12 Hair Pastes to Achieve the Perfect Bedhead Hair

In the world of hairstyling, hair paste is the MVP. It’s one of those products that can do almost anything from subtly smoothing and taming frizz to locking your hair into a more defined style. Think of paste as a hybrid—it can have the hold of hair pomade, the texturizing ability of hair clay, and the natural finish of a styling cream. Basically, if you have all of those things in your medicine cabinet already, you could replace them all with just one jar of hair paste.

Because it’s heavier than your typical styling cream, a paste is ideal for short and medium-length hair. It usually adds a little grit and is best for creating textured, slightly disheveled looks—like a “just-rolled-out-of-bed” vibe or “just-got-back-from-the-beach” look. Paste, by default, delivers a smaller amount of shine than a traditional pomade (most of them are water-, not oil-, based) which leaves your hair with a natural look, even if you don’t opt for a completely matte version. That means the only thing it’s not great for is old-school, slicked-back looks.

Using a paste is easy: apply a small, dime-sized amount of product on wet hair for a little bit more hold or dry hair for more texture. Make sure to warm it up by rubbing it in the palm of your hands before applying it to avoid clumping. Most pastes are water-soluble, which means they’re easy to wash out with some shampoo and won’t leave your hair greasy but also can be restyled and reworked throughout the day without adding more to your hair. If you’ve ever noticed your hair drooping after a long day of work, then you know how important restyling can be.

But best of all, and the reason we love hair pastes so much, is that the texturizing effects can also add visual volume to fine or thinning hair. Unlike thicker products, which can weigh down fine hair and make it look thinner, hair paste creates height and volume, which can make your hair appear fuller. And it works on all hair textures, even curly hair.

So, if you’re stuck in a pomade wormhole and want to switch up your style with minimal effort, hair paste is your friend. As for which one to use, this list won’t let you down.