The Benefits And Uses Of Beeswax In Haircare

In my house, you are almost always guaranteed to find a jar of Murray’s Beeswax in the bathroom. A hair simplicist, Murray’s just so happens to be one of the few products that my mother actually swears by. She transitioned to natural hair more than ten years ago and has not looked back since. It is almost like I went on her transition with her (not really, but I was indeed the resident hair stylist of my house). Needless to say, Murray’s and I have had some very fond memories.

When my mother realized I liked to do hair, she would have me do two strand twists every week using a little bit of beeswax for hold. When I was learning how to cornrow I thought that the beeswax would help with the fuzzy, scraggly braids I walked through the halls of my middle school proudly donning because I did them myself. In case you were wondering…it didn’t.

Then again, a lot of hair things didn’t really work out for me back then. Now that my natural days are over,  I have less of a need for it unless I am protective styling. Beeswax* can definitely be a worthwhile product for your regimen if used correctly and as with most things, knowing how you should use it will make it ten times easier to apply it to your regimen should you have the need.

Some basic uses for beeswax

Hold for twists and braids – Generally speaking, beeswax is the product you would reach for if you’re looking to add some sort of hold to your hair. It’s not called wax for nothing! When using it think of the phrase “less is more”.

When it comes to ladies who do a lot of protective styling beeswax* is something worth trying. Just remember, a little really does go a long way and for my mom, less than a pinch did the trick of keeping the ends of her twists from unraveling.

We would part her wet hair, rub a little bit between our fingers, apply and go and she got great results using this method. In the case of beeswax its biggest con is also the most beneficial thing about it–its thickness. This means it is a good product for holding hairstyles like twists (a la Mama Nelson) and braids as well as sealing in moisture, especially on your ends.

Locs – What first comes to mind when thinking of beeswax is probably caring for locs and starting locs. It is one of the few products with enough hold to keep them in place, especially in the beginning stages when you are still trying to get them to lock and stay the way you want them to.

Regardless of what style you choose, short or long, beeswax is one of the staple products those sporting locs cant go without.  However, it can also serve some purpose for those sporting other styles too, especially when it comes to all natural divas.

Heat protectant* – Some women have used a minimal amount of beeswax before heat styling and have shiny, beautiful results, but this should not be one of the first products you reach for to do so.

There are lots of great heat protectants and oils* that will do the same job without such a high risk for buildup, plus even though it might work in that capacity is isn’t made to be used as a heat protectant*.

Other key Beeswax facts

The reality for those of us with relaxed or fine hair is that we suffer a greater risk of buildup when using beeswax and it probably won’t be a beneficial product choice.

Another advantage of beeswax is its ability to mix with other ingredients, making it a hair product chameleon of sorts. Like coconut oil*, it melts when heated (rubbed in between your hands).

This is probably where the similarities end as this is not a product to melt down and add to your scalp because it would clog your pores. However, when applying to hair it can be mixed with some of your other favorite oils* for great results. The key is working with damp hair as beeswax is more conducive to moisture, trust me, dry hair and beeswax don’t really gel (no pun intended).

All in all beeswax can indeed be a product  of worth for your hair regimen, however it is not something that should be at the top of your list for products if you’re looking to try something new.

I suggest this for twist and braid wearers if you’re looking for a product with hold and have not been able to find your staples yet. If you have something that works for you already you probably aren’t missing out.

If you do decide to try it out remember to use it in moderation as it can cause buildup which would defeat the purpose of what you probably are using it for. Also a clarifying shampoo* might be a good investment if you plan to use beeswax* often Ijs.

Do you use Beeswax* as part of your daily or weekly regimen?