But it's stupendous for anyone with salt and pepper hair. It blackens the dark parts and turns the gray to a glistening silver. It's so good that it's spawned some copies that arrived on the scene after our introduction in 2003, including something called Sumotech from Estee Lauder-owned Bumble & Bumble that costs $28 for 1.5 ounces.

The biggest question we get is, "How is the styling cream different from the pomade?" The difference is that the styling cream is oil-based (the lanolin is an oil) and the pomade is water-based. That makes the styling cream thicker and goopier and it imparts an oilier look to the hair, while the pomade is lighter and while it gives a wet look to the hair, it isn't as oily-looking. Neither product provides a heck of a lot of hold (they're both better molders than holders) as we're not big proponents of helmet hair but the styling cream provides incrementally more hold than the pomade. Also, see Usage Instructions below for more tips.

Generally, this product seems to work best when applied to dry hair. Interestingly, the hair doesn't have to be clean, because if you want, you can go for that sexy, messy, dirty look. Or you can start with clean hair, up to you. The very important thing, and we really can't stress this enough, is to start with a very small amount of product. Just as with drugs and alcohol, you can always add more, but it's difficult to subtract. Take a small dab, maybe the size of a pea (or even half that amount of you have very little or ultra-fine hair) and put it in your palm. Now rub your hands together briskly to warm the product so that it's coating your palms completely in such a thin layer that it's almost imperceptible. Now's the tricky part. If you're one of those lucky creatures with thick luxuriant locks, well first of all, you could probably have started with a bit more product (but again, you can always add more later, using the same method), just run your hands over and through your hair, until all the product has been completely removed from your hands. If you like the effect, great. If you want more, go for it.

But if you're like some of us and have fine, thinning hair, it's critical to apply it so that you're maximizing volume rather than smashing everything down. So with your first approach, run your fingers and palms up and through your hair, starting at your forehead and working back to the base of your neck, rather than patting your palms down on the top of your head. This will put a lot of the product on the underside of your hair and sort of lift it up a bit. Now, on your next swipes, do the sides, and again, don't just smash things down but work your fingers and hands through the hair. By now, most of the product will be gone from your hands. Now, just move your hair around to where you want it to be with your fingers, using your hands to smooth it into place, avoiding the temptation to smash. This look is meant to be a little ruffled rather than ultra-groomed. If you need ultra-groomed, use a comb or brush. For an all-out special occasion: after washing and towel-drying your hair, apply styling gel and make sure to style or comb it in sort of an "up-do" so that when it dries, it will have "memory" of not just lying there flat (again, this advice is for those of us with volume-challenged hair). Wait for it to dry and when it does, break it with your fingers or a brush. Now apply the styling cream as directed above. You'll see that your hair has a lot more body and volume, the styling cream just emphasizes that happy effect, and all of a sudden you're a sex machine from hell.

lanolin, distilled water, isopropyl palmitate (from natural palm), caprylic/capric triglyceride (from coconut), PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil (trade name for natural castor oil), polysorbate 60 (food grade stabilizer), shea butter, coconut oil, sorbitan stearate (from fruit), stearic acid (from vegetable oil), beeswax, lavender, peppermint & rosemary essential oils, avocado oil, betaglucan (from plants), sorbic acid, magnesium sulfate (Epson salts), phenoxyethanol (preservative).

say it's unlike anything they've used before and has changed their whole look, that they get loads of compliments when no one used to notice their hair before, that their hair was always just "boring brown" but using it has brought out red highlights they never knew were there, that they may not have time/energy to use it every day but when they go out, they love feeling like they look the best/sexiest they can look

said they hate any kind of greasy feeling on their hair, that it didn't provide enough hold.