10 Best Hair Waxes for Men: Reviews and Buyer's Guide

Styling your hair on a daily basis doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. You can do it in minutes if you have the right styling products handy.

Whether you want a classy pomp, a solid side-part, or a dynamic spiky style, hair wax is what you need in your hair toolbox.

Best Waxes, Pomades and Texturizers for Men

In this review, we show you the top-rated and the best hair waxes for men. A quick look at the table below will give you an idea of which styling products may benefit your hair type and length. If you’re going for a specific look, the hold and finish factors are important to consider.

Brand and product	Hold	Finish	Scent	Best for	Price
TIGI Bed Head Matte Wax for Men - Editor’s Choice	Strong	Matte	Pleasant, mild, masculine scent	Straight and wavy hair of short and medium length	Check Price
Suavecito Pomade Original Hold	Medium	Light shine	Fresh scent	Short, medium and long, straight, wavy and curly hair	Check Price
Baxter of California Clay Pomade	Strong	Matte	Pleasant herbal and citrus scent	For all hair types and lengths	Check Price
Gatsby Moving Rubber Spiky Edge Hair Wax	Medium-to-strong	Satin shine	Mild fruity and floral scent	For short and very short hair	Check Price
D:fi D:struct Medium Hold Molding Creme	Medium	Low shine	Light, exotic, fruity scent	For all hair types and lengths	Check Price
American Crew Pomade for Hold and Shine	Medium	High shine	Light fresh scent	For all hair types and lengths	Check Price
Kenra Platinum Texturizing Taffy #13	Medium	Satin shine	Mild, pleasant, sweet scent	For all hair types and lengths	Check Price
Paul Mitchell Texturizer for Men	Strong	Matte	Mild, masculine scent	For all hair types and lengths	Check Price
KMS California Hair Play Dry Wax	Medium	Matte	Light, pleasant scent	For all hair types	Check Price
Honest Amish Extra Grit Beard Wax and Hair Control Wax	Medium-to-strong	Matte	Black licorice, clove, and lavender blend	For darker hair and beards	Check Price

#1: TIGI Bed Head Matte Wax for Men – The Right Hairstyles’ Choice

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Messy and disheveled is all the rage these days. Get stylish, messy hair with TIGI Bed Head Matte Wax. This powerful hair wax for men with beeswax and cera caranauba provides a strong, yet manageable hold. Retain texture and body under all kinds of weather conditions. Restyle anytime, just wet your hands and them through your hair.

A great alternative to gels, this strong-hold wax from TIGI doesn’t weigh down your hair, giving you all-day hold with a no-product look. No one will notice you’ve used any styling product, because it gives your hair a light, non-greasy hold with lots of definition and a matte finish.

How to use: Rub some product between your palms and apply to dry or damp hair. Adjust the amount of product you need to get the desired result. Note that when applied to dry hair, the product is harder to work through. Run your fingers through your hair to spread the product evenly. Wet and restyle as needed.

Pros

• All-day hold
• Non-greasy, product-free look
• Sets up quickly
• Easy to use
• Easy to wash out

Cons

• A bit hard to work through dry hair

We strongly recommend this Bed Head wax for men’s hair for short and medium lengths. The product delivers a classy look with enhanced texture and volume. No residue, no flaking, and no crusty feel.Tip: Since the product is water-soluble, keep tightly closed after using to prevent it from drying out.

#2: Suavecito Pomade Original Hold – The Best Pomade for Structured Hairstyles with Shine

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The Suavecito Pomade with original hold is great for men looking for long-lasting hold but don’t like dealing with the thick consistency of waxes. This pomade will give your hair the rigidity and volume it needs for modern and vintage hairstyles.

The product is water-soluble, so it will easily wash out and restyling during the day is a breeze. This pomade’s hold is strong enough to work even for thick hair, but not too heavy for thin hair either.

How to use: Apply to dry or damp hair. Reactivate with a bit of water whenever you need to refresh your look.

Pros

• Holds all day
• Water soluble
• Non-greasy effect
• Consistency is easier to work with than waxes
• No residue
• Fun, cool packaging

Cons

• May sometimes clump

With the consistency of a thick gel, the Suavecito Pomade Original Hold is recommended for hairstyles that need both flexibility and all-day hold — pompadours, slicked-back long on top with short side styles, and combovers with undercuts. It’s just like your best wax for pompadour, only easier to work into the hair.

However, if you’re looking for a matte finish, this product is designed to give your hair a light shine.

