Walk into any salon and you will see a wall of styling products: pastes, pomades, mousses, gums, clays and sprays. They all promise a great finish, but they behave very differently on the hair. The Wella EIMI range covers all of them, and choosing between the Rugged Texture Matte Paste, the Just Brilliant Shine Pomade, the Extra Volume Mousse and the Shape Shift Moulding Gum comes down to the look you want.
This guide breaks down what each product does so you can stop guessing at the shelf.
Start With the Finish You Want
Before you think about brands or sizes, decide on the finish. Do you want a natural matte look, a glossy polished style, big volume or flexible shape? Each of those points to a different type of product, and using the wrong one is the most common reason a style falls flat.
Also consider hold. Light hold gives a natural, soft feel. Strong hold keeps a shape all day but can feel stiffer.
Texturizing Paste: Matte and Messy
The Rugged Texture Matte Texturizing Paste is a strong-hold paste that delivers matte texture and definition. It grips and reshapes hair without shine and is ideal for tousled, disheveled or piecey looks that hold firm all day. It is reworkable, so you can restyle during the day.
For a lighter hold with the same matte effect, the Bold Move Matte Texturizing Paste offers a lighter hold (level 2) and is formulated with Brazilian carnauba wax.
Pomade: Smooth and Shiny
The Just Brilliant Shine Pomade is a soft-feel pomade designed to tame flyaways, smooth hair and add gloss without greasiness. It offers light hold, humidity resistance and a lightweight, touchable finish, so it suits polished looks and slicked styles.
Pomades are also handy for taming frizz on the ends of longer hair.
Mousse: Volume and Body
A mousse is best when you want lift and body, particularly for blow-dries. The Extra Volume Strong Hold Volumizing Mousse is designed to turn any blowout into head-turning volume with perfect body. It helps protect hair against dehydration while blow-drying and delivers strong hold (level 3) to keep volume in place.
Apply it to damp hair, distribute from roots to ends and blow-dry as usual.
Moulding Gum: Flexible Shape
The Shape Shift Moulding Gum With Shine Finish is a professional elastic moulding gum that gives a shiny finish and natural hold. It is versatile and flexible, so you can shape tousled or well-defined hairstyles to suit any occasion, and it helps protect hair against the negative effects of UV rays.
Clay: Natural Matte and Reworkable
If you prefer a natural, flat matte look with a flexible hold, the Texture Touch Reworkable Matte Clay is effective on short hair and lets you reshape the style whenever you want.
- Paste: matte, textured, strong or light hold, great for messy looks
- Pomade: smooth, shiny, light hold, great for polished styles
- Mousse: lift and body, strong hold, great for blow-dries
- Moulding gum: flexible shape with shine and natural hold
Matching Products to Hair Types
Fine hair usually does best with mousse and lighter products, since heavy pastes can weigh it down. Thick or coarse hair can handle stronger pastes and gums. Short hair works well with clay and paste, while longer hair may benefit from a pomade for smoothness and a mousse for body.
How to Apply Without Overdoing It
Start with a small amount, roughly the size of a pea for pastes and pomades, warm it between your palms, and add more only if needed. It is easy to add product but hard to remove it. Apply pastes and clays to dry hair, and mousse to damp hair.
Styling products have been used for centuries in different forms. According to general information on hair styling products, they are designed to change the appearance or hold of hair, and different formulas such as gels, waxes and mousses are used to produce different textures and finishes.
Washing Product Out
Heavier styling products can build up over time. Use a clarifying or purifying shampoo every so often, and always wash out styling products before bed so they do not transfer to your pillow or clog your scalp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is best for beginners?
A light-hold pomade or a reworkable clay is forgiving and easy to correct.
Can I combine products?
Yes. A mousse for volume followed by a light pomade to smooth the ends is a common combination.
Do these work on curly hair?
Some do, but for curls the EIMI Boost Bounce Curl Enhancing Mousse is designed specifically for definition.
Final Thoughts
The right styling product is the one that matches your finish, hold and hair type. Use the guide above, start small and experiment, and you will quickly find your go-to.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only. Results vary with hair type, length and technique, and are not guaranteed.