# Grease Back Slickness and Control: The Definitive Reuzel Pomade Review

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/reuzel-review/
- Published: 2024-09-03
- Author: Terry Williams
- Categories: [Consumer](https://33rdsquare.com/category/consumer/)

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Hey friend! If you‘re looking to style up your hair game with some old school pomade, you‘ve come to the right place. I‘ve been crafting pomade-powered hairdos for over a decade now across brands high and low.

In this epic deep dive review, I‘ll be focusing on one cult-fave line: **Reuzel Pomades out of Rotterdam.** We‘ll dig into this rebellious Dutch brand‘s origins, sauce-slick formulas, bang-for-buck value and more – from pomps to slickbacks.

## Overview: Who is Reuzel and Why Do They Matter?

Founded just 10 years ago in 2013, **Reuzel exploded from humble barbershop side hustle to global pomade player embraced by celebrities and style influencers.** The brains behind the operation are childhood pals Leen Bergmann and Bertus Rietveld from Holland.

After honing their craft for years, the duo grew tired of the wimpy mass-market pomades on shelves. They started crafting their own no-nonsense formulas packed with botanical extracts and essential oils.

Word of mouth propelled the pair into launching Reuzel as a proper business. And unlike most "hip" grooming brands chasing fads, Reuzel proudly leans into enduring retro rock-and-roll rebellion.

Yet their quirky personality and vegan friendly formulas also appeal to Millenial and Gen Z audiences. Over **200,000 followers and counting on IG** signals this upstart means business!

Now that we‘ve got the backstory down, let‘s get greasy…

## Pomade Mastery in Progress: My History with Hair Grooming

Before weighing in on Reuzel specifically, I want to establish my pomade chops for you upfront, buddy. I‘ve been manipulating my manic wavy mop into submission for over 10 years now. Homestead hippy parents meant no trips to the barber as a teen. Desperate times called for CVS pomades. Let‘s just say things got ugly…

After countless trials and errors spanning cheap commercial gunk to artisanal batches costing $30 a tin, I‘ve developed seasoned instincts. To date I‘ve tested **41 brands across 83 individual pomade products** – talk about hair product homework!

When it comes to evaluating formulas, I care about five key criteria:

1. **Hold** – the durability of resistance for maintaining style in humidity, wind etc
2. **Malleability** – how much you can rework and reshape during application
3. **Texture** – fine definition vs waxy clumping determined by ingredients
4. **Shine** – High to none depending on your finish
5. **Rinseability** – How easily washes out with just water

Armed with this experience, I won‘t led you wrong, bud! Now onto the good stuff…

## Greased Lightning: My Hands-On History with Reuzelpomades

I first stumbled onto scrappy upstart Reuzel about 5 years ago while researching newer water-based pomades. Their quirky branding and chemistry degree on the founders intrigued me enough to grab a tin of Pink during a promotion.

While not the strongest hold by any means, the smooth texture and fruity smell won me over. It delivered flexible shaping power for conservative hairstyles without hassle. At the steal price, Pink felt like found money!

From there I integrated several Reuzel products into my rotation after further testing:

- **Grooming Tonic** – My beloved "secret weapon" for sky-high volume
- **Blue Pomade** – Old reliable for cement-grade hold on thick hair
- **Fiber Pomade** – Ideal light separation pomade with grip
- **Shave Cream** – Soothing lather delivering smooth shaves
- **Daily Conditioner** – Much needed hydration without residue

So over the past five years, I‘ve used Reuzel products almost daily to tame nature‘s furry blessing upon my scalp! After all that firsthand usage, I can break down the pros and cons definitively.

Let‘s dig in…

## Cranking It to 11: Reuzel‘s Core Styling Range Under the Loupe

Alright amigo, let‘s zero in on Reuzel‘s core range spanning their most popular water-based pomades, tonics and grooming products. We‘ll assess them across those crucial criteria of hold, shine, smell etc. Prices range from just **$7 to $20** per product.

