Review of Sudsy Soapery Pomade
Short Version (this version was written after I realized how long the review had gotten): Is the Sudsy Soapery product ready for market? Absolutely…the product provides good hold which lasts all day and into the evening, it has a low to medium shine, and has a pleasant lemon/woodsy scent.
Long Version:
First of all, I would like to thank Sudsy Soapery (SS) for the opportunity to try their Pomade. Obviously, they didn’t have to do this but were searching for honest feedback in order to improve their product, if needed. I did receive a free sample in exchange for the review.
My experience with Pomades is limited. But I’ve been using them exclusively for a little over a year and have the following:
1. O’Douds (OD) Water-based
2. Port City (PC) Water-based
3. Murray’s Super Light (MSL) (ceased using)
Although my experience is limited, I have no plans to return to gels/spray/etc.
So what am I working with…hair-wise? I have a very thick head of hair which is generally cut short...maybe 1.5-3 inches on top. Keeping it short generally means it will stick up and look frizzy if I don’t apply a product.
This is my first review of a pomade and I simply based it on the following factors. They are listed in no particular order. I’ve been using the SS pomade for one week and each use has consisted of about half an almond-sized scoop.
Factors:
1. Texture – The texture is more gel-like than I was anticipating for a water-based pomade. The OD and PC tend have more of a clay-like texture. The SS texture falls between the OD and the MSL. Upon opening and feeling the SS for the first time, the texture was a concern for me as I generally relate the texture to how much Shine it may produce.
2. Shine – This is probably the most important factor for me and relates to how much shine the product gives your hair. This is also a very subjective factor as many will seek pomades which have a high shine. For me, I prefer a very low to no shine product. I prefer my hair to have a very natural look. This is also the factor which caused me to cease using MSL. But everyone is different and that’s a good thing. If I were to rate this factor, I would place the OD as a 1 (it gives nearly no shine once applied) and the MSL would be rated a 9 (again, very high shine which I don’t prefer). The SS pomade would be rated a 4. There is a shine to it, however, I consider it an acceptable and manageable shine.
3. Hold – I tested the Hold factor in several ways.
a. First, there are days I am behind a computer nearly all day. On these days, my only outdoor experience is walking to and from my car. I had a couple of days like this and the SS pomade held up extremely well. Later in the evening, I was able to “re-style” the hair and it still provided very good hold. I consider this “test” to be the very basic test for any pomade. If under a controlled environment the product doesn’t last all day, I would have concerns. I had no concerns with the SS pomade.
b. On a couple of days, I was able to be on the road most of day for inspections/appointments. On days like these, I prefer to have the windows down. Unfortunately, the past week has been unseasonably hot. I tried to at least have the windows down for 15 to 20 minutes each day. Days like this are important for me as the wind has a tendency to cause my hair to “stand up”. With the SS version, I did notice the “stand up” was a little less pronounced. Also, I keep a small brush in the car so my hair doesn’t look “spiked” when I arrive for an appointment. I was able to easily re-style in these instances. Under these conditions, I would rate the hold as Very Good.
c. The last test for hold is based in conjunction with Wash-ability. I have noticed with my other pomades that after washing my hair, there can still be some “hold” leftover. It is not significant but I’ve noticed that I can wash my hair, apply no product, and still be able to brush my hair into a manageable style. It doesn’t look great but it’s acceptable even I just have to run to the store or be in the office all day. When I ran this test with the SS, I did notice a little less hold. To me, that is an indication the product is being washed out better than the other pomades. This was surprising to me as I assumed a more jelly-like substance would require more washing.
4. Longevity of Hold – The product does exactly what it is intended to do and provides good hold throughout the day and evening. If your hair gets messed-up, it easily allows for re-styling.
5. Wash-ability – The product washes out easily. Based on my last test for Hold, I would rate this as my most “washable’ pomade. SS also provided a sample of a shampoo bar. I only used it once prior to writing this review and I would say it worked as well as other shampoo bars I’ve tried.
6. Scent – To quote Ulysses Everett McGill from O Brother, Where Out Thou…”I like the smell of my hair treatment; the pleasing odor is half the point”. To me, the SS scent is a lemon/woodsy type scent. The lemon scent definitely comes through but it tends to be toned downed with a cedarwood or patchouli type scent. It is relatively similar to the scent of OD but with a more pronounced citrus scent. The scent really opens up when working the dollop of pomade in your hands. This is a very subjective factor as well. But for me, I really enjoy the SS scent…and that’s half the point, right
7. Scent Strength – I would rate the strength as a 5. When applying the product, it is a good strong scent. However, not long after application, the scent fades away. I will get whiffs of the scent for up to an hour after getting ready but have not yet noticed the scent after a few hours.
8. Ingredients – This is an important factor for many people as they would prefer to not have chemicals in their hair or on their body. Honestly, I had never cared about it until I started using more natural-ingredient products (ie body soap, shampoo bars, shaving soap). The SS pomade is made all-natural products.
9. Value for Price: This is an unknown factor since, as of the date of this review, SS has not yet quoted a price on their website. However, when I first started researching pomades, I was a taken aback at the prices. Generally, a 3-4 oz jar is priced in the $15-20 range. I initially thought that was expensive as I had been paying around $5 for gels. But since the pomades don’t require much to provide a good hold, I have found that 3-4 oz jar can easily last a year or more.
Overall Conclusion:
I believe the intent of Sudsy Soapery’s offering was to get honest feedback so they could make any alterations, if necessary. A lot of the factors I reviewed are subjective. One person may like high shine whereas another prefers low shine. Scent and Scent-strength will also depend heavily on one’s preference. These are factors that SS, or any other company, will never be able to make everyone happy. But I included them as I think they are important factors which many people will consider when weighing the decision to purchase.
The only factors SS might consider altering would be the texture, shine, wash-ability and hold. For me personally, I was initially concerned with the texture but after using the product for a week, I have no problem with the texture. It was simply matter of getting used to it. Again, I would prefer a little less shine but I like the fact that it’s not too strong. The product washes out easily and provides good hold all day long and into the evening. The product easily works into and out of your hair and, personally, I don’t think there is anything that needs to be altered.
Is the Sudsy Soapery product ready for market? And, more importantly, would I purchase it? It’s my opinion that the product is ready to be offered for sale. The question as to whether I would purchase it is more difficult to answer. In terms of performance, there is no reason as to why I wouldn’t purchase it. It has a very pleasing scent and is a pleasure to work into my hair. Although I was able to easily get over the Texture factor, the Shine factor is still my main concern. Again, this is VERY subjective. Everyone has their own preference. However, if I ever decided I wanted a product with higher shine…I’m definitely purchasing the Sudsy Soapery pomade.
I found that it washed out easily (and fully) and I had zero issues with caking or flaking. No hard hat either, as it was quite pliable after it dried. Getting my hands wet and running through my hair reactivated it nicely later in the day. I put some on and went to an outdoor wedding, and the strong breeze did blow my hair around a bit, so it you are looking for a heavier hold, something else might be appropriate. 
