Is Murray's Pomade bad for your hair? Not on its own. Murray's Pomade is a classic oil-based styling product, and used sensibly it will not damage healthy hair. The real issues come from how it is used: heavy daily layering, applying it to the scalp, and not washing it out properly. Because it is built on petrolatum and beeswax, it clings to hair and can trap sweat, dead skin and other product against the scalp if you let it build up. Keep the amounts small, keep it off the scalp, and cleanse it out fully, and Murray's is a perfectly reasonable styling choice for slick, high-hold looks.

What is Murray's Pomade?

Murray's Superior Pomade first appeared in 1925 and has barely changed since. It is a firm, waxy, oil-based pomade designed for high-shine, strong-hold styles: slick backs, pompadours, side parts and waves. A small tin lasts a long time because a little goes a long way. Its staying power is exactly why it became a barbershop staple, and also why it needs a bit of know-how to use without problems.

The key thing to understand is that Murray's is an oil-based pomade, not a water-based one. Oil and water do not mix, so the same quality that keeps your style locked in through a humid day is what makes the product stubborn to rinse out. That single fact explains almost every pro and con below.

What is Murray's Pomade made of?

To judge whether it suits your hair, it helps to know what is actually in the tin. The formula is short and old-fashioned:

Petrolatum (petroleum jelly)

The main ingredient. It coats each strand, delivers that glassy shine and holds the shape. Petrolatum is inert and sits on top of the hair rather than soaking in, which is why it resists water and why it can seal buildup against the scalp if overapplied.

Beeswax and mineral oil

Beeswax adds firmness and grip so the style holds; mineral oil keeps the paste pliable and adds slip and shine. Both are occlusive, meaning they form a barrier film. Helpful for hold, but they collect on the hair over time if you do not cleanse thoroughly.

Fragrance

Added for that recognisable classic scent. For most people this is harmless, but a fragrance blend is one of the more common triggers for a sensitive or reactive scalp.

Is Murray's Pomade actually bad for your hair?

Here is the honest answer: the pomade itself is not inherently damaging to the hair shaft. Petrolatum and wax do not chemically attack hair the way harsh bleach or high heat can. What causes trouble is the environment heavy pomade creates at the scalp, and the aggressive washing some people use to get it out. Let us separate the genuine concerns from the myths.

Product buildup

This is the real one. Because oil-based pomade does not rinse away with water, it accumulates on the hair and scalp. Layered day after day without a proper wash, it mixes with sweat, sebum and dead skin cells. The result is dull, heavy, greasy-looking hair and, on the scalp, clogged follicles and sometimes bumps or spots along the hairline. This is cosmetic and reversible, but it is genuinely worth avoiding.

Difficult removal and over-washing

Struggling to rinse pomade out, many people wash two or three times with a stripping shampoo. Ironically, that can do more harm than the pomade: repeated harsh washing strips the hair's natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle. The fix is technique, not force (see the wash method below).

Scalp irritation

Applying heavy pomade directly to the scalp, plus the fragrance, can irritate sensitive skin. If you notice itching, redness or flaking, that is your cue to keep the product on the mid-lengths and ends only, and to choose a gentler formula.

Water-based vs oil-based pomade: which is better for your hair?

Most of the "is pomade bad for you" worry disappears when you match the type to your needs. Here is how Murray's classic oil-based formula compares with a modern water-based pomade.

Neither is "bad". Oil-based wins on hold and shine; water-based wins on convenience and low buildup. If you love the Murray's finish, keep it and just cleanse properly. If you style daily and hate the wash routine, a water-based pomade is the easier long-term habit.

How do you wash Murray's Pomade out of your hair?

Removing oil-based pomade is all about emulsifying the oil before you add water. Do it this way and you avoid both stubborn residue and over-washing:

1. Apply shampoo to dry or barely damp hair first. Massage an oil-cutting shampoo into the pomade before wetting it. The surfactants bind the grease when they are not diluted by water.
2. Work it into a paste, then add a little warm water and keep massaging so it emulsifies into a milky lather.
3. Rinse and repeat only if needed. Usually one thorough wash plus a quick second pass clears it. Avoid three or four aggressive washes.
4. Follow with a conditioner or a weekly mask to put moisture back and keep the hair soft and manageable.

For the cleansing step, a sulfate-free growth shampoo is a smart pick because it lifts oil and buildup without the harsh stripping that leaves hair dry.

