How To Use Beard Wax – Guide To Get The Best Out of Your Wax

If you are here, you probably have a beard and know what beard wax can do for your beard.

Therefore, in retrospect, both of them have their own fair share of advantages and disadvantages. However, here, we would restrict ourselves only to the beard wax and the proper way to use it.

When it comes to applying beard wax, there is no hard and fast rule for it. However, there are a few steps that can make the process simple, convenient, and more effective.

Next comes steps on how to apply beard wax. They are easy to follow, simple, and would make sure that you get the best out of your wax.

Step 1- Washing and Cleaning the Beard

Dirt and dust have a tendency to get stuck in your beard especially when it is a long one. You would not be able to style it with these sticking on to your beard. Therefore, you have to wash and clean the beard thoroughly in order to style it properly.

A shower with hot water is the best way to clean it. However, if you are running late and want to get over it quickly you can always wash your beard under the tap. In order to clean it thoroughly, use a suitable beard shampoo in the process. It would not only clean your beard but impart shine and strength as well.

Step 2- Drying and Combing

Once you have washed the beard, the next step is drying and combing. Take a hot air blower and use it to dry the beard. However, take little breaks in between because the hair can get damaged if you expose it to hot air for longer durations.

There is a protein in hair known as keratin which denatures when you expose it to excessive heat. Consequently, this would make your hair look dull and rough. Therefore, use the blower in a medium setting and always take breaks in the process.

Wet hair tends to tangle and it is harder to untangle them when they get dry. Dry hair offers resistance because of the friction which can be annoying. Therefore, it is wise to untangle them when they are wet or in the process of drying up.

When you are blowing air to the beard comb the beard simultaneously with the other hand. It would not only untangle your beard hair but would also enable you to style them with ease. However, never comb against the direction of growth, it will make the beard messy. Always comb in the direction of growth to untangle and style it.

Step 3-Heating Up The Wax

Beard wax contains several types of fatty acids and these acids tend to solidify when you store them at room temperature. When the wax solidifies taking it out of the container is not easy. Therefore, in order to take it out, you have to expose it to a certain degree of heat.

If you live in states like Arizona and New Mexico where it is always blazing, you can skip this step. However, if you are in New York, Alaska, Seattle, or North Dakota, it is something you can’t ignore.

You do not have to physically heat the container on a stove or any other furnace. All you have to do is to expose the bottom of the container to the hot water. It will do the job.

Step 4- Application of Wax

There are two basic ways to apply the wax to a beard. The first option involves the application of it when you are done with styling.

You style your beard and apply the wax on certain spots that have a tendency to stick out or become unruly. This method is quick, but it is not long-lasting. You can use this method if you are running late behind your schedule.

However, if you have the time and want to style a beard that lasts you a day you need to follow these steps.

• The first step is taking the wax out of the container. Instead of dipping the finger into the wax, scrape it out from the surface. It would ensure the remaining portion of the wax does not mess up.
• Rub the wax on the palm of your hand and keep doing so until it liquefies and spreads uniformly. If you skip this step and apply it right away it will produce flakes and white residues in the beard, and you know how bad it looks.
• Start from one side of the beard by combing and use your palm to apply the wax during it. Repeat the same process on the other side of the beard.
• Do not apply too much wax at once as it will produce flakes when it dries down. Always apply little quantities of wax and massage it gently into the beard. Keep repeating it until you achieve the desired style. It reduces the chances of flaking and white residue.
• Do not apply the wax in a haphazard manner if you want to rock your style. The uniform distribution of the wax is the key to a perfect style. Therefore, use your fingers to distribute the wax evenly over every side of the beard.
• Once you are done styling the sides of the beard, it is time to move to the front of the beard. Take the same amount of wax and apply it to the front while using the comb to style it.

In case you have accidentally applied more than the required amount of wax, there is no need to worry about it. You can always comb it out. However, in case it is not coming out use a dry cloth or towel and lightly dab it on the surface and it should do the job.

Step 5- Finishing Up

Once you are done styling the beard, it is time to blow a little air on it. It will dry the wax that would hold the beard exactly in shape. Moreover, all the flaking up that is going to happen when you go outside will happen right away. Therefore, you would be able to tidy that up before you step outside.

You can remove those flakes with a clean piece of cloth.  This step will prevent future flaking as you have cleaned the entire residue already. Therefore, this simple step would keep your beard flake-free the entire day.

Beard Wax Vs Beard Balm – Which One Is Better And Why

Beard wax vs beard balm is one question that seems to always come up in beard forums. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. There is a lot to discuss, but for the sake of understanding, we will only stick to the basics.

Composition

Beard wax and beard balm are similar when it comes to different components and these include essential oils, wax, and carrier oil. So, what is the difference then? It is the concentration of components that differs and makes these two different from each other.

As the name suggests, beard wax has a higher concentration of wax in its composition. It is the amount of wax that gives the beard wax its characteristic strong holding properties. Therefore, the hair that is hard to tame with balm can be tamed using beard wax.

Usage

In general, shorter beards are easier to style with beard balm. This is because shorter hairs do not require hardcore treatment. Products like a beard balm with moderate holding properties can do the job just fine.

However, when it comes to longer beard hairs, they demand higher holding powers. In this case, beard waxes come handy because they offer stronger holds than ordinary beard balms.

Therefore, it is safe to say, in general, beard balms are good for short beards, while the waxes work is a good choice for longer hairs. However, exceptions are everywhere. Some short beards may be hard to tame with beard balms and require wax to hold them.

Moisturizers and Hair Nutrients

Both, beard balm and beard wax, have moisturizers and hair nutrients in their compositions, but for some reason, balms are better in this regard. It has everything to do with the fact that wax has more amount of components like lanolin and beeswax. The wax to nutrient ratio is higher in beard waxes than beard balms.

However, it is not the only reason why waxes lag behind when it comes to overall usefulness. The second reason is their area of application. Balms are commonly used on shorter hair that is closer to the skin. Therefore, it gives an opportunity to inject nutrients into the skin.

On the other hand, beard wax has traditional use to tame longer hair. These hairs are far away from the skin, therefore it is harder for the wax to reach the skin. Thus, it lags behind beard balm when it comes to hair/skin moisturization and nutrition.

Longevity

Beard Wax takes the lead when it comes to longevity which is because of its composition. The higher concentration of ingredients like lanolin, beeswax, and shea butter gives more control to the wax. Longer hair is a long-lasting treatment, unlike shorter hair. Therefore, it is necessary for the wax to have better longevity because you use them for longer hair.

On the other hand, beard balm has much less concentration of these ingredients. Therefore, it does not last as long as a beard wax. However, longevity is not a concern with beard balms as you use them for shorter hair. In general, once shorter hair has been tamed, it would stay the same even after the balm dries down.

Table: Summarizing Beard Wax Vs Beard Balm

Conclusion

Beard projects masculinity and makes you charming and attractive. However, in order to keep it in style, you have to put a significant amount of effort. You have to keep it healthy, smooth, and silky to get the best aesthetics. However, in order to do that, you need to have several grooming products in your kit.

Beard wax is one important product when it comes to beard care as it is the primary product to hold your beard in style. Moreover, it not only holds the style but also provides a considerable amount of nutrition and moisturization to skin and hair. However, to apply it correctly, you need to follow certain steps as outlined above.

The steps are simple and some of them might not look as important as others. However, we would recommend giving each step its due consideration and effort. This would help you achieve your desired style efficiently and most importantly would hold it for longer.

We hope this article has all the answers to your queries regarding how to use beard wax and has settled the beard wax vs beard balm debate for you.