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This week, I will be reviewing Shear Revival American Gardens. This is a clay product that comes in the usual 3.4 oz glass container. It’s a water based clay using kaolin, bentonite, and sea clays. This product gives it a super matte and dry look.

The top layer requires effort to break through with the underneath being a bit easier to scoop. The breakdown does not take too much for it to spread.

The application can be rough. I got a good amount of tug and pull from this product. It is definitely harder to work through the hair compared to Reuzel Severed Head. Just combing my hair to style the product was difficult with my comb getting caught in spots due to my thick wavy hair.

The product has a very matte finish. There is little to no shine. I compare it to Severed Head on the shine. The hold is quite strong. I would say it has a bit more hold than Shear Revival Gray Ghost and Severed Head. It also provides a lot of texture in the hair.

The scent is said to be orange and oak moss. It’s pretty strong and lasts a good portion of the day. I am not a huge fan of the scent, but I do prefer it over Gray Ghost.

The washout requires a thorough shampoo if you want it all out. Water will not cut it. No need for a degrease though.

Overall, this is a solid product if you are looking for a strong holding matte clay that provides a lot of texture. Personally, there is a bit too much tug for me, but I think it could be the perfect product for someone looking for a strong hold clay. I have been drifting away from clays as of late so this product just doesn’t fit what I’m looking for as of now. If I am going to use a clay, I would rather use Reuzel Severed Head just because it’s easier to use and I like the scent more. Overall, this is a very good product, just does not fit what I am going for. I would give it an 8/10.

Selling Hair Clay/UWB Lot. All are about 80% full. Selling as a lot. Shear Revival American Gardens, Devil’s Brew Matte Clay, Lodestar Sol Sampler (1 oz), Slaney’s Appalachia. No trades. Below is the link to purchase on Facebook marketplace.
$45 for the lot

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1095610846261026/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This week, I will be reviewing Reuzel X Liquid Death Severed Head Strong Matte Clay. This is a clay pomade that came out a couple years ago. It comes in a gold and black tin with the head of the Reuzel logo being swapped out with a Liquid Death Can. This is my first Reuzel product so I will not be comparing it to others in their lineup.

For starters, this is a firm hold matte clay. The scent on the website says it’s a spicy apple scent. I think the scent is pleasant and not very strong. To me, I only really notice it while applying the product and not the rest of the day. The scoop is tough on the first layer like most products, but once you break that seal, it scoops out very easily. The breakdown is also very easy and while there is some tack, it’s not very much.

Applying the product is pretty average for a firm hold clay. Other reviews said there is a lot of tug and pull, but while I do notice some, I don’t find it as bad as I was led to believe. I would compare the tug and pull to Shear Revival Grey Ghost and maybe even a little less than that.

In the hair, the product adds good texture and a very matte finish. I don’t get any shine from this one. My hair also restyles very easy throughout the day with this product. I would say the hold is firm to strong. Very comparable to Gray Ghost.

Wash out is pretty easy. A lot of it washes out with just water. Some shampoo will for sure get the rest out. No need to degrease.

Overall, this may be my new daily clay. I really enjoy the scent, the hold, and the ease of washout. I find it very comparable to Shear Revival Gray Ghost, but with a better scent, slightly less tug when applying, and an easier washout. I still prefer Fettkop Clay if I have the time and don’t mind build up. With that being said, if Gray Ghost is an 8.5/10 and Fettkop Smoody is a 9.5/10, then this product is a 9/10 for me.

This week. I’ll be reviewing a classic by the name of Dax Wave & Groom. This is a stronger hold oil-based pomade that has been around since 1954. It comes in a red tin can and is inexpensive compared to a lot of other pomades on the market. I have not used Murray’s Superior since probably 2013, so I will not be comparing the two in this review other than the scents.

I love the scent of this product. Definitely has that classic barbershop scent. I know this is a controversial take, but I prefer this scent over Murray’s Superior.

