There’s more than one way to style a great head of hair. Some days call for clean definition and a polished finish; other days demand something more relaxed, textured and low-key. Matte products sit firmly in that second camp - built for guys who want shape and character without the shine, and a style that looks natural no matter where the day takes them.
Matte styling products have become the backbone of modern grooming. At Oil Can Grooming, matte has always had a special place in our workshop - thanks to four hard-working essentials: Styling Paste, Crafting Clay, Styling Powder, and Sea Salt Spray.
This guide breaks down what matte products are, why they’ve become so popular, how to use them, and which one is right for your hair and style. Think of it as the maintenance manual you never got but always needed.
WHAT ARE MATTE STYLING PRODUCTS?
“Matte” simply means no shine. Unlike pomades or gels that deliver gloss, matte products keep the finish natural - like your hair, but better. They build texture, separation, volume, and control without making it obvious you’re wearing product.
Most matte stylers rely on ingredients like clays, starches, sea salts, fibres, and natural waxes to absorb excess oils and add grip. Instead of smoothing the hair flat, matte stylers create micro-roughness - tiny points of friction that help strands stay where you push them.
The result? Shape with character.
WHY ARE MATTE PRODUCTS SO POPULAR?
Because the modern man doesn’t want to look like he’s spent an hour in front of the mirror. Matte styling became the go-to for guys chasing a more rugged, easy, authentic look.
A few reasons why matte has taken over:
- It works on everyday hair - from curls to messy quiffs to textured crops.
- It plays well with movement - your hair can shift and still look good.
- It feels better - lightweight, breathable, touchable.
- It suits our lifestyles - gym, office, motorcycles, late nights… matte holds up.
If shiny products are for polished boardrooms, matte products are for the workshop, the road, and everywhere real life happens.
WHAT HAIRSTYLES BEST SUIT MATTE STYLING PRODUCTS?
BREAKING IT DOWN BY OUR FOUR HEROES
1. ANGELS' SHARE STYLING PASTE
Best for: Short to medium length hair, loose quiffs, casual side parts, natural flow, textured pomps.
Our Styling Paste is the all-rounder. A medium hold, matte finish formula that gives hair shape without stiffness. It’s perfect for those who want movement and control in equal measure - styles that look laid-back but still well-built.
Ideal for:
- Everyday business-casual looks
- Wavy hair that needs definition
- Longer top styles that benefit from light structure
Think of it as the torque wrench of your grooming kit: reliable, balanced, and easy to use.
2. ANGELS' SHARE CRAFTING CLAY
Best for: Short styles, textured crops, choppy fringe, messy spikes, tighter fades.
Our Crafting Clay brings a more robust, tactile hold. Perfect for guys who like their hair to stay put but still look rugged - not sculpted. Clay enhances natural separation and rough texture, giving the finish a “built by hand” feel.
Ideal for:
- High texture
- Short, cropped cuts
- Medium-thick hair that needs taming
It’s grip without grit - sturdy, clean, and dependable.
3. OIL CAN GROOMING STYLING POWDER
Best for: Fine hair, flat hair, roots needing lift, messy volumised looks, feathered crops.
Styling Powder is lightweight engineering at its finest. With invisible structure and instant boost, it’s a lifesaver for guys whose hair needs more height, density or guts.
Ideal for:
- Lifting the roots on fine or thinning hair
- Adding texture for messy modern crops
- Creating volume without adding weight
- Refreshing second-day hair
It’s like giving your hair a hidden suspension lift.
4. OIL CAN GROOMING SEA SALT SPRAY
Best for: Longer hair, waves, curls, surfer texture, pre-styling foundation.
Our Sea Salt Spray brings a windswept texture that looks like you’ve just stepped off a motorcycle and straight onto a beach. Light control, natural volume, and raw movement.
Ideal for:
- Enhancing waves
- Creating a textured base before using paste or clay
- Air-dried finishes
- Medium to long lengths
It’s your shortcut to “I woke up like this” - but with better structure.
WHAT HAIR TYPES CAN USE MATTE PRODUCTS?
Short answer: nearly all of them.
Straight hair gets texture and volume.
Wavy hair gets definition without heaviness.
Curly hair gets shape and frizz control.
Thick hair gets manageability.
Fine hair gets lift and density.
Oily hair benefits from the oil-absorbing ingredients common in matte products.
If your goal is natural, textured, modern styling, matte is rarely the wrong choice.
WHY CHOOSE MATTE OVER SHINE?
Choosing a matte finish often comes down to wanting a style that feels natural, easy and entirely your own. Matte products deliver a lightweight, breathable feel, giving texture without the sleekness of traditional shine, and they stay touchable so you can rework your look throughout the day. They’re ideal when you want your hair to look styled but not “product-heavy,” offering control that stays quietly in the background. Shine products absolutely have their place - perfect for slick backs, pomps and classic barbershop polish - but matte is the go-to for a more contemporary, understated finish that fits effortlessly into everyday life.
Matte wins when you want:
- A more natural, everyday finish
- A style you can rework throughout the day
- A lightweight, breathable feel
- Texture rather than sleekness
- A product that doesn’t show in your hair
WHAT GOES INTO A HAIR PRODUCT TO MAKE IT MATTE?
A combination of texture-building, oil-absorbing and shine-free ingredients that work together and tailored to each formula:
Clays (Kaolin & Bentonite) – Found in Crafting Clay and Styling Paste, these clays absorb oil, add natural grit and create structure without shine.
Beeswax & Carnauba Wax – Provide strength and workable hold in both paste and clay while keeping the finish dry, never glossy.
Lightweight Polymers (PVP & VP/VA Copolymer) – Used across the range to give long-lasting control and shape memory without creating a hard or shiny surface.
Sea Salt – The driving force in Sea Salt Spray, encouraging separation, wave and that raw, textured feel.
Silica Silylate & Hydrated Silica – Key to Styling Powder’s airy lift, adding friction between hair strands for instant matte volume.
Starches & Salts – Support oil absorption and root boost, helping maintain the natural, undone look matte products are loved for.
Together, these ingredients create the roughened, low-sheen texture that lets hair hold its ground while still looking authentic and untouched.
IS IT BEST TO APPLY MATTE PRODUCTS ON WET OR DRY HAIR?
It depends on the result you want:
Dry hair = more matte, more texture, more grip.
Damp hair = smoother result, slightly softer finish.
Wet hair = usually not ideal (except Sea Salt Spray as a pre-styler).
General rule: Use Sea Salt Spray on damp hair → blow dry for volume → finish with Paste, Clay or Powder.
TOP TIPS FOR USING MATTE STYLERS
Use less than you think. You can always add more.
Warm pastes and clays between palms before applying.
Start at the back - that’s where excess product should sit.
Use a blow dryer for extra volume or a more defined shape.
Powder goes last - think of it as the finishing boost.
Don’t fight your natural direction - work with how your hair grows.
Refresh with a tiny amount of product or even water - matte textures reawaken easily.
Matte stylers are built for effortless cool, not choreographed perfection.
THE FINAL WORD
Matte styling products give you the ability to craft a look that’s authentic and modern. Whether you want messy texture, sculpted definition, loose waves or natural flow, there’s a matte tool ready in the Oil Can line-up.
With Styling Paste, Crafting Clay, Styling Powder and Sea Salt Spray, you’re covered for every hair type, every length, for everyday styling.
Just how it should be.