Water-based pomade is now a well-established product. Also, the number of brands that have one on their shelves is impossible to keep up with; we know Uppercut Deluxe, Reuzel, Suavecito, Layrite, BluMaan and many more! Yet they are not all one and the same, or yes they are, but not all the same. There are differences in hold, shine but also definitely other quality differences, which are determined by how harsh the product gets and what it does to your hair.
Among that whole mountain of pomade, there are a few that stand out, that are known to the general public for a reason. One of them even comes from Dutch soil, Reuzel! Reuzel's first water-based pomade is the Reuzel Red High Sheen Pomade. In our opinion, this is still the best Reuzel pomade. Not too hard, but strong enough. Of course, we all know the story of Reuzel by now, and if not, read it here.
Another pomade that the red Reuzel is often compared to is the Uppercut Deluxe Pomade. Another 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 of owners Luke Newman and Steve Purcell. At that time, they still had to make do with mediocre products that were also often geared more toward women. Barber shops were also not as popular as they are today. A shop focused on grooming men was considered odd.
Therefore, they started working on their own product as an expression of love to the customers. For those customers, it was a real mancave where friends gathered to talk about men's issues and get a shave and haircut. The pomade had to be something that matched that feeling and that any man would be proud to use. Thus was born the uppercut pomade. The name comes from the grandfather of Luke Newman, one of the founders. He was a boxer nicknamed "uppercut" during the Great Depression in Australia, and went all over the country to box.
Reuzel Red Pomade vs Uppercut Deluxe Pomade
The Uppercut Pomade has been around a bit longer but both pomades enjoy equal fame. Therefore, they are often compared to each other. In terms of properties they do not differ much. We have tested them both and put them side by side to give our opinion.
Ingredients
The ingredients of the two products are very similar. The main difference is in the proportions. This also makes the pomades different from each other. What is noticeable is that the Reuzel has thought a little more about using skin- and hair-friendly ingredients. 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 much debate about the little 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.
Smell
Let's move straight to the most subjective part of this battle. There is nothing as personal as smell. Therefore, for now we'll stick purely to what the majority among us think of it. The smell of the uppercut pomade is known as "smooth coconut. It reminds us of a combination of coconut, vanilla and a little caramel? The scent is not overpowering when it's in your hair. We can appreciate it!
The smell of Reuzel is known as 'subtle vanilla cola' but we think it has something fruity as well. We personally like the smell of the Uppercut finer and also more subtle. Score: 1 - 1 even.
Structure and application in the hair
The differences here are very small. Both pomades you effortlessly remove from the jar with your finger. The Reuzel goes just a little smoother, really buttery smooth. Distributing the pomade through the hair is also easier with 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 the pomade gives you is very good. Your hair follows exactly what you put your hands through your hair. Score: 3 - 1 for Reuzel.
Hold
Both pomades claim to give a medium hold but both are a bit stronger than the average medium hold pomades. The Uppercut Deluxe pomade in particular does a really good job. You need less of it to shape 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 give a high shine. We don't find this anywhere. The pomade gives very little shine in our test. Uppercut's Pomade does this about the same. Uppercut's packaging indicates a medium shine. As such, this is closer to the final result. We also personally think Uppercut's finish looks just a little less artificial. Score 3 - 3.
Drying
Something we definitely want to consider with water-based pomades is drying. A water-based pomade is prone to hardening as it dries. Just like a gel but to a lesser extent. Every water-based pomade has this because water dries. Other ingredients in the formula can help keep hair supple and soft. Reuzel does this a little better than Uppercut Deluxe. At the end of the day, Uppercut can feel hard and show dried flakes. The Reuzel does not have this. This one stays nicely on the soft side and stays "clean" looking. Score: 4 - 3 for Reuzel.
Washing Out
Both pomades are water-based and do not contain any other wax-like ingredients. Not surprisingly, they are both very easy to wash out of the hair. They both do this equally well. Score: 5 - 4 for Reuzel.
Price
Currently, 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 comes out just a little more affordable. We do think the packaging of Uppercut Dan feels a bit higher quality. As far as we're concerned, it's a draw. Score: 6 - 5 for Reuzel.
And the winner is.....
According to the scoring, Reuzel is the winner by one point. But of course, both products are heartily good in their own way. Had we liked the smell of Reuzel more, it would have been a tie. So it is very personal. Do you really care how easy a product works, gives control and doesn't harden? Then go for the lard. If all you care about is the hold and shine, then Uppercut would be more for you.