How to Wash Out Hair Wax, Clay and Pomade

Short answer: put shampoo on dry hair first, then add warm water, lather and rinse. Shampoo once more if your hair still feels coated. Water-based gel pomades usually come out with one normal wash.

Styled all day, now you want it out. Here's how, depending on what you used.

Gel pomade

Easiest of the lot. Most gel pomades are water-based, so warm water and one round of shampoo usually does it.

Hair clay and hair wax

These hold on a bit more, so give them two steps:

1. Shampoo dry hair first. Before you wet your hair, work a little shampoo into it. The shampoo grabs onto the product directly instead of sliding off wet hair.
2. Then add warm water, lather and rinse. Warm water softens wax better than cold.
3. Shampoo once more if your hair still feels coated.

If it still feels heavy

• You probably used too much. Next time, start with a pea-sized amount.
• Use a clarifying shampoo once a week if you style every day.
• Finish with conditioner on the lengths so your hair doesn't feel dry after two washes.

Do you have to wash it out every day?

No. Many guys rinse with water on some days and shampoo on others. If your scalp feels itchy or oily, or your hair feels coated, wash it out properly that night.

FAQ

Can I wash out hair wax with just water?

Usually not. Water-based pomades rinse out with water, but wax and clay normally need shampoo to come out fully.

Does conditioner remove hair wax?

Not really. Shampoo does the removing. Conditioner helps afterwards, so your hair doesn't feel dry.

How often should I use a clarifying shampoo?

About once a week if you style every day. More often can dry out your hair and scalp.

New to all this? Read Hair wax vs clay vs pomade first.

From WAY (waywecare): hair wax, clay and pomade for men in India. Coming soon.