Vintage Armor have always had a rather extensive lineup of products behind their belt. With various oil based and water-based products under their repertoire, they've pretty much got most of their bases covered. The only thing that was lacking was that they didn't have a clay product to call their own. Recently those Malaccans decided to fix that gap and thus we have Vintage Armor's Kasturi Hair Clay; a water-based clay product with a heavy hold. Without further hesitation, let's dig into the details.
Packaging
Kasturi comes in an unusual 2.11 oz (60 g) glass jar with a black plastic lid. I've never really questioned Ikhwan about the reason behind this so it'll remain a mystery until then, but I'm assuming it's because he still wants to run the product through it's trial first. You get a gun metal label across the jar with red and silver accents and it looks absolutely gorgeous. The design is still consistent to Vintage Armor's current main product lineup and although it's of a smaller size, it's still plenty to work with.
Scent
The scent's been described as a woody spice smell. As bad as I am at detecting fragrance notes, I can't really smell any woody or spice scents. Honestly the scent reminds me of Head & Shoulders shampoo. A very clean, masculine and almost chemical smell. It's not bad for certain, but I do have a hard time identifying it. The scent remains subtle but fades out towards the end of the day.
Application
Scooping out the clay is an absolute breeze. Applying a small amount of pressure will get you a nice, thick and creamy scoop. Breaks down just as easy, feeling slightly more grip the more you break it down. Goes into the hair with a tiny bit of tug and pull, but not major enough to be ripping hairs out.
Texture
For a clay product, Kasturi has a surprising amount of slickness and lacks that familiar gritty feel with most clays. Combs through the hair really smoothly and has just enough resistance to indicate the hold you'll get later on. It has the ability to keep everything nice and tight which I personally like, but it's something that may not be appreciated by most clay users.
Control
Styling with the clay is really easy, providing plenty of hold and volume. I can attain great shape and height while still being able to keep my strays and cowlick in check due to it's slickness.
Strength
Advertised as a heavy, but I feel that it's more of a firm holding product. Feels nice and lightweight, but just sturdy enough to stay in place well throughout the day.
Shine
Doesn't give a truly matte finish and adds a nice lustre to your hair. A very minimal shine.
Durability
This product has a decent amount of endurance to hold up throughout the entire day. Being a fairly lightweight clay, it retains a good amount of volume and can easily be restyled if needed to. The slickness keeps the strays nice and tight and my sides don't get overly loose like with most clays.
Washability
It has a very effortless washout. One rinse is all you need and it leaves your hair feeling nice and soft.
Price-point
Kasturi costs $18.22 SGD ($13.76 USD) including shipping to Singapore. A pretty fair price for the amount that you get.
Verdict
Vintage Armor's products have always been reliable for me. The ones that I've tried have worked really well and if not, at least well enough. With Kasturi, it's definitely no less than that either.
I really enjoyed the application process with this clay. It doesn't feel too gritty like most clays and it applies really smoothly. Has an odd amount of slickness which is fine for me because it keeps a lot of my trouble areas in check. Provides just enough hold and endurance to last a full day and it washes out without any bother. I think the main obvious drawback would be it's disability to provide good texture. I find that it's too slick to give off a messier look.
Nevertheless, Vintage Armor's Kasturi makes a great finish to complete their Malay warriors lineup. It may not be the best clay product for looser hairstyles but if you like a bit more slickness but still want good volume, this might be worth looking at.
I really enjoyed the application process with this clay. It doesn't feel too gritty like most clays and it applies really smoothly. Has an odd amount of slickness which is fine for me because it keeps a lot of my trouble areas in check. Provides just enough hold and endurance to last a full day and it washes out without any bother. I think the main obvious drawback would be it's disability to provide good texture. I find that it's too slick to give off a messier look.
Nevertheless, Vintage Armor's Kasturi makes a great finish to complete their Malay warriors lineup. It may not be the best clay product for looser hairstyles but if you like a bit more slickness but still want good volume, this might be worth looking at.
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