14 Hero Styling Clays for Guys With Short Hair (2024)

14 Hero Styling Clays for Guys With Short Hair (1)

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THERE USED to be a time when guys chose their haircut—and the accompanying hair product—and never deviated from that formula. And for many of us, it’s still pretty much like that. If it ain’t broke, why fix it, right? But in today’s world, and being the modern guy you are, sometimes you just want to switch it up. There’s no shame in wanting to experiment, and one of the easiest ways to do that is to switch up your styling product.

It’s shocking how much of a difference just using something else to style your hair can make. For instance, if you’re used to a classic pomade, which gives your hair hold and shine, simply switching to a clay can create a completely different look. “A hair clay is going to have a more matte appearance, meaning the hair will have low or no shine,” says celebrity men’s groomer Melissa de Zarate. Depending on the brand and formula, a hair clay could give even more hold than your typical pomade.

De Zarate reaches for a clay whenever one of her clients wants a messy, bedhead look, which needs hold and volume, but would look strange with a shiny product. They’re also great for guys with oily scalps, since the clay tends to neutralize oil, and for men with fine or thin hair. “Because the product is matte, it’s going to make the hair look thicker while still having control,” she says.

Like pomades, clays are best used on damp or dry hair, and are ideal for shorter styles, but you can use a hair clay on curly hair too, says de Zarate, as long as “you apply it when your hair is completely wet and then use a diffuser to dry it.” So no matter what kind of hair you have, a hair clay could be just what your styling arsenal needs for those days when you want to look a little more natural. Check out our list of the best hair clays for men to try now.

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Best Hair Clay Overall

American Crew Matte Clay Spray

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Yeah, clay in a spray. A spritz or two gives your hair a matte-textured hold while also adding moisture, so you have that just-out-of-the-shower look all day long. No wonder it receive a 2022 Men's Health Grooming Award.

Testing Notes: The reason this clay came out on top in our testing process is because it’s just so damn easy to use. Unlike traditional clays that you scoop out with your fingers, this spray covers your hair more completely without needing to rub it through as much. This helps avoid those annoying missed spots or clumps of product. It’s also what hair pros call “buildable,” meaning you can easily add more to get the style you want with less risk of going overboard. It’s also way easier to reapply during the day when your hair might need a little restyling. Overall, for sheer ease of use, we give it top marks.

Read more: Best Hair Sprays for Men

IngredientsKaolin clay, Silica, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Size5.1 oz

Best Hair Clay for the Strongest Hold

Kevin Murphy Night Rider Matte

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De Zarate says this high-hold matte clay is her go-to when she needs control with no shine whatsoever. We also love that it has a neutral scent.

Testing Notes: You can’t argue with a professional groomer and when we tested this clay, we instantly understood why De Zarate loves it so much. It’s easy to apply, not clumpy, and smooths through hair easily. It’s also ideal for spot treating—using smaller amounts on specific parts of your hair to keep them in place.

IngredientsLanolin Wax, Beeswax, Limonene
Size 3.4 oz

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This clay-wax hybrid has all of the things you love about a hair clay, but it' s a little more lightweight, which makes it ideal for thin or fine hair.

Testing Notes: What we found so groundbreaking about this clay is the texture. It’s not quite as thick and rough-feeling as other matte clays thanks to the infusion of wax and doesn’t clump as easily as some other versions. Because the texture is slightly lighter, you can get away with using more of it if you want, but we like that the results are slightly more subtle than a straight-up clay, which gives you the finish and look of a clay but without the weight.

Read more: Best Hair Growth Shampoos

Longest Lasting Hair Clay

Hair Styling Clay for Men

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A clay with high hold, like this one, is the ideal product when you want a natural finish, but don’t want to risk your hairstyle losing shape in a few hours.

Testing Notes: The key word for this clay is “hold.” As in, your hair is not going to go anywhere for a long time. In terms of texture, it’s pretty much what you would expect from a clay, but there’s also beeswax in the formula which helps with the high hold. It’s easy to go overboard with this clay, so start with a tiny amount and add more from there (if you put in too much, your only option is to hop back in the shower).

IngredientsBeeswax, Mineral Oil
Size2.2 oz

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Best Luxury Hair Clay

Leonor Greyl Matte Finish Balm

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Like the hair clay version of a fancy cologne, this luxury styling product gives your hair a natural finish with medium hold, as well as a subtle rosewood fragrance (it’s a favorite among De Zarate’s celebrity clients).

Testing Notes: From a hold standpoint, this clay delivers big time. In that sense, it’s a good bet overall, but what we really liked about it is the scent. It’s rosy and slightly floral, but in a good way, and makes the experience of using this clay very pleasant. Don’t worry, though, it won’t overpower anything or make you smell like a bouquet. The scent dissipates pretty quickly after you put it in your hair.

Read more: Best Grooming Gifts

IngredientsCarnauba, Cupuacu Butter, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax

More Hair Clays We Love

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This hair clay has stood the test of time because of the matte finish it delivers, without making your hair feel dry.

Baxter’s clay is one of our all-time favorites, because it’s supremely matte (no shine here) and gives even fine hair texture and volume without weighing it down.

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Clay Pomade

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The minimal ingredients in this high-hold hair clay don’t sacrifice on efficacy—this clay keeps your ‘do in place all day, even through sweat and humidity.

Claymation Hair Styling Clay

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Even though this clay-wax hybrid delivers intense hold, it still allows you to run your fingers through your hair and rework the style as needed.

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Bumble and Bumble Sumoclay

The clay version of Bumble & Bumble’s iconic sumowax gives the same control and hold as the original, but with a natural, matte finish.

Read more: Best Hair Wax for Men

Styling Clay

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This extremely good hair clay hits all the things you want in a clay, but at a price that proves your hair can look it’s best at any budget.

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Anti-Dandruff Molding Hair Clay for Men

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If you struggle with dandruff, you might be nervous that matte products can dry out your hair and make flakes worse. This version is specifically formulated to be gentle on the scalp and leave minimal residue behind.

BYRD Clay Pomade

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The clay version of one of our favorite pomades gives your hair the high hold you want, but with a natural matte appearance, so you can achieve that surfer texture easily.

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Cement Clay

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Layrite is a go-to brand for old-school barbers and modern stylists alike, and this clay doesn’t disappoint. The hold is extreme (you’re hair will stay in place even in high winds), but the finish is natural and matte.

How We Selected

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For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Grooming editors and writers on the top hair clays for men. Experts including our Grooming Editor, Garrett Munce, and our Deputy Editor of Commerce, Christian Gollayan, tried multiple hair clays and evaluated their ingredients, scent, and effectiveness. We also considered top-reviewed hair clays that had at least 100 five-star customer ratings on e-commerce websites that we trust.

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How to Use Hair Clay

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Unlike pomades, which style your hair with a high shine and hold, hair clays give a more matte (less shiny) appearance for a more natural finish. We found that during our testing, some of the clays we tried had an even stronger hold than most pomades.

The best time to use clay is when you want that messy, devil-may-care hairstyle that requires hold and volume, but don't want to look like a Grease extra. Also ideal: for oily scalps, since clay has the great ability to neutralize hair oil. Apply it on damp hair to add extra volume.

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Reviewed byChristian Gollayan

Deputy Editor, Commerce

Christian Gollayan oversees e-commerce content for Men's Health and Women's Health. Previously, he was the Associate Managing Editor at TheManual.com. Christian's work has also been featured in Food & Wine, InStyle, the New York Post, and Tatler Asia.

14 Hero Styling Clays for Guys With Short Hair (2024)
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