Products

Styling Products (gels, creams and pomades)

Aveda Self Control is probably the best thing available for flattops or spike haircuts; separates unlike anything else on the planet.  High gloss, has a high oily appearance but washes out easily.
 

 Brylcreem is a traditional product that can give your hair a wet look (although it may not be as wet looking as some of the newer gels). Remember the "Just a little dab will do ya" TV commercials? Well you can download one from Nick at Nite's TV Land archive.

Clubman Styling Gel is recommended by one Buzztown contributor as "the best I have ever used. However, I have not been able to obtain it lately." On the Hairnet Hotline, "Cutter" suggested "Look in the yellow pages for a barber supply place, they should have it. Clubman products are made by PINAUD. If you can't find a local source, contact: ED PINAUD DIVISION, ALL-CLUBMAN, Los Angeles, CA 90040". Update:A Buzztowner reports that Clubman Styling Gel is available in some Walgreens stores in the United State.

Extra Body Gel. (see Super Clean Gel, below)

FIX STIX Design Polish is a butch wax that has maximum hold and will your Flattop or Crewcut stand straight up all day. It contains four different waxes, Paraffin, Beeswax, Microcrystaline, and Carnauba wax.

FMS 101X Flat Top Wax is distributed by FMS Distributing Kansas City, MO 64108 and is recommended by a Buzztown visitor.

Icon Controlling Gel is a product that was recommended by a barber (Cutter) on the Hairnet Hotline. It is a gel for men, made by Matrix. A four ounce container of Icon Controlling Gel should be around US$6.00.

KMS makes a very good styling gel (maximum hold gel), available only through professional barbers and stylists.

Krew Comb is a popular wax for crewcuts and flattops. It has an excellent holding capability. Krew Comb is best for short clipper cuts and is not really suited as a substitute for gel or mousse on longer hair. The product comes in either a four ounce jar or in a stick. Some people find that the stick dries up. Krew Comb has a slightly soapy scent, but it is certainly not overpowering. You just apply a little Krew Comb onto your hair, brush, comb or style and your style will stay rock-solid. It also claims to condition and protect your hair and rejuvenate damaged hair.

Krew Comb is manufactured by Master Well Comb Co. Inc of Palatine, Illinois. The customer service number is (800) 343-4989. Krew Comb is sold throughout the U.S. in many traditional barber shops, and in some styling salons. In many parts of America, it is also available at Walgreen's drug stores. If you know of any other shops where Krew Comb is sold, please send in details to the Buzztown Barber Shop (especially if you know of places outside America where it can be purchased).

LA Looks gel is recommended on Hairnet Hotline by Advice Guy as a good product to give you a wet look.

Luzon's Stick Fix is recommended by one Buzztowner (Dave in Japan). He says that it's great for a flattop. "Not alot of barber shops carry it, but it's available from the manufacturer at (800) 356-1586, or (515) 795-3633. It can be applied thicker or thinner, and can be brushed out, or thinned with warm water."

Murray's Pomade is recommended by a Buzztowner:

I have tried several brands and found MURRAY's Pomade products to be best for a tight holding of desired hair style. It can be found in most Walmart and Walgreens stores for the regular "medium heavy" version, 3 oz. They also offer the VERY heavy (stiff) pomade in a 15 oz container by mail order as well as other products:

Murray's Superior Products Co. 456 Charlotte Ave. Detroit, MI 48201

This heavy kind will make the wildest hair stand up or stay "glued down" as desired, for it is like a very stiff wax which softens a bit with hot water, and 15 oz. will last for quite some time. If too stiff, consider mixing it with the regular kind.

Thanks to Wolf for this recommendation.

Stiff Stuff is a super-hold spray. To get a "wet look", wet your hair, comb it, then spray with Stiff Stuff. Comb it through, then spray again. When it dries, your hair will be hard as a rock, and it will stay wet looking until you mess it with your fingers. The great thing about Stiff Stuff is that it "re-activates" when you comb your hair with water! (Product recommendation and technique posted by "Advice Guy" on the Hairnet Hotline.)

Super Clean Gel and Extra Body Gel by Paul Mitchell are recommended by "Cutter" on the Hairnet Hotline as excellent products that give your hair the wet look without making it hard. Unlike some other gel, these products retain the wet look well.

Vaseline Hair Tonic is another product that gives your hair a wet look. Although it has some fragrence, it is a much less powerful scent than Vitalis. Use a very small amount on wet hair. It is a good product for some of the 1950's styles (especially for the longer styles with big pompadours - just like Elvis had before he entered the army). (Product recommended on the Hairnet Hotline by "Chaucer".)

Vitalis is an alcohol based product with a very strong fragrance.

Volumax Freezing Spray (available at Sally beauty supply in USA) will make any crew cut, flat top stand up like a steel brush.  No need for wax or alike, for this will give razor burns to anyone "on your list" after it has set. Otherwise, it will stand in any direction you like all day long. Terrific results unlike anything on the market !!! Washes out easily. Also great for any other hair style to "freeze in place" as hard as can be.  (No, it is not cold, just "cool" as can be. Run for your can if you can!)
 

Waxworks is a recent Paul Mitchell product recommended by a Buzztown reader.  He writes:

"I'd like to pass along product information about a relatively new product from Paul Mitchell, called WaxWorks. This is a wax/pomade product that is a bit lighter than old-fashioned butch wax, yet it still provides plenty of holding power. Best of all, it has a very light (almost undetectable) scent, unlike many wax products of this nature."

