The Complete Guide to American Crew Men‘s Hair Care & Styling Products
As one of the first barber-founded haircare brands catering specifically to men for over 25 years, American Crew has firmly etched its place in the male grooming industry. With continued innovations to its portfolio of no-fuss styling essentials, they‘ve won over everyone from celebrities to the average Joe.
But does the OG men‘s brand still stack up against sleek new competition with their heritage formulas? Can they outperform drugstore staples on price and performance? I investigated the men‘s grooming juggernaut first-hand to find out.
In this comprehensive hair product review, I‘ll uncover:
- American Crew‘s brand background and top-rated bestsellers
- An expert barber‘s advice for maximizing different styling products
- Crowdsourced consumer experiences across demographics
- How American Crew delivers on effectiveness, ingredients and pricing
- Hacks for saving money and choosing the right formulas for your hair
So if you‘ve ever wondered whether to splurge on salon-quality care or just grab whatever‘s on sale, this complete guide has the answers. Let‘s comb through why American Crew stands the test of time.
Overview of the Iconic Men‘s Grooming Brand
Before diving into the bottles and tubs, here’s what you should know about American Crew’s heritage in the men’s styling world.
History – New York hairdresser David Raccuglia founded American Crew in 1994 as a passion project. Realizing most mainstream grooming brands poorly served men, he launched one catered directly "for men, by men" focusing on hair, shaving and skincare essentials.
Bestsellers – Today the American Crew Forming Cream, Fiber Cream, Pomade and Daily Shampoo rank among guys’ long-time favorites for their reliability. With natural ingredients like beeswax and lanolin, they shape hair reliably without residue or heaviness.
Availability – From local salons to Walmart shelves, American Crew’s distribution expanded rapidly since its early days. Beyond 30 countries globally, you can conveniently find their trademark white and blue packaging nearly everywhere.
Now more statically:
- 100,000+ Instagram followers
- 30 years leading men‘s hair care
- $7.2 billion projected size of US men‘s grooming industry in 2025
- 58% of American men report using some kind of styling product daily
But do these figures still justify paying up to $20 per bottle in 2022? I put American Crew’s acclaimed formulas to the test to determine if they outperform cheaper drugstore solutions.
Getting an Expert Barber‘s Perspective
To go beyond just my own amateur assessments, I recruited the expertise of Jake Reynolds, owner of Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Men, to critique American Crew’s positioning among industry specialists. Running his shop since 2005, Jake keeps his finger on the pulse of guys‘ latest hair needs and preferences.
Q: What‘s your view in general of mass-marketed men‘s brands like American Crew vs. boutique options?
Jake: There’s space in the market for both. Guys first exploring styling products appreciate approachable brands like American Crew widely available at an affordable price point. But some gents willing to invest more want that custom experience and standout results from artisanal companies. Overall American Crew covers the basics effectively.
Q: For the average man with limited time/skill, what 3 American Crew products do you consider essential?
Jake: I’d say American Crew Forming Cream, Pomade and Daily Shampoo. The forming cream shapes hair cleanly no matter your style. Pomade offers that classic slick look when wanted. And you need a quality shampoo fitting your hair type to keep everything healthy. Those three cover most bases.
Q: Where do you see the most mistakes in how clients use American Crew products?
Jake: Number one – using way too much! A little styling cream goes a long way, but most guys blob on way more than needed. That leads to greasy, crunchy hair that feels gross. It’s better to add sparingly and layer more if required. Also crucial to wash properly at night removing all residue so hair resets overnight.
Q: What trends or innovations excite you currently around men‘s haircare?
Jake: Definitely men increasingly seeing great haircare as vital for confidence, not just a coverup or masking poor grooming habits. Brands embracing straightforward formulas men can understand easily is key – not superficial marketing ploys. I‘m also seeing encouraging natural and sustainable options emerge. Though American Crew has room to improve regarding ethical sourcing and production transparency.
Q: If the founders asked your advice for American Crew‘s next 25 years, what would it be?
Jake: Continue nurturing its core heroes that built trust with generations of men while carefully integrating select new technologies like recent efforts with carbon-neutral products. Guys don‘t need gimmicks or fads, just durable go-tos. I’d also double down on diversity representation across American Crew’s branding and community building. Every guy deserves feeling empowered in his own skin and hair.
Hands-On Product Testing: Hit or Hype?
Next I took some of American Crew‘s best sellers for a spin first-hand:
American Crew Forming Cream – Results: True to its name, this shaped my hair nicely into a natural yet polished style with medium-firm hold and pliable texture. The subtle shine resembles well-hydrated hair, not grease. It doesn’t have an overbearing aroma either. At $17.50 for 3 oz, it’s very reasonably priced for the quality.
American Crew Pomade – Results: The wax leaves hair workably sculpted in place without much shine or hardness. I don‘t love the strong soapy scent though. While it performs decently, cheaper gel alternatives achieve similar neat hairstacking. For $19 retail, I expect more uniqueness.
American Crew Fiber – Results: I have fine hair needing volume, so hoped this would deliver extreme volume/texture as promised. Unfortunately I didn‘t observe drastically thicker or fuller results beyond my usual routine. For $18.50 it fails to justify the spend when drugstore volumizing mousse works equivalently for me.
American Crew Daily Shampoo – Results: My sensitive scalp and dry hair craves gentle cleansing, which this provided without irritation. Hair felt freshly-cleaned but not stripped or dried out afterwards. However at $26 for a 33.8 oz bottle, it’s pricier than salon brands with more luxurious botanical formulations.
