High hold
Gums or waxes give some structure, without the polymers that carry a firm hold.
- Beeswax
- Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax
Partly supported
Soft structure, not firm hold.
American Crew
Matte Clay
Styler / Paste, strong-hold
- Styler
- paste
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Protein-free
Size3 fl ozmost listed · 2 sizes
Price$10.50 Good valueseen at one store · 3 oz
Price / oz$3.50/ozat 3 oz
Where to buy3 stores · 2 sizes
Scent:
The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.
Manufacturer page: americancrew.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
Complete the consultation to see exactly how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 2,400+ products in our library we can match exactly the right products to you.
- In 10 minutes we can identify your exact hair condition and traits.
- Every product matched against your hair across the 22 factors we check.
- A personalized routine for your daily life — your schedule, styling habits, and local weather.
- Find products that do the same job at a lower cost.
- Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.
$49.00 one-time consultation, no subscription
Add the optional $49/year membership for unlimited adjustments for changes in weather and lifestyle.
Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
Curly–Coily
Not in your profile
Moisture level
Moderate
Not in your profile
Hold (as stated)
Strong
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
Little
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Rich
Not in your profile
Fragrance
Present
Not in your profile
Protein
None
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
High
Not in your profile
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate
Not in your profile
Parabens / preservatives
Present
Not in your profile
Show all 22 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
Essential oils
None listed
Not in your profile
Fast-drying alcohol
None
Not in your profile
Vegan / cruelty-free
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Aerosol can
Pump or tube
Not in your profile
Needs heat to set
Not determined
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Not heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
None
Not in your profile
UV filter
None listed
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
19 ingredientsAbout average
Not in your profile
Price tier
Masstige
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
Ulta · Brand website
Not in your profile
The consultation builds your hair profile, then reads every factor in this table against it — and tells you where this product fits, or what to use instead.
Start your consultation$49.00 once, for your consultation and hair profile. No subscription, no required purchases.
Your avoid-list
Lower cost than most pastes
$3.50/oz at 3 oz — less than 88% of the 90 pastes , which mostly run $5.59–10.34/oz.
Great for
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Coarse or dry hairthat absorbs everything you give it
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Matte, textured stylesabsorbent powders do the mattifying
Maybe skip if
this product carries a scent
Oily scalp or fine hairthat gets weighed down
Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Hold (as stated)
Strong
A strong hold, as stated by the brand.
Hold system
Wax
Gums and synthetic polymers together.
Cast risk
Unlikely
Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely.
Weight on the hair
Rich
Heavy butters and waxes in the first eight ingredients.
Oil absorption
High
Absorbent powders or starches high in the list.
Oils and butters
Present, high in the list
Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula.
Fast-drying alcohol
None
No fast-drying alcohol in the list.
Needs detergent to remove
Yes
Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them.
Fragrance
Present
Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.
from the formula
stated by the brand
reported by reviewers
Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients plus anything lower down that changes a decision. These chips name what an ingredient does — they are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterAqua/Water/Eau | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Kaolin | clay | Absorbs oil and adds texture | Neutral |
| Petrolatum | sealant | Seals moisture in | Heavy |
| BeeswaxCera Alba/Beeswax/Cire D'abeille | wax | Holds shape and adds weight | Buildup |
| PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate | emulsifier | Keeps oil and water mixed | Softens |
| Oleth-10 | emulsifier | Keeps oil and water mixed | Stabilizes |
| Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) WaxCera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Cire De Carnauba | wax | Holds shape and adds weight | Buildup |
| Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile Minerale | emollient | Softens and smooths the strand | Heavy |
| FragranceParfum (Fragrance) | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Citral | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Citronellol | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Geraniol | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Protein-free: this is built for moisture rather than for strengthening. Contains fragrance. Contains heavier butters.
Full ingredient list (19)
US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Annotations keep three readings separate: the ingredient's general function, its role in this product type, and what its position can support.
-
1
Water
· Aqua/Water/Eau
General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
Kaolin
General function
A soft white clay that absorbs oil and adds body without much grit.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairAbsorbs oil and adds texture, which is what gives fine hair grip at the root instead of slip.
May not suitVery dry or highly damaged hairAn absorbent solid takes up oil, and hair already short of it has less to give.
- clay
- powder
-
3
Petrolatum
General function
A heavy sealing agent that locks moisture in and takes detergent to remove.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairForms a physical barrier on the strand that slows water leaving it. Nothing else in a formula holds moisture in as bluntly.
May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesIt does not disperse in water at all: removing it means a detergent wash, and until then it stays exactly where it landed.
- sealant
- emollient
-
4
Beeswax
· Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire D'abeille
General function
A firm natural wax that grips and holds hair in place. It resists water and can take repeated washing to remove.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingA wax holds by staying solid on the strand, which gives grip and separation rather than a set film that cracks.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairForms a physical barrier on the strand that slows water leaving it. Nothing else in a formula holds moisture in as bluntly.
May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesIt does not disperse in water at all: removing it means a detergent wash, and until then it stays exactly where it landed.
- wax
- film former
- sealant
-
5
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
General function
A coconut-derived emulsifier that softens a cleanser and reduces the stripped feeling.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emulsifier
- emollient
-
6
Oleth-10
General function
An emulsifier used to disperse oils and fragrance.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- emulsifier
- solubilizer
-
7
Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax
· Cera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Cire De Carnauba
General function
A hard palm wax that gives firm hold and shine.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingA wax holds by staying solid on the strand, which gives grip and separation rather than a set film that cracks.
May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesWaxes do not dissolve in water. They need a detergent wash to come off, and they are the classic cause of a coated feel.
DependsCurls or waves needing flexible holdHow rigid the finish is depends on which polymer it is and what the formula pairs with it, not on there being one.
