Headgains is a Vancouver-made brand built around a simple but underserved idea: that men's hair products should do more than just style. Working alongside leading chemists, the brand developed their proprietary HGPM (Headgains Preventative Maintenance) Formula - nine naturally derived, science-backed ingredients chosen specifically for their role in combating hair loss and supporting the maintenance of existing hair. The result is a range of high-performance styling products that look after your hair every time you use them, not just when you remember to take a supplement.
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Hold: Medium-Firm (7/10)
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Finish: Natural Matte (1/10)
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Base: Wax-based (water-soluble)
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Scent: Woody, aromatic, and slightly smoky with green undertones - the Headgains signature
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Best For: Short to medium hair; textured crops, quiffs, and natural-looking styles where volume and definition are the goal
Best Head Paste is Headgains' texture-first styler - the one you reach for when you want your hair to look genuinely fuller, more defined, and effortlessly styled without any shine getting in the way. The medium-firm hold gives you enough grip to shape and structure without locking the hair into place rigidly, and the natural matte finish means the result looks like your hair at its best rather than your hair with product in it. Apply it to dry hair for maximum texture, volume, and hold, or work it through damp hair for a softer, more flexible finish with a slightly more natural look. What sets it apart from a standard styling paste is what's working underneath the style - the HGPM Formula's three-part approach to hair health, built around ingredients that target DHT, promote scalp circulation, and strengthen existing hair strands every single day.
Who's It For
Best Head Paste is for anyone with short to medium hair who wants genuine texture and volume without shine, and who doesn't mind their styling product quietly doing something useful for their hair health in the background. It works across most hair types, but it earns its keep most on fine or thinning hair where the thickening and volumizing benefits of the HGPM Formula make a visible difference over time. If you want a more polished, slicked-back look with a higher-shine finish, the Headgains Big Slick Pomade is the better pick from the range.
Key Benefits
- Medium-firm hold (7/10) with genuine reworkability - the wax base gives structure and grip without going stiff, so you can reshape throughout the day without starting over.
- Beeswax and PEG-8 Beeswax work together to provide a flexible, humidity-resistant hold while coating and smoothing the hair shaft for a consistent, even finish.
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Silica derived from Bamboo adds visible body and thickness to the hair, making strands appear fuller and more substantial - particularly noticeable on fine or thinning hair.
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Panthenol (Vitamin B5) penetrates the hair shaft and root to strengthen follicles, soothe the scalp, and actively support hair thickening and growth from the inside out.
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Rosemary Leaf Extract stimulates blood circulation to the scalp, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles to promote healthy growth and reduce inflammation.
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Saw Palmetto and Pumpkin Seed Oil target DHT — the hormone primarily responsible for hair loss in men — by inhibiting the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, helping to slow hair loss at the source.
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Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) increases blood flow to the scalp, improving hair density, thickness, and overall appearance over time with consistent use.
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Green Tea Extract (Camellia Sinensis) reinforces the DHT-targeting approach, acting as an anti-inflammatory agent while boosting scalp circulation for a healthier follicular environment.
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Salicylic Acid reduces sebum on the scalp - sebum carries high concentrations of DHT, so keeping it in check further supports the formula's hair-loss prevention work.
- Natural matte finish means zero shine and a completely undone, touchable result that works as well in a professional setting as it does on a weekend.
How To Use
Scoop out one knuckle's worth and rub between your palms until the paste warms and becomes tacky - this step is important with wax-based formulas, so don't rush it. For maximum texture, volume, and hold, work through dry hair starting at the roots and distribute evenly through to the ends, then style with your fingers or a comb. For a softer, more natural finish with flexible hold, apply to towel-dried damp hair instead. Add a second scoop if your hair is on the longer or denser side, and blow dry for added volume before or after application.
Why MASC Recommends This
Best Head Paste is the product we reach for when someone wants their hair to look thicker and more defined without looking like they've done anything to it - that effortless, just-good-hair-day result that's actually quite hard to achieve. The matte finish is genuinely natural rather than flat, and the medium-firm hold is forgiving enough for daily use without feeling like your hair is locked in place. What really makes this one worth talking about is the HGPM Formula doing its work underneath every style - if you're going to put something in your hair every day anyway, it may as well be actively working for you. A smart, purposeful product from a brand that's doing something genuinely different in the Canadian grooming space.
