The name is worth reading in full. Reuzel makes several pomades, including other matte options. This review concerns Clay Matte Medium Hold Pomade.
The useful specifications
| Detail | Manufacturer information |
|---|---|
| Hold | Medium, rated 6/10 by Reuzel |
| Finish | Matte, rated 1/10 shine by Reuzel |
| Fragrance | Vanilla mint |
| Sizes | 95g and 35g |
| UK direct price | £18.50 for 95g; £10 for 35g |
These are Reuzel's descriptions and UK prices checked on 29 October 2026, not our test scores. UK prices include tax; delivery is extra. Reuzel UK product page. The UK URL says “strong hold”, but the product description and tin specify medium hold.
Who I'd put it on the shortlist for
My starting point would be someone with fine to medium hair who wants definition without a glossy finish. Reuzel identifies that hair range itself. I'd bring it into the conversation for a cropped cut with separated sections, rather than a very polished, combed-back look.
I'd ask the barber how much of the desired shape comes from the haircut and drying it. A jar is easy to buy; a reference photograph may depend on length through the top or a direction of drying that your current routine never creates. The useful product is the one that finishes that work, rather than trying to replace all of it.
For someone happy with their cut but unhappy with a hard, fixed finish, medium hold is a reasonable feature to investigate. It is not a promise that this tin will feel soft in every head of hair. Amount and application still belong in the decision.
Clay Matte or American Crew Fiber
American Crew positions Fiber as high hold and low shine. That is the more obvious starting point when structure matters most. Reuzel's medium-hold claim gives it a different brief. The two belong on the same shopping list, but they are not formula duplicates. American Crew Fiber.
There is no shared testing scale behind the two descriptions. I wouldn't translate “high” into a number and announce that one is a fixed percentage stronger. Reuzel's 6/10 is useful within its own range, not a laboratory comparison against American Crew.
The full Fiber versus Clay Matte comparison also looks at the small sizes. Buying a smaller tin is a defensible way to discover that a finish isn't for you without having a large amount left over.
The small tin costs more per gram
At the checked UK prices, the 95g tin costs about £1.95 per 10g. The 35g size costs about £2.86 per 10g. The larger tin provides substantially better unit value, but it also asks you to spend £8.50 more before you know whether you want to use it regularly.
I'd buy the 35g size for a first attempt if I was uncertain about the finish or fragrance. I'd move to 95g after deciding it deserved a regular place in the routine. That is a different calculation from automatically choosing the cheapest price per gram.
Check the stated weight when comparing retailers. A listing for an older 113g tin is not the same quantity as the current 95g option checked here. Comparing prices without the weight can make the smaller tin look like a better deal than it is.
Application I'd start with
Reuzel's instructions say to work the product thoroughly between the palms and apply to towel-dried or dry hair, beginning at the crown. I'd make that first step deliberate rather than transferring a lump straight from the tin to the fringe.
For a first use, I'd keep the amount modest and note what I did. If the shape isn't right, changing the amount, hair dampness and drying method all at once makes it difficult to learn much. Work out one ordinary morning method that suits the cut before chasing a more elaborate routine.
I'd also judge washout against the shampoo I actually use. Reuzel describes this as water soluble and says it washes out with regular shampoo. That is a manufacturer description, not our timed rinse test or a claim that water alone will remove every application.
Reasons I'd leave it on the shelf
A vanilla-mint fragrance is still fragrance. If avoiding a scented styler matters, I'd start elsewhere. If I wanted shine, I'd also choose a product sold for that finish rather than expecting this one to look glossy.
Most of all, I wouldn't keep applying more because I wanted a level of hold the product was never designed to offer. Once the 35g trial has answered that question, the next purchase should solve it.
How this review was assessed
This assessment compares current manufacturer specifications, pack sizes, directions and direct UK prices. It includes no hands-on hold, washout or wear-duration test.