Monkey Hands White is the gentlest version, designed for people with naturally dry hands who don’t sweat much and don’t need strong drying. It does not contain silica, so it doesn’t work like classic chalk. Instead, it creates a thin, transparent film that improves friction and includes skin-friendly ingredients that help keep your hands comfortable. It’s the best choice if you want light grip support without risking over-dryness.

The Blue version works well for people with moderate hand perspiration who want a balance between drying and skin care. It contains silica and alcohol (for drying) plus propanediol and ferment (for skin comfort). As a result, your hands feel dry but not overly dried out. Blue contains no resin, so it provides clean, dry friction without tackiness.

Monkey Hands Red is the classic, simple formula based on alcohol and silica. It’s intended for people with light to moderate sweating who want a quick “dry hands” effect. It works fast, but the effect can be shorter because the product may saturate with sweat. It often performs best during shorter sessions.

Green combines the Red-style drying effect with additional ingredients. Besides alcohol and silica, it contains rosin, which adds a light tacky feel and stabilizes the grip, plus propanediol and ferment for skin comfort. This makes it last longer, work better for moderate to heavy sweating and, in practice, it is often considered more universal and stronger than the Red version.

Black is designed for very sweaty hands and intense training. It contains alcohol and silica (strong drying) plus glycerin and a botanical extract to help protect the skin from over-drying. That’s why it tends to provide a more stable, longer-lasting grip than Red while remaining more comfortable for frequent use. It’s ideal for people training regularly who need reliable grip.

Most Monkey Hands versions do not leave white marks on the pole. The exception can be the Green version with rosin, which creates a slightly sticky film and may leave more stubborn residue. This is also why some pole studios do not allow the Green version during classes—if it dries on the pole, it can take more effort to remove.

Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before application. Use a small amount—“less is more” works best here. A key detail: apply it when your hands are already warm (after the warm-up). Do not layer a new coat on top of an already used layer, because then the grip stops working. If the grip weakens, wash and dry your hands and reapply from scratch.

The difference is in how you apply and activate the product. Monkey Hands is applied after the warm-up, when your hands are warm. Sahara works the other way around—it’s applied before warm-up and activates as your hands heat up during training. Each option fits a different routine and preference.

Green contains rosin, which—besides drying—adds tackiness to stabilize the grip. The other versions work mainly like classic chalk due to silica and alcohol. Depending on how the silica is modified and what additional ingredients are used, the variants differ in strength and how long the effect lasts.

Traditional chalk (often based on magnesium carbonate and/or alcohol) mainly works by aggressive drying—absorbing moisture but also strongly drying the skin, which can irritate with frequent use. Monkey Hands is a hybrid grip: depending on the version, it may dry, create a thin friction film, or add light tackiness. This often gives a more stable effect with less risk of over-drying.

Most commonly it’s incorrect application: using too much product, applying to wet or cold hands, or layering a new coat on top of a used layer that is already saturated with sweat. Monkey Hands works by absorbing moisture—once it can’t absorb any more, it stops working. That’s why washing and drying your hands before reapplying is essential. Choosing the right variant for your skin type also matters, because everyone reacts differently to sweat, metal and temperature.

It is best removed with isopropyl alcohol or acetone. Wipe the pole with a dedicated cleaner and wash your hands with soap and water. You can also use a dedicated pole cleaning spray.