The team behind Imperial Barber Products spent a combined 30 years working in barbershops across Los Angeles, London, and New York City before putting their name on a single product. That background shaped everything - the insistence on cosmetic-grade ingredients, the focus on genuine performance over marketing claims, and the decision to test every formula on real clients before releasing it. The result is a range that barbers actually reach for, not just stock.
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Hold: Medium (6/10)
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Finish: High Shine (8/10)
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Base: Water-based (water-soluble)
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Scent: Clean and fresh
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Best For: All hair types and lengths; textured, piecey, and bed-head styles; slickbacks; anyone who needs a product that resets easily throughout the day
If Classic Pomade is Imperial's heavyweight, Fiber Pomade is its all-rounder. Where Classic locks styles in with maximum grip and minimal shine, Fiber flips the equation - medium hold, high shine, and a pliability that makes it one of the most versatile products in the lineup. The defining feature is the extra-long custom texture fibers, which are noticeably more exaggerated than the fibers found in a typical fiber grease. These give the hair genuine separation, thickness, and a pulled-apart texture that lighter creams and standard pomades can't replicate. VP/VA Copolymer provides a flexible hold structure that keeps hair in place without stiffening, while Mica and Titanium Dioxide are responsible for the high, reflective shine that makes this the go-to for anyone chasing a polished, wet-look finish. Petrolatum contributes a conditioning smoothness to the formula that enhances the shine and adds slip during application. Applied to towel-dried damp hair it delivers that classic slicked-back high-shine look; applied to drier hair it leans more textured and piecey. Either way, a few drops of water is all it takes to reactivate and restyle from scratch.
Who's It For
Fiber Pomade works across all hair types and is one of the few products in the Imperial lineup that genuinely suits everyone from fine to thick, short to medium-long. It's particularly well suited to anyone who wants a high-shine finish with real texture and separation rather than a flat, slicked look. The exceptional reworkability makes it ideal for people who restyle throughout the day - commuters, anyone who wears a helmet, or anyone whose hair needs a reset between morning and evening. For maximum hold with less shine, Classic Pomade is the stronger option. For zero shine and a more natural look, the Matte Pomade Paste is the better fit.
Key Benefits
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Medium, pliable hold (6/10) that keeps hair in shape without locking it rigidly - VP/VA Copolymer builds a flexible polymer structure that holds while staying soft and reworkable all day.
- Extra-long custom texture fibers are more exaggerated than a standard fiber grease, creating genuine separation, piecey definition, and thickness that lighter products simply can't deliver.
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High shine (8/10) finish is driven by Mica and Titanium Dioxide, which reflect light evenly across the hair for a polished, wet-look result that holds its gleam throughout the day.
- Petrolatum adds a smooth, conditioning quality to the formula, enhancing shine and providing slip during application without the heaviness of a traditional petroleum-based grease.
- PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps distribute the formula evenly through the hair, ensuring a consistent finish from root to tip without clumping or uneven texture.
- Shine and hold are adjustable based on hair dampness - damp hair gives a higher shine and a slightly softer hold, while drier hair shifts toward more texture and definition.
- Water-reactivatable formula resets with just a few drops of water, making it ideal for helmets, hats, or any situation where hair needs a mid-day restart without reapplying.
- Works across all hair types and lengths - one of the most universally applicable products in the Imperial range.
- Fully water-soluble and rinses out cleanly with no residue or buildup at the end of the day.
- Vegan-friendly and paraben-free.
- Not tested on animals - all Imperial products are tested on the team themselves and on barbershop clients to ensure real-world performance.
How To Use
Scoop out one knuckle's worth and work between your palms until evenly distributed. Apply to towel-dried damp hair for best results - start at the roots and work through to the ends, then style with a comb for a slicked-back look or use your fingers for a more textured, piecey finish. For more shine, apply to slightly wetter hair, but avoid applying to soaking wet hair as it will significantly reduce hold. To restyle mid-day, add a small amount of water to your palms and work back through the hair - the formula reactivates easily and gives a fresh result without needing to reapply. For added volume and strength, use a small amount of Imperial Gel Pomade as a base first, blow dry, then finish with Fiber on top.
Why MASC Recommends This
Fiber Pomade earns the all-rounder title honestly. It's the product we'd hand to someone who isn't sure where to start with Imperial's range, because it works well on almost any hair type and covers a wide enough territory between hold and shine to suit most everyday styles. The reworkability is genuinely impressive - a quick splash of water and your hair resets completely, which is a bigger practical advantage than it sounds if you're going from the gym to the office or pulling off a helmet on a regular basis. If Classic is your hold-first product, Fiber is your everyday go-to.
