A long time ago, I remember trailing a friend of mine as she desperately tried to replace a newly discontinued lipstick."What’s the big deal? Why don’t you just try a new brand?" I said. "There are like 50 million lipsticks out there.""That’s the trouble," she replied. "Each one feels different, smells different and looks different. You can’t just find an exact replacement." As I learned that day, rolling through department store counters takes a lot of time, and drugstore brands are gambles because you can’t open them … it just went downhill from there.I was reminded of this when Ulta stopped carrying my favorite brand of pomade: It was only $5, worked great, had a matte finish without a strong scent. Now I’m the one on the hunt for a replacement. Some of the contenders are after the jump.Back when I lived in Colorado, my previous go-to product had been Frederic Fekkai Pomade Cristal ($18.50), a sheer water-based pomade that leaves hair amazingly soft, considering the hold, with lots of shine. Although it’s tried and true, I decided it was worth it to try some others, just to see what’s out there. (And when I decide I need it, I can find it at Sephora or Neiman Marcus.)My favorite thing about Davines Glossy Plasteline ($22.50) — well, besides the fact it says "for wizards" on the lid, which makes me think of Harry Potter — is its supersoft consistency. Although it’s categorized as an extra-hold wax, there’s nothing waxy about the way it feels, either on your hands or in your hair. And the scent is inviting without being overpowering.When you want something that holds like H-E-double toothpicks, it’s time to haul out the big guns: Redken Concrete ($12.95). Here’s the odd thing: It dispenses like a cream (which means you can’t sculpt or define too well with it), but when it dries, there’s a reason it’s called "cement paste." Find the closest salon that sells Redken products at www.redken.com or by calling (800) 733-5368 (handy mnemonic: REDKEN-8).And by the way, my friend did end up finding an exact match for her discontinued lipstick — more specifically, she had it custom-blended. Send Three Custom Color a dime-sized smidgen of your favorite shade and brand — or if you remember the name, they might have it on file already — and they’ll match the formulation and shade. More information: www.threecustom.com.

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