Three products account for most of what American Crew sells, and most of the confusion. Fiber, Pomade and Forming Cream look similar in the tub and behave nothing alike on the head. This guide separates them properly, then tells you what to do if none of the three is quite right.
Everything named here is currently stocked in the American Crew collection at ProHair.ca. We carry the core Canadian range rather than every SKU American Crew makes worldwide — if something you have seen elsewhere is not on this page, ask us and we will tell you honestly whether we can source it.
Why American Crew?
American Crew was founded in 1994 to give men the same quality of professional grooming products women already had in salons. Before it existed, men's grooming was a neglected corner of professional beauty. The products are formulated around men's hair texture, scalp and styling habits — short to mid-length cuts, styled quickly, expected to hold through a working day — and the brand is distributed through salons and barbershops in more than 60 countries. Fiber and the classic Pomade are still best-sellers decades after launch, which tells you most of what you need to know about the formulation.
The three-way comparison
| Fiber | Pomade | Forming Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hold | Medium, very high grip | Strong | Medium, buildable |
| Finish | Matte | Glossy | Natural |
| Texture in the tub | Dense and tacky | Firm and waxy | Soft cream |
| Apply to | Dry hair only | Damp for slickest, dry for softer | Damp or dry |
| Built for | Short to mid-length hair that needs to hold a spiky or heavily textured shape all day | Side parts, slick backs and traditional barbershop finishes | Almost any hair type and length — the forgiving option |
| Watch out for | Feels heavy and clumps in longer or finer hair | The shine is deliberate — it will read as wet | Not enough hold for a hard set |
| Sizes stocked | 50 g · 85 g | 50 g · 85 g | 50 g · 85 g |
Fiber
The product American Crew is known for. It is dense, tacky and high-grip — designed for hair that needs to hold visible texture all day with almost no shine. Rub a small amount between dry palms until it warms and thins, then work it through dry hair. Applying it to wet hair kills the grip, which is the single most common way people get a disappointing result from it.
Best for: short to mid-length cuts, textured crops, spiky or piecey looks, hair that is thick enough to fight back.
If it feels too heavy: Fiber Cream is the same grip in a cream base that actually spreads. That is the version for longer or finer hair.
Pomade
The classic: firm, glossy, unmistakably a pomade. Apply to damp hair for the wettest, slickest look and the strongest set, or to dry hair for a softer, more workable finish with the same shine. It is water-based, so it rinses out with ordinary shampoo rather than needing a solvent.
Best for: side parts, slick backs, traditional barbershop finishes, any style where the shine is the point.
If it gives up by lunchtime: Heavy Hold Pomade is the firmest and glossiest in the family, built for thick coarse hair. If you want to rework the style during the day: Cream Pomade stays pliable, so you can push a side part back at 4 p.m. without reloading product.
Forming Cream
The most forgiving styler in the range and the honest answer to "I do not know what I need". Medium, buildable hold with a natural finish that never looks wet or crunchy, and it works on nearly every hair type and length. Add a little for control on a short cut, more for a longer one.
Best for: a first American Crew purchase, wavy hair, anyone who wants their hair to look like hair rather than like a hairstyle.
If none of the three is right
- You want matte but more separation than hold → Defining Paste. Built for breaking a solid mass into visible pieces, and it reworks through the day.
- You want matte and your hair runs oily → Matte Clay or Molding Clay. The clay base absorbs surface oil, so it reads cleaner than a cream.
- You want a hard, combed set → Firm Hold Styling Gel. Damp hair, comb the shape, done — and it re-activates with water.
- Your hair is fine and everything flattens it → Boost Powder at the roots and Whip through the lengths.
- Your hair is longer and needs smoothing → Grooming Cream: light hold, genuine shine, spreads without clumping.
- You want to spray rather than scoop → Medium Hold Spray Gel for control, or Alternator Finishing Spray to add grit and set a finished style.
- You want body before you style → Light Hold Texture Lotion into towel-dried hair, then blow-dry.
Beyond styling
Washing. Daily Moisturizing Shampoo is the everyday option — gentle enough for daily use without leaving hair stripped. 3-in-1 and 3-in-1 Tea Tree cover shampoo, conditioning and body wash in one bottle, the tea tree version with a cooler scent and a scalp tingle. Detox Shampoo is the weekly reset for clay, pomade and hard-water build-up, and it is deliberately not a daily product.
Shaving. Ultra Gliding Shave Oil before the blade to stop the drag that causes razor burn, Precision Shave Gel during because it goes on translucent so you can see the line you are cutting, Revitalizing Toner after to calm the skin.
Beard. Beard Foam Cleanser to wash without stripping, Beard Serum to soften wiry hair, Beard Balm to shape it, and 2-in-1 Skin Moisturizer & Beard Conditioner for the skin underneath — where most beard problems actually start.
Frequently asked
Which one should I buy first?
Forming Cream. It is medium and buildable, the finish is natural, and it works on nearly every hair type. Once you know whether you want more grip or more shine than it gives, Fiber and Pomade are the two directions to move in.
Can I use more than one at a time?
Yes, and it usually works better than loading up on one. A light base into towel-dried hair — Light Hold Texture Lotion or Whip — then blow-dry for direction, then Fiber or Matte Clay on the dry surface for grip and finish. You end up using less product overall.
Do these wash out?
The gels and pomades are water-based and rinse with ordinary shampoo. Clays and Fiber are grippier by design and leave residue over time — that is what Detox Shampoo is for, once or twice a week.
Is American Crew only for men?
The products are formulated for men's hair and skin, but nothing in the range is gender-restricted in use. Plenty of people with short cuts of any gender use the clays and pomades.
Do you carry the whole American Crew catalogue?
No, and we would rather say so. We stock the core Canadian range — the styling products barbers actually reach for, the daily and 3-in-1 shampoos, and the shave and beard line. We do not currently carry a separate conditioner or the men's colour system. If you need something you cannot see on the collection page, contact us and we will tell you whether we can source it.
The short version
- Fiber — texture and grip, no shine, dry hair, short to mid-length.
- Pomade — strong hold and gloss, damp hair, slick and combed styles.
- Forming Cream — buildable and natural, works on almost anything, the safe first buy.
More American Crew guides
- The hold and shine chart — every styler placed on a hold × finish grid.
- By hair type — fine, thick, wavy, curly, short and long.
- By concern — flat hair, build-up, dryness, beard problems, razor burn.
- Building a routine — cleanse, prep, style, finish.
- The brand overview — families, sizes, and what we do not stock.
Shop American Crew at ProHair.ca → Free shipping on orders over $120.