Watermans Grow Me® Shampoo

A sulfate-free daily shampoo with Biotin, Caffeine, Rosemary, Niacinamide and Argan Oil. It cleans away pomade, oil and buildup while being gentle enough for frequent use, so you can style with pomade and still keep the scalp fresh and the hair looking fuller. Vegan and made in the UK.

Shop Grow Me Shampoo

How should you use Murray's Pomade the right way?

Get the application right and most downsides never appear. A simple routine:

• Start small. Scoop a pea-sized amount, warm it between your palms until it turns clear and slick, then work it through.
• Keep it off the scalp. Apply to the mid-lengths and ends where the style lives, not the roots.
• Style on towel-dry or dry hair for the classic Murray's finish, or slightly damp hair for a softer set.
• Do not sleep in it night after night. Wash it out before bed on most days so it does not transfer to your pillow and back onto your scalp.
• Give your hair rest days with no product, or a lighter water-based styler, so the scalp can breathe.

What are the best alternatives to Murray's Pomade?

If you decide Murray's is too heavy or too much of a wash chore, you have good options. Water-based pomades and clays give hold with easier removal. And if your priority is keeping the hair itself healthy under whatever you style with, a nourishing hair oil doubles as a light styling aid and a conditioning treatment.

Camellia & Black Castor Hair & Body Oil

A lightweight multi-use oil with Black Castor and Camellia Oil plus Omega 3, 6 and 9. Use a couple of drops to tame frizz and add natural, non-greasy shine, or as a pre-wash treatment to condition hair you style often. A gentler way to get sheen without heavy wax buildup.

Shop the Hair & Body Oil

How do you repair hair after heavy pomade use?

If months of daily pomade have left your hair looking dull and feeling dry, the recovery plan is simple: clarify, then rehydrate. A thorough oil-cutting wash resets the buildup, and a weekly deep-conditioning mask restores softness and shine to the strands themselves.

Masque Me® Hair Mask

An 8-in-1 deep conditioning mask with Rosemary, Provitamin B5, Argan Oil and Vitamin E. Use it once a week after clarifying to rehydrate hair that heavy styling has left dry, and to bring back softness and a healthy-looking shine. Vegan and cruelty-free.

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For more on cleansing habits and keeping buildup down, see our guides on whether classic shampoos like Prell are bad for your hair, protecting your hair from chlorine and hard tap water, and whether it is OK to wet your hair every day. If thinning is your underlying worry, read our explainer on what causes pattern hair loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Murray's Pomade cause hair loss?

No, not directly. Pomade does not cause hereditary hair loss, which is driven by genetics and the hormone DHT. Very heavy buildup can irritate the scalp and make thinning look worse temporarily, so keep the product off the scalp and cleanse well.

Is it safe to use Murray's Pomade every day?

You can use it daily as long as you wash it out properly and do not apply it to the scalp. To be kind to your hair, alternate with rest days or a lighter water-based styler and use a weekly conditioning mask.

Why is Murray's Pomade so hard to wash out?

Because it is oil-based. Oil repels water, so plain rinsing does not work. Apply an oil-cutting shampoo to dry hair first, work it into a paste, then add water to emulsify and rinse.

Does Murray's Pomade clog your pores?

It can if you apply it to the scalp and let it build up, which may cause bumps or spots along the hairline. Keeping it on the mid-lengths and ends and washing regularly prevents this.

Is oil-based or water-based pomade better for your hair?

Neither is harmful. Oil-based gives stronger hold and higher shine but needs a proper wash. Water-based rinses out easily and builds up less, which suits daily styling and sensitive scalps.

What is the best way to remove pomade buildup?

Use a clarifying or sulfate-free oil-cutting shampoo on dry hair, emulsify, rinse, and follow with a conditioner or mask. Avoid three or four harsh washes, which strip natural oils and dry the hair.

Can I use pomade if my hair is thinning?

Yes. Choose a lighter, water-based product, apply it to the lengths not the scalp, and keep the scalp clean. Pomade will not accelerate genuine hair loss, though a matte, low-shine finish tends to look fuller on fine hair.

Does pomade damage the hair shaft?

No. Petrolatum and wax sit on the surface and do not chemically damage hair the way bleach or high heat can. Any dullness is buildup, which washes away, not permanent damage.