Pomatum, or pomade, holds the honor of being one of the oldest, if not the oldest, hair care products in human history. Recipes can be found much earlier than the eighteenth century, and we still use variations of pomade today. Pomade helps us curl, alter and care for our hair. The main ingredient, though, can sometimes freak out modern people.
Animal fat. Specifically, pork lard and mutton tallow are the main fats used in pomatum. There are also recipes calling for chicken fat, bear’s grease and other strange ingredients. [1] Today we’re totally fine with putting dead dinosaurs in our hair (i.e., petroleum-based hair care products), but the idea of putting lard on your ’do usually elicits responses like:
“Ew! Doesn’t that, like, totally stink?”
“I could never put bacon grease in my hair!”
“How can you get that stuff out?”
“Doesn’t it attract bugs?!”
“That’s just nasty.”
Whew! There are myriad myths and rumors about pomatum that are simply not true. When you dress your hair with pomade and powder, be prepared for various reactions from others about the products you’ve used.
The animal fats used for pomade should not stink. Original recipes always stress the washing of the rendered fat to remove any bad smell. The pomade is then scented with essential oils or waters or infused with citrus or flowers. If your pomatum stinks, you’re doing it wrong. [2]
Pomade Pot, 1735–40. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1993.58.1a-b.
James Ward, 1769–1859. A Border Leicester Ewe. 1795–1800. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection. B2001.2.111.
Pomade will not attract lice, bugs, rats or other vermin because of the scents used to prepare it. Clove oil, regularly featured in pomade recipes (including ours), is a natural pest deterrent, as is citrus oil. Both are often found in modern-day natural flea and tick repellents for your pets. Now you and your little ball of furry love have something in common. Neither of you will attract the wee beasties. [3]
Wearing pomade and powder will not cause you to get lice. While lice don’t care if your hair is dirty or clean, they have a difficult time adhering to the hair strand if there is pomade and powder on it. So, wearing pomade and powder might actually prevent you from getting lice. [4]
Pomatum is incredibly healthy for your hair! The animal fats help nourish and condition your hair, so it’s actually great, especially if you have dry hair. Every model in this book was thrilled with how her hair felt after being pom’d and pow’d.
If you’re still worried that somehow you’ll get a rat infestation in your hair by using pomatum, read about Abby’s yearlong experiment here. Remember, pomatum was simple to use and commonly used throughout most of modern history. It has only been in the past few decades that we’ve replaced natural products with cheap chemical imitations. Pomade is safe and natural and, as you’ll see in the following recipes, very easy to make. However, if you don’t want to make your own pomade, there are online retailers!