ADVERTISEMENT
The 10 Best Low-Hold Hair Stylers for Men: Expert-Tested Products for Natural Definition
These stylers make it look effortless. They're lightweight, low hold, but ever reliable.
by Adam Hurly
Jun 12, 2025
Thank you for using our links to make your purchases. All products featured are selected for editorial purposes, and are not sponsored placements. Any purchases made with our links may help us earn an affiliate commission, including but not limited to Amazon’s Associate Program. If possible, please prioritize brands’ own websites when they are provided by us.
The best low-hold hair stylers for men make it look easy; they do more with less. Many are “barely there” once applied. They more or less just help hair styles look intentional, and maybe add a pinch of texture, control, and/or shine.
Most people can tell if you’re not using any hair styler, and unless you’re buzzed or bald, then it’s kind of the equivalent of wearing pajamas to work instead of proper trousers. In short: A low-hold product is the perfect finishing touch.
Here are the primary types of low-hold stylers out there and the best in each category (of the hundreds if not thousands of products we’ve tested in the past decade). I’ve ordered the list by the amount of shine (or lack thereof) that they provide. Remember, every brand will label its products differently, so this is the most general framework for how these products perform.
MORE HAIR STYLER ARTICLES:
For Low Hold, No Shine: Texturizing Powders and Sprays
Standalone texturizing powders and sprays are so lightweight that they barely qualify as a styler. In fact, most are really just dry shampoo, which soaks up oil at the scalp and helps lift and define the hair. But in doing so, these products are technically helping build a style. Only apply these products to dry hair, since they’re powder-based and will result in pasty clumping if applying to damp hair. Use them on the mornings that you don’t shampoo, and when hair is a little too grimey. Always shampoo the night after using hair texturizers, to avoid buildup and fungal proliferation on the scalp.
TRY THESE:
Slick Gorilla Hair Styling Powder: This invisible powder is your secret weapon for that “I woke up like this” texture. It adds grit and volume without anyone knowing you used product.
Sachajuan Volume Powder / Dark Volume Powder: Think of this as the Scandinavian minimalist’s approach to volume: clean, weightless, and impossibly effective at creating that casual lift that looks like you just ran your fingers through beach-dried hair. And, you can get it in two different colors—the usual white powder for light-colored hair, and a darker mix for brown and black hair.
For Low Hold, Natural Shine: Salt Spray
Salt sprays add lightweight texture and definition to medium and longer styles; they’re often called surfer sprays since they emulate the casual coolness of someone whose hair got tousled in the swell all morning.
TRY THESE:
Brightside Salt & Clay Surf Spray: Brightside’s hybrid marries the best of sea salt spray with clay’s grip. This gives you that post-surf texture without the stiff crunch, ideal for guys who want movement with just a whisper of control.
Billy Jealousy Devil’s Delight Sea Salt Spray: This salt spray delivers that perfect balance of texture and flexibility, giving you that coveted definition without looking like you tried too hard.
The Newsletter: Subscribe to Blue Print by Adam Hurly
The best grooming gadgets, new products, gift guides, and game-changing advice—all inside our free newsletter. (Plus occasional big-ticket giveaways, too!)
For Low Hold, Medium Shine: Hair Cream
Use hair cream in medium or longer styles for a barely-there fold, with enough weight to counter the wind. It’s even more effective when applied wet, at which point it starts teetering into light-medium-hold territory. I like using it in short hair too, as a finishing detail to keep hair from looking frizzy.
TRY THESE:
Church California Coastal Creme Pomade: A natural formula with spongy texture, this creamy pomade gives you that laid-back shine and flexible hold.
Highland Glacial Cream: Nordic minimalism in a jar. A lightweight cream that provides just enough structure for natural-looking styles while keeping hair soft and touchable.
Davines Love Smoothing Perfector: This frizz tamer adds subtle definition without compromising movement, perfect for the guy who’s growing his hair out, or whose strands are too thick or coarse to style without first smoothing down hair’s cuticles.
Fellow Styling Cream: Fellow’s cream delivers refined control without the weight, perfect for business casual looks that transition seamlessly from boardroom to barstool.
Low Hold, High Shine: Hair Oil or Hair Lotion
A couple drops of hair oil can amp up the shine without making things look grimey, and tame stray hairs in the process. I even like adding a drop or two to other stylers if I want them to provide a pinch more polish.
As for shine lotion, this is more likely for medium or longer styles, but it gives you some serious smoothness and eye-catching brilliance while remaining soft and touchable. It’s great for weighing down flyaways, too.
TRY THESE:
Bevel 3-in-1 Hair Oil: The multitasker nourishes, conditions, and lightly styles in one step, providing subtle control without the heaviness of traditional products.
R+Co Waterfall Moisture + Shine Lotion: R+Co’s hydrating lotion delivers eye-catching shine while providing barely-there hold. It’s for the guy who wants his hair to look healthy and polished without any stiffness or residue.
See Also:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
More from Blue Print by Adam Hurly:
