Sometimes hair has a mind of its own. You know the days. Wake up, jump in the shower, go through the routine, and, no matter what, the wig just won’t cooperate. Those are the days when you reach for something a little more powerful with a little more control. Some have described it as “Viagra for hair.” Let’s just say when you need to keep things a little more erect, hair clay is the way to go. And, unlike gel, it doesn’t offer a crunchy consistency and, unlike the opposite end of the spectrum, pomade, hair clay an anti-shine, matte finish. Use when styling that messy but away-from-the-forehead look.
Best Hair Clay for Men
Aveda Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay
Aveda set the bar for corporate environmental responsibility and using the very best natural ingredients back in 1978. This grooming clay offers a strong hold with a matte finish. Warm it up a little in your hands and apply to dry or damp hair. Lightweight micro-fibers provide the control you need, just style with a comb or your fingers. Aveda’s “pure-fume” aroma includes kunzea (a spicy, woodsy-smelling plant from Australia and Tasmania), citrus, and certified organic essential oils of spearmint, vetiver, and lavender.
Other Great Hair Clay Options
Baxter of California Clay Pomade
Baxter has been caring for men’s hair and skin since 1965, and every product is tried and tested at the Baxter + Finley Barber + Shop in Los Angeles, the land of good hair. This pomade, a previous Grooming Award winner, delivers a strong, pliable hold with a matte finish, all day long. It’s infused with natural ingredients like beeswax, fennel oil, and sage oil. Consider mixing it with some of Baxter’s other pomades for specific styles, like the Hard Water Pomade to add extra shine.
Layrite Cement Clay
Layrite’s founder, Donnie Hawley, was seeking perfection for his barbering clients back in 1999 when most traditional styling products were petroleum-based and wouldn’t rinse out. Hawley created a water-soluble pomade and, after one of his clients proclaimed it the only thing that made his hair “lay rite,” the legend was born. Another of Hawley’s innovations, Cement Clay, offers a super-strong hold with a great matte finish that lasts all day, and, of course, washes out easily. It also features a mild cream soda scent.
Rudy’s Clay Pomade
Another barbershop-based solution, Seattle-based Rudy’s has been around since 1993. Rely on Rudy’s Clay Pomade for body, volume, and texture that lasts all day. Great for hard-to-style fine hair or stubborn coarse locks, this pomade includes bentonite clay for a strong hold; macadamia, sage, and soybean oils to nurture, condition, and add humidity resistance; vitamin E for healthy hair growth; and beeswax to seal in moisture and smooth hair.
Jack Black Clay Pomade
Jack Black specializes in creating skin and hair care products that are luxurious and effective, and developed just for men. The brand’s massive selection truly keeps us covered from head to toe. Its clay pomade offers buildable control with a matte finish. Ingredients include natural oils like tea tree leaf as an antioxidant to soothe and reduce irritation; sage leaf extract for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits; and lavender for its antibacterial, deodorizing, and soothing properties.
Wise Glacier Clay Pomade
The Canadians know a thing or two about being environmentally friendly. Wise, based in Quebec, packages its natural, healthy, and cruelty-free product in reusable glass jars that’ll look great on your dresser, along with the added benefit that it is refillable! This pomade is made from organic glacial clay from northern British Columbia and is imbued with beneficial minerals, as well as shea butter, cacao butter, and coconut oil for moisturization, along with sandalwood, clary sage, and vetiver grass essential oils for their healing properties and fresh, earthy scent.
