Hair Clay for Thick Hair: Amount, Hold and Washing Out

Yes, hair clay works well on thick hair. Clay adds grip, and thick hair needs a medium to strong hold to stay put. Our Strong Matte Hold is a beef tallow clay with kaolin and bentonite. A 2 oz tin is $20. Start with a pea-sized scoop and add a second if you need it.

By , founder of Moose's Tallow · Updated November 10, 2026

Man at a bathroom mirror rubbing hair clay between his palms to warm it before working it through his hair
What people ask

Is hair clay good for thick hair?

Yes, hair clay is a good fit for thick hair. Clay adds grip, and thick hair tends to need more grip than fine hair to hold a shape. That points to a medium or strong hold. Ours is Medium or Strong, both $20 for 2 oz. Start with the Strong if your hair springs back.

How much clay to add to hair?

Start with a pea-sized scoop, then add more only if you need it. Thick hair often wants a second small scoop, so build in layers. Warm the clay in your palms until it turns creamy. Our tin is concentrated. One reviewer calls it "easy to work into hair." A 2 oz tin lasts a good while.

Do I put clay in wet or dry hair?

Our directions say dry or slightly damp hair, and both work. On thick hair, towel-dried hair can help the clay spread evenly. Part your hair into two or three sections first. If clay clumps in one spot, add a little more and rub it in. Start small, since a 2 oz tin is concentrated.

What are the downsides of using hair clay?

Too much clay can feel heavy, and it needs shampoo to come out. Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal says styling products can build up on your hair and scalp. Ours has tallow and egg yolk oil, so it's made to feel soft, not brittle. If hair feels coated, use less next time.

Does hair clay harden your hair?

Some clays dry stiff and crunchy. Ours is made to stay reworkable, so you can run your fingers through and reshape. A reviewer says it "isn't tacky or greasy" but gives "a solid hold." Beeswax and castor oil add control, and tallow keeps it smooth. Start with a small scoop for a softer feel.

Can you use hair clay on wet hair?

Yes, slightly damp hair is fine with ours. Towel-dry first so water isn't dripping, then work in a pea-sized scoop. Very wet hair can dilute the clay and make it spread unevenly. If that happens, dry off a bit more and add a touch more clay. Our 60-day guarantee covers you while you learn.
The timeline

What to expect

  1. Tonight
    A pea-sized scoop warms in your palms and works through in sections. Thick hair holds its shape when you run your fingers through. Add a thin second layer if you want more.
  2. Week 1
    You learn your scoop size. Thick hair goes from one big glob to two small layers. Shampoo washes it out, and your hair feels soft afterward.
  3. Week 4
    Styling takes a minute. You know your hold, your amount and your wash day. Tell us if the other hold would suit you better.
From real customers
Review photo from Clark W.
★★★★★✓ Verified

Finally Found a Hair Clay Better Than American Crew

I picked up the Medium Hold Hair Clay and honestly wish I had tried it sooner. Once I finally used it, I haven’t stopped. The Spicy Rum scent smells amazing without being overpowering. What surprised me most is how natural it feels. It isn’t tacky or greasy, but it still gives a solid hold. I can run my fingers through my hair and it still keeps its shape. I used American Crew for years and this tallow hair clay works way better for me. Great texture, clean feel, and easy styling.
Clark W.
★★★★★✓ Verified

Great!

Love this stuff. Easy to work into hair and has a great all day hold. The scented version is fantastic.
Jason H.

Read all the reviews on the product page →

How to work hair clay through thick hair

Thick hair has more to cover, so layers work better than one big glob.

  • Towel-dry your hair, or start dry. Slightly damp spreads easily.
  • Take a pea-sized scoop. Add a second one only if you need it.
  • Rub it between your palms until it warms and turns creamy.
  • Start at the roots and work toward the ends with your fingers.
  • Part thick hair into two or three sections so every layer gets coated.
  • Shape your style, then add a thin second layer where you want more hold.
  • Keep the lid on and the tin out of hot cars. Heat softens tallow.

How often to wash thick hair when you use clay

Thick hair doesn't need a daily shampoo. The two sources below differ a little, so use them as a range. Checked November 10, 2026.

Your hairHow often to shampooWhere it comes from
Thick or coarse hairAbout once a week, or whenever it needs itCleveland Clinic, Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal, April 29, 2025
Dry, textured, curly or thick hairWhen needed, at least once every 2 to 3 weeksAmerican Academy of Dermatology, updated August 12, 2024
You style with product every dayAdd a clarifying shampoo once or twice a monthCleveland Clinic, Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal
Hair feels coated after clayShampoo your scalp and let the suds run down the lengthAAD: shampooing the scalp washes away built-up products, dead skin and excess oil
Moose's Tallow Hair ClayRinses out with shampoo and leaves no heavy buildupOur product page

Strong or Medium hold for thick hair

Same tallow base, same $20 price, same 2 oz tin. The difference is how firm the grip feels.

  • Strong Matte Hold is our firmer clay, and it's where we'd start with thick hair.
  • Medium Hold is our flexible clay, with a softer grip you can rework through the day.
  • Both come in Naked (no scent), Spicy Rum and Sandalwood Leather.
  • Not sure? Start with the one that matches how much your hair fights back.

How do we render tallow?

It starts at a local butcher shop in farm country, where one cow yields about 12 pounds of suet. That suet is the fat around the cow's kidneys, rich in vitamins A, D, E and K. Its fatty acids are ones your skin loves, so we render it slowly, by hand.

  1. Ground beef suet in a box, ready to render into tallow

    Day 1 & 2

    Two renders of tallow over low heat, six hours each

  2. Golden tallow bubbling gently in a stainless pot during the dry render

    Day 3 & 4

    Dry render for eight hours, cool & dry render again for another eight hours

  3. Warm oil poured over dried herbs in a large glass jar for the infusion

    Day 5

    Infuse tallow and oil with organic herbs over low heat for 12-24 hours

  4. Whipped tallow being mixed with beaters in a steel bowl

    Day 6

    Add in beeswax and scent (if applicable), cool, whip and fill by hand

Brian "Moose" Smith with his family and their dogs
A note from the maker

Thick hair has a lot to cover, so I tell people to start small and build. We make this clay in small batches in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, with tallow, clay and egg yolk oil. My wife tests everything first. It rinses out with shampoo. If it isn't right for your hair, the 60-day guarantee has you covered.

Brian "Moose" Smith, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Read the whole story →

Try it, Risk Free.

Every order carries the 60-day Money Back guarantee.

Add Hair Clay to cart Strong Hold Hair Clay →

Sources

  1. Cleveland Clinic: How Often Should You Wash Your Hair? (Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal, April 29, 2025)
  2. American Academy of Dermatology: Tips for healthy hair (updated August 12, 2024)