Hi guys, today we are going to check out two of the best selling matte hair products from two of today’s strongest global hair stying brands. We will compare results after testing American Crew Boost Powder VS Hairbond Moulder.
American Crew
It all began back in the mid 90’s for American Crew as they swamped the US hairstyling market with a range of men’s hairstyling products like nothing ever seen before. Previously hair product marketing was only majorly focused on ladies.
This huge corporate company quickly went global with huge marketing budgets and still today a popular choice for men’s hair styling. After the 90’s, the hair styling product industry became way more competitive as product technology advanced.
Hairbond United Kingdom
The start-up UK brand Hairbond United Kingdom launched later in 2008 by professional hairdresser and barber Scott Michaels, in order to raise the standards of the global hairstyling market, by focusing only on the best premium ingredients and of only the highest quality for their best-performing hair styling products. Most major companies look for ways to cut costs where they can to keep their products competitively priced, subsequently losing a lot of quality, but Hairbond say they are only focused on manufacturing the best, whatever the cost. The company is a lot more exclusive and Hairbond’s products can be hard to find, although they do only caterthe end of the market who are prepared to fork out for quality.
First let’s take a look at the American Crew Boost Powder.

American Crew Boost Powder

Packaging:
Whilst the American Crew Boost Powder, brown and off white colour scheme works ok, I can’t believe they put a hair powder in this jar. It would have been suited much better to a taller, thinner shaker, however it does work. 2/5
Application:
Strange applying a jar of powder to your hair. Try not to miss your head as I did otherwise you get powder all over your shoulders. Not a good look. 3/5
Finish:
Not a bad matte look with some mattifying boost. If you get the wrong amount and over do it you can end up with a greasy effect associated with cheaper products. 3/5
Consistency:
Light powder. 4/5
Hold:
Not strong enough to use on its own if you have thicker hair. 2/5
Overall:
Better powders available. 3/5.
What They Say
“Tap the puck a few times to loosen Boost Powder and then pour a small amount into your hand. Sprinkle it lightly and evenly on dry hair, making sure the product falls to the root for maximum lift and separation. Combine with Fiber Cream or other American Crew styling products for enhanced volume and styling options.”
Now let’s see what the Hairbond Moulder has to offer

Hairbond United Kingdom Moulder Professional Hair Shaper

Packaging:
So premium. The Hairbond brand packaging looks like expensive glass but it’s actually a well made plastic puck. 5/5
Application:
Once you’ve got over the fresh apple fragrance, you can easily breakdown the wax-like hair cream by rubbing your palms together. Once the products begin to disappear in your hands it applies nicely into the hair. 4/5
Finish:
Certainly thickens the hair’s appearance. Adds tonnes of natural volume. This would be great for anybody with thin hair wanting a fuller look. If you hate the look of hair products and want a strong natural finish this is the product for you. 5/5
Consistency:
As a matte wax, I expected this stuff to be thick and gunky. but instead I was pleasantly surprised. It’s in fact more like a cream, to begin with. You just scoop the smallest amount and rub palms together whilst generating some hand heat and it pretty much disappears right in front of your eyes. 4/5
Hold:
Great hold. It says 4/5 on their hold scale. I found this worked out about right for me. Not too strong making the hair look unnatural, but you get the benefits of it lasting all day. 5/5
Overall:
4.5/5.
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”
What They Say
“Hairbond’s Moulder Professional Hair Shaper is a unique, innovative styling product that creates separations with a matte finish. It’s strong flexible hold gives immediate grab and high-density texture while thickening hair’s appearance.
This product will give you the effect of wax but without the shiny, greasy look. Hairbond’s Moulder Professional Hair Shaper is intended to deliver Hairbond’s promise of quality by maintaining the highest possible standards, using top of the range product formulations and ingredients to create an authentic British solution for the ultimate Men’s styling results. Also available in 50 ml.”

And the winner is..

Without a doubt, the Hairbond Moulder Professional Hair Shaper wins this battle for best matte hair product scoring a 4.5/5 against the American Crew Boost Powder scoring an overall 3/5.
Whilst the American Crew powder is cheaper and more accessible you might find the Hairbond 100ml quite a lot more when it comes to price. But like anything in life, you get what you pay for right? 100ml of this product will last you a forever. A little really goes a long way and the product performs better if you’re looking for volume, a natural look and texture. The Moulder is also made in the UK, is paraben and sulphate free and water-soluble, some claims there that American Crew doesn’t make.
They also make the Moulder in a 50ml size if you don’t want to invest at this price point.
But if you do go big with Hairbond, you get more “bang for your buck!”
I hope you enjoyed this brand battle.
Well done Moulder!
