Growing a beard is one thing, but keeping it looking fresh with it is a whole new ball game.
Beard oil and beard wax are two secret ingredients that men with world-class beards use to keep their ‘staches looking great.
A full beard will turn off a lot of people if you don’t practice the proper grooming, trimming, and styling techniques.
Fortunately, with advances in technology and great new products by entrepreneurial beardsmen, having a beard can be fun.
If you want to grow one, I suggest that you check out my other article about beard styles to inspire you (there are 37!), so please take the time to read that.
After you’ve done all the grooming and trimming, the next step in the process would be styling.
Mustache wax is the secret to keep your beard looking great.
We will look at some of the best mustache waxes available right now.
A quick search online reveals hundreds of products.
So we’ve decided to help you cut through that clutter and present to you the best mustache waxes that will help you keep your beard styled so that you look cool throughout the day.
Here are the Best Beard and Mustache Waxes in 2019
One reason that I picked all these products is that they do not contain petroleum jelly – excellent for as first aid for wounds but not so great on beards as it robs it of moisture, and it’s a pain to remove. I feel that Willie Willie’s Stache Wax is the best beard and mustache wax because of its hold and the all-natural ingredient list it has.
1. Willie Willie’s Stache Wax
Willie Willie’s is one of the very few products in the market that have an all-natural ingredient list.
These ingredients include yellow beeswax, sweet almond oil, Shea butter, pine resin, tea tree essential oil, and rosemary essential oil.
Instead of using petroleum jelly, Willie Willie’s uses pine resin (from pine trees) for hold. It isn’t as potent as petroleum jelly, but since it’s natural, you don’t have to worry about it drying out your beard.
Even without any petroleum jelly, it still has one of the strongest holds, enough to last the whole day even on humid days.
But you may need to use a little bit more product to achieve the same amount of hold.
Applying a petroleum jelly based beard oil is actually the worst thing you can do for your beard because it keeps out air and moisture.
In addition to that, the thick texture of it will make it difficult to clean it from the beard.
The carrier oil content in this product will help condition the beard but do not solely rely on it for that purpose. You may still need to use beard oil before application.
In terms of scent, expect a cedar and pine scent, which is a bit on the soft side.
Price-wise, it isn’t costly at around $8 per ounce. Take note that it uses only natural ingredients and hand-made weekly, so it’s a pretty good bargain in my book.
However, if you don’t have a thick beard, this may not be the right product for you because it is stiff. That’s why they also recommend a wax remover to remove this product.
2. Woodsman Mustache Wax
Woodsman is a favorite of a lot of beardsman because of its fantastic hold and petroleum-free composition that often was awful.
This all-natural mustache wax that was created in 2011 by Jeremiah “The Bearded Bastard” Newton because he couldn’t find any products that did not use petroleum jelly.
Ingredients include beeswax, lanolin, cocoa butter, and jojoba oil. Cacao butter is an excellent moisturizer for your skin that helps with acne and stretch marks.
Jojoba oil is known to help hair grow back and will give you a thicker looking beard.
The essential oil content will give a subtle woodsy scent that’s one of the manliest scents out there.
The Bearded Bastard recommends doing a patch test first before using this just to make sure you’re not allergic to any of the ingredients.
Check Price in Amazon (12% OFF)
3. Can You Handlebar All-Natural Moustache Wax
Cheap mustache waxes have one big problem – they dry hard as a rock. Your beard will have absolutely zero flexibility, and it can be uncomfortable during long days.
This is where the Can You Handlebar all-natural mustache wax comes in. Despite being an all-day mustache wax, your beard wouldn’t feel like cement on your face.
Men who prefer curly mustaches will love how this product will hold up well even in scorching weather.
Can You Handlebar be able to achieve this because of its all-natural content? This wax does not contain any petroleum jelly. Instead, it uses beeswax (Michigan beeswax to be more specific) and wool wax to achieve the same hold as petroleum jelly minus being too hard.
It also contains Shea butter, coconut oil, and lanoline to help nourish hair follicles and skin to maintain your beard look its best. These ingredients also contribute to the natural scent. This product contains zero fragrances and is made in the USA, so you are assured of the highest quality ingredients.
Applying this can be a little bit tricky. Since the product is very thick, you will need an external heat source to soften it like a hairdryer.
Putting this in your pocket can help soften it. Other men have tried using very little product then rub it on their fingers, which have proven to be somewhat useful. But there will be some trial and error involved.
