Lockhart's Matte Clay review

We all know and love the Lockhart's Authentic line. The light, medium, heavy and Goon Grease are all amazing oil based pomades. Not to mention all the seasonal pomades they release on top of that as well. However, I feel that their Professional line tends to get a bit overlooked. If you're unfamiliar, Lockhart's Professional is a range of products that have been cooked in a lab rather than being homebrewed (under close supervision, of course). Steve and Nichole were kind enough to send me some of their products which I will be reviewing over the next few weeks. For now we're gonna shine the spotlight on their clay product; Lockhart's Matte Clay. 

Packaging

Lockhart's Matte Clay comes in a 3.7 oz amber plastic tub. The lid features a label designed very similarly to the Authentic lineup. The labels on the side display all the information including a handy statistics chart that state the basic characteristics of the product. Has a very salon-grade product feel to it, and I feel it works very well.

Scent

The scent is described to have subtle notes of lavender, earthy moss and musk. It indeed smells like an earthy lavender scent and is rather fragrant. I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of the scent but it definitely doesn't bother me either. It's also fairly subtle in the hair so that plays to my advantage as well.

 

Application

While I've reviewed several clays before, this is the first time I've tried an oil based clay. It definitely requires some elbow grease, but scooping it out isn't ridiculously hard. Comes out thick and has this slight creaminess as well; almost like a hard peanut butter-like paste. Breaking it down isn't too tough. Just gotta keep warming it up in your hands and it breaks down into this thick, slightly gritty paste. Goes into your hair with some tug and pull, but nothing too unbearable.

Texture

Because it's an oil based clay, I find that the amount of texture you get depends on how much product you use in your hair. Use less and you can get a looser, more textured hairstyle. The more product you use, the more slickness you get. I've even found that I can get a really clean pompadour with this. It's definitely a versatile clay and you can go both messy or clean depending on your preference.

Control

Matt Clay isn't as dry as other clay products that I've tried. It has a slightly stickier and slicker feel to it and that really helps me to style with. I can still run a comb through without it snagging so I find styling with this to be very pleasant.

Strength

Stated to be a medium to firm holding clay. I think the amount of hold that you get depends on how much you use as well. Using less would get you a medium hold and more would get you a firm hold.

Shine

Despite it being called Matte Clay, I think it has a rather low shine. Using less might give you a matte shine at best, but it won't give you a completely matte look.

 

Durability

This clay has a slightly denser feel to it compared to the water-based clays that I've tried. It's not heavy in weight, but it really helps to uphold the height and volume that I get. The tiny bit of stickiness keeps strays in place. It withstands the heat well and is able to be restyled without issue too.

Washability

Don't let the fact that it's an oil based clay scare you with washing it out. I find that 1-2 showers with shampoo can easily get the product out.

Price-point

Including shipping to Singapore, getting Lockhart's Matte Clay directly from their online store would cost you $54.53 SGD ($39.90 USD). Not cheap indeed, but local retailers here usually sell it for $32 SGD ($23.41 USD) average. A rather drastic difference if you ask me. Unless you're from or close to the US, I'd recommend getting it from your nearby retailer.

Verdict

It's no secret by now that I'm a huge fan of Lockhart's products. I've tried and owned nearly every single one of their oil based pomades and they've all performed amazingly for me. I've always wanted to give their Professional line a go, so I gotta thank the Lockhart's team for sending me some of them.

Being the first oil based clay that I've used, I didn't really know what to expect. Maybe it's the fact that I like using oil based pomades, but I really like Lockhart's Matte Clay. I usually don't like clays because they lack control over my stubborn areas and get a tad bit too dry. That is not what I face with this product. If anything, it feels like a clean and waxy oil based pomade to me. I like how it's really versatile and it can style my hair pretty well. The only things that I didn't like about it is how it scoops out and breaks down. It's a bit too thick for my liking, but I do get that it's just the beeswax, kaolin and petrolatum showing through.

It goes without saying that I'd easily recommend this product to a lot of you. I would also suggest this clay to oil based pomade users who want to get their feet wet in clays but are a bit hesitant to do so. I think this would make a great transitional product for you to start with. The versatility of Lockhart's Matte Clay can be appreciated by many of us in the grooming game. If you're looking for a product that can switch between clean and messy, your search might be over.

Click here to visit Lockhart's Authentic on their online store