Redken Brews NZ: Men's Hair, Sorted (Queenstown Stylist Guide)

Most blokes don't want a routine — they want one product that does the job. Redken Brews is built exactly for that, and the three pomades cover almost every men's style you'd actually ask for.

We use Brews on the floor at Crew every week. It's straightforward, it performs, and you only need to pick the right finish. Here's the honest rundown by what you're going for.

The three to know, by finish

• Maneuver (Cream Pomade) — medium hold, natural-to-low shine. The everyday all-rounder for classic, combed, tidy looks. If you're not sure where to start, start here.
• OutPlay (Texture Pomade) — flexible hold with grip and a touch of shine. Good for textured, lived-in styles you want to restyle through the day.
• Work Hard (Molding Paste) — strong, workable hold with a more matte finish for defined, structured styles. The one for thicker hair or a look that has to hold all day.

How to use it so it actually looks good

• Use less than you think. Scoop a small amount, warm it between your palms until it goes clear, then work it through evenly. You can always add more.
• Towel-dry first. Pomades and pastes grip best in damp-to-dry hair, not soaking wet.
• Want it to look thicker? Go matte — Work Hard sits better on fine hair than a shiny pomade, which can show the scalp.
• Style from the back forward and finish the fringe last, when there's the least product left on your hands.

Queenstown reality check

Our climate swings — dry alpine days, wind off the lake, then humidity in summer. A stronger hold (Work Hard) earns its keep on the windy days; a flexible one (OutPlay) is better if you're in and out of a helmet, a beanie or the gym. Most guys end up with two: an everyday and a big-night one.

After a fresh cut to build the style on? Book in with the Crew team and we'll set you up with the right one for your hair.

New here? Use code MYSTERY11 for 11% off your first order (min $59). Free NZ shipping over $79. Genuine salon Redken, shipped from Crew Stylists in Queenstown.