In ‘High Fidelity’, Nick Hornby’s novel that became a John Cusack movie of the same title, the protagonist asks:
“What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?”
What has this got to do with pomades? Well, Music Or Misery (MOM) is the name of Shear Revival’s heavy hold pomade, a fitting name for such a rhetorical heaviness, but other than that – nothing much! It’s always nice to have an excuse to talk about High Fidelity though. Back in the day, the book was my life, it was so-…
Wait, come back!
Ok fine, sorry, let’s concentrate on the pomade talk. Straight out of New Jersey, which is where Bruce Springsteen (who was in High Fidelity) comes from, MOM is a strong contender for one of the best firm hold pomades available on the market currently. MOM comes in a clear jar with a cleanly-designed label (like all other Shear Revival pomades), this time depicting a top-down view of a record player, appropriately enough. It has the signature complex blend of scents that is becoming a calling card for Zach West’s brand, with a naturally manly lime-cedarwood fragrance that carries a subtle sweetness around the edges.
The pastel green pomade isn’t a finger-breaker, scooping out easily without any fingernail digging required. Application can be a bit tough if your hair is completely bone-dry, as MOM turns waxy and grippy when warmed up between your palms, the first sign that this product is not for play. No sir, what you have here is a pomade that will grip your hairs and lay it out straight with an iron hold. We know this goes against collective knowledge, but a touch of dampness won’t kill ya – in fact it might just save your life, making it easier to apply with zero tugging and pulling.
As can be expected from a heavy pomade, MOM does not completely wash off in the shower. The heavy wax content results in a pleasantly dry and matte-looking buildup on the second day, with enough pomade remaining to allow you to style your hair quickly, maybe with a topper for added shine or go for a looser style through finger-combing. Alternatively, you can rub in just a tiny bit of MOM in to refresh your hairstyle before stepping out the door to wreck musically-inspired mayhem.
Find out which came first, the handsome or the misery, here at The Panic Room.