We’re back with another review from Lodestar Grooming. This time, we’re looking at Kathy’s Aurora Cream Pomade. This is a firm-hold, water-based product meant to be a smoother counterpart to the Pioneer Matte Paste.
After using it for a while, I definitely think this is one of the most unique cream pomade products that I’ve used in a long time. However, we’ll get into more detail about that as we go about the review.
Let’s dive in.
Lodestar Grooming Aurora Cream Pomade Video Review
First Impressions
Packaging and Presentation: Like the Pioneer Matte Paste, Aurora comes in a beautiful jar with cosmic labeling. It’s very clean and eye catching.
Scent: Lodestar offers a variety of different scents to choose from. This time, Kathy sent me her Horizon scent, and it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s a perfect “fresh out of the shower” type of fragrance. Pair it with an aquatic cologne like Nautica Voyage and you’ll be set for the day.
application
Consistency: Aurora is one of the most unique consistencies I’ve seen in a while. It has a sort of whipped texture with a creaminess that quickly dries as you break it down between your hands. It sort of straddles the line between a cream and paste, and you’ll begin to see that from the moment you scoop it out of the jar.
Application: You’ll feel it going into the hair, but it’s never painful in any significant way.
Performance
Control: As I mentioned previously, this product sort of straddles the line between a cream and paste. It has the smoothness and soft feeling of a cream with the volume, texture, and natural finish of a paste. Couple that with a firm, immediate hold, and you have a very interesting product that you can style in a number of different ways with just a comb and knowledge of how your own hair naturally moves.
Hold: Firm, but the softer consistency of the cream takes any waxy edge off while still giving you plenty of support. There’s a nice stickiness to the product that helps hold it in place.
Endurance: I would say this is a solid 6-hour product. If you’re going out for a good portion of your day, it should hold up rather well. Of course, in cooler weather or on lighter-activity days, you could expect the endurance to last longer. Thankfully, it’s not a greasy product, so we don’t have to worry about it over-saturating the hair and causing it to flop over.
Shine: To me, it’s a low shine or natural finish, depending on how damp your hair is and your hair’s natural level of sheen. In my own hair, it looks like a natural finish in regular lighting, and a low shine if under direct light.
Slickness: It can accommodate a slick or textured look, incredibly versatile.
Greasiness: Absolutely none, exceptionally clean product.
Restyling: I mentioned in the video that this is not a product you necessarily want to restyle with your fingers. You should always have a comb on hand, even if you want to go for something looser. It responds to a comb better than anything else. Still with that said, the product never hardens or dries out, so if you’re in a worst case scenario, you could very well run your fingers through your hair to restyle at a moment’s notice. But, to reiterate, use a comb as much as possible – wide or fine teeth.
Rinsing: One wash with shampoo and bye bye Aurora.
Loose/Textured Hairstyle
Final Verdict for Lodestar Aurora Cream Pomade: Great
Aurora Cream Pomade is a great new addition to Kathy’s Lodestar line. I personally enjoyed this one far more than Pioneer Matte Paste. It’s a firm, smooth, and versatile cream that has the volume and texture of a paste with the smoothness you’d expect from this type of product. It’s definitely one of the more unique cream products that I’ve used in a while, and I’d highly recommend it for someone who wants a product that is strong, but not overly waxy or grippy in any way.
Lodestar Aurora Cream Pomade Product Comparisons
Shear Revival Gray Ghost: Gray Ghost is thicker, waxier, and a notch stronger than Aurora, but with a bit less sheen.
Grim Grease Cream Pomade: Grim Grease is heavier in weight, thicker, slicker, and more durable. Aurora is lighter in weight, less shiny, and less slick.
Templeton Tonics Summit: Summit has a smoother consistency and a bit more slickness and a waxier feeling in the hair.
Spruce & Sharp 