Returning to work is going to be a mixed bag for me. While I am looking forward to being around people again, in the past year and a half, I’ve pretty much given up on styling my hair. My hair is thick and unruly during the best of times. In the past, I have struggled to find a product that offered enough hold but didn’t add a ton of volume. I can’t expose my head to even the slightest of natural elements. A light breeze, a drop of rain, or, God forbid, humidity destroys any and all hair styling efforts. My side part can not hold its own without assistance, but my husband hates the way my hair feels with product in—and my inner thrifter hates how much I spend on it.
While spending most of my time indoors and protected from the external elements, I have gleefully foregone using styling products at all. My hair care routine has revolved solely around a quick shampoo every other morning.
With my return to work rapidly approaching, however, my product-less men’s hairstyle is woefully unprepared to face the scrutiny of anyone besides my husband. I realized I needed a new styling agent, stat. So, boy was I excited when a box of Redken Brews products showed up on my doorstep as a gift from the brand. Read on for my complete Redken Brews review and how I used these salon-quality men's products in my hair routine.
Brews 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash for Men
A 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash for hair and skin.
Brews Cream Hair Pomade for Men
A water-based, low-shine pomade for smooth, flexible styles.
Brews Holding Gel for Men
A men's hair gel with medium hold and medium shine.
How I Incorporated Redken Brews Into My Routine
First off, let’s talk about the Redken Brews 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash. I started every day this week with a good lather. The 3-in-1 shampoo left my hair not only smelling fantastic, but also feeling light, smooth and ready for styling. My hair has a tendency to build up a lot of residue over the course of the day, especially if I use any product. It also tends to be a bit frizzy and, since I’m usually in a hurry, I don’t have time to add a round of conditioning. A daily wash with Redken Brews 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash solved all those problems.
Now, let’s get into all of the great styling product options. I tried four different Redken Brews products over the course of a week—two pomades and two gels. I tested how well they defined and held my side part. I should start by disclosing that I prefer my hair to look more natural and have always had a bias for using pomade rather than gel. I generally find that gel is better for men’s hairstyles that are, well, a bit more styled than mine. But I entered into this review with an open mind.
On day one, I tried out the Redken Brews Thickening Pomade. “Thickening” is normally a trigger word for me, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this. The hold on my part was great and it didn’t leave my hair feeling heavy or add too much volume (which was my fear). My only real qualm was that it didn’t smell like much, although for a lot of guys, that won’t be a bad thing.
Natural
Thickening Pomade
I kept with the pomade trend on day two, but this time tested the Redken Brews Cream Pomade. Right off the bat I liked this one because it smells fantastic. When it came to styling, it felt and looked like I didn’t have any product in at all, but I still got a really nice hold on my part and some nice definition and texture throughout the rest of my hairstyle.
Natural
Cream Pomade
On day three, I took the dive into gel. As mentioned, I was skeptical, but the Redken Brews Grip Tight Holding Gel was a pleasant surprise. Again, it smelled great and the hold provided by a gel is much stronger than a pomade. The gel articulated the texture of the individual strands of my hair to a level that I’m just personally not a fan of for every day styling. But if that’s the men’s hair style you’re going for (or you’re planning on spending a lot of time outside and need a stronger hold), this is the product for you!
Natural
Grip Tight Holding Gel
I finished my Redken Brews review on day four by trying the Extra Clean Gel. Of the two gels, this one left my hair looking wetter than the other. But, I will say, it had the strongest hold and provided the most definition of any of the products. So again, personal preference, but if you like the look of gelled styles, this is definitely worth a try.
Natural
Extra Clean Gel
Which of the Redken Brews products will I keep on using, you ask? The Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash is a no-brainer. It leaves my hair feeling and smelling amazing and 100 percent ready to be styled every morning. The Redken Brews Cream Pomade is going to be my new go-to styling product (I promptly swapped it out in my travel bag for a trip this weekend). If I’m looking for more hold (or anticipating hurricane force winds) I’ll grab the Redken Brews Grip Tight Holding Gel.
Thanks to Redken Brews, I’m now confident my hair can hold up to the scrutiny of both the elements and my co-workers' discerning eyes again!
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Brews 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash for Men
A 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash for hair and skin.
Brews Cream Hair Pomade for Men
A water-based, low-shine pomade for smooth, flexible styles.
Brews Holding Gel for Men
A men's hair gel with medium hold and medium shine.
