With the completely new collection from Forte Series we thought it was a good time to write something about the Forte Series Texture Clay. The first product from Forte Series has been a bestseller for several years now, it has skyrocketed since its launch. We were surprised by the enormous popularity the product has gained in our store in a short time. Is the product really that good?
Forte Series is of course the brand of the well-known influencer Alex Costa. He is known for his great hairstyle to which he devotes a lot of care. He often uses the Texture clay in his videos. That naturally contributes enormously to brand awareness. But to test whether the product is really that good, we actually have to compare it to a similar product that has long proven itself. Then we naturally arrive at the Claymation from Hanz De Fuko. The Hanz De Fuko Claymation has been one of the best and most popular clays on the market for years. That's why we put them side by side and compare the key features.
Hanz de Fuko
Hanz de Fuko was founded in 2009 by David Alfonso and his best friend Christopher Zent. They wanted to break away from the boring corporate world and create something that would break current standards. A product with which every man can express his own creativity. The traditional way of thinking about men's appearance grooming had to change. For this, men needed access to products that are more stylish and innovative. This is how Hanz de Fuko was born. They were the first brand to send products to influencers to gain brand awareness. The brand quickly became world-famous. Famous stars like David Beckham and Hugh Jackman, for example, use the products of Hanz de Fuko.
Forte Series
Meanwhile, the world looks completely different. Hanz de Fuko sent their products to influencers, and now influencers themselves are coming up with their products. So did Alex Costa, one of the biggest YouTubers in the field of everything related to men's appearance grooming. Alex is someone who is known for his great looks. Many people always wonder what exactly he does with his hair. He must spend hours in front of the mirror. Well, not really. According to Alex, it's about using the right product and how you use it. It inspired Alex to have products developed himself. He built a complete community around Forte Series and had the product fully developed based on the needs of the people in his community. The result was the Texture clay. A clay that provides a lot of hold, texture, and also cares for the hair. Here you see the clay in action.
Claymation vs Texture Clay
The Claymation from Hanz de Fuko is one of the most acclaimed hair styling products in the world and certainly the bestseller of Hanz de Fuko. The Texture Clay from Forte Series has only just really come into existence. Let's see how it holds up.
Ingredients
Notably, the ingredient list of the texture clay is considerably longer. It contains slightly more nourishing ingredients and some more ingredients for durability. They are both made from natural ingredients. Looking at the active ingredients, both products are very similar. They both contain a lot of beeswax and bentonite. That is a good sign. Bentonite is a type of clay that gives the hair a lot of volume. Both products do not differ much from each other on paper. Only the proportions are somewhat different. Score: 0 - 0
Scent
If you are really a fetishist in the field of fragrances, we have to disappoint you. Both products contain no fragrance and therefore have a neutral scent. The only thing you might catch in terms of scent are the ingredients themselves. The advantage is, of course, that the product becomes less flavor-sensitive and also gives less chance of allergic reactions. Score 0 - 0
Texture and application in the hair
At first face, both products look the same in the jar. But appearances can be deceiving. You will notice the difference when you want to take the product out of the jar. The Texture clay is much thicker and harder than the Claymation. You can easily scoop the claymation out of the jar with your fingertip and spread it quite easily over your hand.
With the Texture clay, you really have to press your fingertip into the product to get some out. It takes a bit of rubbing in your hand to spread the product. Eventually, the product warms up and it becomes much easier.
Application
You will also notice the difference above when applying. The claymation is smooth and you can effortlessly distribute it through your hair. The Texture clay feels a bit stickier and is sometimes a bit stiff. Not so much that it is annoying, but more than the claymation. Once distributed in the hair, the Texture clay does provide much more control than the claymation. However, the ease of use of the claymation is better here. Score: 0 - 1 for Claymation
Hold
The Texture Clay may be a bit stiffer than the Claymation, but in terms of Hold, the Texture Clay absolutely blows the Claymation away. The Claymation has a good flexible hold and is absolutely not bad. Still one of the best. But you just have more control over your hair and it just stays in place longer. Also, the hair is easy to restyle. That stiff you notice little of it after application. We are positively surprised! This point goes to Forte Series. Score: 1 -1
Gloss
Shine or Shine is naturally very personal. One person wants a bit of natural shine and another really matte. The Claymation from Hanz de Fuko should give a matte finish. In our opinion, that's not entirely true. It has a little bit of natural shine, but not completely matte. The Texture Clay does give a truly matte effect. It is also a bit drier than the Claymation. We believe that a clay should be matte. Therefore, this point goes to the Texture Clay. Score: 2-1 for Forte Series.
Washing Out
Both products contain a lot of beeswax. Therefore, neither is completely water-based. You also notice this when washing out both products. With just water, it doesn't really work. Fortunately, just a little bit of shampoo is enough to get both products out of your hair. Here, both products actually score equally. Score still: 2-1
Price:
This is where it gets really interesting. Both products are about the same price. The difference is exactly one euro. You get the Claymation in a jar of 56 grams. The Texture Clay comes in a jar of, yes, 100 ml! The Texture Clay is therefore quite well priced. Therefore, this point also goes to the Texture Clay. Score: 3-1
And the winner is.....
Looking at the score, the Texture Clay is clearly the winner between these two. However, it is very personal. It depends on what you are looking for in a product. Do you want your hair to stay in place well and have a lot of control? Then the Texture Clay clearly wins. If you go purely for ease of use and a more flexible hold, then Claymation is your product. It is a somewhat smoother product. Also, the shine is decisive for some men. One wants matte and the other wants a little bit of shine.
Is the Texture Clay from Forte Series then a hype from the world of influencers? Absolutely not. It can compete with the best clays on the market. As far as we are concerned, it is here to stay.