People with short to medium-length hair who want a strong, defined style with a shiny finish, such as spikes, height or a slicked, sculpted look. It is an everyday retail styling product that needs no professional application. If you prefer a matte or natural finish, a low-shine cream such as D:Struct is a better match.

Most creams trade hold for softness. This one goes the other way: beeswax and two styling polymers give it the grip of a firm paste and a high shine, while conditioning ingredients help keep hair from drying out under that much hold. It suits styles that need to look the same at the end of the day as they did in the morning.

1. Take a dime-sized amount and rub it between your hands.
2. Run your hands through your hair from the roots up for maximum strength and hold.
3. Twist individual strands to spike them, or to touch up and keep volume through the day.

The hold is the reason to buy it: it keeps height and spikes in place on short and medium hair where a medium hold cream would drop, and it can be retouched during the day by twisting pieces back into shape. The high shine gives a polished, wet-look finish.

The same strength and shine are the drawbacks if you want a soft, natural look: the finish is clearly visible, and on longer hair the weight of an extreme hold cream can make it harder to keep volume. Start with a small amount, since too much can look greasy.