For anyone with short-to-medium length hair who wants a workable, matte-finish styling product for piecey, tousled, or sculpted looks — best suited to fine-to-normal hair textures looking for texture and hold without shine.

For a soft, undone matte texture that still holds shape and can be reworked by hand throughout the day, Matte Putty offers a moisturizing alternative to drier clays or stiffer waxes, so a piece can be reshaped without hair feeling crunchy or over-set.

• Scoop a small amount and warm it between clean, dry palms until it softens
• Work through dry hair, focusing on the ends and pieces to be defined
• Use fingers to tousle, separate, or sculpt into the desired shape, adding a touch more product to rework the style through the day

Pros

• Matte finish with no shine or stiffness
• Moisturizing hold that keeps hair pliable and easy to restyle through the day
• Softens quickly and spreads easily from a small amount

Cons

• Best suited to short-to-medium hair — not ideal for very long hair or for adding volume to very fine hair
• Petrolatum/wax base can feel heavier than a gel or spray for lighter styling needs