#3: Baxter of California Clay Pomade – The Best Pomade for Disheveled Natural-Looking Hair

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Modern haircuts with a combo of shorter and longer lengths like undercuts and tapers, need a quality styling product to hold the longer hair where you want it, without weighing it down. The Baxter of California Clay Pomade is exactly the one if you prefer disheveled, less structured and a more natural, messy looks.

Formulated with kaolin clay and beeswax, the paraben-free Baxter of California Clay Pomade guarantees a fairly strong, pliable hold, with definition and texture for those cool messy looks. The lightweight formula won’t weigh down fine hair and holds well even in humid weather.

How to use: Comb hair. Warm a small amount of product between your palms and spread evenly through dry or damp hair.

Pros

• No sticky feel
• Great texturizing effect
• Lightweight
• Washes out easily
• Withstands humidity
• Works on thick, stubborn hair

Cons

• Expensive

Baxter of California’s Clay Pomad may be expensive, but many customers claim it’s worth every penny. It’s a great texturizer that won’t let you down until the next shower and an absolute must-have to rough up your cool new layers or to add more definition and volume to your taper.

Get versatile style by applying it to wet and dry hair. The strong hold and controllable texture works for thick hair without giving it a sticky or crunchy feel.

#4: Gatsby Moving Rubber Spiky Edge Wax – The Best Product for Short, Spiky Hair

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The Rubber Spiky Edge Wax offers the strongest hold in the Gatsby line of waxes and works best for very short and short hair. It gives great hold and definition to Mohawks, shorter pompadours, strong parts, spiky styles, and wet looks in hair shorter than 2 inches. A special smoothing polymer keeps hair standing straight while remaining soft and slightly shiny.

Use the Gatsby’s Spiky Edge hair styling wax to get solid-looking spikes with hair that’s still soft to the touch. It works well when you want to define the tips of your spikes or tame cowlicks.

How to use: Apply evenly to dry or slightly damp hair. On dry hair, twist and spike for a textured style. Work it into towel-dried hair and comb through for slicked-back styles or looks that need a strong part.

Pros

• Non-sticky
• Moldable texture
• Allows for a variety of hairstyles
• Holds short hair well

Cons

• Too much product may leave white residue
• May lose its hold in humid and hot weather
• Doesn’t withstand strong winds
• The hold is not as strong as the label states

Gatsby Moving Rubber easily work your short hair into spikes and reveal your new textured cut to the world. We recommend using it in small amounts for shorter hair.The hold is not strong enough for thicker and medium length hair, so you’ll need to use a strong hold hairspray.

#5: D:fi D:struct Medium Hold Molding Creme – The Best Molding Creme for a Wide Array of Hairstyles

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What once used to be a wax has been successfully reformulated into a crème. The D:fi D:struct cream is loved for its natural-looking hold and definition that lasts until the next day with no residue or flakiness.

Formulated with mineral oils, vegetable oils and flower extracts, D:fi D:struct styles and cares for your hair with a lightweight, medium hold.

How to use: Apply to dry or semi-dry hair. Massage some product between your palms, apply evenly to hair, and mold it as you like. Pair with some hairspray to enhance the hold.

Pros

• Light
• Adds body
• Makes hair manageable
• Doesn’t leave any build up
• Doesn’t clump
• Doesn’t weigh your hair down

Cons

• Too much product will make your hair sticky
• The hold won’t last if you wear a hat

This D:fi D:struct styling creme offers manageable texture, easy application, and lightweight hold. If you are looking for a stronger hold, team it with a hairspray.

#6: American Crew Pomade for Hold and Shine – The Best Texturizing Product for Soft and Pliable Hair

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American Crew products in general, and the Pomade for Hold and Shine in particular, are known for groomed looks with a remarkable finish. Great for textured spiky hairstyles without the waxy feel, strong side-parts and wet, slicked-back styles, the pomade with low pH provides a flexible all-day hold, healthy shine, and soft, yet defined, texture.

The product is developed for straight, wavy, and curly hair, not only in terms of styling but hair care as well. Ingredients include ginseng root, famous for promoting hair growth and reducing hair loss, and deeply moisturizing lanolin and castor beans. For curly hair types, the pomade can slightly relax curls and help them stay in place. It leaves your hair soft and touchable and features a water-based formula that lasts until the next day.

How to use: Can be applied to wet or dry hair. It feels a bit stiff if used on damp hair and softens when blow-dried. To enhance the hold, use a hairspray.

