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Best Hair Clay

Updated: Jan 27, 2024 1:50 PM
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After more than 14 hours of research, our top pick goes to the Hanz de Fuko Claymation as the best hair clay you can buy today. This natural hair clay combines clay and wax for a strong, pliable hold. Its natural ingredients use a combination of castor seed, jojoba, lemon peel, and mallow flower extracts to help strengthen hair. It has also won numerous awards from style publications such as GQ Magazine. Styling hair clay is one of the bathroom essentials that you can use to define short, choppy cuts, as well as keep your hair looking stunning.

The best hair clay could mean the difference between a sculpted, gorgeous mane of hair and sloppy affair. Our evaluation focused on natural ingredients, hold (light, medium, high), shiny vs. matte finish, awards & accolades, and scent. We also carefully considered the manufacturing method with a nod to cruelty, GMO, and paraben-free production. Keep reading to learn more about the Hanz de Fuko Claymation and five others that made the grade.

Top 6 Best Hair Clays

 #1  Hanz de Fuko Claymation

Award: TOP PICK

WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best men’s hair clay, using clay and wax infused with natural ingredients for a super high hold and medium shine.

Pros
  • Best men’s
  • Strong, pliable hold
  • Long two-year shelf life
Cons
  • Not the best option for slicking hair back
  • May be a little too greasy for thinner hair

We love this natural hair clay’s ingredients, consisting of castor seed, jojoba, lemon peel, and mallow flower extracts to moisturize, eliminate oil, and provide blood circulation to the scalp. It is equally effective on wavy, thin, and thick hair, helping achieve a super high hold that gives hair increased fullness with a stronger, more pliable hold. It is also semi-matte, evenly split between a sheen and natural look.

Related: To comfortably groom your brows, or apply eyeliners, use the best foldable makeup vanity mirror.

This hair styling clay is very easy to use. simply add a pea-sized amount to your fingers and spread it evenly throughout your hair, stroking upwards or downwards depending on what style you want. It comes hard out of the container, so we recommend warming it up with the hands before applying. It also doesn’t carry a scent, so your regular cologne or aftershave won’t be distracted from. All you’ll need is the best hair gel for men to make hair styling easy in the morning.

 #2  Hair Craft Co. Hair Clay

Award: HONORABLE MENTION

WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best unscented hair clay, featuring a matte finish and medium hold for texturing shorter hair.

Pros
  • Best for short hair
  • Best budget
  • Long-lasting formula & used natural ingredients
Cons
  • May feel too sticky for some people
  • Hard to dig fingers into clay
  • Not as effective with thin hair

We love this hair styling clay for added thickness, building texture that is very notable with shorter hair. It comes in a matte finish and medium hold, giving the hair a “dull sheen” without appearing greasy. Bonus points for its earth-based ingredients free of chemicals or harmful additives. Specifically, it uses bentonite clay, which is rich in nutrients and helps prevent flaking.

While researching using several dabs, this hair clay offered great holding power. Our hair’s overall texture and hold did not evaporate over the course of an entire day outdoors. We are even very confident using this with active sports. For your facial hair, consider an electric shaver too.

 #3  Hair Dough Hair Clay

Award: BEST RINSING

WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best water-based hair clay, making it a great choice for people who want something that is easy to rinse out.

Pros
  • Very strong hold
  • Best budget
  • Great on thick and curly hair
Cons
  • Not as effective on wet hair
  • Some users reported more of a medium hold
  • Harder to spread in hair than gel

We especially like this hair clay for thick and curly hair, offering a strong matte hold that holds up all day, even in hot weather and while playing sports. Although we like how it textures thick and curly hair, it works well with all hairstyles, including straight, long, and wavy.

Related: To create smooth and silky hair, while eliminating frizz, use the best hair dryer.

This hair clay is also easy to apply, using a flexible wax that loosens up quickly and spreads easily using the fingers. Being as it is water-based, it leaves no shine or greasy residue and soft enough to rinse out easily. Smell is also akin to a light scent of berries and citrus, not overpowering at all. Kudos for being cruelty-free, which means no animal testing occurred at any point during the manufacturing process. Add the best electric toothbrush to your morning routine, and you’ll be ready to start your day.

 #4  BluMaan Cavalier Men’s Hair Clay

Award: BEST NATURAL

WHY WE LIKE IT: This men’s hair clay comes with 5 organic oils for more of a revitalizing effect, great for people who want to build stronger and faster-growing hair.

Pros
  • Builds strong hair
  • 5 organic oils for hair repair
  • GMO, paraben, and cruelty-free
Cons
  • Harder to rinse off
  • Some users did not like the smell

Thanks to organic ingredients, this hair clay can help your hair heal, provided it’s damaged. No harm if it isn’t. It contains a mix of amino acid blends, quinoa protein, and organic orange oil which help repair and strengthen damaged hair. It also works well on dry hair, giving it a lot more of a silky feel. As for hold, it is strong along with a matte finish for a non-greasy looking, softer and warmer look. Its smell also offers subtle hints of coconut and beeswax – definitely a lot less “fruity” than our #3 pick Hair Dough Hair Clay and our #6 pick Baxter of California Hair Clay.