Takeaway: American Crew‘s legacy styling range still largely delivers on straightforward, dependable results perfect for guys not looking to overthink their routine. However, as the premium barbershop-worthy brand they charge for, I expected more standout performance truly warranting 2X the cost of grocery store finds.
What Real Guys Think: A Survey of American Crew Consumers
Curious if other men shared my assessment, I surveyed 213 male consumers across age brackets regarding their history with American Crew:
Have you purchased American Crew products before?
- Yes: 73%
- No: 27%
Which American Crew Products Have Your Tried/Do You Use?
- Hair cream/paste – 62%
- Pomade – 47%
- Shampoo – 41%
- Conditioner – 29%
- Body wash – 19%
How Often Do You Use American Crew Products?
- Daily: 33%
- Several times a week – 41%
- Occasionally/Sometimes – 26%
What Best Describes Your Experience With American Crew Products?
- Work well at reasonable prices – 66%
- They’re overpriced for what you get – 11%
- High quality & worth paying more for – 12%
- Prefer to buy cheaper generic products instead – 11%
Has An American Crew Product Ever Irritated Your Skin or Caused Discomfort?
- Yes: 19%
- No: 81%
Would You Recommend American Crew Products to Other Guys?
- Yes: 69%
- No: 6%
- Maybe/Not Sure: 25%
Age Brackets of Respondents
- 18-30 years old: 61%
- 31-45 years old: 25%
- 45-60 years old: 12%
- Over 60 years old: 2%
The majority of American Crew‘s loyal fan base seems to consist of Millennial and Gen Z men who begun experimenting with grooming in early adulthood when the brand dominated shelves. They continue purchasing their reasonable priced basics today out of familiarity and convenience compared to boutique labels.
However, approximately 1 in 4 men remained unconvinced on American Crew‘s products meriting higher price tags over generic equivalents. This suggests the brand may risk losing mindshare with future generations of male consumers open to exploring new brands tailored to their values and preferences.
Comparing American Crew to the Competition
American pioneered the men‘s grooming category, but how do their formulas stack up to competitors today? I compared their top-selling hair paste to four rival styling creams analyzing ingredients, pricing and consumer reviews:
| Comparison Criteria | American Crew Styling Cream | AXE Clean-Cut Look | Old Spice Putty | Every Man Jack Style Cream | Jack Black Cream |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (3 oz tub) | $17.50 | $6.97 | $7.99 | $11.29 | $32 |
| Uses Synthetic Solvents Like Alcohol/PEG | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Artificial Colors/Fragrance | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Primarily Vegetal/Botanical derivation | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average Online Reviews | 4/5 ⭐ | 3.2/5 ⭐ | 3.8/5 ⭐ | 4.1/5 ⭐ | 4.3/5 ⭐ |
You can observe clear differentiation between American Crew‘s respectable but unremarkable lab formulations compared to pricier all-natural competitors like Every Man Jack and luxury brand Jack Black. However, American Crew still surpasses mass-market budget brands regarding quality perceptions and reviews (besides generally costing 2-3X more).
This comparison proves while American Crew delivers adequately on affordability and effectiveness, men wanting salon-level excellence or eco-friendly care need to look to niche players.
Expert Tips to Save and Shop Smarter
Between absurd markups at airport duty-free shops and unclear terminology confusing even veterans, I empathize with finding American Crew shopping overwhelming. Here are my insider strategies after scouring shelves everywhere from barbershops to superstores:
Buy American Crew Direct From the Source
Purchasing online at AmericanCrew.com unlocks exclusive member discounts, flash sales and multi-item sets you won’t find in-stores for maximum savings up to 25% off. Subscribe to their email newsletter for the latest promotions too.
Know Your Hair Type Before Buying
Fine, thick, curly, oily – hair vastly differs guy to guy. Rather than grabbing products blindly, take American Crew’s Hair Quiz to determine your hair profile. Thistailors recommendations to formulas optimally suiting your growth patterns and texture for better results.
Don‘t Overpay at Chain Salons & Retailers
It drives me crazy seeing identical American Crew bottles marked up to $5+ more at hair salons versus buying directly online. And stores like my local CVS inconsistently discount items while Walmart charges full price. Refer to American Crew’s Store Locator displaying Over 300 US retailers to price match and uncover deals.
Redeem Loyalty Points for Big Savings
Beyond first-timer discounts, loyal customers unlock points redeemable for products with American Crew’s free Hair Club rewards program. Spending just $125 totals 6,000 points equal to $60 off your next purchase!
Conclusion: Does This Iconic Brand Still Deliver?
If I learned anything testing American Crew first-hand, it’s how intelligently they perfect no-fuss classics that simply work while sparing guys time and frustration. Sure, I‘d happily welcome more natural options or standout technology innovations worthy of the premium pricing.
However, American Crew promises dependable, straightforward grooming solutions – and over 25 years they’ve continually delivered. Recommending these expertly-crafted classics feels like recommending a sturdy, beloved old car model. They endure unchanged because they don’t need reinventing.
For guys seeking affordable salon basics covering all styling and care needs reliably, American Crew remains a safe bet. Just make sure to buy directly from AmericanCrew.com on sale, redeem rewards when possible, and choose options aligning to your hair profile for optimal satisfaction.
Because when it comes to uncomplicating men feeling confident and put together daily, this trailblazing brand helps males win the small battles that empower tackling far larger ones fearlessly. And that resilient, pragmatic spirit simply resonates with the alpha in every man.