Pros

• Easy to wash out
• Holds in humidity
• Doesn’t weigh hair down

Cons

• The hold may not be strong enough for some hair types

We recommend the American Crew Pomade for controllable, yet, natural-looking hair with movement and texture. It works for any hair type and can help with unruly, hard-to-manage, frizzy hair that needs definition, durable hold, and shine.

The packaging speaks for itself — nothing flashy or extraordinary — just one of the reliable brands that you’ve come to trust.

#7: Kenra Platinum Texturizing Taffy #13 – The Best Pliable Product for Piece-y Looks

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With Kenra’s Texturizing Taffy, you get soft hair with definition for that contemporary look. It works best for textured haircuts and leaves your hair soft and touchable with lots of hold. Get spiky and smooth styles with texture and flexible hold.

Kenra’s taffy has the consistency of a thick cream and is more pliable than wax. The lavender color and delicious smell makes styling your hair a pleasure, and the all-day hold lasts into the second day of styling.

How to use: Apply a bit of the taffy to dry hair. Rub some product between your palms then run your hands through your hair molding your hairstyle and defining the tips of your layers/spikes. Can be followed by a hairspray.

Pros

• Soft, piece-y texture
• No stiff, sticky, or crunchy feel
• Works for spiky and slicked back hairstyles
• A little goes a long way

Cons

• May weigh down thin hair

Kenra’s taffy is a nice, unisex, texturizing product for flat hair. It works with most hair types and gives volume and definition to a wide variety of hairstyles along with soft, lightweight texture. We recommend it if you are looking for a pliable product to enhance texture, and add body and shine while keeping it frizz-free and where it should be.

#8: Paul Mitchell Strong Hold/Matte Finish Texturizer for Men – The Best Sculpted Hairstyles with Flexible Texture

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Revive limp hair with the Paul Mitchell Texturizer. The stylish gritty texture sculpts and holds hair while remaining invisible. The paste-like product gives volume to thin hair without weighing it down and curly hair is more manageable with just a dab.

The hold is fairly strong to keep your hairstyle intact while keeping it soft and flexible, with no crunchy residue. Good for pompadours and smaller Mohawks, the pomade delivers natural-looking texture for any style.

How to use: Rub a small amount of the texturizer between palms and work it into towel-dried or dry hair. You need only a bit of the product to get the desired result, it will last you for months even if you style with it every day.

Pros

• No clumping
• The look of no product in your hair
• Makes curly hair manageable
• Delivers great texture
• Works for sculpted hairstyles

Cons

• The hold may be insufficient for thick hair
• Pricey compared to similar products of other brands

The Paul Mitchell Texturizer is recommended for modern men’s hairstyles with natural-looking texture. It brings out the best of straight, wavy, and curly hair of any length with a medium to strong hold. A lot of users say it’s worth every penny.

#9: KMS California Hair Play Dry Wax – The Best Dry Texturizer for Fine Hair

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The KMS dry wax for hair is another unisex product that works particularly well on fine and thin hair, giving it texture and volume for those cool modern looks that need body, definition, and separation.

The formula of a spray is easier to use than other products, with great results. The dry wax texturizes hair while caring for it with natural oils and peppermint leaf extract. The product prevents hair from falling flat during the day, so you can style it and forget it.

How to use: Shake the can and spray sparingly on dry or damp, towel-dried hair and run your fingers through to shape. You may also spray the product on your palms and distribute it evenly through the length of your hair, lifting the roots and defining the ends. The product is used instead of a hairspray.

Pros

• Doesn’t clump
• Lightweight
• No stickiness
• Tames frizz
• Adds body

Cons

• Too much leaves hair feeling sticky

The KMS California Hair Play Dry Wax is recommended for all hair types and lengths, but it works particularly well for fine hair in short lengths. The smell of this dry wax is very light, pleasant and not overpowering. It works great for spiky hairstyles and disheveled looks with a no-product feel.

#10: Honest Amish Extra Grit Beard Wax and Hair Control Wax – The Best Product for Stubborn Hair

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The Honest Amish Grit Wax is loved by those who seek a 100% manly styling product with character. Grit in a wax is something you are going either to love or hate, but you need to try it to decide. The hand-crafted beard and hair wax is a great 2-in-1 product, making styling easier and faster for practical types.

This wax conditions and keeps hair in place, prevents frizz, shapes and softens beards, tames unruly hair and keeps everything looking stylish. With ingredients like beeswax, natural clay, and organic oils, the Honest Amish Wax cares for every hair on your head in a natural way, so it’s safe and easy to use.