Kudos for being cruelty-free, GMO, and paraben-free. It has never been tested on animals nor processed with genetically modified ingredients (e.g. canola in some soaps and detergents) which is common in plant-derived hair products. Parabens are also a form of synthetic chemical that acts as preservative for hair styling products, known to cause health defects. With your hair looking great, you may to pick up the best water flosser too.

 #5  Baxter of California Hair Clay

Award: BEST FOR HAIR GROWTH

WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best clay pomade for thin hair, infused with beeswax, making it a great choice for people who want improved hair growth.

Pros
  • Good for all hair types
  • All-day lasting firm hold
  • ses beeswax to promote hair growth
Cons
  • Not as easy to wash out
  • Natural and ethically sourced ingredients
  • High cost

We love this hair clay’s infusion of natural ingredients, such as fennel, lemon peel, and sage oils which help condition the hair. Plus, Baxter of California clay contains beeswax which has also been proven to promote hair growth and it performs on all hair types. This hair clay’s scent is reminiscent of pine, which is subtle and does not overwhelm, strong at first and dissipating throughout the day. Kudos for its distinction as the best hair wax by Details Magazine in May 2012 and a Men’s Health Grooming Award for Best Styling Product.

This hair grooming clay provides a strong, firm hold with a matte finish, which leaves no shine or greasy feeling. It is also easy to apply, easy to work on the fingers and palms, spread easily throughout the hair unlike our #2 pick Hair Craft Clay, consisting of a harder clay that takes time to “warm up.” If you’re looking for the perfect birthday gift for your wife or girlfriend, consider looking into the best lighted makeup mirror too.

 #6  Seven Potions Hair Clay For Men

Award: BEST FRAGRANCE

WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best Seven Potions hair clay, great for people who prefer a high hold, matte finish using completely safe ingredients, and non-overpowering synthetic fragrances.

Pros
  • Very pleasant scent
  • All natural ingredients
  • Paraben, colorant, and cruelty-free
Cons
  • Flowery smell may be too ‘girlish’ for some
  • Greasy/sticky feel

This hair clay holds exceptionally well under high heat and the elements. High hold keeps your hair firmly in place with a matte, natural look free of grease, invoking more of an “out of bed” styling. We also love this hair clay’s fragrance, which resembles a musky citrus aroma that is neither too subtle or too overpowering.

Kudos for being paraben, colorant, and cruelty-free. Colorants and parabens are harmful chemical additives used as a preservative which has been known to cause health defects. It also does not include any synthetic fragrances which can cause noise irritation with some people. You’ll love this hair clay so much, it’ll be added to your bathroom essentials in no time.

How We Decided

In determining the best hair clay to buy, we explored natural ingredients, hold, shiny vs. matte finish, and scent. Our favorite hair clays are chemical-free and contain nearly all-natural ingredients such as lemon peel, sage oils, quinoa protein, and other organic stuff that help infuse strength into the hair. Pay close attention to beeswax, which is revered for its binding properties that bring ingredients together and improve hair texture.

Points go to cruelty and paraben-free products, which vouch for the absence of animal testing and chemical preservatives that are known to disrupt hormone function. Our #4 pick BluMaan Cavalier Men’s Hair Clay is exemplary for this reason, made using five different organic, natural oils with a cruelty-free, GMO, and paraben-free formula.

As for hold, there are mainly three – light, medium, and strong. We recommended light holds for short hair, medium holds for medium length hair, and strong holders for longer hair since there is more room for strands to hold in place. However, this is not a hard and fast rule. Most of our picks are strong holds that can work with all styles.

We carefully evaluated shiny vs. matte finish. Most offer a matte finish, which is synonymous with a less sheen and more natural, “rolling out of bed” look. It also gives off a softer and warmer tone than shiny clay.

Scent is also very important. We prefer hair clays that have subtle but not overpowering scents.

Other popular brands include Smooth Viking’s Hair Styling Clay – a strong hold, matte finish clay made from a non-greasy beeswax, castor oil, and soybean formula.  Plus, Pure-Performance Grooming Clay for men from Aveda. To discover the perfect hair clay, don’t let us or anyone else stop you from looking online at customer reviews for the most popular brands in today’s market!

Best Hair Clays Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

  1. Natural Ingredients
    We are big fans of natural ingredients such as organic oils and extracts that help infuse strength into hair. Our #4 pick BluMaan Cavalier Men’s Hair Clay is a great example of this, with five different organic oils, as well as our #1 pick Hanz de Fuko with its awesome castor seed, jojoba, lemon peel, and mallow flower extract blend.
  2. Hold
    Hold comes in three strengths – light, medium, and strong. Stronger holds work best for longer and thicker hair (holding longer strands of hair in place) than light and medium hold clays. Strong hold clays also tend to last much longer and hold better with sweat and heat.
  3. Shiny vs. Matte Finish
    Hair clays generally come in a clay/wax hybrid (medium shine) like the Hanz de Fuko Claymation or matte (low) finish. Matte finishes provide more of a natural look with no greasy or shiny feel. They also make hair look softer and warmer than clay/wax or pure wax.
  4. Scent
    Look for scents that are subtle and not overpowering. Of the list, our favorite is the citrusy Baxter of California with a lemon peel infusion that is very pleasant, strong at first and fading over time.

Best Hair Clay Questions (FAQ)

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