Best Hair Wax For Men With Short Spiky Hair To Wavy Hair (2023)

Let’s be honest, how many of us are able to pull off a natural masculine yet attractive Chris Hemsworth look or a sharp and sporty Christiano Ronaldo portrait? This is why we need some hair products to help us give us a little boost to our style. Looking for the best hair products for men can be a daunting task with so many products out there in the market today. From big commercial corporations like Gatsby or Old Spice to homebrewers like O’douds and Arcadian, we have scouted all of them and found the ones that may suit your style and preference. To help you save all the time and money for trial and error, check out our list of best hair wax for men.

If you don’t have much time to deep-dive with us, here’s a summary of the best hair wax product of its own category

Summary of Best Hair wax for men

1. Best Strong Hold Hair Wax: Gatsby Moving Rubber
2. Best Hair Wax for Sensitive Scalp: Jack Black Wax Pomade
3. Best Hair Wax for Thick Hair: Dashu Original Premium Super Mat Hair Wax
4. Best Hair Wax for Thin Hair & Matte Look: TIGI Bed Head for Men – Matte Separation Workable Wax
5. Best Hair Wax for Natural Wavy Look: Blind barber 60
6. Most Versatile Hair Wax: Old Spice Swagger Fiber Hair Wax
7. Best Hair Wax for High Volume & Texture: Arcadian Matte Paste
8. Best Hair Wax for High Shine: Vogarte Hair Styling Aqua Wax for Men

Before we go down to each of our recommended lists, here’s how we define what a hair wax is.

What is Hair Wax

Hair wax is a hairstyling product that contains mainly wax to hold and style your hair.  Here are the types of wax used nowadays by hair wax manufacturers

• Beeswax
• Candelilla wax
• Carnauba wax
• Castor wax
• Emulsifying wax
• Japan wax
• Lanolin
• Ozokerite 

However, the line of what a hair wax is is getting more blurred. This is because homebrewers pushing the boundaries of producing hair styling products for men that have a hybrid of properties from other types of hair styling products such as pomade, clay, paste, and styling balm. Here are the complete list and general guide of hair products for men.

Hair wax is usually more pliable than hair gel which usually hardens. But again, it really depends on the type and proportion of each ingredient used to produce the end product.  

Is Hair Wax harmful?

The short answer is yes and no. To become a more savvy buyer, we must be careful with the products we use by checking what are the ingredients that were used to produce hair wax. Depending on the ingredients, some hair waxes are easier to wash than the rest. If not washed properly, it will result in wax and scalp oil to build upon your scalp. This might cause irritation, redness, dry your scalp up, or even cause dandruff to flare up. 

In terms of ingredients, petrolatum always raised as one of the sensitive topics. This is because if not properly processed, it will be contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Petrolatum on the other hand is used as a moisturizing agent and commonly used in cosmetic products. So if you are really conservative about the ingredients, do choose products with no use of petrolatum like the Arcadian Hair Matte Paste or Jack Black Wax Pomade. To identify if petrolatum is used, what you want to look for on the labelings are either Petrolatum, Petroleum Jelly, Paraffin Oil, Mineral Oil, or White Petrolatum.

Is hair wax bad for your hair? The issue only comes when you do not wash it off properly. It will make your hair look greasy. And again, if we allow those products to build up, it will eventually reach your scalp and result in dandruff, itchiness or dry scalp. However, generally, hair wax won’t cause serious hair loss if used moderately. 

Can we use men hair wax daily?

Well, as long you don’t experience any dryness, itchiness, or excessive hair drops you should be fine. But we do give advice to give a break to your hair to remain healthy and strong. If you do use it very often, make sure you use deep-cleansing shampoos that are designed to remove product build up on your roots and scalps. Make sure you don’t go to bed with your hair wax remaining on your hair, while you might be able to get a good natural look the next day, it pretty much harms your scalp and hair. 

Which is better hair gel or hair wax?

It depends. If you are looking for something that has a very strong hold, a shiny slick look and does not require you to restyle throughout the day(taking humidity out of the picture), then hair gel is the right for you. Hair gel is also an easier product to wash out. 