- wax
- film former
-
8
Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile Minerale
General function
Mineral oil. It seals the surface and adds slip, and takes detergent to remove.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairCoats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairForms a physical barrier on the strand that slows water leaving it. Nothing else in a formula holds moisture in as bluntly.
- emollient
- sealant
- oil
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
9
Fragrance
· Parfum (Fragrance)
General function
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
10
Benzyl Alcohol
- preservative
- solvent
-
11
Citral
General function
A lemon-scented fragrance component listed separately as a recognised allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
12
Citronellol
General function
A rose-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
13
Geraniol
General function
A rose-scented fragrance component, listed on its own because some people react to it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
14
Limonene
General function
A citrus-smelling fragrance component that EU rules require to be named separately because some people react to it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
15
Linalool
General function
A floral fragrance component listed separately as a recognised contact allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
16
Ethylparaben
- paraben
- preservative
-
17
Methylparaben
- paraben
- preservative
-
18
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
19
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
What the whole list adds up to
- 6 fragrances
- 5 preservatives
- 5 named fragrance allergens
- 3 sealants
- 3 emollients
- 2 solvents
- 2 waxs
- 2 film formers
- 2 emulsifiers
- 2 parabens
- 1 clay
- 1 powder
- 1 solubilizer
- 1 oil
Ingredient list captured 2026-08-27. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 3 oz
Seen at
$10.50
Good value under
$20
Usually a good value. Most stores sell it under the $20 line, and products that do this job typically go for about $23 at this size.
Sizes
3 ozmost listed
$10.50
$3.50/oz
5 oz
$21.50
$4.30/oz
The 3 oz costs the least per ounce — 19% less than the 5 oz.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it4 listings · 3 stores
3 ozmost listedBest per ounce
-
Glamot.com
$10.503 oz · $3.50/ozAug 29Lowest per ozSale · was $13.17
-
Ulta
$23.003 oz · $7.67/ozAug 27
5 oz
-
JCPenney
$21.505 oz · $4.30/ozAug 29Lowest per oz
-
Ulta
$23.00Aug 25
Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product. and 4 listings we don’t count — grey-market or unverified sellers.
How we work this out
- 3 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
- Seen at $10.50 is the price we have observed for the 3 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
- Good value under $20 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $6.66/oz; at 3 oz that is $20. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- Each size is guarded on its own, so a multipack or a marketplace listing at one size cannot move another.
- About $23 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 3 oz.
Formula
9
Formula score
9 of 10
This formula covers the systems a paste is built around, and it costs less per ounce than most of the pastes we have researched.
How the score is counted
- Costs less per ounce than 88% of the 90 pastes we’ve priced
- Covers 5 of the 6 things a paste should do
- Reviewers mention 3 things they like about how it performs
- Masstige tier, sold at Ulta and Brand website
- A hold systemThe polymer, gum, or wax that holds the shape.3 pts
- Softeners alongside the holdWhat keeps a film flexible instead of brittle.2 pts
- No drying alcohol in the first threeFast drying without leading on alcohol.2 pts
- A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
- A humidity claim with a mechanismThe claim has a film former or silicone behind it.1 pt
- Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt
The formula score is completeness for the job: the share of the systems this product type is normally built around that we can find in this list, weighted. It is not efficacy, not quality, and it never compares across product types.
Does the same job
Same derived functions — what it cleans, conditions, coats or holds — at a lower cost per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy it can still differ.
RedkenSame function
Brews Clay Pomade
$7.06/oz $3.56/oz more
- Protein-free
- Curly method
- Rich
- Differs
REUZELClose function
Green Grease Pomade Oil-Based Medium Hold
$5.46/oz $1.96/oz more
- Protein-free
- Curly method
- Rich
- Function
- Also
REUZELLowest cost per oz
Rosemary Mint Hydrating Styling Cream
$4.72/oz $1.22/oz more
- Protein-free
- Curly method
- Rich
- Function
- Also
See more alternatives in the product library
These are functional neighbours, not personal recommendations — they are close on formula, not chosen for anyone. Get the one that fits your hair, routine, and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
A solid pick for the hair it suitsBest user
Hair that stiffens on protein — for a protein-free formula and a curly-method-compatible formula
Biggest tradeoff
Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance, oily scalps and fine hair, or anyone stretching time between washes
Best alternative if not
Nothing in our library matches it closely at a lower price.
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Claims check
What the brand says, against what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when the ingredient list actually speaks to it; everything else stays "stated by the brand", which is not a criticism — most claims simply cannot be read off a label.
1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
1
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
2
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
1
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Medium shine
The formula carries a recognised shine system — silicone, oil, or light ester.
- Petrolatum
- Beeswax
- Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile Minerale
Supported
Reflects light for visible shine.
Long-lasting workable hold
This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.
—
Stated by brand
Can’t be confirmed from label.
Builds texture
This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.
—
Stated by brand
Can’t be confirmed from label.
Washes out easily
Waxes or occlusives sit high in the list, and those do not rinse out in water alone.
- Petrolatum
- Beeswax
- Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax
Potential conflict
Expect to need a real cleanse.
How to read this
We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula — not marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
Reviewers
What people report
Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.
Easy to work with, provides great hold that lasts all day
Ulta reviewerMatte finish keeps hair where it's combed, without greasiness
Ulta reviewerGives a dry, low-shine, medium-hold look that reads as natural rather than product-heavy
Ulta reviewerMore from American Crew
How this page was made
- Everything above is generated from our researched product record — identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. No part of this page is written per product.
- The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
- Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
- The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
- 2 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-27.
- Ingredient references are linked for 4 of 12 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are conditional formulation guidance, not a conclusion about the finished product or about you.
- We have not tested this product in a lab and we do not physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list; behaviour claims are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v22. Record last updated 2026-08-27.