Did you know that pomade
was once made from crushed apples, or that pomade in the 1800s was made from
bear fat and sheep’s wool, which gave it the original “greasy” texture that so
many people fell in love with? In fact, pomade has a vibrant and rich history
which has influenced fashion and hairstyles for thousands of years. Around 2,000 years ago, Roman citizens began
experimenting with recipes for a hair dressing that would make styling and parting
hair much easier. By crushing apples and adding other minerals and clays, they
developed a pomata, or “poma,” literally meaning “apple
[ointment/dressing].” Yes, the first pomade was really applesauce that people
slathered all in their hair. This pomata grew
in popularity, and a few hundred years later, the Latin pomum would take its place, using apples and
beeswax as a foundation. Around the same time, many early Europeans relied on
soap as a hair product, forgoing the apple mixture altogether and keeping their
hair smelling clean and fresh, but the actual roots of contemporary pomade are
absent from early English society. Regardless, it would take 18th Century Englishmen and Frenchmen to actually develop pomade as you know and love it
today.
Around the turn of the 18th
century, social elites within the royal and wealthy families began
experimenting with new styles and hair fashions. The French developed a recipe
which utilized beeswax and various oils, calling it a pommade, or
“[fruity] ointment.” Borrowing from the Latin pomum, the recipe called
for a fragrant product, but without the mashed and crushed apples. With beeswax
as the main ingredient, a person’s hair would stay in specific style or form
for longer. The fragrance simply helped make a rather “stinky” time-period a
little more bearable. About a hundred years later, the English, not to be
outdone by the French, took this recipe and exchanged the beeswax for bear fat,
adding lanolin (wool-fat) for softness and smoother texture. This new method of
hair dressing needed a new name, as not to be confused with the French formula,
so in a moment of pure genius creativity, the English came up with pomade,
simply dropping the “m” found in the French name. So let’s recap—the English
“pomade” comes from the French “pommade,” which comes from the Latin “pomum,”
which comes from the Italian “pomata” which means “apple.” Make sense? Of
course, modern pomades don’t have bear fat or applesauce in them. Instead,
petroleum took their place toward the turn of the 20th century, and
water-based pomades came into existence near the turn of the 21st
century. Modern pomades certainly have a fragrant smell, but I’m sure you will
be hard pressed to find one like “apple” (see what I did there?) or “fruity
bear fat.” Our L-XIV water-based pomade pays tribute to this era of French and
English invention, as without their contributions, you wouldn’t have a “tub of
‘made” on your back table or bathroom counter.
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| Call 866 939 5588 for wholesale pricing! |
As far as choosing Louis
XIV—the legendary King of France—as the name for our pomade, the choice was
simple: Louis XIV reigned for 72 years and 110 days, the longest reign any
monarch in European history has ever boasted, and we intend to extend King
Louis’ reign, no longer in the political arena, but in the pomade industry. An
added benefit is found in Louis XIV’s personal style, as his hair was
ridiculously boisterous and huge—a fitting and ideal candidate for an episode
of Extreme Makeover: Historical Edition.
Speaking of our L-XIV
water-based pomade, I’m sure you are already asking the question, “well, what
makes it any different from all the other pomades on the market?” Good
question. I’m proud of you for thinking of it. My response: if we are talking
about the method of application, or the reliability of a water-based pomade—nothing.
Oh, except that we made the formula better and cheaper than
anything else on the market. Method of application? Still use your hands, but
the smooth, buttery texture of L-XIV makes for an enjoyable styling experience
with no greasy or gritty feeling. Say good bye to using alcohol to rid
pomade off your hands between clients! The reliability of the pomade? L-XIV
withstands drastic temperatures without going “frail,” yet does not harden as
other pomades do, that way you can restyle your hair later on if you wish. You
have probably heard the popular phrase, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That
is certainly true, but here at MD Barber Supply, we have a response to this
phrase: “Unless you can make it better.” And that’s exactly what we have
done—our pomade is better quality than products two or three times our cost,
and I don’t mean simply relative quality/price. Maybe you can relate to this:
we shop at certain stores because they are cheap, not necessarily because we
know they have good products, but what if you knew you could get an exquisite
product for a killer deal? You would take that opportunity every time. I
like to think of L-XIV as a real diamond ring at costume jewelry pricing, or
lobster tail at Taco Bell’s $1 menu pricing. Actually, I think I would still
choose a Beefy Crunch Burrito over a lobster tail any day of the week…but the
principle remains!
Our L-XIV water-based pomade
is on pre-order at this very moment and is expected to ship December 1st
or sooner, making it to your shops and homes in plenty of time before the
Christmas rush. If you are a shop owner, I HIGHLY suggest you give us a call to
talk about wholesale pricing and retailing this wonderful pomade in your shop.
Now, just to give an example of public and professional reactions to L-XIV, MD
Barber Supply was present at a trade show and barber battle on the West Coast this
past weekend, and we had the opportunity to show off L-XIV. The conclusion of
the barbers was unanimous: “Wow. This is an amazing pomade.” Don’t miss out on
this product—your customers will thank you, and your wallet will thank us!
-Tyler, MD BARBER
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