On the other hand, hair wax is a more flexible hair product that you can play with many styles. This is because it is more pliable for you to achieve certain looks like a short spiky hair look, or a more texturizing look. Moreover, tt gives better control when it comes to styling, less rigid than gel where it clumps everything together. Furthermore, it does dry out and harden like gel and some hair waxes are more nourishing to your hair as it uses natural waxes.

How to find the right hair wax for yourself? (Able to insert product links here)

Hair type

If you have thick hair, you can select a product that is much stronger that gives us a better hold to keep your style all day. However if you have thin hair, look for hair wax that is medium and light hold so it does not weigh down your hairstyle. 

Hold

A high or strong hold hair wax is designed to keep your hair in place throughout the day. However, you will still have the freedom to restyle. The only drawback is it might feel dryer.

A medium Hold hair wax is suitable for those with curly hair as men with curly hair usually has some pre-existing volume. So a medium hold hair wax able to just boost it a little more, while maintaining the natural curl to the hair.

A light hold hair wax is suitable for those with thin hair. Hence, you must choose a product that will not add excessive pressure to your hair and keep your style composed. However, usually, light hold hair waxes do not last very long throughout the day. Consequently, this product is also more suitable for men with wavy hair or going for a natural look. Not to mention, it is very easy to style with light hold hair wax any time when it’s required.

Finish

Shiny hair is all about generating that slick dapper look. Definitely there are a couple of products that help you to achieve that shiny look. Men with longer hair are more suitable for such a look as compared to short or spiky hair. 

However, do note, if you already have an oily hair type, do not go for hair wax that has high shine as it will make your hair look greasier or someone who just came out from an oil bath. 

In fact, go for the matte look. It amplifies the texture of your hair and you can play around with some hairstyle to achieve those texturizing looks. Men with short hair are suitable for matte hair wax.

Scent

Make sure to check those labels for what scent you prefer since it is going to stay on throughout the day. Also the strength of the scent has to be considered. You might not want something overpowering or over masculine depending on the occasion. Also, consider what cologne you wear, you do not want them to be conflicted with each other. If you really want to play safe, go for a non-fragrant hair wax.

So, we the knowledge on what aspect to consider here’s our curated list of best hair wax for men.

8 Best Hair Wax For Men 2020

Best Strong Hold Hair Wax: Gatsby Moving Rubber

• Key Features
• Hold: Strong Hold
• Hair Type: Suitable for short hair 
• Style: Spiky and texturizing matte look
• Endurance High Endurance 
• Price: $12  
• Made in Japan

Description

This fruity fragrant hair wax is definitely one of the strongest out there. This product is not new, but the fact that it is still around the market, that explains why this product is much loved by many men especially in Asia. Men with short or thick hair definitely want to grab this product. 

The application is also quite easy. It is much less tacky compared to other hair wax products. Style your hair starting from the roots towards upwards. It really gives you a good hold up to 12 hours. 

Generally, gatsby produces some good products. You could check out our other top gatsby products here.  The only drawback for this product is it’s not so easy to wash off. You will require a deep cleansing shampoo to get it out completely.

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BEST HAIR WAX FOR SENSITIVE SCALP: JACK BLACK WAX POMADE

1. Key Features
2. Hold: Medium to light Hold
3. Hair Type: Suitable for short or frizzy hair and your beard!
4. Style: Shiny Look
5. Endurance: Moderate
6. Price: $23 (On the day of publication)
7. Suitable for men with sensitive scalp
9. Description
10. This product is designed for men who have concerns with their sensitive scalp. The ingredients used in the Jack Black Wax Pomade consist of sage leaf extract that is antibacterial, grapefruit peel oil, basil, and sea kelp. Some of these ingredients are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant. In addition, it is also free of synthetic fragrances, parabens, and colorants. Some make find this product a bit oily, but if you want to achieve that shiny look, this might be the one. 

Best Hair Wax for Thick Hair: Dashu – Original Premium Super Mat Hair Wax

1. Key Features:
2. Hold: Strong 
3. Hair Type: Suitable for both thick hair or curly hair 
4. Style: Matte Look
5. Endurance: Moderate
6. Price: $12 (On the day of publication)
8. Description
9. This product is well known for its stronghold for thick or curly hair. It is also infused with argan oil which nourishes that hair, and a very subtle black bean fragrance. It gives a natural matte look and can be restyled easily when required. As compared to other waxes, Dashu Hair Wax is quite easily washed off with normal shampoo. 

