Best Hair Clay | Budget Edition

I’m putting four products to the test to find out which one is the best hair clay on a budget.

All the clays are readily available on the high street or online and are priced at less than £5/$7 each.

Hair clay is one product type that I think every guy should own. It’s so versatile and is perfect for a casual slick back or for something more formal.

Some of my favourite clays include Hanz de Fuko’s Claymation and Fish’s Stonefish Clay, but I really wanted to try different products whilst keeping the budget super-low.

I’m reviewing

• got2b iStylers Texture Clay
• VO5 Extreme Style Matt Clay
• Shockwaves Messy – Matt Clay
• Lynx Natural Look Styling Clay (Lynx is called Axe in the USA)

Criteria

Whilst using the hair clays, I’m looking for something…

1. Easy to apply;
2. with a firm – yet maleable – hold;
3. with a matte finish.

got2b iStylers Texture Clay

• £3.00
• Spongy texture (not like a clay)
• Smells like chemicals
• Sticky
• Saturated the hair

Using got2b

VO5 Extreme Style Matt Clay

• £4.19
• Solid product
• Not much of a fragrance
• Easy to apply
• Easy to style
• Matte finish

Shockwaves Messy – Matt Clay

• £2.85
• Creamy texture
• Very fragrant
• Easy to apply
• Dries too quickly in the hair – whilst styling
• Gives hair body

Lynx Natural Look Styling Clay

• £4.29
• Solid product
• Masculine fragrance
• Easy to apply
• Very quick to use
• Natural finish

The best hair clay

I instantly binned the got2b product. It left my hair sticky and uncontrollable.

Although I really like the finish of Shockwaves Messy, I’d say it was more of a cream than a clay.

It was a tight call between VO5’s Extreme Style Matt Clay and Lynx’s Natural Look Styling Clay. I was really impressed with both of them and I’d definitely use them again.

It all came down to the ease of use. So, the winner is Lynx! 

The Lynx product was by far the easiest to use. It went straight into my hair without fuss and gave me great hold and the perfect matte finish.