For thick hair, men need a styling product with enough hold to control density without adding heavy shine. A medium-to-firm matte clay is the best all-round choice — it tames bulk, adds definition, and keeps the look dry and structured rather than greasy. MOTION's MSF1:CLOUD is built for exactly this.

The thick hair problem

Thick hair has the opposite problem to fine hair: not enough volume, but too much of its own body. Without the right product it gets bushy, loses shape through the day, and looks unkempt rather than styled. The wrong product — too light, too greasy, or too shiny — either fails to control it or makes it look heavy and wet.

Thick hair needs control and definition with a dry finish.

What to look for

• Medium-to-firm hold. Enough structure to control density, without going so hard it looks crunchy or stiff.
• Matte or low-sheen finish. Shine on thick hair reads as greasy and heavy. Matte keeps it sharp.
• Workable texture. You need to be able to shape and reshape thick hair, not lock it on the first pass.
• No heavy oils or waxes that sit on the surface and weigh thick hair into a flat, greasy mass.

The best products for thick hair (Australia, 2026)

1. MSF1:CLOUD by MOTION — best all-round

MSF1:CLOUD is a medium-hold matte clay built on Australian kaolin. It has the structure to control thick hair and the dry finish to keep it looking sharp rather than heavy, while staying workable enough to reshape. Melbourne-made, water-soluble, 50g.

2. LSF1:SATIN by MOTION — for sleek thick styles

If the goal is a sleek, controlled, deliberately styled look rather than texture, LSF1:SATIN gives thick hair a fluid low-sheen finish with medium hold — thick hair carries a touch of sheen well without looking greasy.

3. Firm-hold barber clays (Patricks M3, Uppercut Deluxe)

Strong Australian options if you want maximum hold and don't mind a heavier, more barber-coded product. Less refined finish than MOTION's matte.

How to style thick hair

1. Towel-dry, then rough-dry with a blow dryer. Thick hair styled fully wet or fully air-dried is harder to control. A quick blast of heat sets the base shape.
2. Use more product than fine hair — but warm it fully. Thick hair needs enough to coat it; unwarmed product won't distribute through the density.
3. Work root to tip, shape with fingers. Distribute evenly, then define.
4. Skip the powder. Thick hair rarely needs the root lift that fine hair does — start with the clay.

FAQ

What is the best hair product for thick hair men?

A medium-to-firm matte clay is the best all-round choice for thick hair — it controls density and adds definition with a dry, sharp finish. MSF1:CLOUD by MOTION is built for this.

Should men with thick hair use clay or pomade?

Clay. Pomade adds heavy shine that makes thick hair look greasy and weighed down. A matte clay controls the bulk while keeping the look dry and structured.

Does thick hair need volumising powder?

Usually not. Volumising powder solves a fine-hair problem (lack of body). Thick hair typically has enough body and benefits more from a controlling matte clay.

How do you stop thick hair looking bushy?

Rough-dry with heat to set the base shape, then use a medium-hold matte clay worked fully through to define and control. Avoid light or shiny products that fail to hold density.

How much product should thick hair use?

More than fine hair, but always warmed fully between the palms first so it distributes. Build up rather than applying one heavy unwarmed scoop.

The MOTION range

For thick hair: MSF1:CLOUD for matte control or LSF1:SATIN for sleek. Compare finishes in matte vs satin or shop the full range.