Walk into any department store or Miniso in Bali and you'll find an entire wall of men's hair products, each promising a slightly different texture, hold, and finish. Most of them are redundant. A few are genuinely useful.
After a decade of cutting men's hair in Canggu, here are the four products we consistently see work across the widest range of hair types and lengths.
1. Matte paste
The default. Matte paste is the most versatile product on this list and the one we'd recommend if you only buy one thing. It adds texture without shine, has a flexible hold that moves with your hair instead of freezing it, and washes out easily with a single shampoo.
Use it on damp or towel-dried hair for a softer result, or on fully dry hair for more definition. Work a pea-sized amount through the roots and style with your fingers rather than a comb.
2. Sea salt spray
Made for Canggu weather. Sea salt spray adds the kind of natural, slightly tousled texture your hair gets after a day at the beach — but without the salt residue that makes it brittle. Spritz two or three times into damp hair, scrunch lightly, and let it air dry.
It's also the fastest fix for helmet hair. A quick spray and a finger ruffle restores the shape without having to wash it again.
3. Lightweight hair oil (for longer hair and scalps)
If you have hair long enough to tie back, or a scalp that tends to dry out, a lightweight hair oil (jojoba, argan, or squalane-based) applied two or three times a week keeps the ends healthy and prevents the split-end frizz that shows up in humidity.
A drop rubbed into the scalp before bed is also a good habit if you're prone to dryness or flaking.
4. Hairspray (the light-hold one)
Ignore the rock-hard, high-shine hairsprays from the 90s. Modern light-hold hairspray is a finishing product — a quick mist once you're done styling locks in the shape for the day without making it feel crunchy.
It's optional for most people, but genuinely useful if you have a long day out, a photoshoot, or a wedding and you want the cut to hold.
The ones you can skip
- Gel. Too shiny, too hard, and nearly impossible to restyle during the day. Paste does the same job more naturally.
- Pomade (unless you specifically want a slicked-back wet look). Pomade has its place, but it's a niche product for a very specific style. Most people are better served by paste.
- Anything labelled "extreme hold" or "mega". If you need that much hold, the haircut probably wasn't right for your hair type in the first place.
Good products support a good haircut. They don't replace it. Start with a cut that works with your natural texture, then add the products that make the most sense for how you actually wear it.