By Leon Hedgepeth

Copyright gq

After growing out my hair, I’ve realized that the best hair balms would be one of the main options for taming the curls. You see, when it comes to styling the curls, I’ve got three main fighters in the ring: pomade, the heavyweight champ. Strong hold, no shine, matte finish. Best applied dry. Cream, the smooth operator. Light hold, makes curls pop, perfect when my hair’s just a bit damp for a natural look. Balm, the gentle guardian. Keeps hair healthy, adds soft control, and makes me feel like I’ve got it together (even when I don’t). Depending on the day—or to be honest, whatever’s easiest to grab from my overcrowded bathroom cabinet—I’ll reach for one of these. Combine the balm with a regular shampoo-and-conditioning routine, and my curls, which I had once spent so long trying to hide, have never looked better. Here are eight of my favorites to help you tame, define, or simply vibe with your mid-to-long curls.
Best Overall: Aesop Violet Leaf Hair Balm
Aesop makes some of my all-time favorite fragrances, and lately its products have crept beyond the usual two spritzes on my wrists and T-shirt. Now it’s made their way straight onto my scalp—specifically, with their violet leaf hair balm. This balm is a lifesaver for dry, coarse, curly hair. It’s creamy and soft, silky yet hydrating, and it somehow manages to avoid the dreaded crunchy helmet-head look. Depending on my mood (or how late I am), I’ll work it into damp hair. All day, it keeps my curls looking alive and bouncy, but never locked in place like I just shellacked them with pomade.
The scent? Earthy, grounding, and oddly addictive—thanks to camellia nut and carrot root extract (yes, that faint orange tint is like your scalp eating its vegetables). Both smooth and condition while nourishing the scalp, while violet leaf oil brings natural antimicrobial powers. Shea butter steps in to deliver moisture without weighing me down. I usually scoop out a quarter-sized dollop—lightweight enough that my hair feels healthy and defined, but free enough that my curls still get to party.
Best Matte Balm: Le Labo Styling Concrete
Back in college, I went through a phase where I tried to rock the slick side-part look with Layrite, like some lost extra from The Outsiders. But I quickly came to terms with two hard truths: (1) my hair was not auditioning for Greaser of the Year, and (2) I’d sworn off high-shine products forever.
Thank goodness for Le Labo’s styling concrete. This stuff keeps my hair—and the occasional curl—in check without that greasy look, thanks to its matte finish. I can work it in after a trim while my hair’s still damp for a casual, messy vibe, or apply it dry if I want my hair locked in place until I hit the pillow. A pea-sized amount is all it takes—I warm it between my palms, run it through a couple times, and the tamed curls appear. The fragrance has Le Labo’s signature touches—tonka bean with a gourmand kick—while flaxseed oil keeps my hair hydrated and jojoba sneaks in to deliver that natural, non-greasy finish.
Easiest to Wash Out: Sachajuan Hair Wax
The Stockholm-based hair label has whipped up a hair wax that’s kind of like a less aggressive pomade—easier to wash out, and less stiff on the hold. The secret? Its trademarked Ocean Silk Technology is powered by two types of cold-water algae (yes, seaweed). The result: shine without the grease, strength without the crunch, and moisture without the mop look. It works on all hair types—short, long, or that confusing growing out phase in between.
Best for Hair Growth: Patricks M1
Most styling products are here to keep your hair in line or let you shape it however you please. Rarely do they also moonlight as hair-growth cheerleaders—but this one does. Patricks’ matte finish pomade manages to stay subtle while packing ingredients like capixyl, biochanin A, acetyl tetrapeptide-3, caffeine, sage, and rosemary to help promote hair growth and minimize hair loss. It even smells like vetiver—fancy but not overpowering. I only need a small dab to get the style I want, which is fortunate, because my hair and wallet both appreciate restraint.
Best for Fighting Humidity: Hairstory Hair Balm
Since 2015, New York–based haircare label Hairstory has been rewriting the book on cleaner, more sustainable shampoos, conditioners, and styling balms. Its balm in particular is a featherweight, leave-in conditioner that helps improve your hair’s natural texture without turning your head into a grease trap.
I’ve been using it during the awkward in-between phase of growing my hair out, and now that I’m rocking full curls, it keeps my dome moisturized without the sticky aftermath. The balm’s designed to be worked into damp hair and left to dry naturally—but if you’re chasing extra volume, rub it into dry hair and let it do its thing. The formula packs sunflower seed oil, primrose oil, and a mix of vegetable- and protein-based oils that hydrate and nourish without causing damage. And here’s a tip: a tiny dollop is all you need. Despite its light feel, the stuff sticks with you all day—in a good way.
Best Fragrance-Free Formula: California Naturals Daily Vitamin Hair Styler
I’ve long counted on California Naturals for some of the best sensitive-skin body washes out there; now they’ve gone and done it again with one of the best fragrance-free hair styling creams. Their daily vitamin hair styler is designed for all hair types, to refine shape, tame frizz, and actually strengthen your strands. The ingredient lineup reads like a wellness retreat for your scalp: jojoba seed oil to balance oils, sunflower seed wax to shield from heat, and vitamin B5 to keep things elastic and hydrated. What’s it feel like in your hair? That laid-back, salty-beachy vibe—like you just stepped off a surfboard, minus the sand in awkward places. It’s also gentle enough that even my toddler son can use it, and he rocks the tousled look better than I ever will.
Best for a Natural Look: Odele Cream Pomade
I’ve been riding with Odele’s shampoo and conditioner for a while now, so it only makes sense they’d round out the routine with a trusty cream pomade. This one’s a solid pick for folks with straight to wavy hair, though it’s friendly enough to style just about any hair type. It’s gentle, adds volume, and keeps things looking natural.
The formula is water-based (flexible hold) with a semi-matte finish. Inside the mix, you’ve got castor seed oil to lock in moisture, squalane to keep things soft, and carnauba wax to add a little grit and texture. I scoop out a dime-sized dollop, run it through my hair, and—I have texture without the crunch. It lasts all day, but still washes out easier than regret after a bad haircut.
The Affordable Pick: Malin+Goetz Sage Styling Cream
You won’t find a better styling cream at this price than Malin + Goetz. It’s flexible, versatile, and works on all hair types. Personally, I’m not into that blinding kind of shine. This cream gives you the good kind—the just-shampooed, freshly-conditioned, fresh alkaline kind of shine.
The formula blends sweet almond oil and shea butter to hydrate, while sage oil keeps things smelling natural. I usually scoop out about a thumb-sized dollop, run it through my hair, and let it work its magic. It’s lightweight, keeps frizz in check—especially when the heat tries to ruin my day—and gives my curls some extra definition without making them crunchy.