Check price in Amazon (5% OFF)
4. Death Grip Moustache Wax
When it comes to holding, nothing comes close to the Death Grip mustache wax.
This competition-grade wax is made for serious beardsmen looking for the strongest holds possible.
The product itself needs an external heat source to make it soft enough before application.
And despite its potency, it does not contain any petroleum jelly.
The main ingredients include beeswax, lanoline, and pine resin.
To make the application easier, Death Grip comes with a picker. But you will need a blow dryer to melt the product before applying it on your beard. This is the biggest downside I see because it will take extra time, and once it sets, you won’t be able to restyle it.
Reviews in online stores confirm this saying that this product has a fantastic hold and will last the whole day. One study summed it up perfectly – it holds like cement!
Men say that this product has a pine scent – manly and pleasant.
5. Honest Amish Beard Wax
So far, most of the products I featured here have solid holds.
However, not every man needs a stone-like hold, and the Honest Amish beard wax gives you a less potent option great for men who’d prefer something less rigid.
Honest Amish is a favorite brand among beardsmen because they use only natural ingredients.
These include premium organic oils (they did not specify precisely what), fruit and nut butter, essential oils, botanical additives, and beeswax.
Not only will this beard wax style a beard, but it will also provide some nourishment to the hair follicles and skin.
6. Firehouse Moustache Wax, Wacky Tacky
If you want something that will hold your mustache in place even in the hottest of summers, then the Firehouse Moustache wax is the product for you.
He went into this industry because his favorite brand went out of business. He needed something that will stand up in the heat and humidity of Mississippi; thus, the Firehouse brand was born.
John used beeswax and petroleum jelly as the base of this product. Other ingredients aren’t openly available because he wants to keep the recipe a secret.
But one thing’s for sure this wax will hold your beard even in the most humid days.
The biggest downside to all this hold would be malleability. Once this sets, there’s no turning back.
This property though, makes this suitable to men with thick beards.
7. Fisticuffs Old Fashioned Mustache Wax
This would not be complete without the Fisticuffs Mustache Wax – a bestseller in Amazon.
Men who have mustaches curls love how this wax holds up for several hours. In terms of hold, this product is right smack in the middle.
This particular variant has a citrus/rosemary scent, but it wears off quickly.
The application is a little bit easier compared to other waxes with more hold. And it washes off easier. If you don’t need something that’ll last the more than a few hours, this is a good option.
Unfortunately, Fisticuffs isn’t all-natural, which is about the only gripe I have. It contains petroleum jelly that one review said smelled like “Vicks Vapor Rub.”
Why Do I Need a Beard or Mustache Wax?
To understand why the need for mustache wax, you’ll first have to understand the nature of human hair.
Much like pubic hair, facial hair will not grow evenly. Facial hair is wiry, curly, and grows all over the place, unlike the hair on the head that’s much easier to tame.
If facial hair isn’t long enough, there isn’t much you can do but wait. But once you have the right length, combing and trimming would be the first order of business.
The next step would be applying some beard or mustache wax. There are two main reasons why you need to use this product.
The first would be practicality. If you have a long beard, some of it will go in your mouth, which can be annoying when you eat, talk or kiss someone.
The second reason would is appearance. Applying mustache wax gives it a slightly glossy look. This product will help you style your beard any way you like. Want those curling handlebars to stand out? Then a good mustache is what the doctor ordered.
Some people call this product training wax because it holds the style in place and “trains” facial hair to go a specific direction.
Difference between a mustache wax, oil, and balm
To help you make the best choice, you’ll have to know the different options available right now. There are actually three, and it’s easy to mistake one for the other, especially if you’re just new to this.
Often times, when shopping for a beard wax, you may find other beard products such as beard oil or beard balms.
While manufacturers may market these products similarly, these products have different purposes.
Beard oil strictly is for conditioning beard.
Of the three products, this is the most popular. It is made from two main ingredients – essential and carrier oils.
The primary purpose of beard oil is to condition the beard and the skin underneath it.
Facial hair, much like the hair on your scalp, needs nourishment. Unfortunately, a lot of men neglect this, and what happens is it dries out and develops what’s known as “beard druff.”
Beard oil will help prevent that by nourishing the hair and skin. The positive side effect of beard oil would be a better looking and smelling beard.
Beard balm is a hybrid.
