Pomade generally refers to a greasy or waxy substance used to style the hair.
Pomade makes the hair look slick and shiny. Unlike hair spray and hair gel, pomade does not dry and often takes several washings to get it out of the hair.
Most pomades contain petroleum jelly (and in fact petroleum jelly may be used alone as a pomade) and mineral oil, and many also contain some sort of wax. They may also contain perfume and coloring agents.
The origin of the word is from the French word for apple, as the original purpose of pomade was to impart the smell of apples or other fruits to the hair. This usage is now mostly forgotten. Modern pomades may contain fragrances, but they are not particularly fruity.
Pomades were once much more popular than they are today. They are associated with the slick mens' hairstyles of the early and middle 20th century.
In the United States they can still be found in stores or sections of stores containing hair products marketed to African-Americans. Among whites the use of pomades is mostly confined to subculture groups such as punk, goth, and rockabilly.
