The market is awash with products for beards and mustaches. From best beard balms to conditioners, it can be hard to know what’s what.
When it comes to wax, the multitude of product and their variation can quickly become overwhelming.
What should you look for in a beard wax? What distinguishes the top-shelf, high-quality products from their sub-par competition?
Here’s a guide to the best beard wax – how to spot it, where to buy it, how to apply it, and what to expect.
What is a Beard Wax
Any seasoned beardsman will tell you that growing the beard of your dreams is only half the battle; having world-class facial hair also means taking the time to sculpt and shape your face fuzz.
Truthfully, that is something which takes a little help. Thankfully, beard wax is just the product for the job.
Every beard has those stray hairs that go rogue – wax is here to put those bad boys back in their place.
Without wax, your beard would be left to run wild.
Benefits of Using Beard Wax
If you’ve ever found yourself standing puzzled in an aisle among the balms, oils, washes, conditioners, and other countless beard products, you may be wondering if beard wax is truly necessary.
The answer, of course, is yes. If you want your beard to be fashionable and healthy, you need the help of wax.
Can Be Used For All Beard Styles
Think of Salvador Dali’s iconic upwards twist, or Zach Galifianakis’ immaculately-formed facial shrub (the kind that can only be achieved with the help of a professional beard shaper).
Impressive and iconic facial hair isn’t grown on its own, it’s sculpted using patience and the perfect beard products.
Wax exists to take the beard you’ve grown, and shape it into a masterpiece.
Every man knows that no beard grows naturally into the perfect form: some patches grow faster or stick out.
Some beards naturally sit crooked or struggle to contain a few wild, scraggly curls that just can’t seem to stay in with the rest of the whiskers.
In short, the benefit of wax is that it gives you ultimate control over your beard, its shape, and its style.
Protection Against Split Ends
In addition to immediately improving the look of your beard, it also promotes overall health.
The cohesive elements of wax serve to coat the ends of individual hairs, which can otherwise be inclined to split or fray.
The destruction caused by split or otherwise damaged beard hairs can slow growth and lead to frizzy, sickly facial hair.
Especially in cold or dry weather, when hair is strained and prone to breakage, a good wax can protect your beard from splits and breakage.
A Shield Against External Elements
You might not think of your beard as something that needs protection, but it is.
Sure, your facial hair makes you feel manly and maybe even a little rustic–like a modern woodsman or sexy lumberjack.
That doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be safe and protected.
Besides shaping your beard and coating it to protect from split ends, a good wax also helps guard against the elements, kind of like an invisible, all-day shield made just for your chin.
Locks in Moisture
Especially if you live in a dry climate or even just if your inclined to dry hair and skin, wax helps keep what’s important inside: moisture.
The water-resistant consistency of wax doesn’t just keep out what’s bad, it seals in all the good stuff and helps your bush stay hydrated and luscious.
Types of Beard Wax
From all-organic to vitamin-supplemented and handmade, the beard wax market is awash with options.
Though you and your beard may at first be overwhelmed by the many options, take solace in the fact that there is a wax that suits every beardsman’s needs.
If trying to sort out the differences between one product in the next has you stroking your own whiskers in confusion, here are a couple differentiating factors that may help you pick the perfect wax.
Strength of Hold
The stronger the hold, the more control and creative power you can have.
Remember, though: with great power comes great responsibility.
Stronger waxes are stiffer, harder to apply, and can easily be over-applied, forming your beard into a rock-hard icicle instead of a shapely man-mane.
On the spectrum of strength, the scale is usually divided into three categories: light/weak, moderate, and heavy/strong.
A heavy wax is necessary when aiming to achieve a more drastic style, like Dali’s aforementioned pencil mustache.
For beardsmen looking to achieve styles that are simply shaped and manicured (like the lumbersexual style for example) then a light wax should serve splendidly.
Other factors that go into the selection of the perfect hold also include how thick your beard is and how curly or unruly the individual hairs tend to be.
Duration of Hold
Do you need your beards style to last into the evening, or just provide a little shape for several hours through the day?
In addition to the strength of the wax, the duration is also a distinguishing factor from product to product.
Keep in mind that waxes boasting an incredibly long hold have their drawbacks as well.
Durable waxes will probably consequentially be more difficult to remove when it’s time to wash them out.
Color
If you’ve got a dark-colored beard that falls between brown and black, color is less of a concern – most waxes will blend.
However, if you have a light colored beard such as blonde or red, the color should be a determining factor when selecting a wax brand.
For those who are fairer-haired, dark waxes make your beard look dirty. Instead, opt for a light-colored or even clear wax.
If you wanted to change the color of your beard, you’d opt for a natural beard dye and color instead of just waxing it over with a contrasting shade.
What Ingredients To Look For in Beard Wax
The ingredients label of most beard wax products generally aren’t novels; it’s most common for the label simply to list a few items.
Waxes may include other components to add fragrance or boost shine, but the three staple ingredients are usually some variation of beeswax, natural oils, and butter.
Most often (and ideally) these are all-natural ingredients.
Here are a couple of things to look for on the back of a product’s jar, and a couple of ingredients to avoid.
