How I Style My Hair With Brickell: What Actually Works

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A month ago, I received a selection of hair care products from Brickell for review purposes. Since then, I have been testing all of them as part of my regular routine, from washing my hair to styling it day to day. At 52, I still have thick hair, which I keep short, so the products I use really matter if I want my hair to look clean, neat and properly styled. In this post, I want to share my honest thoughts on Brickell’s hair styling products, but also answer some of the practical questions men often have about hair care. How often should you wash your hair? What happens if you wash it too much or not enough? And what is the real difference between a sea salt spray, a pomade and a wax?

How often should men wash their hair?

This is one of the most common questions men have, and there is no single answer for everyone. It depends on your hair type, your scalp, how much you sweat and how often you use styling products. In my case, with short thick hair and regular use of styling products, I like my hair to feel properly clean without overdoing it. That balance matters, because hair always looks better when the scalp feels fresh but not stripped.

Why washing too much is not good

Washing too often with the wrong shampoo can leave the scalp dry and the hair feeling rough or flat. It can take away too much of the natural oil your scalp needs to stay balanced. I have become more careful with this over the years because I want my hair to feel clean, but still soft and comfortable afterwards. Clean hair is important, but harsh hair care is never the answer.

Why not washing enough is not good either

Not washing enough brings its own problems. When oil, sweat and styling product start building up, the hair can feel heavy, look dull and become more difficult to style. I notice it quickly with my own hair because once buildup is there, it just does not sit as well. So for me, the goal is simple: keep the hair and scalp clean, but do it in a way that still feels balanced.

Why I prefer a shampoo with better ingredients for long-term use

For long-term use, I prefer a shampoo that cleans properly without making the hair feel dry afterwards. The Brickell All in One Wash includes ingredients like aloe, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, glycerin and provitamin B5, which help the hair feel softer and smoother. That makes a real difference when you are washing your hair regularly. I want my hair to feel clean, not stripped.

How to wash your hair properly

A lot of men rush this step. The right way is quite simple. First, wet the hair properly. Then work the shampoo mainly into the scalp with your fingertips, not your nails. That is where the oil, sweat and buildup sit. Massage it through properly, then rinse thoroughly. You do not need to aggressively scrub the full length of your hair. The scalp is where the real cleansing needs to happen.

That is one reason I like keeping things simple. If the wash itself does its job properly, styling becomes much easier afterwards.

Using the Brickell All in One Wash

I have been using Brickell’s All in One Wash as the starting point, and I have to say it leaves my hair feeling impressively clean and smooth.

That smoothness is important. Some washes clean well but leave the hair feeling a bit stripped or rough. This one leaves my hair fresh but still easy to manage. It removes the dirt, oil and product buildup, but it does not leave my hair feeling dry afterwards.

The ingredient list helps explain why. Aloe helps bring comfort and hydration. Jojoba oil and rosehip oil help soften. Glycerin helps the hair hold onto moisture. Hydrolyzed quinoa and provitamin B5 help support softness and manageability, while vitamin E adds another caring element to the formula.

In simple terms, it feels like a hair wash that cleans properly without making your hair feel tired. [Check price on Amazon-here]

Pomade, wax or sea salt spray: what is the difference?

This is where a lot of men get confused, because the words are often used loosely.

Sea salt spray

Sea salt spray is mainly about texture. It helps give the hair a more relaxed, slightly undone finish. It is often used for that fuller, matte, slightly messy look. It can be especially good on medium-length or longer hair, and it tends to work well for men who want movement rather than a very controlled style.

Pomade

Pomade is usually about shaping and control. Depending on the formula, it can give you anything from a light natural finish to a more defined look. It is a good option when you want the hair to look styled rather than just textured.

Wax

Wax tends to give definition, hold and separation. Some waxes can feel too heavy or too sticky, which is why men sometimes avoid them. But a good wax can be excellent for short hair because it helps keep shape without making the hair look stiff.

That is why the right product depends on your haircut and the finish you want. There is no single best answer for every man.

My son and the sea salt spray trend

This is where it gets interesting in my house.

My son is 16 and has longer hair with a bit of curl, which is very much the look right now. He has been using sea salt spray a lot, and honestly he gets much more from that kind of product than I do. It makes sense. His hair has the length and shape to really benefit from extra texture and movement.

That is a good reminder that styling products are never just about whether a product is good or bad. They are about whether the product suits your hair.

Brickell Sea Salt Spray: not my favourite, but my son loved it

Brickell’s Sea Salt Spray is designed to add texture, lift and volume with a matte finish. It also includes ingredients aimed at helping the hair feel less dry than some traditional sprays of this kind.

For my own short hair, this was the product I liked the least.

That is not because it is a bad product. It just did not give me the look I want. On my hair, I prefer more definition and control. Sea salt spray on short thick hair can sometimes leave things looking a little too loose or slightly unfinished, and that is what happened here.

My son, on the other hand, absolutely loved it.

That was actually useful, because he already knows what he wants from a sea salt spray. He liked the texturising effect, the lift, and the way it helped bring out that slightly messy, natural look in his longer hair. So while it is not one I would personally reach for with my haircut, I can clearly see where it works very well. [check price on Amazon-here]

Brickell Shaping Paste Pomade: my favourite of the lot

This is the one I kept coming back to.

The Brickell Shaping Paste Pomade gives a medium hold with a low-shine finish, and for my hair that balance works very well. It adds enough texture and control without making the style look stiff, wet or overdone.

For my short hair, this is exactly the sort of product I like.

It gives me shape without making my hair look too shiny or too done. That matters a lot as you get older. I do not want my hair to look stiff or overworked. I just want it to sit properly and look tidy, natural and masculine. This paste does that very well.

It also feels easy to use. Warm a small amount in the hands, work it through, and you can quickly get that neat, textured finish that suits shorter hair. Out of everything here, this is the one that gave me the result I liked most consistently.[check price on Amazon-here]

Brickell Flexible Hold Wax Pomade: another very good option

The Flexible Hold Wax Pomade is also excellent, just in a slightly different way. Sometimes wax feels like too much. Too sticky. Too heavy. Too obvious. This one does not.

It is light, easy to work with and gives a very nice finish with flexible hold. It helps the hair stay where you want it without feeling glued into place. Some days I used the wax, some days I used the shaping paste, and both worked well.

What I liked here is that it gives the benefits of a wax without the usual downside. Some wax products are difficult to wash out and can leave the hair feeling coated. This one feels much easier and cleaner to live with. It offers good hold, a flexible finish and a style that still feels natural.

The shaping paste is still my personal favourite, but this wax is a very good product and far more wearable than a lot of men might expect from the word wax.[Check price on Amazon-here]

Final thoughts

If you want your hair to look better, styling starts with understanding your hair rather than blindly copying trends.

Wash your hair properly. Do not overwash it, but do not let buildup take over either. Use a cleanser that leaves your hair feeling genuinely clean without making it feel dry and rough. Then choose your styling product according to your haircut and the finish you actually want.

For me, Brickell’s All in One Wash is a very good place to start. It leaves my hair clean, smooth and easy to style. The Sea Salt Spray was not the right match for my short hair, but it was a genuine hit with my son and suits that longer, textured look much better. The standout for me was the Shaping Paste Pomade, with the Flexible Hold Wax Pomade a close second.

And that, really, is the point. Good hair styling is not about using more product. It is about using the right one.

Jerome