Built for men with short-to-medium hair who want a firm hold with texture and a medium-shine finish rather than high gloss. The wax-and-clay formula suits anyone who's active or prone to sweating, since it holds up through exercise better than lighter styling products. It's not the best fit for men with fine or thin hair, who may find it heavier than a gel or lightweight paste.

Molding Clay is worth choosing over a standard gel or wax when the priority is a hold that survives a full day of movement, including a workout, without a midday touch-up, and a finish that leans medium-shine rather than glossy. Because it stays workable rather than setting hard, hair can be reshaped by hand later in the day instead of the style simply cracking or collapsing, which is the usual trade-off with very firm gels.

Press a small amount out of the tin and rub it firmly between your palms or fingertips until it softens and warms up. Work it evenly through towel-dried (not wet) hair, focusing on the areas where you want added texture or hold. Reshape or restyle by hand later in the day as needed — the clay doesn't set hard, so it can be reworked without applying more product.

Pros:

• Firm, long-wearing hold that can be reworked by hand throughout the day rather than cracking or falling flat
• Beeswax-and-clay base holds up well through exercise or heavy sweating
• Naturally-derived fragrance (peppermint, citrus, rosemary) is lighter than a typical synthetic styling-product scent
• Kaolin and bentonite clays add texture and a medium-shine, not greasy, finish

Cons:

• Thick, waxy texture needs to be warmed between the palms before use and takes more effort to work through than a gel or cream
• Not ideal for fine or thin hair, which the clay can weigh down
• Contains methylparaben, a preservative some people prefer to avoid
• Can build up on the scalp and hair with heavy daily use and may need a clarifying shampoo periodically