Customer Reviews

Molding Clay By American Crew, 3 Ounce

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Be advised: this product's primary ingredients are: Petrolatum and beeswax. Calling the product "clay" is a huge stretch. I use Aveda's Grooming Clay and I thought I would try American Crew out as a cheaper alternative. It does not compare. American Crew's Molding Clay is waxy whereas Aveda's is silky. After applying the product, AC's leaves a waxy/sticky film on your hands that takes hot water and soap to remove. Aveda's washes off cleanly with warm water.

If you are looking for a cheap styling product without regards to quality then AC's Molding Clay will likely fit the bill but if you are looking for a good quality product that is "clay-like" then try something else.

Make sure you only use a very small amount. A little bit REALLY goes a long way.This stuff works alright but how do I wash it out of my hair?????!!!! I'm currently trying to find the answer to that question.

UPDATE: This actually works great. But seriously, use like a dime size and if you need more you can get more out. Don't go overboard. Make sure you have a strong shampoo to wash this out. I found out American Crew has a peppermint shampoo in a black bottle that's supposed to be pretty strong. For right now, Head and Shoulders washes it out pretty well, though.

I am a long-time user of American Crew products. When I was in college and the "wet" look was in, I would use American Crew Firm Hold Gel. As I've gotten older and the styles have changed, I switched to American Crew Fiber for a more natural look. I used Fiber for several years but I didn't think the hold was strong enough; I would have to use it in pretty wet hair to get a strong hold, which would result in more sheen than I like.

Enter American Crew Molding Clay. I thought I would give this a try after reading reviews, and I like the performance much better than the Fiber. Despite its billing as "medium" shine to Fiber's "low" shine, I've found that this product actually gives a more matte look than Fiber along with a stronger hold. Because the hold is so strong with the Molding Clay, I can apply it to much drier hair while still getting a strong hold. I've found with any hair product the amount of shine you get is directly proportional to how wet your hair is when you put the product in, regardless of what level of "shininess" the product bills itself as having. I apply about a dime-sized amount of this to towel-dried hair (my hair is about 1" long on top and 1/2" on the sides) and style in a fairly messy/textured way on top. Once my hair fully dries I have a completely matte look with a very strong hold that I can remold throughout the day if I like. It also makes my hair very soft to the touch, and doesn't get remotely hard or greasy.

The only negative about this product (and the reason it is getting 4 stars instead of 5) is that it is a little difficult to wash out. This is because it is petroleum-based and not water-based like many pomades. I find that I have to do a double-shampoo with American Crew Daily Shampoo every day to completely rinse this out. I don't think this is a huge deal, but it is something to be aware of. The only product I've found that gives as strong of a hold as Molding Clay while also being easy to wash out is Sumotech, which costs over $20 for 1.5 oz. Molding Clay is around $10 for 3 oz, so the reduced expense is worth a little extra shampooing time every day (for me).

I have 1.5-2.5 inch hair depending on the season and cowlicks in the front that make a clean hairstyle a little more difficult. This product has so far been pretty good about keeping the cowlicks in check and keeping my hair soft. Pomade is too shiny and limp, gel is too crusty and shiny, but this stuff has the perfect amount of low shine and good hold. I wouldn't call it high hold, but I would say it keeps hair moved in the general direction you point it.

I bought this product looking for a tough alternative to super hold gel. I needed a product that would hold my heavy, straight hair in place & stand up to the pressure of wearing felt & straw hats. Most other products give up when mussed by a hat and I didn't want to do the classic palmade that stays greasy & shiny in the hair, but allows you to re-comb after taking off your hat.

The clay & wax consistency hold better than anything and dries to an incredible hold. It was just what the doctor ordered for my high personal demands. It leaves my hair looking dry or moist like gel depending on how much you use. Don't over do it though. The gal that cuts my hair loaded me up with a free sample and it took three or four shampoos to get my comb to glide through like "clean" hair should feel. It sure does its job though. No stains in the hat band & hair that stays in place when tipping a well fitting fedora. No more hat hair when observing proper hat etiquette indoors!

I'm very happy with this product. The scent is very mild, yet pleasant smelling. The ingredients are more or less natural too, which is important to me. My only complaint, and the reason for the 4 stars, is that my hair isn't as reshapable with this molding clay as it is with some others, such as Aveda's grooming clay. This one has a much less intrusive smell though!

The product works great and was at a great price. It has a little more of a shine than I would have liked, but it still works well. I think that I will give the Crew Fiber a try next.

this product is all natural. it is great. You should know that it doesnt have as much shine as pomade. i have thicker hair that is wavy and when it gets long, it doesnt do much styling wise for it. this item is perfect for those folks with looser hair, on the shorter side. you can do sports or sweat in it. it is almost all natural.

Great service. But the molding clay is a little to pliable for me. I prefer the American crew fiber better

This has a nice scent, and a little bit goes a long way. It also has good hold.

However, this isn't clay. It's a wax. As another reviewer stated, the ingredients are petrolatum and beeswax. It leaves your hair sticky and flat. You need soap and water to even get it off your hands, and will need to wash your hair twice or more to get it out the next day. It will leave a waxy residue on everything. Hats, headphones, clothes, pillowcases. And, despite how sticky it leaves your hair, you cannot restyle during the day. This stuff is cheap, but look elsewhere.