In 1999, a barber named Donnie Hawley got tired of fighting petroleum grease out of his clients' hair and made something better. This jar is that something, and it is still the one the rest of the range is measured against.
TL;DR: The founding Layrite formula. A versatile, water-based pomade with medium hold and medium shine that holds like wax and washes out like gel. Ideal for classic slick-backs, side parts and low pomps, or messy textured looks with a natural finish. The 42g jar is the compact size.
Product Details and Benefits
- Medium hold, medium shine. The everyday middle ground — enough control for a proper part, enough shine to look groomed rather than glazed.
- Holds like wax, washes out like gel. That contradiction is the entire reason the brand exists, and it remains the neatest trick in the range.
- Water-based and water-soluble. Rinses out with water alone. No clarifying shampoo, no waxy residue clinging on until Thursday.
- No flakes, no build-up. It dries down and stays put without going hard, chalky or stiff, and without drying out your hair.
- Adjustable finish. You control the outcome at the application stage — drier hair gives more hold and less shine, damper hair gives more shine and a softer hold.
- Restyles on demand. Wet your comb or fingers, run them through, and reshape whenever you like.
- Kaolin clay. Builds thickness and natural texture, which is why finer hair takes so well to this one.
- Naturally derived waxes. Sourced from Brazilian palm tree leaves and coal for structured, flexible hold.
- Best for fine to medium-thick hair, short to medium lengths. Textured crew cuts, fades, quiffs and spikes on one side of the coin; slick-backs, side parts and low pomps on the other.
- Signature mild cream soda scent. The scent people notice on a Layrite tin and then quietly go looking for.
- 42g jar. The travel-friendly size — a smart first purchase, and a sensible one to keep in the desk drawer or the overnight bag.
How to Use
- Take a dab — Layrite's own word for it, and a good indication of how little you need.
- Rub it between your palms until it warms and turns nearly transparent. It has the consistency of a very thick gel, so a few seconds of work pays off in an even finish.
- Distribute evenly through damp or dry hair. Fully dry hair delivers the highest hold with the least shine; towel-dried hair softens the hold and lifts the shine. The Layrite rule applies: the drier the hair, the higher the hold.
- Style with your fingers for texture, or with a comb for a sharper part and a cleaner line.
- Restyle at any point by running a wet comb or damp hands through.
Pro tip: Prime before you style. Work a grooming spray through damp hair first and let it settle, then apply the pomade on top. The spray gives the pomade something to grip, which spreads a smaller amount further and noticeably extends the hold — Layrite Grooming Spray is the intended partner here, and it is the single biggest upgrade most people can make to their morning routine without buying a different pomade.
Why You'll Love It
Twenty-odd years of barbers reaching for the same tin is not an accident. Add the Layrite Original Pomade 42g to your cart and find out what all the fuss has been about.
