If you’re as young as me (*ehemm*), you may be lucky enough to have a grandfather who introduced you to the secret world of men’s hairstyling. Not giving away all the secrets mind you, but letting you sit and watch as he readied himself for a day at the shops, running a comb through his shiny hair before returning it to his top pocket. There was no one hour hair dryer action and touch ups of spray tans, these daily mirror rituals were the stuff that my Hollywood heroes were made of.
What I saw as I watched my grandfather do his hair, was a moment fast disappearing in time. A time when men use that marvellous stuff, pomade, to give them the slick, shiny look that had once set a beaux’s heart racing.
The word “pomade” in English is derived from French, pommade, meaning “an ointment”. The root word is the Italian “pom” meaning “apple” because the original ointment recipe contained mashed apples. So don’t get confused and rub this stuff into your apples, cause its not going to do them any good!
The first popular commercially made pomades were Royal Crown Hair Dressing and Murray’s Superior Pomade, and who can forget the fabulous Brylcream ( I swear by the stuff). The problem though, is that these gems (and the skills of their proper application) have been all but lost by the wayside, only accessible to those committed souls who go searching them out.
Finding a good old fashioned pomade hasn’t been the easiest thing for chaps for quite some time. With the advent of all the wax-y, gel-y, stick ‘em up until they crack products out there, the romance of the old has been pushed the dusty back shelf. But some canny friends of mine, with killer hair, are bringing back old school pomade and making men swoon worthy again.
Images from left to right: Johnny Cash, Gene Kelly, High Life Pomade, Folding comb, High Life moustache wax, Scotty Baker, Atomic Life.
Atomic Life, operating out of Sydney, understand that the road to successfully bringing back the romance of the past is all about getting to the heart and soul of it. I spoke to co-founder, Paul “Squizzy” Taylor about how how he and co-founder Ben Livingstone made Atomic Life happen.
“We started just over a year ago when Ben met Adam Dorsett (Mr High Life) at the Tattoo Expo in 2010. We then met Adam again at Viva 2010, and got talking to him about pomade. We thought about making our own, but realised we like High Life so much that we should try and bring it into the country. So we had a chat to Adam (and of course our wives), and the fruits of Atomic Life was born.
We decided that our focus should remain old school and for the rockabilly bloke, seeing that ladies were catered for quite well. Our first market was at the Rock n Roll Markets in Tempe in October 2011. From there we’ve traveled across Sydney, up the north coast to events at Brisbane, Port Macquarie, and Taree, and are now making our first trip to Melbourne.We then decided to contact Prison Blue as we both wore their jeans, and they were happy for us to bring their stock in too.
We have since expanded our pomade importation to include Cock Grease, and are also looking at some other favourites to bring in. We’re also looking at getting our own pomade made too which is very exciting. So our focus like I said is about old school rockabilly….think jeans, hanes tee’s, pomade, and a Pendleton and you’re pretty much there. Both Ben and I think it’s important though not to just go out and use the scene for our own profit, but to actually support to scene in terms of getting out to gigs, and supporting all of our friends that make the scene what it is… That’s what it’s all about.”
While we ladies have an arsenal of grooming products at our disposal, a gentleman’s shaving cabinet appears sparse in comparison. How very fortunate for them; and their hip pockets. But if you’re man’s toilette is so sparse that it only contains a worn down disposable razor and a bottle of Brut; then I suggest you stage an intervention!
With Movember now in full swing, I’m pleased to finally have the opportunity to introduce Mr SKM to Atomic Life. He has graciously (and astonishingly) offered to go the “Full Poiroit” for Movember, and I’m hoping to reward the end of the month with some High Life Stach Wax – moustache wax, in an attempt to see it remain.
So I’m hoping, that with an army of wily Christmas elves to fill stockings around the country with pomade and suggestive notes, that 2012 will be the year of the well groomed man.
