It seems like there's a delightful coincidence happening here, as all the products in this segment come in pairs! With a lineup of six products across three brands, there’s plenty to explore.
Murdock London
Let’s kick things off with Murdock London. Renowned in the UK, Murdock is a chain of upscale hair salons that often ventures into creating their own hair care and styling products. I've previously reviewed their skincare line, and now it's time to dive into two standout styling products.
Murdock London's salon.
HAIR PLAY MOULDING CREAM
This cream-based styling product is soft and easy to distribute, with a sweet bubblegum scent that isn’t too overpowering - perfect for a morning pick-me-up!
The Hair Play Moulding Cream works best for short, naturally tousled hairstyles, rather than longer styles like pompadours or slick backs. Expect a slight shine that fades after about 1-2 hours, with a medium hold lasting around 6 hours - even under a helmet. If you're aiming for that “styled but not styled” look, this is a solid choice. However, if your hair is on the longer side (7-8cm or more), you may want to consider alternatives as the hold may not last as long.
Rating: 3.5/5
Price: £14 (around 400,000 VND)
ELASTICK HAIR FIBRE GUM
Think of this as a cream-wax hybrid, but with a more liquid consistency. Murdock's Fibre Gum features a striking turquoise hue and an even bolder bubblegum scent than the Moulding Cream. Unfortunately, I found this product a bit underwhelming. The light, thin wax leads to a weak hold, with hair beginning to droop after just 3-4 hours. While it offers slightly more shine than the Moulding Cream and creates a natural volume, the hold is still lacking.
A redeeming quality of the Fibre Gum is its ability to serve as a pre-styling product, providing a light hold and pleasant aroma when paired with unscented waxes like Hanz de Fuko Claymation.
Rating: 2/5
Price: £14 (around 400,000 VND)
Ruffians
Next up is Ruffians, another styling line from a UK salon that's earned acclaim from GQ magazine for its exceptional haircuts and products.
A corner of the Ruffians salon in London, England.
Their salons feature a chic, modern yet classic aesthetic, and their products reflect this ethos.
ROUGH MATT CLAY
Ruffians prides itself on natural ingredients, steering clear of chemicals and preservatives. Their Rough Matt Clay contains beeswax, white clay, lanolin, and natural herbal oils, boasting an addictive woodsy scent - think sandalwood with a warm, masculine aroma.
Unlike many clay products that can be hard to spread, this one is a breeze to work with. The smooth wax melts in your hands, making application effortless. The hold is impressive, lasting around 6-7 hours even through helmet wear. While it offers a decent volume, be aware that its rich, oil-heavy formula may feel a bit heavy for some.
Rating: 4/5
Price: £14.95 (approximately 450,000 VND)
CLASSIC POMADE
Ruffians’ Classic Pomade is a water-based formula enriched with coconut oil and ginger root extracts. It gives your hair a light feel with moderate shine. Although it’s marketed to thicken hair, I didn't notice a significant change in thickness, likely due to my already thick hair. This classic pomade allows for neatly styled hair strands and a reliable hold for 5-6 hours. The sandalwood scent, while delightful, is lighter compared to the Rough Matt Clay.
This pomade is best suited for medium to long hair (6-8cm) for styles like quiffs, pompadours, or slick backs. Just remember to keep a comb handy for touch-ups, as it isn’t as easy to adjust with just your hands.
Rating: 3.5/5
Price: £9.95 (around 300,000 VND)
Tough & Tumble
Last but not least, we have Tough & Tumble, hailing from Brooklyn, New York. This brand stands out with its modern, handcrafted pomades featuring intriguing lava rock ingredients.
Lava Pomade No.1
The scent of Lava Pomade No.1 hits hard, reminiscent of a bold cologne that some may find overpowering. It boasts a pale purple color and a unique combination of softness, elasticity, and density. Despite being labeled as "matte," it retains a natural shine without adding excessive gloss or drying out your hair.
Expect excellent texture and volume; you can blow-dry and style your hair into large sections, and it will hold for about 6 hours - even on thick hair. Just don’t expect that polished, classic pomade finish; this one leans towards a trendy, messy look, making it ideal for quiffs and pompadours.
Rating: 4/5
Price: 480,000 VND
Lava Pomade No.2
With an intriguingly elusive scent that can only be described as fragrant soap, Lava Pomade No.2 is a denser water-based pomade, likely due to the lava rock ingredients. It provides a light shine that sits just above natural.
When applied to dry hair, it can feel slightly fragile, and while it claims to be a strong hold, it typically lasts about 5 hours before beginning to falter. The fragility, however, allows for easy restyling - perfect for switching from a quiff to a side part when the situation calls for it.
Rating: 3/5
Price: 480,000 VND
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