Star Wax Premium Pomade, Original, 5 fl oz / 150 ml

When I found Redken's Rough Clay 20, it was a match made in heaven. I bought it every time I got a haircut from the salon I use and I never needed anything else. Then, as it often happens, my beloved product was discontinued and Redken didn't replace it with anything similar. I've spent the last five years looking for a product that could duplicate the properties of Rough Clay to no avail.At long last, I've found something that's incredibly similar in this Star Wax Premium Clay. When you open the jar—which is quite large, more than double the amount you'll get with most other products—you notice that the consistency of the product is almost identical to that of the Redken Rough Clay 20. It's very thick, almost looking like actual clay, and matte. There's absolutely zero shine to it, which was something I always look for in a product as many of them tend to make my hair look greasy and unclean. My hair is currently cut into something derivative of a pompadour—longer on top and buzzed on the back and sides with a very minimal amount of fading in between—so the amount that I used was roughly the size of my thumbnail. I put it into my hands, rubbed them together to warm it up a little bit, then combed it into my hair using my fingers.The hold isn't quite as strong as the Redken Rough Clay 20, but it's close. I'd say the Redken was a strong hold, and the Star Pro Line Clay is a medium hold or thereabouts. Aside from the difference in the strength of the hold, styling my hair with the clay was like stepping into a time machine. It felt so much like Rough Clay 20 that I was so relieved for my search to be over. Yes, I'm aware this sounds dramatic, but we all have those products we love and become heartbroken when they're taken away. Using this Star Wax Premium Clay ended a search that lasted several years for me, so I really couldn't be happier.My one gripe is that I wish the hold were a bit stronger, but considering this is the closest I've ever come to Redken Rough Clay 20 and it's almost an identical product otherwise, I'm not going to deduct a star for that. The hold is still adequate, especially with a light spritz of hairspray. It's great for sculptural styles in which you would normally have trouble getting your hair to go or do what you want. Once the product "sets," it looks much like you would expect a pomade-type product to look, giving your hair great texture and definition, but without that shininess that can quickly make your hair look dirty. What's more, the Star Wax Premium Clay washes off your hands and out of your hair extremely easily, which I always appreciate; I've been frustrated at having to use half a bottle of shampoo before to get a product out of my hair, but this Star Wax Premium Clay washes out like conditioner.Also, this product has fragrance in it. It smells like a men's cologne. And it's not a smell that will remind you of cologne vaguely, but rather it smells like it was made with some men's cologne added to the mixture. I don't personally have an issue with that and I find that it smells pretty good, especially compared to the awful smell that some products out there have, but other reviewers have disliked the smell, calling it overpowering or saying that it makes the product smell like a cheap body spray. Again, I really don't mind it and find that of all the smells that could be radiating ever-so-slightly from my head, I certainly don't mind this one.Finally: Price. Yes, it's a bit more expensive than other products out there, but I'm a big believe in the old adage, "You get what you pay for." And with this Star Wax Premium Clay, you're also getting more than 2x's the amount that you get from most other lines, so I'd say there's even more value to be had here with this one.Bottom Line: If you were a fan of the Redken Rough Clay 20 or the Stephen Knoll New York matte clay that was also discontinued not long ago, this is going to be the best replacement that you'll find. Better yet, it's an almost identical product. It's got plenty of hold—though the hold can easily be supplemented with hairspray—and is a joy to work with as you style your hair. The smell is pleasant and not overpowering and it washes out easily. Also, it has great longevity, lasting me throughout the day and even in very humid conditions. I even sweat a little bit in 90-degree heat today and my hair still looked just as it did when I put the product in this morning. If this sounds good to you, look no further. This Star Pro Line Premium Clay is now my go-to styling product and is the only clay/pomade/sculpting wax that I'll ever buy.... until it inevitably gets discontinued, too.

Hello everyone, I have been researching these products for sometime now being that they are slightly more expensive and finally this week I ordered the Original & Clay and here is my honest review.Scent-Now the biggest thing I have read about this product is the scent, some people saying its too strong, others saying it smells girly and others that love it. Yes, the scent is there, you will smell it when you open it, I have seen people say it smells like flowers, others berries but in my opinion when I smell this product I am more reminded of the beach and i dont know about you but the beach isn't a girly smell who hasn't gone to the beach and smelled like, well, the beach? I wore it in my hair, left the container in my room and honestly, no one said they noticed anything until they stood within close proximity to me. So in my experience while the smell is strong when you sniff it, for my experience it isn't like people say that you can smell it from so far away and all that, but again everyones different just in my experience with it, I didnt find it to be as pungent as people have said.Consistency- The product does have a thick consistency, but once you start rubbing it in your hands it melts down easy and applies to the hair with ease, even combing it was simple, the comb glides through and the hair honestly just seems to fall into place with it.Styling ability-So far, I have tried the Original and I must say it is a top notch product, everything from the scent consistency and hold is great even the way it helped my hair is phenomenal. Most pomades recommend a finger tip amount of product, I dont know about you but I have very thick and wavy hair and I would always have to use at least 3-4 finger scoops to tame my hair and thats of heavy hold products. I can honestly say this is the first product that a finger tip full was literally all i needed, I did half a tip full just to be safe. I style my hair as a slicked back or a quiffy pompadour and this product held all the hair together slicked back and raised up in a pomp. So the way styling ability with this product is great, it has a thick consistency which is what keeps all the hairs together better so all in all its great for my particular style so maybe it won't work that well for a different hair style.Hardening up- Now most water based pomades harden up when you leave them in your hair, I personally find this to be determined by how much pomade you apply and in this case not much product was needed so i didnt experience much crunchy hard textures from the product drying.All in all, it is a great product for ME, every product works different for every hair type, I was told Hanz De Fuko would be great and they didnt work well for me. So if you can try it out, its a great product if it works with your hair type and style. I was weary but i took the shot and I have turned out loving it, it may even replace my current favorite Uppercut Deluxe Pomade. So I hope this helped everyone, enjoy and keep styling!

Other reviews got my hopes up. I might have given it 4 stars if I didn't have inflated expectations.No, I would not a wear a cologne with this scent as another reviewer suggested, but the smell is not unpleasant.The blue color is odd, but not highly visible when applied.My biggest issues are that:1. not easily applied/cleaned from hands due to thickness & consistency of pomade.2. not highly reworkable--the flip side of this is that it does readily wash out. If you like to put your hands in your hair, or retouch in the bathroom, you'll find that you lose hold & shine if you disturb your initial application much.3. On a positive note, you're not getting ripped off in terms of quantity of product with Star Wax like you are with other high-end brands. 5 fl. oz. goes a long way. Easily a 2-month supply, even if you have a lot of hair like myself.4. Another positive is that it washes out easily.5. It doesn't seem to dry out my hair, which is a problem with other products.6. It does darken the color of my hair.7. I'd prefer to have a natural look (i.e., it's not obvious I have any hair product in). This wax doesn't pull off the natural look very well. It's more for a wet or slicked back style.