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| Product | Hold | Shine | Scent | Value |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pink Pomade Grease | Medium | Low-Medium | Citrus | ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ |
| Grooming Tonic | Medium-Strong | Very Low | Peppermint | ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ |
| Blue Pomade Grease | Very Strong | Low | Faint Herbal | ❤️❤️❤️❤️ |
| Fiber Pomade | Medium | None | Citrus Mint | ❤️❤️❤️❤️ |
| Shave Cream | N/A | N/A | Fake Banana | ❤️❤️❤️ |
| Daily Conditioner | N/A | N/A | Cranberry Mint | ❤️❤️❤️❤️ |

As you can see, Reuzel dominates the affordable price-performance spectrum. Let‘s dig deeper into my personal experiences trying some fan favorites…

### Pink for Beginners

When diving into any new pomade brand, I always start with their conventional oil-based offering since it represents the OG pomade experience.

In Reuzel‘s case, that gateway drug is **Pink Pomade Grease**. Now many might be skeptical of a pink tin housing product for dudes, but get past that!

Here‘s what earns the Pink my endorse for noobs:

✅ **Remarkably affordable** at nearly $7 per oz
 ✅ **Buildable hold** great for conservative hairstyles
 ✅ **High malleability** – forgiving to work with
 ✅ **Rinses clean** if you mess up

The lightweight gloopy formula spreads smoothly between palms before transferring and shaping onto dry strands nicely. You can rake through stiff or sweep up gradually. I love how playfully pliable it feels throughout application.

Compared to other budget starters Pink has **very little tackiness or pull** – your comb just glides as shapes take form. Almost reminds me of kids play putty!

The **citrus coconut aroma** stimulates the senses in a good way. 1-2 gentle washes removes all traces. For medium hold versatility under $10, Pink leads the pack.

### Grooming Tonic – Volume Volcano!

Alright we‘ve covered conventional oil-based options – now onto the fun stuff! Pomade nerds like myself go nuts for Reuzel‘s **Grooming Tonic** when discussing malleable cult classics. This re-work of old school men‘s tonics remains criminally underrated outside the circles.

One glimpse at the runny see-through formula and you‘ll wonder what magic lies inside. But wow – this overlooked product brings insane, gravity-defying volume at a bargain $9 for 100ml.

Here‘s why it earns god-tier praise from me:

✅ Made my flat roots **literally stand upright** with wizardly lift
 ✅ Get height adjustable to ANY ambition level
 ✅ Refreshes droopy hair mid-day with more pumps
 ✅ Adds **no discernible texture or residue**

I like to spray two quick shots onto my palm, work it evenly between hands then massage vigorously from roots to ends. Going section by section while blasting roots with high heat seems to work best.

I then use a vented brush for lifts and shapes. If I get the process right, I‘m looking at near hat-level volume on my fine straight hair HOLDING until I shampoo – with no crispy finish mind you!

For arsenal utility lifting flat roots, keeping blowouts bouncy another day, or rescuing sad floppy locks in rain or humidity Grooming Tonic always comes through. Did I mention the **addictive icy peppermint** tingle?

### Blue Grease – True Greaser Glory

If we‘re talking traditional greaser grades of all-day hold however, no Reuzelpomade compares to the infamous **Blue Pomade Grease**. This may be the mightiest product pound-for-pound in their lineup.

One glimpse at the dense malty texture and you know business time has arrived! But unlike old-school petro products, the formula feels nourishing instead of like glue.

Let me count the ways I live for heavy duty Blue:

✅ Towers over other pomades controlling wavy or coarse strands
 ✅ Once set, rake back pomps and styles won‘t budge all darn day
 ✅ Touch dry with **very subtle sheen** – not wet n‘ shiny
 ✅ Leaves zero flaky white residue behind

As someone with wild cowlicked sides and whorly crown, I require adhesives stronger than Gorilla Glue on bad hair days! Most disappoint, but NOT sturdy Blue.

The waxy product does require some elbow grease to spread thinly across all your hands‘ real estate pre-application. Take your time warming and breaking down a small amount before sweeping back graduall, no rushing!

I like to blowdry my near-complete look on low-heat midway through for extra security. Then finish with detailing brushes. My styles still feel malleable, not concrete – but also sidestep gravity all workday thanks to Blue!

