Shear Revival Northern Lights Matte Paste – Strong Hold Hair Clay for Men – Matte Finish, Vegan & Handmade with Natural Ingredients – 96g

I’ve tried lots of products over the years, clays, pastes, pomades, foams, and creams but this has finally ended my search for a daily driver. I have fine blond/brown hair and this gives me hold without weighing it down, providing a healthy, natural look. ​The hold is not as strong as O'Douds or Arcadian’s matte paste, but I prefer the natural finish it gives instead of looking too dry and matte which can make my hair look dull. It’s easy to restyle and washes out with just water, leaving my hair feeling soft and conditioned. For context, my hair is very fine and 4 inches on top, which I brush back with my hands into a loose 'push back.

Lets me style my fine hair with total control and keeps it in place for the whole day in windy conditions with some occasional frizz that goes back down with a small touch.

The Shear Revival Northern Lights Matte smells amazing and provides a solid, reliable hold that lasts through the day. The texture is nice and matte, giving a natural look without feeling greasy. That said, it is on the expensive side — there are other pomades out there that perform just as well for less. Overall, a quality product if you don’t mind paying a bit extra for the scent and brand.

Shear Revival's Northern Lights Matt Paste is nothing short of amazing! I am extremely picky when it comes to choosing a product for my hair. I have a sensitive scalp, so I need to be picky. Hold, texture and finish can come at an irritating cost of itching and blotching. I have been using Evo's "box of bollocks", which was great for short hair, it was also an introduction to premium priced hair products or me. I've since learned that spending more on something you use (sparingly) every day, pays off. Northern Lights Matt Paste is certainly premium, I think it's the most I've paid for a hair product, I have to admit, I nearly didn't buy it. I'm still a bit sore about the price and it could do with being a couple of pounds cheaper to make it more competitive in my opinion. That said, you get a lot of product for your money, so maybe I'm whining over nothing... The big question is, is it worth the price? It might just be! First let's look at the list of 13 ingredients. Seriously, only 13! Three ingredients (to the best of my understanding) are synthetic. Caprylyl Glycol, " used as a skin conditioning agent", Emulsifying wax (NF) to help bind ingredients and Polysorbate 80, which seems to be in aid of making the product more pliable. The rest is natural or an extract of a natural material (Calendula Flower extract). Who cares? I do, synthetics and chemicals can be harsh and corrosive to both hair follicles and skin over time. Ingredients and cost aside, it's a decent hold. It's quite thick to get out and I probably scraped a little more than a pea size, which was slightly too much (for reference, my hair length is about 2.5 inches on top) and meant a bit too much of a clumpy hold. Depending on the look you're going for experiment, a little bit less than a pea size gave me the hold and look I wanted. Heat does seem to be a bit of a killer for the hold, my style slightly melting as the day progressed! However, it is extremely pliable (thanks Polysorbate 80!), a run through with my fingers and the style is practically back with a great texture and natural, matt finish. The surprising thing about Shear Revival's Northern Lights Matt Paste is the smell, seriously, the smell! It's amazing, I feel like shoving my head under peoples noses and telling them to have a whiff. Citrus and spice wakes up your senses, inciting excitement and energy when you can barely open your eyes first thing in the morning. I would use it sparingly and consider buying it again, but I would appreciate a lower price. Prolonged use will tell how it agrees with my scalp, but so far, so good. Also for the price, I'd have liked a faster postage. A note on the seller, Newmen: It's not when things go right, but how things are handled when things go wrong. My first order was lost in the post for whatever reason, which was a genuine shame as I'd ordered it in time for an interview and wanted to feel at my best. Michael was polite, patient and responsive, and sent out a replacement in a relatively timely manner, with some delay caused by my slow responses. Thank you for your help and resolution, and thanks for a great product.

I bought Northern Lights after years of working with matte pastes and clays on a range of hair types, particularly fine to medium hair that collapses under heavier products. Straight out of the jar, the paste is dense and slightly tacky, but it breaks down cleanly between the palms without excessive effort. Applied to towel-dried hair, it distributes evenly and gives immediate structure with a true matte finish rather than a dry, chalky look. The kaolin-based formula gives grip without that brittle feeling some clays introduce, and it remains workable with fingers throughout the day. Over extended wear, the hold is dependable but not indestructible. Heat and movement soften it slightly, though restyling is easy without adding more product. Washout is straightforward with water alone, which matters for daily use and scalp health. The scent is noticeable in the jar but fades quickly once applied. My main reservation is value: performance is strong, but the price places it against products that offer slightly better endurance or volume. It is a well-crafted paste, just not exceptional enough to justify the premium for everyone.

I have short hair, which is between 1” to 3” on top. I have been using matte texture products for about 25 years now. Previously American Crew Fiber was my go-to day to day product, or Hanz De Fuko Claymation for stronger hold and a super matte finish. That was until I found Shear Revival Northern Lights. The finish is great and the hold lasts all day even on a breezy day. The good thing is whilst the hold is strong it can be re-positioned throughout the day. The jar is bigger than I expected, albeit it is quite an expensive product (£20 for 96g at time of purchase). Application, it breaks down nicely in the hands without having to use loads of friction to warm it up an ‘activate’ it. It has a grippy but not tacky feel It distributes through the hair nicely. I don’t like to use shampoo every day, but it rinses out in the shower well with so I can wash my hair every other day with no product build up. The one small criticism I have is the smell when it’s in the jar is a bit strong but it doesn’t seem to smell in the hair. I’m converted for life now.

Awful product. Far too thick & dry. A waste of money.

I have been using this for a few months and use it in conjunction with a salt spray. I find the hold is excellent and gives a great Matt finish. What I find really good about this product is you run your fingers through your hair it seems to relock in the hold and looks even better. keeps the volume in your hair all day as well. Even better is most of the ingredients are natural ingredients that are good fit your hair. I've final thing 😀it washes out fairly easily.