American Crew makes more than a dozen stylers and the tubs do not explain themselves. Every one of them is a different combination of two things: how hard it holds and how much it shines. Sort them on those two axes and the choice takes a minute.
The grid
| Product | Hold | Shine | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber | High | Low | Short hair, thick messy texture |
| Matte Clay | High, workable | Medium | Short textured cuts, touchable texture |
| Molding Clay | High | Medium | Sculpted styles with some sheen |
| Defining Paste | Medium | Low | Texture and volume, natural finish |
| Forming Cream | Medium | Medium | Everyone, any hair type |
| Fiber Cream | Medium | Natural | Fiber's texture in an easier cream |
| Pomade | Medium | High | Slick, combed, classic |
| Heavy Hold Pomade | Strong | High | Slick styles that must last |
| Grooming Cream | High | High | Sleek straight looks, thick hair |
| Cream Pomade | Medium | Light | Textured definition with moisture |
| Whip | Light | Natural | Subtle, effortless texture |
| Superglue | Extreme | High | Spikes and extreme styles |
The four everyone asks about
Fiber
High hold, low shine, and it thickens as it goes in. Fiber is for short hair that wants a full, textured, deliberately messy finish. It is the hardest of the four to work through, so warm it between your palms first and use it on dry hair.
Matte Clay
The modern Fiber. High hold that stays workable all day with medium shine and touchable texture, for crops, textured quiffs and anything you want to look like you did not try. It is our best-selling American Crew product for a reason. The Matte Clay Cream is the lighter-control version, and the Matte Clay Spray is the same finish without touching your hair.
Forming Cream
Medium hold, medium shine, and it works on any hair type at any length. It is the American Crew product for people who do not want to think about it: run it through damp or dry hair, comb or hand-style, done. The Forming Cream Gel is the curl-friendly version.
Pomade
Medium hold with high shine, for side parts, slick backs and anything combed. It is water-based, so it washes out. Step up to the Heavy Hold Pomade if the style drops by lunch, or across to Grooming Cream if you want more hold with the same shine.
Gels, sprays and powders
- Gels: Firm Hold for thick, shiny, full hair; Light Hold is alcohol-free and lighter; Medium Hold Spray Gel is the spray-on version; Fiber Gel enhances natural texture on medium lengths.
- Sprays: Grooming Spray is variable hold on damp or dry hair; Alternator is the flexible, restyle-able spray.
- Powder: Boost Powder is matte, weightless root lift for fine hair.
- Foam and lotion: Fiber Grooming Foam for volume before a blow-dry; Light Hold Texture Lotion for fine or thin hair that wants control without product feel.
How to pick in one minute
- Shine or no shine? Matte: Fiber, Defining Paste, Boost Powder. Medium: Matte Clay, Forming Cream. Shine: Pomade, Grooming Cream, gels.
- How much hold? Light: Whip, Texture Lotion. Medium: Forming Cream, Defining Paste, Pomade. High: Fiber, Matte Clay, Grooming Cream. Extreme: Superglue.
- Short and textured is Matte Clay. Undecided is Forming Cream. Slick is Pomade.
Where to buy American Crew stylers in Adelaide
Every product above is at MV Hair & Beauty, 412 Churchill Road, Kilburn, with click and collect locally and delivery Australia-wide. Standard shipping is free on orders of A$99 and over.
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