Looking at another product from the Schorem barbers – this time it’s a Reuzel Extreme Hold Matte Pomade review. This is their newest hairstyling product and the third in their matte finish range. They already have the Clay Matte Pomade and the Fiber Pomade, and now they have added the Extreme Hold Matte Pomade.
I would personally place Reuzel in the “Barber Brands” category. That is, products that still appeal to pomade, hairstyling, and men’s grooming enthusiasts that are produced for professional-grade use and aren’t readily available on the shelves of Wal-Mart or Target. These brands include Layrite, Suavecito, Reuzel, Imperial, Bona Fide, Shiner Gold, Steadfast, and more. They are pomade lines that almost exclusively target barbershops as their primary retail partners. For the most part, they are also all lab-cooked and not homebrewed. As far as these Barber Brands go, Reuzel is probably my favorite of the bunch.
I’ve tried some other “matte pomade” products from Barber Brands in the past. They were largely unimpressive, sticky, and stiff paste products that just made the hair feel crispy and locked in my natural waves. Reuzel is one of the few that fall in this category that have finally released a legitimate product that styles, holds, and performs like a pomade but has a matte finish.
So, the Reuzel Extreme Hold Matte Pomade advertises an EXTREME hold and zero shine in the hair. Unlike their previous two matte products, this one slipped in relatively under-the-radar. They did not aggressively promote it on their social media until right around the time it released. Thus, I felt the need to acquire a tin for myself and check out the newest goop from the Scumbags in Rotterdam.
**Disclaimer: This is not a paid or sponsored review. I have no working relationship with anyone over at Reuzel. I bought into the hype when this product first came out so you didn’t have to.
Video Review for Reuzel Extreme Hold Matte Pomade
First Impressions
Packaging and Presentation: 8/10. Like the other Reuzel pomades, the Extreme Hold Matte Pomade comes in an ornately designed tin with graphics printed directly onto the metal. As for weight, you can choose between a 1.3oz (travel), 4oz (standard), or 12oz (professional use) tin. The one pictured is the consumer-sized 4oz. I find it odd, however, that their oil-based pomades have a more matte-tin than their actual matte products’ glossy containers. Either way, the reason the packaging doesn’t score perfectly lies in the fact that this one probably feels the most boring of them all. Light gray doesn’t excite anyone.
Scent: 8/10. Advertised as a “sugary rum” fragrance. To me, I expected it to have at least a slight pinch of an alcoholic bite to it. In reality, that’s incorrect. It smells like a light, not overly sweet fruit punch. It’s honestly nice, refreshing, and great for summer. It’s not offensive at all, but it scores an 8 because I just know someone out there will complain that it’s not a clone of their favorite cologne.
Application
Consistency: 10/10. For such an EXTREME hold, this product scoops out like a light and airy lotion. This translates to an easy breakdown with the faintest hint of stickiness.
Application: 10/10. Applies to damp, towel dry, and dry hair with no problem.
Performance
Control: 8/10. This product has a firm hold, feels lightweight enough to achieve a desirable amount of volume within reason, but it has a stickiness to it that some might not find desirable. It’s not as stiff or sticky as a lot of paste products out there. It can still hold a neatly-combed look in place. However, the stickiness that is present can lead to some slight flyaways once the product has set in. Still, whether you want to comb something loose or well-put together, this product offers a great deal of versatility not matched by man other products on the market.
Hold: 8/10. Advertised as an EXTREME HOLD. In reality, I would call Reuzel Extreme Hold Matte Pomade a firm hold. In terms of strength, it sits somewhere between a medium and heavy, but without the weight of an oil-based pomade. Imagine something slightly lighter than Reuzel’s Pink pomade (heavy oil-based) but without the excessive thickness, slickness, and weight that comes with that product.
Endurance: 8/10. No product is perfect. This is true for Reuzel Extreme Hold as well. However, once you let the product settle into the hair, it becomes dryer and stickier and retains a good grip without making your hair feel brittle or damaged. This makes it an ideal product for combating a humid summer afternoon.
Matte: 8/10. Advertised as a matte finish, but I would say this product is more of a natural finish – as in, it doesn’t add or take shine away from the hair. Your hair’s natural level of sheen will remain unchanged. For some, that passes as a matte effect, but others may expect a product to actually take shine away. Reuzel Extreme does not add or subtract anything as far as finish goes.
Versatility: 9/10. Normally I would rate this category under “slickness” or “texture,” but this product does not fit within such a dichotomy. It definitely can hold a neat look or a loose look together. It doesn’t have as much slickness as a pomade nor does it have the same texturizing capabilities of a clay. It sort of sits in the middle and can do both adequately well, but not exceptionally. The versatility is excellent, but that can be good or bad depending on your tastes in styling. In the case of a tie, though, I will defer to versatility being a positive and desirable aspect in this pomade.
As an aside, in terms of texture, this is more of a coarse texture product. It derives texture more from clumping up in an aesthetically pleasing way rather than causing widespread separation at the follicle level. Thought this would be important to mention.
Dryness/Greasiness: 10/10. This product does a great job of never feeling excessively dry nor greasy. It has a stickiness and a grip to it, but it never feels uncomfortable by any means, even if you apply multiple licks of pomade.
Restyling: 10/10. Very easy. The hold and grip remain even more available once the product is fully settled in the hair. This stuff is built to last.
Rinsing: 9/10. About 95-99% of the product comes out with just water. Use shampoo to remove completely.
Loose/Textured Look
Final Verdict for Reuzel Extreme Hold Matte Pomade: 8.8/10
If I had to come up with a word or phrase to describe Reuzel’s Extreme Hold Matte Pomade, I would say that it’s very good. Is it exceptionally excellent and game-changing with titan-strength hold? No. For starters, I have tried multiple other products that have delivered a stronger hold than this one. I mean, even Reuzel themselves have a stronger product than this one in the form of their Pink pomade.
What does this product offer? It’s a versatile and user-friendly product that maintains great endurance and offers you the ability to change your look on-the-fly. Just because the hold isn’t astronomical does not mean that it’s a bad product. It is still a very good product, and it’s one that I think many of you would enjoy as we wind down the summer months.
Buy Reuzel Extreme Hold Matte Pomade Here
Similar Products to Reuzel Extreme Hold Matte Pomade
Firsthand Supply Water-Based Pomade: Both have a similar level of hold, stickiness, and grip with creamy consistency. However, Firsthand is a bit stickier and has a bit more slickness and shine to it as compared to Reuzel. Reuzel has maybe a touch more hold than Firsthand WB.
Anchors Aweigh Strong Hold: Similar levels of hold and creamy consistency. Reuzel is a tad stickier and grippier once settled into the hair and has a more user-friendly scent compared to Anchors’ coconut scent on their Strong Hold Pomade.
Layrite Cement: Nearly identical in terms of consistency, finish, and hold. However, Layrite is less sticky, and a bit smoother and more waxy.
Spruce & Sharp 