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Best Hair Wax for Thin Hair and Matte Look:

TIGI Bed Head for Men Matte Separation Workable Wax

1. Key Features
2. Hold: Medium 
3. Hair Type: Suitable for both short and thin hair
4. Style: Matte Look
5. Endurance: Moderate
6. Price: $7.80 (On the day of publication)

Description

The TIGI Bed Head brand is quite well known. This product helps to volumize or thicken your hair, hence it is very suitable for men with thin or short hair. It is also a very easy to style product and can be reworked easily after you have applied it. Also, beeswax is one of the key ingredients that gives structure and fullness to your hair follicles. This versatile product gives one of the best matte finishes. It works great on women’s hair as well! The slight drawback is its endurance wont last too long in humid weather.

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Best Hair Wax for Natural wavy Look: Blind barber 60

• Key Features
• Hold: Medium 
• Hair Type: Suitable for both long, wavy and fine hair
• Style: Moderate Shine
• Endurance: Moderate
• Price: $19.99 (On the day of publication)

Description

Hands down, Blind Barber in my opinion is one of the brands that have the best scent product out there. The Blind barber 60 Wax is more suitable for a more natural look and provides a substantial hold to your hairstyle. This product contains hops to help prevent dandruff and boost hair volume. A subtle vanilla scent that was dosed from the addition of tonka beans. In addition, this is also one of the easiest to watch hair wax out there. On the other hand, if you are curious, you could check another review from us on Blind Barber 90 Proof Pomade.

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Best Hair Wax for High Versatility: Old Spice swagger Fiber Hair wax

Key Features

• Hold: Medium 
• Hair Type: Suitable for all hair types
• Style: Moderate Shine
• Endurance: Moderate
• Price: $15.99 for 2 pieces (On the day of publication)
• Description
• The Old Spice Swagger Fiber Hair Wax gives you the flexibility to work on your hair with almost any style you can think of, from side parting to messy look. It also has some shine to it but not over flossy. In terms of scent, It has a pleasant fragrance and is not overpowering. More importantly, it does not weigh your hair down to keep your style in shape. A tip is not to over-apply it on your hair as it could be too sticky or tacky. 

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Best Hair wax for high volume and texture: Arcadian matte Paste

• Key Features
• Hold: Strong Hold 
• Hair Type: Suitable for all hair types
• Style: Matte
• Endurance: Long Lasting even in high humidity
• Price: $23.00 (On the day of publication)
• Description
• The Arcadian Matte Paste is a hybrid of wax with cream. It was originally homebrewers that formulated their own product. The ingredients they picked are mostly natural and petroleum-free. Moreover, this product has a citrusy and peppery scent and it does add good volume and texture to your hair. As a result, this allows you to play around with different texture styles for a different look. The reasons above are why the Arcadian Matte Paste deserves to be in our best hair wax for men list. You can check our detailed reviews here.

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Best Hair Wax for High Shine: Vogarte Hair Styling Aqua Wax for Men

• Key Features
• Hold: Medium to Strong Hold 
• Hair Type: Suitable for all hair types
• Style: High Shine
• Endurance: Moderate
• Price: $16.99 (On the day of publication)
• Description
• This is a water-based wax that feels like a gel type hairstyling product. Hence, it really gives a good shine all day long. In addition, it does give good hold and easy application. Not doubt that this product is a bit stiff and not as flexible as a normal wax. But hey, if you want to have a slick look and not worrying about restyling your hair or having grease in your hair, this product is for you. This is definitely going to be the easiest to wash hair wax out there. 

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Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope that you find our Best Hair Wax for Men list was useful for your hunt. If you have any hair wax that’s not listed above but works great on you, share with us in our comment section! We would love to hear from you and if we are lucky enough, we will probably try to do a detailed review on them to share with our community :) However, if you are not into hair wax, prefer something easier to wash off and hold very well, check out on our list of Top 10 Strong Hold Pomades here. Join us on our Instagram and Facebook page for more content related to men’s grooming products!