The Best Hair Styling Clays
We compared six hair styling clays on owner ratings, expert reviews, and price. AVEDA Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay is our top pick for its strong hold and matte finish.
Updated
The bottom line
AVEDA Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay is our top pick for its strong hold, matte finish, and lightweight formula. It scored 9.2/10 from 1912 owner ratings and costs $32.30. Hanz de Fuko Claymation is a close runner-up with an 8.6/10 from 7083 ratings at $25.20. For a budget option, CNNY Men's Hair Styling Clay has a firm hold and matte finish for $7.19, though it has fewer ratings (949) and a slightly lower score (8.8/10).
AVEDA Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay $32.30
Best overall hair styling clay
AVEDA Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay has strong hold, a matte finish, and a lightweight formula. It scored 9.2/10 from 1912 owner ratings and costs $32.30. The tradeoff is its higher price; those on a budget should consider CNNY Men's Hair Styling Clay.
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Hanz de Fuko Claymation Men's Hair Styling Clay $25.20
Strong hold with versatile styling
Hanz de Fuko Claymation has a super high hold with a matte finish and is versatile for various hair types. It scored 8.6/10 from 7083 owner ratings and costs $25.20. The tradeoff is its higher price and some users reporting acne as a side effect.
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CNNY Men's Hair Styling Clay $7.19
Affordable firm hold and matte finish
CNNY Men's Hair Styling Clay has a firm hold and matte finish at a lower price. It scored 8.8/10 from 949 owner ratings and costs $7.19. The tradeoff is fewer ratings and a slightly lower score compared to the top picks.
Check price on AmazonThe field, ranked
- AVEDA Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay Best for strong hold and matte finish 9.2/10 $32.30 Amazon
- Hanz de Fuko Claymation Men's Hair Styling Clay Great for versatile styling and high hold 8.6/10 $25.20 Amazon
- CNNY Men's Hair Styling Clay Good budget option with firm hold 8.8/10 $7.19 Amazon
- BASED Hair Clay Strong hold with matte finish for medium to thick hair 8.6/10 $19.22 Amazon
- BlackMask Hair Clay for Men Strong hold and matte finish for thick, wavy hair 8.6/10 $19.99 Amazon
- Highland Glacial Hair Clay Pomade Medium hold and low shine for all hair types 8.2/10 $27.00 Amazon
Who should buy which
Those with thick, wavy hair may prefer BASED Hair Clay or BlackMask Hair Clay for their strong hold and matte finish. Men with fine hair might find CNNY Men's Hair Styling Clay more suitable due to its firm hold. AVEDA Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay is versatile for all hair types and has a lightweight formula.
Common complaints
Some users of Hanz de Fuko Claymation reported acne as a side effect. Highland Glacial Hair Clay Pomade had some users finding the hold to be less than medium and requiring more product than expected.
Also-rans
Highland Glacial Hair Clay Pomade, despite its natural ingredients and recyclable packaging, scored lower (8.2/10) and had some users finding the hold to be less than medium. BASED Hair Clay and BlackMask Hair Clay, while well-rated, did not offer significant advantages over the top picks to warrant a pick role.