The scoop of the product can be difficult, especially the first layer. What I started doing is hitting the tin with the blow dryer on high heat for a few seconds to soften it up and make applying it easier. If you don’t blow dry it, the breakdown in the palm can be very tough. Applying it to the hair can have lot of tug and pull. Not as bad as Devil’s Brew Clay, but still noticeable. Hitting it with the blow dryer can take 30% off the difficulty in the scoop, breakdown, and application. However, it seems like the trade off with blow drying the tin makes the product lose a bit of hold in the hair and makes the product have more shine. I apply the product to lightly damp hair.

Due to the oil-based nature, this product is easy to use too much, so I recommend using a little at a time. The hold on this product is strong, but still allows easy enough restyling throughout the day. With it being summer, over 100 degrees, and super windy where I’m at, the hold does not last that great throughout the day. My hair is also pretty long and heavy right now so I’m not going to blame the product too harshly for the hold not keeping up at this time of the year since almost no products would be able to. My experience with it in the winter months is that the hold is very strong and does last all day for the most part.

The shine with this product is medium. If you want more shine, I would recommend Dax Short & Neat as a topper. I personally don’t mind a bit of shine, so this product works for me.

Washout is as you would expect from a classic oil-based. You’re going to need a full degrease because water and shampoo alone will not cut it. The build up is great and makes for an easier time and less product to style on the following days.

Overall, I am a huge fan of this product and if you’re interested in trying an oil-based pomade, this is a good choice for the price and performance. I don’t have many pure oil-based products and honestly it’s because 1. I don’t use them too often and 2. This one just works perfectly for me. The hold is good for me, the shine is perfect for me, and the scent is an all time favorite of mine. The main reason I don’t use it all the time is just due to the fact it’s an oil-based. Applying an oil-based usually requires more work, it can give me acne if I use it too much, and a full degrease is required to remove it. That being said, I give this product a 8.5/10.

This week, I will be reviewing Slaney’s Appalachia Pomade. This is an unorthodox water based pomade produced by a very small company ran by a respected member of the community. I saw him post a few times on facebook and decided I wanted to show some support. The pomade comes in a 4oz container with a minimal, but appealing design.

The product scoops very easily and breaks down very easily. There is minimal pull when applying this product. I brush out my hair and run a wet comb through a few times before applying this product. The product is very easy to overuse and can cause some helmet hair if too much is applied. I recommend small scoops and not overdoing it.

The hold is a medium in my opinion. Personally, I prefer a bit more, but if you have lighter and thinner hair, this may be what you’re looking for. The product also hardens up a tiny bit. You can still restyle, but it’s a tad trickier. My hair did start to fall out of place after a few hours, but my hair is heavier and most medium holds require restyling for me. It has some texture, but not as much as a clay would. There is definitely a light shine to the product. Slightly more shine than Shear Revival Gray Ghost.

The scent on this product is very pleasant in my opinion. The website states, “The fragrance opens with crisp apple and settles into warm tobacco, all while resting on a base of fresh pine.” I like this scent a lot. The scent takes me to a Christmas market scene.

The product washes out pretty easily. I am able to get most of the product out with just water. Definitely easier than Gray Ghost and other UWB products.

Overall, I enjoy this product. I want to revisit it in the fall and winter when I don’t need as much hold. The scent also takes me to those seasons so I think it would be a better fit. I have a lot of respect for Slaney’s and I want to get some of the Gold Standard soon. For me personally, at this time of the year and with my hair type, I would give it a 8/10. I don’t mind the slight shine, the slight stiffen, and I love the scent. I just need a bit more hold at this time of the year.

This week, I’m going to change things up. I’ll be reviewing a gel type pomade called Steadfast. This company was around back in the 2012-2013 timeframe, took a break, but came back sometime last year. I believe the company is veteran owned and is based outta the Long Beach area. I wanted to show support because my hometown is really close to Long Beach. This review will be on the original hold pomade.

For starters, this is going to be a very typical water based pomade. I’m going to be comparing it to Suavecito mostly. The product is a light blue gel with a strong cologne scent with soap tones? I do not have a good sense of smell, but I think this smells good.

It is a medium hold product and I notice the hold to be a bit lighter than Suavecito original. Applying the product is very easy with no tug as you would expect from a gel type. A difference I notice between this and Suavecito is that I feel like I have a bit more time to style before it hardens up too much. I applied it to mostly dry hair. Restyling does require water once it hardens. I usually just wet my comb a bit to get it to reactivate.

