Doing a review for 3 products samples i bought it off at Hairyportal. (All products are available at Hairyportal website, they have brought in Hanz de Fuko lately). If i am not wrong, they are going for 27SGD per tub for Hanz de Fuko.
(All products was used after I blow dry my hair into a side quiff/pompadour shape with sea-salt spray)
*Sorry for my broken english and wall of text lol*
1) Imperial Barber Classic Pomade
2) Imperial Barber Matte Pomade Paste
3) Hanz de Fuko Quicksand
They come in small containers like this. Not a lot but could probably last me a few applications for each product.
I guess the first one to finish will be the classic pomade.
Let's start this review off with the Imperial Barber Classic Pomade. (Also the first product that i tried after receiving them)
This is the very first time i actually try using water-based pomade after hearing raving reviews of what Imperial Barber pomades can do. The strong hold, the slight shine and also water re-activable. Didn't want to use gel because it tends to harden the hair, making it look un-natural.
After reading online on how to use pomade, it's best use on slight wet or dry hair depending on the amount of hold and look you're going for, i chose the latter.
The product itself gives out a fruity scent/smell and i quite liked it.
As the bottle opening is kinda small, i took some time digging out the product, probably a 5 cent coin amount, the texture of the product is quite tough but surprisingly easy to spread evenly into my palms and also very easy to apply. First impression, it gives my hair a slight shine and doesn't harden like how gel does. 2 mistakes that i have realized after using this product.
First mistake, it will better if I were to use a comb to rake my hair to the side towards the back, it will look neater, sharper, easier to apply. But I am going for the disconnected side quiff look so i used my hand instead. Would recommend to use it with a comb.
Second mistake, after applying, it will look rather wet. I would recommend to blow dry again. This will allow the pomade to set in place, if not your hair will flop due to the heavy texture of the product.
The hold is strong, keeping my hair in place the entire day. If my hair flops, All i need to do is wet my hands and rake my hair to the side again to re-activate the pomade.
Would recommend this product to people who are going for the sleek side or back comb. You will definitely look a lot sharper and neat. Good for everyday working attire or formal events.
2nd product i used is the raving Hanz de Fuko Quicksand.
Decided to use it on a Friday because I will be heading to party after work and I need my quiff to stay in place from morning till after dark.
First impression, smells weird, kinda different from the regular Hanz de Fuko product that I own (Sponge wax and scheme cream). Used cooking oil smell as what someone has described a few pages back.
Dig some out, same thing 5 cent coin amount. After rubbing it into my palms, the product turned from dry to oily but the moment I apply onto my hair, it felt like really fine sand going thru the strands of my hair. Application is really easy and it stays. First look, really really matte looking but at the same time doesn't feel as dry as compared to the Sponge Wax and Uevo Grey. As what the product promised, i get GREAT volume out of the product (imagine with sea salt spray, the amount of volume and texture is Wow!).
Did a slight spray of osis freeze 3 cause this hairdo gotta last me till the night. Hold was awesome, even with strong winds that day, all i need to do again is to rake my hair backwards and it's all done. It does last me till 3am in the morning, with sweat from all the walking and queuing.
Would recommend this to people with fine hair or hell, even with thick hair! No complains on the product except for the smell, maybe it's the special ingredient inside the product (Diatomaceous Earth) that gave out the weird smell.
Last product, the Imperial Barber Matte Pomade Paste. Used it on a Saturday night out for dinner and movie.
First impression, smells like bubblegum, soft to touch and got a very "pasty" feeling. Same thing as the 2 other products, easy to spread in my palms (I guess this is the norm for professional products) and application to my hair is easy as well. It feels like a combination of quicksand + scheme cream. Doesn't feel dry after raking it thru my hair, my quiff was almost instant and I finished it off with a osis hair spray. It gives great texture and to my surprise (this product wasn't in my must-try list) it gave me the look closest to what I am looking for (Picture below). However the downside, the hold isn't that strong though but the osis spray complements it(Don't use too much spray though, tend to give out shine and hardening your hair). The website states it's water re-activable but i wouldn't want to spoil the matte look with water.
Hard to compare this to the quicksand because both are quite similar product. Good for people with thin hair because it gives a strong texture + volume. I really can't decide which is better. Both are really good and interesting product.
A short week got me to test all 3 great products, now i am in a dilemma on which product I should keep and stay with them.
or probably buy all and use whichever i am feeling right with in the morning.
*hoping to stay with sponge wax, quicksand, classic and matte pomade paste at the moment. I got like 7-8 products with me right now. LOL
This picture re-used a lot of times already. haha