Pomade is tricky because some of them have a petroleum base, and they're really hard to smoothe. There's a tendency to glob it in. They key is to find one that's primarily water base. You should warm it up in your fingers and then you kind of work it through. The warmth of your hands will help stretch the curl out.
Brushes create frizz.
When you use your hand, it keeps the soem of the hair clumped together, and you get it about 98 percent dry and go back with a paddle brush and just smoothe the edges out.