The product provides a wet look to the hair like most gel types. To me, it’s less shiny and more wet looking compared to an oil based.

The product washes out with just water. However, it does leave the hair feeling dry and straw like. Not as dry as Suavecito in my experience.

Overall, this is a basic gel type pomade. If you like original Suavecito, then you will probably like this product. I want to try their anchor hold at some point to see how a bit more hold would affect this product. I really enjoy the smell and it does last quite a bit of the day. I can only recommend this product if you’re a fan of gel type pomades and you want to support a small company out of Long Beach. Personally, I do like a gel type every once in a while because I do like a wet look and easy wash out at times. Overall, this product, for me, is a 7/10. I would guess the anchor hold would be a 7.5-8/10 for me.

This week, I’ll be reviewing the Fettkopp Smoody Clay. This is a 10th anniversary, oil based, firm to strong hold clay I picked up from The Pomade Shop on a trip to Munich last year. It comes in an about 1.8 oz tin can.

The scoop on this clay is a bit harder to break the first layer, but underneath it scoops with just a bit of resistance. The break down in the palm takes a bit of effort, but not nearly as much as something like Dax Wave and Groom.

Applying it has a bit of tug and pull, but it’s not going to rip all your hair out like Devil’s Brew. I start by brushing my hair back. Then I run a wet comb through my hair a few times before applying. It goes in the hair pretty easily in small scoops and distributes pretty average.

This product is not truly matte, but has a nice natural finish. There is some texture to the product from the Kaolin, but I’ve used products with more texture before. The hold is a firm to strong hold. I usually slick my hair back and don’t require a lot of height. I judge the hold on whether my hair falls out of place more than loss of height and this product keeps my hair pretty much where I left it at the end of the day. It’s very easy to restyle as well due to it being oil based.

The scent is pretty bold and heavy. The website translated to English says, “SMOODY combines woody and smoky notes. With essential vetiver oil, essential guajack wood oil and essential pine oil, a high-quality composition is created that is second to none. I disliked it at first, but have grown to be indifferent with it.

Washout is as expected with an oil based product. You will need a degrease if you want it completely out. It also builds up as expected. Most product used the first day and less needed every day after until your degrease.

Overall, I really enjoy this product. It is the only oil based clay I own and I can safely say I would like to try more after using this product. I am also a big fan of the brand after using this product. It is a shame that the shipping to America is so high, but that is not the brand’s fault. I hope to bite the bullet on shipping and get a few more products from Fettkopp at some point. The only downside I have with this product is the scent not being a favorite of mine. For me, Smoody is a 9.5/10 and I highly recommend it.

This week, I wanted to give a review of Shear Revival Gray Ghost. For starters, it is a water based, cream pomade, with a firm to strong hold. As many of you know, it comes in a 3.4 oz brown glass jar with a white plastic lid.

This product is a personal go to of mine due to its high hold and control. The scoop is very easy and it breaks down in the palm smoothly with a slight tackiness towards to end. Personally, for this product, I like to just wet my comb a few times and run it through my hair rather than fully soaking my hair and drying it with a towel and/or blow dryer. There is a slight tug when styling this way, but not nearly as much as products such as Devil’s Brew or Dax Wave & Groom.

I would say this product provides a nice little bit of texture and a matte to natural finish. With the hold being so strong, I don’t have to restyle most of the time later in the day. The hold keeps up for me. You can still restyle though if needed because it doesn’t stiffen up hardly any.

The scent is Cypress and Citrus. To me, it smells okay, but if they had other scent options, I would not be glued to this one. The scent isn’t overwhelming though.

This product does take shampoo or even a degrease to wash out. I usually only wash my hair about once or twice a week and just use water the rest of the days and this one definitely sticks around after rinsing with just water.

Overall, this one is a go to of mine. When I don’t have a lot of time and don’t feel like hassling with my hair, I often gravitate towards this one. It’s very easy to use and consistently provides what I am looking for. The brand goes on sale pretty often it seems like, so you can usually get it for a good price as well. To me, this product is an 8/10. My only real gripes about this product is how much is left behind after trying to rinse it out with just water. But, if you’re into building up product for a few days, this could be a plus. The scent is also not my favorite. It’s not bad, just not a plus for me.

