Grooming – Layrite Pomade, Maestro’s Classic Beard Products

As cyclists, many of us have a tendency to obsess about things. Aero bits to reduce drag, cleaning and maintenance to keep our bikes in top condition, and shaving our legs are all part of a typical routine.

I’ve also found that my fellow cyclists take pride in their looks too. The premier barber shop here in Lancaster, PA, The Black Comb Barbers, has strong following of local cyclist among their clientele. The Black Comb specializes in traditional and modern style cuts and shaves, and has brought back the art of the straight razor to the area. It is here that I found three products I can’t do without, Layrite Pomades, and Maestro’s Classic Beard Wash and Beard Butter.

It was through a fellow cyclist that I found out about the Black Comb, and then later the Layrite and Maestro’s Classic products. My barber, Patrick Hatt, used Layrite’s Original Pomade to style my white walled business comb over at my first appointment, so I picked up a tub to try. I’ve used other pomades in the past, but they were always a pain to wash out in the shower. I never felt like I could get it all out, no matter how much I shampooed my hair. The Layrite pomade though, washes out very easily. Needless to say, I was hooked on the shop and Layrite.

I looked into Layrite more, and found they have an interesting story. They are barbers themselves, opening their first classic barber shop and shave parlor in Costa Mesa, California in 1999. The rockabilly shop hearkens back to the 1940’s, creating a meeting place for men to enjoy a fine hair cut and straight razor shave. As they grew, the greaser and rockabilly clients would come in with a head full of products, making it hard to give a quality cut. So the Layrite team decided to come up with their own pomade, blending their favorite features from many products they used into one. The original Layrite was born in 2001.

What’s great about all of their pomade products, is that they wash out easily. The thick gel pomade works easily in your hands, and spreads onto your hair well, providing a solid hold of wax, without being overly stiff and crunchy like gel can be. The hold can actually be customized, based on how wet your hair is when applying. Dry hair will give a stronger hold with less shine, while towel-dried hair will have a little less hold and a little more shine. The original has a medium shine once dried, giving you a polished look, without being too flashy.  Since it is a water based product, at the end of the day, just wash your hair as you normally would, and it all comes out.

Since then, Layrite has begun to develop more products, based on feedback from barber shops and customers. Each of these new pomades offers something different.

The Super Hold pretty much speaks for itself. For the days you want a little more hold, or more elaborate styles like a pompadour, this is the pomade you want. The extra hold comes from a water soluble beeswax. It won’t flake like gel will, and you can restyle it with a little bit of water on your hands or comb, though you will lose a little hold. If you want to race hard, but still have the swagger of Mario Cipollini afterwards, this is the pomade for you.

The Super Shine again, speaks for itself. When you want to look extra fancy on the podium, this one does the trick. Add it in to completely dry hair, and it holds almost as well as the Original, but has a killer shine. Wet hair will keep the shine, but it doesn’t hold nearly as well. The Super Shine does not dry, so you can restyle your hair as needed throughout the day with just a comb, without losing any of the hold.

The newest version, Cement, has just recently been released. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but it offers the flexibility of the Super Shine, without any shine. The hold should be around the Original, and allows you to restyle throughout the day as needed.

Now that you’ve got your hair right, it’s time to tackle that facial hair. Most cyclists prefer to keep a clean shaven look, but there are those like Luca Paolini (Katusha), Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky), Robert Marion (American Classic Pro Cycling), and Brett Richard (Co-Owner of Handlebar Mustache Apparel) that have learned about the extra watts you get from killer facial hair. Whether you prefer a full beard or a handlebar mustache, keeping it clean and styled is part of the look. Maestro’s Classics is all you need, for a beard at least. I’ll let Brett comment on his go-to mustache products.

Again, the guys at The Black Comb turned me on to the Bristol, PA company’s products. Just outside of Philadelphia in Bucks County, Maestro’s Classics is located in the cycling hotbed that extends from Philly to Lancaster, and up to Trexlertown, home of the Valley Preferred Cycling Center.

The beard wash is your first step, regardless of your facial hair. The wash helps to clean away any products and excess oils, while moisturizing and keeping it soft. It looks like similar to a shampoo, but as soon as you work it into a wet beard, it works into a super thick lather. Massage in through your facial hair, and then rinse. It’s that simple, and your significant other will thank you for it. No one wants a kiss a rough, scratchy beard.

After the wash, it’s time for the Maestro’s Classic Beard Butter. Scoop a little bit of the thick cream into your fingers, work it into your hands, and then start running your fingers through your beard, making sure to work it into the underbeard for those with longer, thick beards. It doesn’t leave your beard feeling oily like beard oils can, but instead, more soft, hydrated, and under control. It dries quickly, and keeps your beard soft and managed.

The beard wash and beard butter come in three different flavors, with another on the way soon. The Modest blend is fragrance free for a subtle smell. The Spirited blend, my favorite, has Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Juniper Berry, giving a fresh smell that perks you up. The Mark Of A Man blend features Grapefruit, Black Pepper and Bergamot notes, giving a more masculine smell. The newest scent, the Wiseman’s Blend, is said to have an aromatherapeutic experience with Cypress, Rose Wood, and Frankincense.

Layrite – Each product comes in 1 oz, 4 oz, and 32 oz sizes, giving you plenty of options.
Original – 4oz – $15
Super Hold – 4oz – $16
Super Shine – 4oz – $16
Cement – 4oz – $19
http://www.layrite.com

Maestro’s Classics – The Wash and Butter both come in two sizes, with blended sets and blended boxes available.
Wash – 4oz -$11-13, 8oz – $20-22
Beard Butter – 3oz – $11-13, 6oz – $20-22
Blended Sets – small sizes – $20-24, larger sizes – $38-42
http://www.maestrosclassic.com

Scott Kingsley

Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com

~Veggie Powered Athlete~

Location – Lancaster, PA

Current Testing Rigs – 2024 Van Dessel Arch65, 2019 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie, 2018 Van Dessel Motivus Maximus LTD, 2016 Van Dessel Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 2015 Bianchi Sempre Pro, 1978 Trek TX900

Dream Bike – I’ll tell you when they make it

Discipline – Cyclocross, gravel, road and duathlons (ride/run)

Favorite Rides – Quiet country roads of Amish Country, some of the best roads around.

Food of Choice – Sweet potato roll

Beer of Choice – Unibroue Grand Reserve 17, aged four years

Bourbon of Choice – Widow Jane 10 Year

www.teamkickass.org