You know, I read that further studies found the worries about parabens were unfounded, they're actually safe. I'll see if I can find a link on it...
I'm not finding exactly what I remember reading, but here are a couple things on it: Chicago Tribune FDA
That's cool. I think we're going to keep hunting for paraben-free products. We've found the quality to way surpass that of normal Target/Walmart products that contain them. Our high-quality shaving products don't have them or need them, nor do high quality lotions and balms. We only live once. The more we can minimize use of products on a range from being questionable to harmful sounds good to me .
I just started using Old Spice Spiffy. I like how it controls without being shiny, or too slicked down.
I use Dapper Dan pomade or Walgreens brand hair putty. I used Brylcreem for the first time today. That stuff stinks. It smells like a musty basement to my nose. I hated the scent so much that I washed it out of my hair with dish soap, regular shampoo, and then put Dapper Dan in my hair.
I have brylcream I use from time to time. Mine smells like lemon. Didn't smell great. But not unbearable. I've been using Royal Crown pomade with a touch of Murrays lately.
"Dax Wave and Groom Hair Dress made especially for short hair," as the tin states. There's several YouTube reviews/demos if you're interested. I've had one can for about two years and it's still ~80% full. It's a pomade but doesn't advertise itself as such. Good stuff.
I might have to get used to Brylcreem. The scent was also really strong and overpowering. Dapper Dan doesn't overpower and that's what I love about it besides the hold it gives along with the medium shine. An old barber put Murray's in my hair once. I think I liked it, but I didn't pay much attention.
Murrays is like concrete at first until you get a good pomade buildup. The oils start coming out of it a few days later. I've put too much in before trying to get strong hold and man it was greasy later. Now I do a base moisturizing build with royal crown. Just use the Murrays on the pomped up front of my hair.
Dax and Murray's are virtually identical. I used Dax for many years when I lived in Michigan. When I moved to NC, I couldn't find it here, so I switched to Murray's. It was a painless transition. I eventually grew my hair on top into a longer '40s style and wanted something looser, so I switched to Royal Crown. Then I switched to Vaseline. Seriously. It was great. And now for the last few years I keep my hair cropped very short. I go to the barber and have a part cut into it. Then I use tonic to have the ability to comb it to the side. I usually use Vitalis and Jeri's in rotation, but I just bought Pinaud Quinine and Lucky Tiger. They are good also. It's funny having four different products to use to part my one inch long hair.
The scent on the Brylcreem is a touch of lemon + lanolin. It does take getting used to, but I didn't think it was too bad. But, everyone's nose is different. It may help to shake the tube up before dispensing product; sometimes the cream separates if it's been sitting a while.
I'll give it another chance, but initial impressions are not good. I do like how my hair feels when it has Brylcreem in it though. I still like my Dapper Dan Pomade though.