Waxes should include:
- Some type of beeswax, ideally one which is organic
- The best oil for facial hair is usually natural oil. Natural oils such as fruit oils, nut oils, or tea tree oil help to keep beards healthy and give it a lasting shine
- Shea butter, cocoa butter, or similar butter ingredient to smooth and condition
- Vitamin E to encourage overall health
Waxes should avoid:
- Synthetic fragrance agents which scent the wax but lessen its overall quality
- Any other non-natural, synthetic ingredients
- Chemicals such as artificial dyes or any type of parabens
How to Use Beard Wax
Step 1 – Wash Your Beard
You’ll want to start with a clean slate. First, wash your beard with one of these best beard washes.
Washing should be done regularly as a part of your daily self-care routine.
You wash your face every morning and every night; your beard should be no different.
Step 2 – Dry Your Beard
Next, dry your beard completely. It doesn’t have to be as parched as the Sahara in summer, but dab it as you mean it until there are minimal amounts of moisture.
This allows the wax to take directly to your beard, and not get watered down or lack adhesiveness.
Step 3 – Prepare and Brush Your Beard
Brush it – not just with any hairbrush, you’ll want to use a brush for beards which is specifically designed to remove loose hairs and promote overall health.
Step 4 – Apply Beard Wax
To apply, focus on one side first. Massage the wax gently into the outside of your beard until it is evenly distributed.
Apply this method to both sides before moving on to the front of the beard.
Some waxes are harder and require softening before application.
With medium-hard waxes, this can be done simply by rubbing the wax between your thumb and fingers, using the friction to warm and soften.
However, with harder products intended for more extreme styles, it is sometimes necessary to directly apply heat.
One idea way to do this is through the use of a hair dryer, which can be directed at the wax’s surface in order to make it pliable enough to scoop out and apply.
Step 5 – Remove Excess Wax (If Any)
Lastly, use a hand towel or washcloth to remove excess wax.
To do this, remember to gently dab the wax away instead of aggressively wiping it, which will compromise the structural integrity of the shapely beard masterpiece you’ve just created.
How Much Beard Wax Should I Use
Once your wax is soft enough to use, you need to decide how much to use.
Most products recommend a dime-sized sample, but the amount you need is directly related to how much beard you have.
More hair require more wax – think about it, Zach Galifianakis’ trim-but-full facial fluff would inevitable need less product than Gandalf’s long locks or any of the beards included in this compilation of best long beard styles.
Once you’ve assessed how much you need, place the amount in your palm.
Remember, you can always add more, but it’s hard to remove wax without starting over entirely, so underestimate your needs and add wax little by little.
Before the wax sets, you should comb and fashion it using a professional beard comb.
If you’re not totally sure what kind of fashion or shape you want, just getting all of the hairs going in one same direction is a pretty good place to start.
When it comes to the use of various waxes, also remember that the ease of application and time it takes to style is not the same across the board.
Harder waxes are more difficult and time-consuming to use, while softer waxes which are used for less-drastic styles can normally be applied quickly and with ease.
Differences Between Beard Wax and Beard Balm
For the purposes of beard styling, beard wax and beard balm can be considered brothers.
They normally have the same ingredients: wax of some sort, a natural oil, and butter.
The main differentiating factor is the amount of each ingredient which goes into the product.
Beard balms tend to have more butter.
They’re generally softer and can act as soothing and smoothing agents on the beard’s hair (though they are not the same as beard conditioners – there are products specifically for that as well!).
Using the oils and other natural ingredients, products like these best natural beard balm also condition facial follicles and can help to immediately relieve the itching that beardsmen with fledgling facial hair often experience.
Balms are good for natural beard styles, like if you’re thinking to try a hipster beard style or a more casually loose look.
Unshockingly, beard waxes are considered wax instead of balm because they generally contain more beeswax than other products.
They are, in short, “waxier” in texture. This allows them to be more effective in shaping and holding hair into specific styles.
Though a bit harder to apply, beard wax allows you to achieve shapes and styles that beard balm.
Its softer, easier-going brother, could never dream of.
If you’re keen on styling your beard but you’re not sure how to go about it, check out these shaping tips for your beard for some solid ideas.
Differences Between Beard Wax and Beard Butter
Beard butter is a hydrating product that can be considered the soft-textured lovechild of beard oil and beard balm.
While wax is intended to protect your beard, lock in moisture, and hold shape, beard butter is more like a lotion for your hair.
It won’t help you shape your handlebar mustache, but the best beard butter will help your facial hair stay hydrated.
While beard wax can be hard in texture and difficult to spread, beard butter is soft and easy to apply.
Its texture is attributed mainly to a lack of beeswax in the product’s ingredients – something that makes it smooth-textured and creamy.
Choosing the Best Beard Wax
You can get the world’s best beauty rest (even wearing the best sleeping outfit for men) and it doesn’t mean you’ll wake up with perfect facial hair.
Even the best beards need the help of a solid beard-care and styling routine to reach their full potential.
Wax is the style and strength powerhouse that lends you the ability to achieve the beard you’ve always dreamed of.
With the right wax and a little bit of love, any beard style is possible.
Photos from: dima_sidelnikov / depositphotos.com, YGphoto / depositphotos.com, AllaSerebrina / depositphotos.com, elenathewise / depositphotos.com,
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