Men’s hair styling products have never been more diverse. If you’re deep into grooming, you already know the mainstays like wax (and its cousins: clay, cream, paste), pomade, and gel. But there’s more beyond that - pre-styling sprays, sea salt sprays, hair oils, and a whole host of other products you might not even have discovered yet. It's no longer just women’s grooming that’s complex - men’s haircare has caught up.
Today, we’re spotlighting two under-the-radar “assistants” from Reuzel: Grooming Tonic and Hair Tonic.
Grooming Tonic
Think of Grooming Tonic as your pre-styling secret weapon, best used before blow-drying and before your main styling product like pomade or wax. When I first gave it a go, two things stood out. First, it’s not a spray like the Sidekick by By Vilain - it’s got a classic pour-out cap with a small opening. This old-school approach is surprisingly economical! Sprays may seem more convenient, but you lose a lot of product in the air as you spritz from a distance. With Grooming Tonic, you control exactly how much you use, and not a drop is wasted.
Second, the scent - man, it’s incredible. A subtle mix of apple and mint, classic Reuzel.
I use it like any other pre-styler, spreading it evenly through my hair before blow-drying. You can apply it to either damp or dry hair. After a quick blow-dry, my hair looks naturally voluminous, not dry or sticky. It creates the perfect “base” to apply your pomade or wax.
Even better, the fresh scent sticks around after blow-drying. While Reuzel doesn’t specifically claim Grooming Tonic offers heat protection, it sure feels like it does since I barely feel the heat from the dryer when it’s in my hair.
Hair Tonic
This one comes in a sleek blue bottle, similar to the Grooming Tonic’s design but with a whole different purpose. Hair Tonic is aimed at barbers, though we can easily incorporate it into our daily routine.
If you’re familiar with Schorem, the legendary Dutch barbershop where Reuzel was born, you’ll know they’re big on traditional barbering methods. They don’t wash clients’ hair before cutting it, believing freshly washed hair is too soft and lacks its natural structure. Hair Tonic provides the solution - a product that moistens hair and offers light hold, making it easier to cut and style.
For personal use, Hair Tonic works great to refresh your style. Let’s say you styled your hair with pomade in the morning, but by the evening, it’s lost some of its hold. Instead of reapplying pomade and pulling at your hair again, a quick splash of Hair Tonic revitalizes your look without the hassle.
Stored in the fridge overnight (as recommended), Hair Tonic feels like a cool blast when applied in the morning - like an icy wake-up for your scalp! Its scent is fresh, clean, and a little reminiscent of the classic CK One cologne. It adds a light hold and a subtle shine, without that heavy, greasy pomade look.
Whether you're starting your day or prepping for a night out, these Reuzel tonics will keep your hair game strong.
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