Challenger Matte Cream Pomade - 90ml - Medium Firm Hold - Water Based, Clean & Subtle Scent, Travel Friendly. Hair Wax, Fibre, Clay, Paste, Styling Cream All In One

5/5 My husband has used this hair gel for years and we have it on a subscribe and save we order it that often! Hair gel provides a good hold but is not too stiff and does not leave hair feeling hard/crunchy or sticky. Gel also smells good and is perfect as a guy's hair product. Hair gel lasts throughout the day without having to reapply. My husband's hair is slightly curly and thick and the hair product works great. Product comes in container that is the perfect size for both home use and traveling.

I normally have used American Crew Fiber for my longer hair (just beyond covering my ears in length) and I've used it since I was basically in high school (10+ years) because it worked better than the Axe and Old Spice products available at the time. I don't like how non-pliable and hard AC is and I usually have to water it down to get it throughout my hair thoroughly even when it's damp. I tried a couple new products throughout the past couple weeks and Challenger is by far the best of them. This cream has a very spreadable pudding-like texture which not only makes it super easy to spread on your hands and through your scalp but it actually has a really strong hold too- deceivingly so. The scent of the cream is very subtle and not overly musky or anything. I also didn't mind the AC scent either but this one is less noticeable, which may or may not be a selling point. Normally I just use hair creams to pull my hair back and keep it back and within a couple hours AC and the other new creams I tried lost integrity and my hair started to wilt or have a mind of it's own. So far with all my uses, even when it's been hot out and I've been sweating the Challenger holds up for hours. I also noticed this cream doesn't bleed onto your forehead after long periods like some other creams do. If you have longer hair and are trying to do something crazy like getting it to stand up on end, this honestly might do the trick but I don't know if I'd try my luck, but for what I do, which is mostly slicking a large volume of hair back, it works great. A big gripe I've been seeing in the reviews- the price. Obviously this isn't your cheapest option but it is better than AC in my opinion and about the same price, so it's not outrageous or anything and I will say I have tried more expensive creams that did not work as well or just as well for nearly double the price. For the money, I am very pleased with this product and it is one of those things where I would recommend buying the smallest size and trying it out if you're not completely confident.

While I prefer sumotech for my purposes, the Challenger matte paste is a suitable lower cost alternative. My mildly curly hair is between 1-2” on top for the first 2-3 weeks after a cut, and it’s nice to style it with a paste until the curls get too unwieldy. I prefer the effortless look of a matte finish. Challenger is a thick cream that spreads easy and is easy to work through your hair. It has a bit of a sticky texture to it and makes my hair easy to shape. It smells like the salon to me, which isn’t preferable but not bad. My hair had a mild shine after applying, but running my hand through my hair eliminated the shine, and over time it looked perfectly matte. Medium-firm is an accurate description. It’s not firm enough to keep my hair from curling just a bit but my hair isn’t going anywhere. Longer hair might be susceptible to some wind but it seems easy to reshape if needed. I liked the look of my hair with it. Overall, I prefer sumotech. It’s a firmer hold, it’s extremely matte, and scentless, but comparing the 1.5 oz size of each, it is not $17 better than challenger’s. I’m happy with this find!

I was looking for a matte finish, medium hold product to replace a discontinued one from Sally’s Beauty Supply called, “Beyond the Zone - Super Sexy”, and while the two are not alike I think this is a very good product for guys who want minimal sheen and strong hold. I’m deducting one star because it's advertised as “cream pomade” when really it has the consistency of a firm, waxy puddy, and as a result it is not as easy to work through and texturize hair as much as a softer “cream” (which was the beauty of the other product I mentioned). One other nitpick is that it leaves your hair stiffer than you might think the next day, whereas other products I’ve tried soften over time and give you almost the same shape/style the next day without the heavy product feel. If you like the feel of a matte finish clay I recommend trying this because it is a quality product, and if you like a softer/creamier feel I would keep looking.

It has a matte finish and holds hair well but it’s difficult to run your fingers through your hair with this product. If you are just looking for a strong hold and matte finish this will do the trick - but I need something a bit softer.