What everyone sees in our physical appearance is, for the most part, limited to the waist up during our Zoom conference calls in this seemingly indefinite quarantine. We don’t need our hair to look boy-band perfect; we just need our locks to hold up without frizz or flyaways until our meetings adjourn. That’s why hair wax is arguably the most suitable hairstyling product for our stay-at-home reality right now.
Made from all-natural beeswax, hair wax is one of the thickest styling products for men, which usually features a stronger hold and a lower shine than both pomades and hair gels. They’re especially great for styling short hairstyles and spiky hair and for keeping medium-textured hair in place. If you’re looking for a quick fix to your bedhead before your virtual huddle room, then hair wax is definitely for you. Ahead, we highlight some of our favorites a every price point.
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Oribe Rough Luxury Molding Wax
Let’s start with the crème de la crème of haircare products: Oribe. Not surprisingly, the New York brand’s molding wax is sleekly packaged and keeps even the most unruly strands in place. Put a dime-sized amount through your locks for a semi-matte look. Plus, it smells amazing.
Jack Black Wax Pomade
For guys looking for a little more shine, we suggest Jack Black, which combines the best aspects of wax and pomade. It has the durable hold of the former and the silver screen finish of the latter.
Gatsby Hair Styling Wax
Don’t let the kitschy packaging fool you: Gatsby Hair wax packs a lot of strength and value. Perfect for guys who want an all-day hold to their high-and-tights, side-part fades, or French crops.
Hanz De Fuko Sponge Wax
One of our favorite haircare brands, Hanz De Fuko’s wax offers medium hold and a semi-matte shine, which means you can easily mold and shape your hair throughout the day. Like the rest of the brand’s products, this wax is made with natural ingredients and is cruelty-free, which means it’s great for your hair and the environment.
Tigi Bed Head Wax
While other styling products we tried contained some headache-inducing fragrances, Tigi’s wax is thankfully fragrance-free. Its thick white paste is a little sticky to put on but leaves an invisible all-day hold.
Paul Mitchell Firm Style Dry Wax
Great for guys with oilier hair, this dry wax offers a matte finish and a super-strong hold. Yes, it’s a little difficult to wash off with shampoo (again, it’s strong), but the residual product makes your hair look even better the next day.
Sachajuan Hair Wax
This is one of the lightest waxes on our list, yet it still provides incredible hold, thanks to a proprietary formula that also nourishes hair. Best for guys with short hair.
American Crew Liquid Wax
While most waxes don’t work very well for guys with longer, curlier hair, we had to make an exception for American Crew’s liquid wax, which has the consistency of a gel yet the strength of wax. Yes, it’s a little too fragrant, but its effectiveness on longer locks more than makes up for it.
Old Spice Swagger Fiber Wax
Great for guys with straight hair, Old Spice’s super affordable wax offers a tight hold without giving you helmet hair.
Hairstory Wax
There are plenty of reasons why Hairstory’s wax keeps selling out: It offers 24-hour hold with a shine-free finish and can tame even the unruliest cowlicks and frizz.
