Customer Reviews

Sebastian Craft Clay Remoldable Matte Texturizer Unisex, 1.7 Ounce

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Well, I was also a many-year used of their Xtah crude clay product, and I was also annoyed to see it made unavailable. After reading people's contradictory opinions about the replacement "craft clay" I broke down and bought one.

Here's the deal:
1) the product contains most of the same ingredients.
2) the product looks identical and is only a little bit different in touch/use (a bit harder, but the same general effect once it's in the hair). If I had to choose I'd take the Xtah, but honestly, they're practically the same.
3) the new boxes are 2.5 times smaller than the Xtah clay standard size (50 grams instead of 125 grams), but similarly priced per box. So it's about 2.5 times more expensive.
4) The Xtah said "Made in the USA" on the box - the Craft Clay says "Made in Mexico." Cheaper labor! I couldn't believe that when I saw it.

Summary: it's (practically) the same product as Xtah, but repackaged and made 2.5 times more expensive for the consumer, while Sebastian has conveniently used Mexican labor to reduce their own costs even more!

Shame on Sebastian for resorting to such below-the-belt money-making tricks.

I wrote this review because I saw that it was getting such low reviews because it was being compared to the now discontinued "Xtah Crude Clay" To be fair, I have never used it, but that's also why I thought it might be helpful to have a review that wasn't biased with the former users of Xtah Crude Clay.

This is an EXCELLENT product. First, let me describe my hair and style that I wanted to achieve. I am a male with short to medium hair length (3.5 inches at the longest areas), very fine and soft so that there is no volume whatsoever, but I wanted to achieve the carefully placed messed up, voluminous look, where the hairs are clumped together, the kind you find in luxury magazine layouts. And this did the trick!

The texture of this stuff is like hard clay/wax. it's super hard, so you have to dig it out and then rub it out in your palm or finger tips first and then when it's just a paste in your fingers you can just work it into your hair. there is no residue, no scent, and it doesn't leave it hard or crunchy and it washes out easily. so basically i thought it was an amazing product cuz everything else i tried didn't have the strength to clump my hair together. i tried bumble and bumble, bed head, and then cheaper brands like gatsby (the japanese one). bumble and bumble just didn't have the power to keep my hair clumped, bed head didn't have the power to keep my hair voluminous and gatsby was powerful but my hair didn't move at all... it's like glue that dries...

i don't know how good Xtah crude clay was, but if THIS product is getting a 2 star in comparison to Xtah crude clay, then it must have been fantastic beyond belief.

Bottom Line: this is great for holding up hair if you want it to spike it some places, curl off the side in others and do a messed up look with solid clumping effect, without the crunchy, shiny, or oiliness. and it is definitely a strong hold.

My husband and I used Xtah Crude Clay for years, and then suddenly it was discontinued. So we decided to try out this new product (what we assume is a replacement) and were sorely disappointed. It's not that it's terrible -- it's just average. It's like any of a hundred similar products that does an okay job.

Crude Clay was particularly good at holding thinner hair in place, but this makes my hair limp and just a bit oily to be honest. We purchased it once, and it will be the only time we make that mistake. I really, really wish Sebastian would have a strong-holding product similar to Crude Clay. If not, we're going to have to go elsewhere.

I noticed Sebastian is putting out Matte Putty in July 2009, so we may give that one a try.

OK - I was an XTah Crude Clay user for YEARS and then....no more Xtah :-(
I agree that this "new" version is not even close to the original - leaves my short hair looking limp & greasy.
I tried alot of other products but like many of the other reviewers - they were NOT nearly good enough to be a substitute.
On the advice of a beauty supply store, I tried the Alterna Hemp Hair Concrete and it is about as close as I have gotten to the Xtah. So for everyone lamenting the loss of Xtah (thanks a bunch, Sebastian) there is hope in a jar.

After all the negative comments about this replacement product for the xtah crude clay. I was a bit worried that my hair wont be looking as sharp as it used to. I have typical asian black thick hair, and im not one of those wanabe kids with japanese anime hair (ive always thought they looked a bit, immature. they look good on drawings, but they dont look good on real life.) Anyway, I've used Xtah Crude Clay thoughout my highschool life (im now going to college), but ive gotten compliments not just from my peers, but from hair saloon stylists and beauty shop owners for my hair styling. xtah crude clay did the job well, and it made me look GEWD :]

Now about the CRAFT clay. I was obviously disappointed when the original got discontinued. BUT, don't be afraid to buy this product. compared to the original Xtah Crude Clay, the Craft Clay has less odor and have more of a creamy consistency. Yes, it does have a little bit of a weaker hold than the original, but it's nothing a good hair spray can't fix. the craft clay is a slight change from the crude clay, but i believe once you get used to it, ultimately, the Craft Clay is a bit easier to work with. The reason I gave this product a 4 star instead of a 5 star is because... i guess i still miss my Crude Clay. But it still gets the job done, and it will make you lookd GEWD :D

It's decent and get the job done. However, it's not as good as the previous version, which is discontinued. Oh well... this will do...

I bought this because they discontinued Crude Clay and it's not nearly as good. :-( Why do they discontinue good products??

What a rip off AND it is crap compared to the original !!
4.4 oz for $17.99 vs 1.7 oz for $14.99! Anyone see the problem here?
It is slimy/ oily and does not hold like Crude Clay did.

I've never used Sebastian Crude Clay, (although i'd like to), but although i can;'t compare it, it works great for me. It doesnt feel like theres anything in my hair, works better than hairspray, gel, anything. My hair DOES NOT curl.It doesnt. But after i use ths, the curls stay! I'm really excited about this. It seems a bit pricey, considering the size, but it accually will last a long time so i'm not worried. I'd highly suggest it. Use your thumb to dig out a little, warm it up/ run it in your palms, and evens apply to hair. Recommended!

Since using this product I have come to a sad realisation. It is nowhere near as good as the old Xtah Crude Clay, not for people with hair like mine. The old Xtah Crude Clay was a revelation. After years of searching I couldn't find anything and then Xtah Crude came along. I loved my hair after that. Now it is always limp.

I am staggered they discontinued such a fantastic product.

Can anyone help me with a possible proper alternative or anywhere I can buy the old stuff?