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May 4, 2018

There are so many different products available to tame, groom, and perfect your beard, it can be hard to know which would work best for your style and type of beard. This quick guide to beard wax will help you to discover all you need to know about beard wax and how it can benefit your style.

Beard wax from Mr Bear

What Does Beard Wax Do?

Beard wax is a styling agent. I'm sure you've seen beautifully styled beards (there are some amazing ones out there!) - you might have even browsed through some the incredible entries at the World Beard Championships or other competitions. To create a perfectly styled beard, beard wax is the way to go. Beard wax is largely made up of beeswax. This is a natural ingredient that can be softened and applied to your hair, which then dries to create a firm hold without feeling sticky. It's highly effective and natural, so it's unlikely to irritate your skin. Beard wax is perfect for creating intricate, complex, and lasting styles.

How is Beard Wax Different to Balm?

The ingredients in both beard wax and beard balm are largely the same. However, the ratio of ingredients makes a massive difference to the way the products work.

Beeswax

While beard oil is wax-free, beard balm and (obviously!) beard wax both use beeswax. It's this ingredient that means both products are used for styling your beard. However, it's the way the beeswax is combined with other ingredients that distinguishes the two...

Oils

Both beard balm and beard wax contain different kinds of oils. Beard balm has a much higher ratio of oils to beeswax than beard wax does. Beard balm contains both carrier oils, which hydrate and moisturise your hair, and essential oils, which create the fragrance of the product. Beard wax, on the other hand, doesn't have the primary purpose of moisturising your beard as it is intended primarily for styling purposes. Therefore, it doesn't have the same amount of oils as a balm as these would dilute the wax and reduce the hold. They do still contain some essential oils to give the wax a fragrance and some carrier oils to make the wax more malleable, but much less than in beard balm.

Butter

Beard balm contains, most commonly, shea butter. This ingredient is great for the skin underneath your beard, helping to keep your face from drying out and developing the dreaded 'beardruff' (beard dandruff). Beard wax doesn't contain any butters, so isn't as nourishing for your skin as balm. However, the lack of shea butter, means it's more effective than beard balm at holding a style. If you want a healthy and well-hydrated beard, and aren't trying to achieve an intricate style, then beard balm is likely to be the best product for you. It still contains beeswax, so provides a small amount of styling ability that will allow you to smooth your beard and keep it under control. Beard wax is great for those occasions when you're creating a special style, need a strong fixing, or if you have an extremely long or unruly beard!

Is there a difference between beard wax and moustache wax?

Not really, no! Moustache wax is the more well-known name as it's more common to style moustaches than beards. However, both beard wax and moustache wax have the same ingredients. You'll often notice products labelled as 'moustache and beard wax'.

How to Use Beard Wax

If you want to style your beard with beard wax, we recommend you combine a beard balm or oil with a beard wax. Wax lacks the oils that are vital for keeping your beard healthy, so alone, it's not enough to keep your beard looking and feeling great. Begin by applying beard balm (learn more about how to do that with our beard balm guide ), then move onto the wax once you've hydrated your hair and moisturised the skin underneath. Once you've applied the wax in the same fashion as beard balm, you'll need to use a brush or comb to evenly distribute the wax and create a smooth look. After this step, you can shape your hair into the desired style with your fingers. The wax will dry in the air and create a lasting shape. Be sure to wash out the wax properly using a beard shampoo . If it's left in, it'll block your pores and cause skin irritation. When you wash your beard, follow up by applying a beard oil . This is especially great just before you go to bed as it has time to soak in during the night and keep your hair soft and healthy. Do you use beard wax to style your facial hair? We'd love to hear what products you find the best.