When we talk about products for Hair Styling, it usually concerns Pomade or Hair Clay. Matte or gloss. Texture or sleek. Especially hairstyles with texture, volume, and a natural look are becoming increasingly popular. Most men immediately opt for a Hair Clay. A Hair Paste is then often overlooked.
The matte Hair Paste is still often the underdog. We think that's a shame! Because it's an incredibly versatile product that often delivers better results than a Hair Clay.
Especially in these times, men have slightly longer Hair. Understandably, the barbers were closed, and slightly longer hairstyles are very much in demand anyway. A Hair Paste is then much more suitable. More suitable than a slightly heavier Hair Clay. For clarity, a Hair Paste has many similarities with a Hair Clay. It's actually a type of Hair Clay, but finer in texture and lighter in your Hair. A Hair Clay is somewhat drier. It basically contains many of the same ingredients as a Hair Clay.
The advantages of this are that you can distribute it more easily in your Hair, and your Hair becomes less stiff. This makes it easy for men with thick Hair. On the other hand, it's light enough for men with thin Hair. Thin Hair quickly becomes too heavy and starts to sag. Nowadays, men often have longer Hair, and then a Hair Paste comes into its own. Easier to distribute and less heavy in your Hair. Your Hair stays nice and light, keeping it in shape longer.
We want to introduce you to the two best products in this area. The Shear Revival Northern Lights Matte Hair Paste and the Arcadian Matte Hair Paste. Now, the Hair Paste from Shear Revival is very well-known and popular. The Matte Hair Paste from Arcadian is somewhat less so. A real underdog in this battle. Unjustly, in our opinion. They are very similar. Just by placing both jars next to each other. They have the same shape but a different label.
About both Brands
Both Brands only make handmade and natural products. Shear Revival started producing products themselves in 2013. The founders Zachary, Jessica, and Ashley were looking for a product made from natural ingredients that also contributes to the health of the Hair and scalp. It simply didn't exist. In recent years, they have worked hard on such products, and the Northern Lights Matte Hair Paste is the ultimate result of this.
Arcadian Grooming is around started at the same time with the same idea. Founder Eric Dale began making products from natural resources early on, primarily for his own use. He never found what he was looking for in other products. The Matte Hair Paste is his ultimate product.
Both Brands strive for the best quality in terms of ingredients and Hair Styling. The stories are almost identical. Therefore, a battle between the incredibly popular Shear Revival and the still less known in the Netherlands Arcadian Grooming.
Ingredients
When you look at the ingredients, you can see again how much these products resemble each other. Both have only put the best for your Hair in a jar. All natural and responsible. The list of the Arcadian Matte Hair Paste is slightly longer. It contains just a bit more nourishing substances for the Hair. The Northern Lights by Shear Revival contains slightly fewer substances for durability. Notably, the Arcadian Matte Hair Paste contains Bentonite in addition to Kaolin. This is a natural clay type that provides a lot of Hold, volume, and texture. The Matte Hair Paste from Shear Revival only has Kaolin. This makes the biggest difference. Qualitatively, both products go neck and neck in terms of ingredients. Both products score one point.
Current score = 1 – 1
Scent
Then we come to scent. Something you may think completely differently about. The Shear Revival Northern Lights smells like Citrus and sage but very subtle and Fresh. It has a very natural scent. The Arcadian Matte Hair Paste is somewhat similar. Also that Citrus like but just a bit spicier, with a woody undertone. A bit more masculine. Therefore, one point for the Arcadian Matte Hair Paste.
Current score = 2 – 1 for Arcadian.
Structure and application in the Hair
Here the differences are slightly larger. When you run your finger through the jar of Shear Revival, you effortlessly glide through the substance. It is wonderfully soft and consistent. Applying it to the Hair is therefore very easy. You feel it pull a little, but that is something that occurs often with clay products.
The Matte Hair Paste from Arcadian is slightly firmer. Removing it from the jar still requires little effort, but you have to press just a bit harder. The substance is very nice and consistent. Applying it to the Hair is just a bit more resistant. You notice that the Matte Hair Paste has a bit more clay components. Furthermore, applying it is also quite easy. Our advice is to use small amounts. This point goes to Shear Revival.
Current score = 2 – 2 tie.
Styling
Both products do this really well. The Northern Lights Matte Hair Paste does exactly what you want. The Arcadian Matte Hair Paste does it just a bit better. Just a bit more control and especially more volume. This is thanks to the added bentonite, which the Northern Lights from Shear Revival does not have. This point goes to Arcadian.
Current score = 3 – 2 for Arcadian.
Hold
The biggest difference between the two. The Arcadian Matte Hair Paste easily beats the Shear Revival Northern Lights here. Even after a full workday, your Hair still holds perfectly in shape, with a lot of volume. With this Hair Paste, it's also easy to restyle your Hair. The Northern Lights from Shear Revival certainly doesn't do badly, but it tends to fall flat a bit faster. The Hold is just a bit less. One point for Arcadian.
Current score = 4 – 2 for Arcadian.
Shine
Both products are supposed to be a matte Hair Paste. And they are. They don't seem as dry as a normal Hair Clay, but they definitely give a nice matte finish. The difference is very small. Therefore, one point for both products.
Current score = 5 – 3 for Arcadian.
Washing Out
Also not entirely unimportant is washing out the products. Something where many products fall short. Both products do this fantastically. You can effortlessly wash it out of your Hair. Another advantage is the great ingredients that both products contain. Your Hair feels nice and soft because of it. You notice that Brand after washing out. This is clearly a tie. One point for both.
Current score = 6 – 4 for Arcadian.
Price
Both products cost the same in our webshop. For €19.95, you get 115 grams of Matte Hair Paste from Arcadian and 96 grams of Northern Lights from Shear Revival. You will hardly Brands that difference. Therefore, we believe both products deserve one point here.
Current score = 7 – 5 for Arcadian.
And the winner is…
With a two-point difference, the Arcadian Matte Hair Paste is the winner. The decisive factor for us is definitely the good Hold and the amount of volume and texture. Is the Northern Lights Matte Hair Paste from Shear Revival then undeservedly so popular? Certainly not! It remains a top product.
Still, the Matte Hair Paste from Arcadian really pleasantly surprised us. A product we will continue to use for a long time.
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