Hey man I will try to help you the best I can.
Here are a few wax/putty/clay products that I currently use along with a description of the style it gives.
I don't know how much you need to apply, but I found that as my hair started losing more and more density, I have to apply more product to get a better "thickening" effect. I usually apply anywhere from 2-3 "scoops" with my index and middle fingers.
Since you were originally interested in American Crew I will start with that.
American Crew Fiber
*Benefits*
- Different scent; It smells very lemon-peppery.
- Large quantity (3.53 ounces) so it should last you a while
- Good hold
- Good "thickness" effect
~Negative Aspects~
- Pricey. It costs around $15! I don't remember the exact amount so I will say $15-$17.
- It is very dry and sticky when you rub it into your palms and apply it.
- If you try to rework your hair too much, it gets very oily and can start to slightly weigh your hair down.
L'oreal Studio Line Overworked Hair Putty
*Benefits*
- Clean Shampoo-like scent. I really like the smell of L'oreal's Studio Line products. (They smell the same from the ones I have tried thus far)
- Affordable; It costs around $5 max at full price... maybe a few cents more with tax.
- Good, clean hold. It doesn't leave your hair with an oily texture.
- Great thickness effect, especially if you use slightly more and apply it more than once to rework your hair.
~Negative Aspects~
- If you apply too much, it gives your hair a "wet" look. I prefer the dry matte finish look and that's what a wax, creme, clay, or putty should induce.
- If you wait for it to completely dry and try to rework it, it starts flaking and it will leave residue on your hair (sort of like dandruff). I suggest that you don't apply too much product on your initial application to avoid this problem.
Garnier Fructis Play Style Pliable Clay
*Benefits*
- Great, fruit-shampoo-like scent. I would definitely say this one wins in the fresh smell category.
- Affordable; It is similar to the L'oreal Overworked Putty if not slightly cheaper.
- Clean application. It is probably the easiest product out of the three to apply to your hair.
- Decent thickness effect.
~Negative Aspects~
- Weakest hold out of the three products.
- It gets your hair feeling oily when you try to rework it too much. It can actually make your hair seem thin and give it that "wet" look if you apply too much or rework it too much.
- Doesn't give as good of a thickness effect as the other products.
So that being said, my favorite overall product (the one that I use most often) would be the L'oreal Studio Line Overworked Putty. My hair is probably 3 inches long on the top, side, and front. It gives me the best thickness and texture for this length and the smell is clean, but not as nice as the Garnier Play Style Clay.
I find that for short hair, (under 2 inches long) the Garnier Fructis Play Style Pliable Clay works best! I really like this one because of the scent it leaves as well! It smells just like a nice shampoo.
If I had relatively thick hair, I would most likely use the American Crew Fiber sparingly. If you had to just apply a little bit because you're not worried about coverage, American Crew Fiber would be the best product out of the three! I would suggest this one for people who have thick/dense hair and are looking for a product that gives a dry/matte finish and texture.
This is all coming from my perspective. I hope it helped you out in some way.
Cheers!
