A new generation of hair clay

It’s a good time of year to invest in a hair clay. There’s something about winter that makes one look to earthy things of substance, to natural protectors against the harsh elements – and the rough texture of a clay in your hands feels satisfyingly enduring.

In the old days if you bought a matt clay, it tended to be pretty rigid stuff – hard to get out of the tub, clumpy, and prone to flaking over all your clothes after a few hours. Not so any more. Our new Matt Clay is at the forefront of formulations out there that have a built-in flexibility, yet without losing any of the strength and structure you would expect from a clay.

How does it work?

The kaolin clay binds to the hair by absorbing the sebum, clinging to the hair shaft, that’s emitted from the scalp. This reduces shine and absorbs light, giving the impression of fullness, body and thickness, and ensures your hold. Meanwhile, the active ingredients work to benefit the hair – natural candelilla and olive waxes nourish, thicken and condition, and organic seaweed extracts protect against daily pollutants and UV damage.

How to use it

We spoke to Robyn from our Edinburgh store about how to get the best out of the Ruffians Matt Clay.

“The Ruffians Matt Clay is a really versatile clay, with enough flexibility in it to re-shape and style throughout the day,” explains Robyn. “It can create a bold structured pomp or a textured choppy crop, on both short or medium length hair. But for best results, use in dry hair.”

STEP 1 Towel-dry hair after washing and use a hairdryer to blast over the entirety of the hair until it is 80% dry.

STEP 2 Set a hairdryer to medium heat and start working in circular motions at the crown. This will allow the crown to sit naturally without any parts sticking up. Once the crown is dry, work on the sides and back, directing the nozzle in the direction of the hair growth – from the crown to your neck at the back and from the crown to the ears/face on the sides. Continue to dry the top in the direction of hair growth, breaking the hair with hands to allow the airflow.

STEP 3 Once completely dry, take a pea sized amount of Ruffians Matt Clay and rub together in the palm of your hands. Work the product through the entirety of your hair – making sure you get an even distribution from front to back. Remember that less is more, start with a small amount of clay and add more if needed.

For maximum texture and a messier look, let the product do the styling for you. If you wanted the style a little sleeker, use a brush or comb. 

BARBER’S TIP

If you’re looking to add more texture to your look, Robyn suggests using the Ruffians Marine Spray in towel-dried hair before blow drying, and then apply the Ruffians Matt Clay as above.

Ruffians Matt Clay is available to purchase from all five of our shops, or can be bought from our online store.

Barber: Robyn Mulgrew (@robynxruffians)