The Best Hair Waxes

Hair wax has many names: pomade, paste, whip, mud, hair glue, putty, styling paste, and molding gum, to name a few. The benefits of using wax are numerous. Its thick consistency allows you to mold hair into any style you want. This means you can change your hairstyle daily without getting it cut. Unlike hair gel, hair wax does not contain alcohol, which is harsh on hair’s chemicals and dries out the hair shaft, leaving it brittle. Yes, gel will hold your hair in place, but it will also damage your hair in the process. Hair wax will achieve the same thing without the damage.

Best Choice

TIGI Bed Head is the best Hair Wax? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Low Shine Hair Wax for Every Day

Tigi Bed Head for Men Matte Separation for Men is a versatile wax for everyday use. It contains beeswax, which keeps hair soft and locks in moisture. It’s a good hold with a natural finish.
Best Choice

Find on Amazon

Pros:
This wax has a long-lasting hold that nourishes the hair. It is designed as a matte hair wax with low shine to give the hair a natural look. This product works well to meticulously style thin and frizzy hair. Bed Head has a strong hold that works well in humid conditions.

Cons:
The hold is strong but varies on the dampness of your hair.

Best for Short Hair

GATSBY MOVING RUBBER is the best Hair Wax? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Long-Lasting, Changeable Hair Wax

Gatsby Moving Rubber Spiky Edge is a light wax with a super strong hold. The formula allows you to change your hairstyle during the day without reapplication.
Best for Short Hair

Find on Amazon

Pros:
Moving Rubber has a thinner consistency–almost like a cream. Its non-greasy formula is easy to use. The hold is malleable, so you can change your style during the day or restyle easily. It leaves your hair smelling mildly of green apple.

Cons:
This non-greasy formula is easy to over-use and makes hair very hard and difficult to wash out. Some of the packaging is written in Japanese.

Best Water-Based Wax

Suavecito Original Hold is the best Hair Wax? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Easy-to-Remove, Medium-Hold Hair Wax

Suavecito Pomade is a water-based wax with a shiny finish--great for keeping your style in place and washing it out without stubborn residue.
Best Water-Based Wax

Find on Amazon

Pros:
This wax dries with a solid, shiny hold. It can be restyled during the day with a wet comb and easily washed out. There is no loss of hold should you need to brush your hair. Hair appears thicker with use. Suavecito is vegan and cruelty-free.

Cons:
This product is not suitable for strong hair. Suavecito Pomade works best on short hair.

Best Organic Hair Wax

Jack Black Natural Shine is the best Hair Wax? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

All-Natural, Scent-Free Matte Wax

Jack Black Wax Pomade is a non-sticky, strong-hold wax made from all-natural ingredients. Great for thick hair, including beards. This wax is designed to soothe and condition hair and skin.
Best Organic Hair Wax

Find on Amazon

Pros:
The ingredients in this wax provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Pomade works well on sensitive skin. It also works well on all facial hair. The pliable formula controls frizz.

Cons:
This pomade is a luxury product, which makes it significantly more expensive.

Best All-Around Hair Wax

Bumble & Bumble Sumo Tech is the best Hair Wax? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Strong Hold with Natural Look

Bumble and Bumble Sumo Tech is a hybrid cream that incorporates the best aspects of creams, pastes, and waxes. This means you get a great hold that moves like untreated hair.
Best All-Around Hair Wax

Find on Amazon

Pros:
Sumo Tech is a light-hold, flexible wax. You can run your hands through your hair without that crunch. You can style individual hair strands to tame wild-looking hair. This is a low-shine formula that is nearly a matte finish.

Cons:
As a luxury wax, it is pricey. The scent is quite heavy.

What Really Matters

Hold

Hair waxes come in different strengths. You must buy the right one for your hair. They are designed to work best on strong hair that needs coaxing to stay in shape. You can even achieve gravity-defying hairstyles with strong wax. Knowing which strength you need is important to buy the right product, as they can leave your hair crunchy if it’s too strong. If you have strong hair, a hair wax will help you keep it in your chosen style all day. It may take a few trials to find the wax that best suits your hair.

Shine

There is a range of finishes to suit every need. In general, hair waxes give a very shiny finish. You can get a full-shine wax that makes a conscious decision to look wet. Medium shine is much more subtle, but still has a semi-wet look. Matte or low-shine are almost invisible and make the hair look much more natural.

Conditioning

Although hair waxes do not contain alcohol, they can be damaging. If you have hair that tends to be dry or brittle, you must look at the oils contained in the wax. All-natural products are the best for problem hair and are also most suitable for keeping beards and mustaches in prime condition.

What’s in Right Now

The use of hair wax for men has been around for a while, but recently, there has been a rise in women’s hair wax. Hair wax is designed for strong, stubborn hair that needs to be under control, so was originally targeted at men. With uppercuts and undercuts becoming more popular with women, unisex hair wax is on the rise. This means that the once heavy scent of hair wax has lightened up to be more pleasurable for all.

More organic and natural hair waxes have also become available recently. Making sure that the products contain no animal products has become a dealbreaker. As the use of hair wax has moved to condition beards and mustaches, the need for a gentle, sustainable oil has become paramount. Suppliers in all markets have risen to the challenge and all-natural hair waxes are more widely available.

Prices

Expensive

$20-$60 will buy a luxury hair wax. Unlike most beauty products, there are not many luxury hair waxes available. These hair waxes use quality, natural ingredients and are less about the hold and more about kindness toward your hair.

Mid-Range

Most hair waxes fall in the $10-$20 price range. They all tend to be grouped around $15 for a size that will last the most frequent user a month or two. The names for wax vary as much as the product. You may even be able to find a salon-quality hair wax in this price range. Each has a claim to a particular hold or conditioning ability,R so you won’t have any trouble finding one for you.

Cheap

It’s easy to pick up cheap hair wax for $5-$10. There are some surprisingly good ones in this price range. The quality of the oil used in these waxes is lower, but still useable. With little to no conditioning ability, these waxes can be damaging to hair.

FAQs

There are so many names for hair wax. What’s the difference?

There are multiple names for hair wax, including mud, paste, glue, sculpting or crafting cream, putty, and pomade, to name only a few. Though the names are different, they all indicate that they style and hold the hair without the use of alcohol. Hair gel is alcohol-based and dries the hair, causing flaking and brittleness. Hair waxes use oils to achieve the same style and hold but tend to be kinder to the hair.

Will hair wax work on my thin hair?

Yes, hair wax will work well with any hair. The thing to remember with thin hair is that less is more. Start by finding a medium-hold wax and use a very small amount on the middle or ends of your hair. Too strong or too much wax will make your hair heavy. Thin hair often needs a finishing spray to hold it in place.

Do I have to look greasy?

No. Traditionally, hair waxes came in only two finishes: wet or very wet! Now, you can get hair waxes that have a low-shine or matte finish. There are even natural finishes that allow hair to move as if it is untreated.

Can I use hair wax on my skin?

Hair waxes are not designed to be used on skin. They are very thick and can clog pores to end up as blemishes or rashes.

Do you put hair wax it on wet or dry hair?

Applying the wax to dry hair gives a better finish. It also means that the style you get is the style that you have all day. If you apply the wax to wet hair, the volume changes as the hair dries, thus changing the style.

Does hair wax wash out easily?

Some waxes are hard to wash out of hair due to their strength. If your wax appears stubborn, comb conditioner through the hair before washing. The oils in the conditioner will remove the wax more efficiently than water. As your fifth-grade science teacher always told you, oil and water don’t mix!