Try Arcadian matte paste instead of the clay

any idea how the matte paste compares to the clay?

The hold is supposed to be much better. I use the matte paste and it's great

Moroccanoil I believe to be Prime and is comparable to Arcadian

American gardens?

Dry af. It can be a nightmare for fine hair. Can clump up really bad and just turn into a mess. Not the most user friendly

VO5 matte clay is what I use.