Axe Hair Styling Products Review: Understated Cream, Flexible Paste, & Matte Wax

This review dives into Axe's latest hair styling offerings: the Understated Cream, Flexible Paste, and Matte Wax. All three products are housed in improved, aesthetically pleasing aluminum tins, a significant upgrade from previous packaging. Priced affordably at $6.99 each, these products aim to provide various holds and finishes, promising effortless styling and all-day texture. However, do these budget-friendly options deliver on their ambitious claims? We put each product to the test, evaluating their hold, finish, scent, and overall performance to determine if they're worth a spot in your hair care routine.Our comprehensive review analyzes each product individually, exploring its texture, application, and lasting power. We assess the accuracy of the advertised hold levels and finishes, paying close attention to any discrepancies between marketing promises and actual results. From the light hold of the Understated Cream to the purported high hold of the Matte Wax, we delve into the strengths and weaknesses of each, offering a balanced perspective on their effectiveness and value for the price. Ultimately, we aim to provide you with a clear understanding of whether Axe's hair styling products meet the demands of the modern man.

Pros And Cons

Read more: Top 10 Hair Waxes for Men: Find Your Perfect Style

Packaging and Initial Impressions

All three Axe hair styling products—the Understated Cream, Flexible Paste, and Matte Wax—come in identical 75-gram aluminum tins. This is a significant improvement over their previous, less aesthetically pleasing plastic containers.

The tins retail for $6.99 each, making them readily accessible and budget-friendly. Each tin includes a sticker detailing the hold level, finish, and ingredient list.

The packaging is surprisingly decent for the price point, offering a more sophisticated look compared to previous iterations. The inclusion of a detailed ingredient list and instructions on the underside of the tin demonstrates attention to detail.

Understated Cream: Light Hold & Natural Finish

The Understated Cream boasts a light hold with a natural finish, promising effortless texturization and conditioning. The scent, however, is described as a mix of locker room body spray and soap, which may be off-putting to some.

The cream's texture is very soft and slick, almost like lotion. It applies easily without any tugging or pulling. However, its oily nature may lead to a greasy look and feel if too much is used.

The light hold was not very effective against humidity. Overall, this product's performance fell short of expectations, particularly given its claim of texturizing the hair. Other products offer similar benefits with less oily feel.

Flexible Paste: Medium Hold & Matte Finish (Claim)

The Flexible Paste is marketed as a medium-hold, matte-finish product that boosts texture instantly. The scent, similar to the cream, is described as a strange combination of body spray and a powdery sweetness.

The paste is firmer than the cream and has a waxy, creamy texture, but not sticky. Although the initial application is smooth, it dries quickly. While it initially appears to have a natural finish, it didn't fully achieve the promised matte finish.

The hold is described as a solid medium, but the product left a noticeable shine, contrary to its matte claim. The waxy feel and oily texture were also considered less than desirable.

Matte Wax: High Hold & Matte Finish (Claim)

The Matte Wax promises an epic hold and all-day texture. Its scent is considered the most tolerable of the three, being subtly noticeable.

This wax has a thicker, waxy consistency with more grip than the previous products. Application remains smooth, and the initial texture looks promising.

While this product delivers the closest result to a matte finish compared to the others, it still exhibited some shine and maintained a slightly waxy texture. The hold was considered a medium, rather than the advertised high hold.

Overall Conclusion and Comparison

Overall, none of the Axe hair styling products lived up to their marketing claims fully. The Understated Cream was largely ineffective, providing minimal hold and a greasy feel. The Flexible Paste failed to deliver on its matte finish promise, instead leaving a noticeable shine.

The Matte Wax performed the best of the three, coming closest to a matte finish and providing a decent medium hold, but still falling short of its high-hold claim. The artificial shine and waxy feeling were common drawbacks across all three products.

For users seeking high-quality, effective hair styling products with a truly matte finish and strong hold, Axe may not be the optimal choice. Other brands offering superior performance at comparable or even lower price points are readily available.