Coloring Products

I recommend Wella Wellite and a cream developer 20 volume ( Brentwood). Small amounts can be mixed approximately in equal portions of all three components: Cream bleach activator, Cream Oil (both come in the Wella package) and the developer. The product is safe in that it does not "eat" on the skin/scalp. I have used it on my mustache (use cotton in nose, please !!!) as well as on hair. Dark hair needs one hour of application to become white. A second application may be required depending on hair type and darkness.

Would be ideal for flat top belaching. I use an egg cup, enough room for one application of mustache or flat top. Wella box says good for 2 applications but in small amounts you get about 15 applications out of it. Get a comb with a brush for easy application.

Sally beauty supply has all in stock, for WHITE is beautiful.
 

Other Hair Care Products

Tunde's Natty Dred Cream

"I recommend Tunde's Natty Cream for Dry scalp and Dandruff and itching.  I have tried everything but nothing is as good for feeding and nourishing the scalp. I do not like pomades that have petrolatum or mineral oil."

Shaving Products

 Shave products by American Crew include shaving oil, shaving cream and an after-shave moisturizer. Read the "American Crew Shaving Products" article for more details. You can also visit American Crew on the web for more product information or to find a barber shop or salon near you that sell these products.

RazorGuard Storage System is advertised in the Herrington catalog.  According to the description in the catalog, this is a "storage system" that will extend the life of your razor by up to ten times its normal life.  The "system" consists of a "hydrovoir" (which is a plastic container) and 4 ounces of solution that prevents oxidation and calcification of the blade.  The catalog description explains that evaporating water leaves calcium and other minerals on the blade causing the blade surface to deteriorate prematurely.  By soaking your blade in RazorGuard solution, lubricants coat the blade and prevent the deposits from damaging the blade.  In the catalog, the RazorGuard System is pictured storing a Gilette Sensor Excel razor.

For details, see the Herrington catalog.  Orders: (800) 622-5221;  Customer Service (800) 903-2878.

If any readers have used the RazorGuard Storage system, why not send your comments about this product to Buzztown.

Electric Clippers

I would recommend the Andis Improved Master Clipper for your product listing. The Andis clipper is the standard used by barbers for decades. It is a vibrator clipper like the Wahl, but, runs cooler. It is also a little heavier and costs more. I have both the Andis Improved Master and Wahl Senior in my barber shop, but use the Andis almost exclusively. Both are good clippers, however, and I know some barbers who prefer the Wahls.

I also use the Andis T-Outliner Trimmer. It is powerful and does a good job. I use this clipper when the customer wants the sides and back as close as possible without using a razor. I find the Andis T-Edjer Trimmer to be under powered.

Oster is a popular brand of electric clippers. Oster clippers are often used in military barber shops (they are powered by a motor instead of an electric vibrating device and tend to stay cooler during heavy use). Oster clippers come with attachment guides that can cut hair as short as 1/250 inch. Ordering and some information for Oster clippers is available from Authorized Marketing Services.

Wahl is another popular brand of electric clippers. Wahl clippers come with attachment guides to cut hair from 1/8 inch to 1 inch. Without an attachment guide, Wahl clippers, cut at 1/100 inch. Find out more about Wahl products by visiting the Wahl Professional home page.

Barber Supplies

Instructional Videotapes

Creative Clipper Designs Made Easy - Vol 2. The second tape in the Creative Clipper Designs Made Easy series by Scerbo Video Productions. This tape contains eight new haircut designs such as messages and logos.

Perfect Bowlcuts. Scerbo Video Productions have been at it again - another new instructional videotape. This one shows just three cuts, all bowlcuts, and goes into more detail than other tapes from Scerbo. The three cuts shown are a 'parted bowlcut', a 'layered and feathered bowlcut', and a 'center part bowlcut'. This tape is aimed at parents who want to learn how they can give their boys professional looking bowlcuts.

Perfect Buzzcuts - Vol 1. Following the success of Creative Clipper Designs Made Easy video, Scerbo Video Productions produced this volume that shows a series of clipper cutting techniques. The video shows several segments of different clipper cuts and focuses on clipper cutting techniques.

Perfect Buzzcuts - Vol 2. The second tape in the Perfect Buzzcuts series. The tape contains fewer haircuts than Volume 1, but more detail of the cutting technique is shown. Styles shown on the tape include a horseshoe flattop, parallel fade, long brushcut, long ivy league and a tieback undercut. Go to the Scerbo Video Productions home page for more details.

Perfect Buzzcuts - Vol 3. The third and latest tape in the Perfect Buzzcuts series of instructional videotapes by Scerbo Video Productions. On this tape you'll learn how to repair a botched home haircut, and how to cut a skull cap buzzcut, a "surfer - wet look cut", a "major league sports cut" and a feathered college cut.

Flattops Done Right. This instructional video was made a few years ago by Jay B. Funk, a barber in Texas. This video teaches the art of cutting a good flattop. The tape shows three flattops being cut and the barber gives step by step instructions. The videotape can be ordered in the United States by sending $39.95 plus $4.00 for shipping and handling to Clipper Cut Videos, P.O. Box 1552, Dumas, Texas 79029. Visa and Mastercard is accepted. The phone number is (806) 935-5124.