If you’ve ever sported a beard (or tried to grow one out), you’re most likely aware of the care and patience that goes into taming, maintaining, and styling it. Fortunately, with a plethora of beard care products now available in the market, beard styling is easier than ever before. Below, we break down how to use beard wax to keep your beard game strong.
What exactly is beard wax
Today, most men's care products that are used to style, moisturise, or tame your facial hair can be found categorised as beard wax. It appears like, you guessed it, wax, and its consistency can range from a buttery soft liquid to a thicker, more solid wax.
A moustache wax may be thicker in consistency since it needs to be applied to a smaller area, whereas you may find a beard wax to be more spreadable so it can disperse across a larger area evenly. However, most beard and moustache waxes essentially perform the same function and can be used interchangeably.
How to pick the right beard wax for you
The best beard wax (or the best moustache wax!) for you depends on several factors.
First, consider the purpose you want to fulfil— does your facial hair need light hydration and maintenance or is it coarse and brittle, needing extra replenishment? For general maintenance and care, a soft-hold, hydrating beard wax would be ideal, whereas coarse and brittle facial hair will benefit from using an intensely moisturising formulation.
If you have a particularly unruly beard that you want to hold in place for hours, a strong-hold beard wax is your ideal pick. This will also allow you to play with different shapes and styles of facial hair. Just an FYI, though – a stronghold wax may make your facial hair feel rough and coarse to the touch while wearing it, but it should be back to normal once the wax is washed out.
How to apply beard wax
Take note of this handy guide on applying beard wax like your barber would:
1. A beard wax must be warmed up in your palms before applying it to your facial hair. Scoop out some wax with your finger and rub it between your palms to warm it up—this allows the wax to melt and become more malleable for application, helping it spread more evenly across your beard.
2. Apply the heated wax onto a clean, damp beard and spread evenly with your fingers. Waxes should not be applied on an oiled beard as oil tends to break the wax down and reduce its efficacy.
3. To help the wax coat each strand evenly, use a boar bristle brush to brush through your beard. Now, tame the frizz and flyaways to style your beard as required.
4. If you’re wondering how to use a moustache wax, all you need to do is follow the same technique as a beard wax for moustache styling and grooming.
Remember to be patient while using a beard wax— a little bit of practice can make you a pro at styling your beard and understanding how much product it needs to stay groomed all day long.