This product is designed to add color as it conditions, so if you have lighter hair and beard, this may not be the product for you.

How to use: Rub the wax between your palms until it melts for easier application. Distribute through your hair and beard. Note that too much of the product will give you a greasy feel.

Pros

• No chemicals or preservatives
• All-day hold
• Works in humid weather
• Multi-purpose product, effective for hair, beard and moustache

Cons

• Black particles of grit can get to your hands if you touch your beard or stroke your hair
• Lasting licorice scent
• Adds color, so may not work for light-colored beards and hair

Overall, men love this Honest Amish natural hair wax because of its grit and manly scent. It stands out from similar products thanks to the organic ingredients, pleasant smell, and gritty hold. However, it’s a matter of trying it out to see if the scent of black licorice and gritty feel works for you.

Buyer’s Guide

It’s not easy to find a good cheap hair wax or pomade. So many styling products promise to do wonders for your hair, how can you tell which one will work best for you? It depends on your hair type and what kind of hairstyle you want to achieve. We’ll help you with understanding the nature of today’s most popular styling products so you could decide on the product you want to try.

Waxes, Clays, and Pastes

These are rather thick in consistency and may feel sticky, especially if you overdo it. Use them to style all modern hairstyles from pomps and combovers to spikes. The hold and finish factors differ from brand to brand, so make sure to read the label carefully. If you see the word “clay” in the name of the product whether it’s “styling clay” or “clay pomade”, it means that the product contains clay, like bentonite, for instance. Natural clay is rich in minerals, so it benefits both your hair and scalp. It’s good for volume and giving your hair structure and body without frizz.

Dry Wax

A dry wax is just like wax, but its formula allows easier application and distribution of the product throughout your hair. You simply point and spray and mold your hairstyle. A spray wax may be a more appealing option to you if you don’t want to deal with a regular wax.

Pomade

Pomade has a consistency of wax. It’s pliable, leaves no flakes, and allows varying finishes and holds depending on how you apply it. Dry hair gives a matte finish and stronger hold, wet hair results in a weaker hold and shiny finish. Pomades can be water-based or oil-based. For and easy-to-wash-out option and stronger hold, pick a water-based pomade. It can create any texture you desire — from disheveled to not a hair out of place. Use it for quiffs, pomps, side-parts, and modern, messy looks.

Gel

With gels for men you get a great hold but stiff hair that doesn’t move and can’t be re-styled without washing the product out and re-applying it. Gels can get flaky if you touch your hair and can look greasy. Flaking comes from the alcohol in gels, but you can certainly choose gels without alcohol.

What’s the Difference between Wax and Gel?

Wax doesn’t get hard or stiff like gel. If you need to re-style your hair during the day, you don’t need to apply more of it or wash it out. You have the freedom to vary your hairstyle and experiment with spikes, volume, or slicked-back hair. Waxes allow for movement and flexibility in your style. You have the option of having a light sheen or a matte finish, while gels always make your hair glossy and hard. Gels dry, however, waxes do not dry out and do not get hard. Waxes are closest to pomades in consistency and results.

Waxes contain both water-based and oil-based ingredients. The oil-based ingredients are distributed throughout the hair in small particles that allows you to change their position and create bonds to hold the hair in different ways. Those bonds are easy to break but also easy to create without losing the structure and texture. Gels contain no oil-based ingredients. They contain alcohol, water-based ingredients, and hair-setting polymers that coat the hair evenly and stick hairs together. Restyling breaks those bonds and you need more product to create a new look.

How to Get Wax Out of Hair?

If you use wax sparingly, you can easily wash it out during your normal shower routine with a shampoo and conditioner. If you apply too much wax, the product can be difficult to remove because a shampoo interacts with wax in your hair, like water and oil — the two substances do not mix. One solution is to apply shampoo to dry hair, strand by strand, then rinse off.

How to Use Waxes and Pomades

It’s best to apply products to clean, towel-dried (slightly damp) or dry hair.

1. Take a dime size amount of the product into your palm. Too much of a product can weigh your hair down or make it greasy.
2. Emulsify the product by rubbing your hands together.
3. Evenly distribute the product throughout the length of your hair, focusing where necessary, and shape your hairstyle. Do not apply the product to your scalp. You may apply it to your roots for added lift.

With so many options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with choice. Whether your budget can handle the cheapest or the most expensive on the market, we hope our review helps you choose a product that works for your hair type and styling needs. Don’t hesitate to try new finishes and techniques!