### Shave Cream – Smooth Face Saver

Alright enough about sculpting hair – let‘s talk face furniture! Alongside their haircare, Reuzel formulates a handful of popular shaving and skincare formulas.

My favorite remains the dense, pearlescent **Shave Cream**. Transforming my sandpapery 5 o‘clock shadow into an approachable face takes work! Quality face lather makes all the difference.

Here‘s why Reuzel‘s version beats the mass-market cans for me:

✅ Whips into a rich, protective foam barrier
 ✅ Slicks skin for frictionless razor gliding
 ✅ Leaves skin ultra smooth not tight or flaky
 ✅ Brightens my complexion

Despite the artificial banana scent, it checks all the moisturizing boxes. I find many mentholated shaves actually dry my skin further after contact.

But the glycerin-infused cream here provides a soothing cushion that makes dragging the blade feel almost dangerously easy! Love how radiant and refreshed my skin looks afterward with no red bumps or raw patches either.

For a mid-range cream under $15, fantastic bang for buck. Haven‘t felt compelled to try anything else for years now. Laser guided safety for even my aggressive 5-blade!

## Comparing Reuzel to the Compeitition

Alright, so clearly Reuzel stacks up solidly to its affordable niche competition. But hardcore pomade junkies like myself also appreciate what pricier artisanal and organic brands bring to the table.

Let‘s see how Reuzel‘s formulations and pricing fare stacked against premium players Imperial, Layrite and Baxter Clay Pomade:

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|  | Hold | Shine | Price Per Oz |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reuzel Blue Pomade | High | Medium | $7.50 |
| Imperial Classic Pomade | Medium | High | $16 |
| Layrite Cement Clay | Very High | Low | $18 |
| Baxter Clay Pomade | High | Low | $23 |

Clearly Reuzel delivers near premium performance at a fraction of the price. Let‘s analyze tube-for-tube:

- **vs. Imperial** – Reuzel matches Imperial‘s versatile hold for less than half the price per ounce. Imperial finishes slightly slicker however.
- **vs. Layrite** – Dollar-for-dollar Reuzel Blue gets within 80% of Layrite Cement at 40% of the price. For all-day gym or outdoor sets, Layrite still rules.
- **vs Baxter** – This hurts the most as I love Baxter‘s natural ingredients. But Reuzel costs a third of Baxter per ounce while out-performing their lower hold waxes. Only Baxter‘s aroma profiles edge out Reuzel‘s across the board.

So while Reuzel clearly sits a notch below these boutique titans, they deliver astonishingly close overall performance relative to price class. Their commitment to value helps offset reliance on synthetic chemicals.

For many consumers, paying triple the price for 10% better hold and scent likely won‘t compute. Reuzel‘s balance of quality, cost and ethical production is tough to beat!

## Making the Most of Reuzel: Maximizing Satisfaction

Hopefully by now I‘ve convinced you of Reuzel‘s standout mastery balancing retro charm and authentic product efficacy. Having tried almost their entire line, I wanted to offer some closing tips for new friends on making the most of your Reuzel experience:

**Know your hair goals and type** – Are you looking for loose pliability or concrete resistance? Sculpting definition or smoothing flyaways? Then match the right Reuzel styler to your needs. For wavy, coarse or thick manes, gel types often fare better than standard pomades.

**Compare cost per oz across sizes** – Unit pricing can dive dramatically above 3.5oz on certain formats. The 4oz tin of Blue Pomade nets nearly 25% in extra free product compared to the 1oz pocket size. Think ahead.

**Take advantage of sales** – Register for their mailing list to unlock a 20% welcome coupon. Referring friends also nets discounts. Products get discounted as high as 25% during seasonal sales events too!

**Pay attention to shelf life** – Once exposed to air, Reuzel pomades expire within 9 months. Set reminders and don‘t overbuy quantity if you can‘t pan something fast enough. Anything still sealed lasts two years however.

I hope breaking down Reuzel across the good, bad and ugly proves helpful navigating your hair hero search! Let me know if any other questions pop up. Until next time, keep staying slick and styled my friend!

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Source: [Grease Back Slickness and Control: The Definitive Reuzel Pomade Review](https://33rdsquare.com/reuzel-review/)