Mr Bear Family Matt Clay is what the name suggests. It is a medium hold matte clay that is pretty easy to work with. The brand is out of Sweden and I was able to pick this up as well as Honest Al’s Matt Clay which is very similar and also made by Mr Bear Family. Both have all natural ingredients, bentonite, kaolin, and many other good stuff.

As stated, it is a medium hold that works into the hair very easily. The scoop comes out with very little pressure and the breakdown is effortless.

The website says the scent is, “Light smoke subtly integrated in noble wooden accords rounded off with spicy, oriental nuances.” The scent is very nice, not overwhelming, and it does seem to hold its scent for a good portion of the day.

Application is very easy with almost no pull. I apply a tiny amount to towel dry hair before hitting it with the blow dryer and adding more afterwards.

There isn’t as much texture as I would like and personally. I also like a little bit more hold. These are personal takes and should not be used as a detriment to the product. The hold does last alright throughout the day, however, I live in a very hot, dry, and windy environment.

The product is a water based, but I noticed it takes a bit of shampoo to get the product completely out of my hair.

Overall, I really enjoy this product and would definitely get another can. NI live in the United States and it does seem hard to find here. If you’re in Europe, I would definitely give it a try. The company tries really hard to keep ingredients clean and natural. They also work with barbershops to create products such as Honest Al’s which is a barbershop in Stockholm (definitely recommend checking them out if you’re in the area). I’ll probably review their clay at some point, but it may be a bit redundant due to it being so similar.

Here’s an updated review on this clay.

After using it about 12 times now, I think I have a firm grasp on this clay.

For starters. The scent is very nice and refreshing. It keeps its scent a bit longer than other pomades and clays I’ve tried.

It is very tacky. Even tackier than Lodestar Sol. To combat this, I heat up the clay with a blow dryer, apply it to wet hair, and even have my hand slightly damp. However, there’s still quite a bit of tug and pull and I still lose some hairs with it.

The pomade says matte, but there’s still definitely a bit of shine to this clay.

The hold is solid and I would definitely put it in the firm to heavy hold category.

The washout is very easy. I can pretty much remove all the product with just water with no need for shampoo or a degrease.

Overall, I can’t say I would get it again. The tug and pull is too much and I feel I lose too much hair with it. Maybe it would be better for someone with thicker hair and wants a heavier hold. My biggest plus on this clay is the all day hold and the ease of washout.

What is everyone’s favorite cocktail? Mine is a bit of a strange mix. Mine is Rumble 59 medium hold and Suavecito firme clay.

About 12 years ago, I got into pomade and my favorite was Rumble 59 medium hold. I then took about a 10 year break from using products and once I returned, my hair started thinning in the front. When a product has too much shine, I don’t like how much of my scalp I can see. So I started using Suavecito firm clay first to add texture before adding R59 and I’ve gotta great results. I get some texture from the clay and the scent and light shine from R59 making it my go to combo

I didn’t get any responses on my last post regarding this clay, so I figured I’d be the one to review it. I’m pretty new to pomade and I have a bad sense of smell, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

The clay is very thick and tacky. The only other clays I’ve tried are Shear Revival American Gardens and Suavecito Firm Clay. This clay is a lot thicker and tackier than AG for sure.

The breakdown was very harsh and hard to get it to break down in the hand. With that, there was. Good amount of tug and pull when applying it. I applied it to relatively dry hair and will definitely add more water to my hair next time.

It is very matte and the hold feels great. The scent is a fresh cologne scent and not overpowering, but I have no experiences with cologne and as stated above, I have a bad sense of smell.

Overall, if you’re looking for a tacky, matte, and high hold clay with a fresh scent, this may be a good option to try. But as I said, I’m new to this and take this review with a grain of salt. Hopefully this review inspires a more experienced person to give it a shot and provide a better review.

Hello everyone. I’m interested in getting this clay and was wondering what your opinions of it are. I can’t seem to find many reviews of it. Thanks in advance.