Pomade known as one of the best on the market! The Pomade was developed 13 years ago by a barbershop in Australia. The product was developed out of frustration by the owners Luke Newman and Steve Purcell. At that time, they still had to make do with mediocre products that were often more geared towards women. Barbershops were also not as popular as they are now. A shop focused on men's care was considered strange.
That's why they started working on their own product as an expression of love for their customers. For those customers, it was a real mancave where friends came together to talk about men's matters and to be Shaving and get a haircut. The Pomade had to be something that matched that feeling and that every man would use with pride. This is how the uppercut Pomade came about. The name comes from the grandfather of Luke Newman, one of the founders. He was a boxer with the nickname 'uppercut' during the great depression in Australia, and he traveled across the country to box.
Reuzel Red Pomade vs Uppercut Deluxe Pomade
The Uppercut Pomade has been around for a while but both Pomades enjoy equal fame. They are often compared to each other. In terms of properties, they do not differ much. We have tested both and laid them side by side to give our judgment on them.
Ingredients
The ingredients of the two products have many similarities. The main difference lies in the proportions. This also makes the Pomades different from each other. What stands out is that the Reuzel has considered the use of skin- and hair-friendly ingredients a bit more. As you can see, the Uppercut Deluxe Pomade contains parabens. Although parabens reduce the risk of allergic reactions and make the product last longer, there is a lot of debate about the substance. There is still no hard evidence that it is bad for your health. So it's entirely up to you whether you want to use it or not. In any case, the amount is negligible since the substance is almost at the end of the list. Score: 1 – 0 for Reuzel.
Fragrance
Let's immediately move on to the most subjective part of this battle. There is nothing as personal as fragrance. Therefore, for now, we will purely focus on what the majority of us think about it. The scent of the uppercut Pomade is known as 'smooth coconut'. It reminds us of a combination of coconut, vanilla, and a bit of caramel? The scent is not overpowering when it's in your Hair. We can appreciate it!
The scent of Reuzel is known as 'subtle vanilla cola' but according to us, it also has something fruity. Personally, we find the scent of the Uppercut nicer and also more subtle. Score: 1 – 1 tie.
Texture and application in the Hair
The differences here are very small. You can effortlessly scoop both Pomades out of the jar with your finger. The Reuzel just goes a bit smoother, really buttery soft. Also, distributing it through the Hair is a bit easier with the Reuzel. Score 2 – 1 for Reuzel.
Styling
Once in the Hair, you want the product to do exactly what you intend. The Reuzel does this better than Uppercut. The control that the Pomade gives you is very good. Your Hair follows exactly what you do with your Hands through your Hair. Score: 3 – 1 for Reuzel.
Hold
Both Pomades claim to provide a medium Hold but are both somewhat stronger than the average medium Hold Pomades. Especially the Uppercut Deluxe Pomade performs really well. You need less of it to style and hold your Hair. The difference is small, though. Still, this point goes to Uppercut. Score: 3 – 2 for Reuzel.
Shine
The Reuzel Red Pomade claims to provide a high Shine. We don't find this anywhere. The Pomade provides very little shine in our test. The Pomade from Uppercut does about the same. The packaging of Uppercut indicates a medium Shine. This also comes closer to the final result. Personally, we find the finish of Uppercut to look a bit less artificial. Score 3 – 3.
Drying
Something we certainly want to consider with water-based Pomades is the drying. A Pomade on a water basis can sometimes become hard when it dries. Just like a Hair Gel but then to a slightly lesser extent. Each Water-Based Pomade has this because water naturally evaporates. Other ingredients in the formula can ensure that the Hair remains smooth and soft. The Reuzel does this just a bit better than Uppercut Deluxe. The Uppercut can sometimes feel a bit hard at the end of the day and show dried flakes. The Reuzel does not have this. It remains nicely on the soft side and continues to look 'clean'. Score: 4 – 3 for Reuzel.
Washing Out
Both Pomades are water-based and do not contain Hair Wax-like ingredients. It is therefore no surprise that they are both very easy to wash out of the Hair. They both do this equally well. Score: 5 – 4 for Reuzel.
Price
At the moment, both products are about the same price in our shop. The Uppercut Pomade is 100 ml for 14.95. The Reuzel is 113 ml for 13.90. The Reuzel turns out to be slightly more economical. We do find the packaging of Uppercut to feel a bit more premium. As far as we are concerned, it's a tie. Score: 6 – 5 for Reuzel.
And the winner is…
According to the score, Reuzel is the winner by one point. But both products are, of course, very good in their own way. If we had found the scent of Reuzel nicer, it would have been a tie. So, it is very personal. Do you find it very important how easy a product works, gives control, and doesn't harden? Then go for the reuzel. If you only care about the Hold and Shine, then Uppercut might be more for you.