The next product combines the properties of beard oil and wax. Not only does it contain carrier oils and essential oils, but most beard balms also contain beeswax and butter (shea or cocoa).
Using a beard balm will condition and nourish the beard and hold it in place only for a few hours. This is great for weddings or parties that typically last a few hours.
But it will not prevent facial hair from curling up into your mouth. If you have not trained your beard with a beard brush and this may not be enough.
It does help with shaping the beard, but you’ll struggle with the tiny hair particles.
The best mustache wax will style every follicle and keep it in check.
Now that we’ve covered oils and balms, let’s talk about the mustache wax.
A quick look at the ingredients list reveals that a mustache wax contains the same ingredients like oils and balms.
But here’s the kicker, the ratio of oils and other ingredients are so small that mustache wax does not condition the beard whatsoever.
Yes, even if it contains essential oils, it will not nourish the beard. The main ingredient in this product is beeswax that works like synthetic hair wax you see in salons. And this allows you to style your beard any way you want to.
It’s a better alternative to synthetic gels that contain a lot of chemicals. So whether you are styling for competition or a date, a mustache wax provides a safe option.
Some things to consider before buying mustache wax
1. Strength or stiffness
The first thing and most important thing to consider is how much hold do you want.
Manufacturers classify mustache wax in three tiers – soft, medium, and firm/strong/hard. So, for example, you’re joining the competition and need something to hold your beard than go with the firm hold that will keep your mustache in place no matter what.
2. Color
Another thing to consider would be the color of your facial hair. The rule of thumb is going for a mustache wax closest to the color of your facial hair. So if you have a light beard, then you will need to go with a light-colored wax.
There are products out there that are white. But will work on different shades of facial hair because it’s intended to be clear when applied.
3. Scent
This may be the last thing on your mind during the selection process. But it is essential because it’s something that you’ll under your nose the whole day. Not to mention, it’s what other people will sniff when they’re close by. So pick something pleasant.
Ingredients to look for in a mustache wax
The majority of the content in mustache wax is beeswax, which, on its own, will protect hair follicles in addition to making it look better.
Aside from beeswax, it also contains pine sap. This ingredient is responsible for how strong the hold is, and the same part found in other styling agents such as hair wax.
Other ingredients include carrier oils and essential oils that help moisturize and nourish beard follicles.
But here’s the kicker, it does not contain enough of these ingredients to replace beard oil. So a good regimen will always include beard oil in the mix.
Essential oils also add to the scent, so make sure to choose something pleasant.
How to apply mustache wax
Applying mustache wax is a natural process and very similar to using hair wax. But as I’ve said earlier, the “best practice” would be first applying beard oil for hydration and nourishment of the beard.
- Scoop out a pea-sized of wax (remember you don’t need a lot)
- Massage wax between your thumb and index finger until it melts
- After the wax melts on your fingers, work it on your beard then style as you want
Some men would soak the beard wax on hot water (with the container of course!) to thaw it before scraping it out. Another technique would be using a blow dryer.
To save on time, you can soak it in a sink filled with hot water. Just make sure that the tin is covered, so water does not seep through.
The verdict
There you go, 7 of the best mustache waxes available right now. Most of the items there have all-natural ingredients.
Make sure to go through the checklist and see what applies to you – scent, hold, and price. If you want something that’ll last at least 12 hours, make sure to go with something strong like the Woodsman mustache wax or Death Grip.
Otherwise, go with something with less hold if you don’t the feeling of rock hard hair under your chin. If you have not tried a beard wax before, there will be a transition period, but you’ll get used to it.
Lastly, please share this article with a friend if you find it useful through the social media icons on the side. And comment below if you’ve tried any of the products above and let us know it goes.
Recommended Reading
7 Best Beard Oils: The Secret to Great Looking Beards
Counting down the best beard oils - an essential tool that a beardsman needs to keep their facial hair looking and smelling their best. Learn more here.
How To Make Beard Oil With All-Natural Ingredients
Learn how to make your own beard oil recipe using all natural ingredients in this guide by professional barber plus bonus recipes to help get you started.
5 Best Beard Brushes: Take Your Beard To The Next Level
If you're growing a beard then having a beard brush has got to be in your wish list. We'll look at the best beard brushes and why in this review. Learn more
6 Best Beard Growth Products for Men For A Thicker Beard
Here are 6 of the best beard growth products will help you grow a thicker beard. Learn how to choose one and practical tips in growing a beard.