Best Hair Waxes & Gels
Ultraorganics Clear Henna Wax Hair Treatment
Shiny shiny bad times behind me – If this henna wax conditioner is the same one that used to be in a fawn coloured plastic pot, then I have been using it since the late 80's. I… Read more
recently rediscovered it as my financial situation has changed. No more Kerastase. A large pot is well and truly under $15 AUD I totally recommend it! I had unbleached hair back in the day, now its highlighted and the henna wax still does the same thing; softens and above all makes my hair sooo shiny. A complete glossing treatment. I use it for both treatment and daily conditioner. It is the same colour it always was, a murky light brown but seems to have from memory, a different fragrance. I do wish that it had less of a perfume as it is very strong. It would be nice if it was more plant like and natural. Or fragrance free All in all though I highly recommend for softness, shine and value for money and most importantly, Made in Australia!
A little goes a long way, as with all Bondi Boost products; which makes it worth the money. I use a dime size amount then rub my hands together and… Read more
apply it to my damp hair and gently scrunch my curls and let air dry. My hair doesn’t feel crunchy or stiff it’s the perfect style cream for us curly hair girls. The smell is very light and pleasant nothing to over power your body spray or natural scent.
Ubersuave Texturing Matte Wax
I'ts been great for achieving a strong hold with a clean, matte finish. It keeps my hair in place all day without looking greasy or stiff. The texture it adds makes styling easy, and it washes out without any trouble.
Vo5 firm hold hairspray is legit the only hairspray that lasts a whole day but is easy with a bit of water to brush out with out having to actually wash it out of your hair. Show details
Lynx Messy Look
Lynx messy look Paste – Use this if you like having greasy hair that doesn't keep straight and makes your face so oily from it melting that it gives you pimples. Throwing it away now.
Dandruff maker – Purchased this product for the first time on special. It came in a nice presentable container,so what have I got to lose?. First 2 days were great… Read more
and washed out easily in the shower. On the 3rd day I developed a dry scalp and dandruff. I havent seen so much white on my shirt collar in my lifetime. This product avoid, I will never purchase again
Davroe Construct-ive Review – Been using this product for about 10 Years. I have very fine hair and this liquid gel is light, easy to apply, holds my hair all day, is easily… Read more
washed off hands and from hair as it’s made from Vegan Friendly Grape Seed Extract...My only Constructive Criticism is they have just changed the Sizing and Style of The Deconstruct Liquid Gel Tube cleverly going from a 200g Size Tube (Bigger) to a 200ml Size Tube (Slightly Smaller) and same price for both at $22.95 RRP
Garbage product poorly packaged lid very difficult to remove especially when left for a period of time. Product itself overpriced clumpy in the hair.. don't waste your money Show details
Looks good on me – Fascinate with this product really suite and can do my hair in no time.
Langanis Hair Sandstone
Good Local Product – Picked this up from my local barber and I am impressed with the product, turned out great when styling. Good that you can play with it again during… Read more
the day without messing your hair up and getting it frizzy. Overall a really nice product and will definitely come back next round
Nasty chemicals – Schwartzkopf airspray contains Methacrylate copolymer, Aminomethyl propanol, Dimethicone, and artificial fragrance. These chemicals have links to being carcinogenic. Use a natural holding product instead.
Don’t waste your money – I’m going grey, and I haven’t dyed my hair for several months over lockdowns. Thought I would try this grey spray just to get a slight idea of what I… Read more
might look like fully grey. As previous poster says, it’s just like a weird powder glitter that really does nothing. Maybe it would in a jumbo sized can. This tiny can had starting RRP $15 - I got it heavily reduced, just for a bit of a fun experiment. So glad I never paid full price! Wasn’t worth the $2.50 I paid for it.
Applied it once - cant get it out – I used this product and it held my hair in place well. Good -until I went to wash it out and it won't!!!! So far tried 3 different shampoos and… Read more
Dissolv-it without success. My hair is now really claggy and I am stuck with the wax - look until this hair grows out unless someone can tell me the solvent. Anne
It is horrible compared to their original in the blue can. It leaves your hair sticky and heavy. You have to wash your hair the day you use it. Leaves SO MUCH residue in your hair it's absolutely gross!
Caution!! This product contains an artificial ‘parfum’ which is actually a powerful chemical perfume. It is SO STRONG it will give you a massive long… Read more
lasting migraine headache!! Now if you have never experienced a migraine, try this product and maybe you might experience your first one. BUT, if you do experience migraines, AVOID THIS PRODUCT as its powerful perfume will leave you with a long lasting bed ridden migraine!! It’s such a pity that well known companies like Schwarzkopf continue to use artificial perfumes! Do better Schwarzkopf!! And this is a Made in Australia product!! Btw, if you suffer from migraines, use the Schwarzkopf got2b powder full volumising styling powder instead. This actually contains NO perfume and is Made in Germany.
What is hair wax?
Hair wax is made out of wax from animals and plants. It’s a product often used to aid in hair styling since it’s easy to use and pliable. It can style the hair and remove frizziness without making it stiff or dry. Other names for similar products include pomade, putty, glue, whip, molding gum, or styling paste
Hair wax gives hair a more natural look and the hair can be easily restyled into multiple fashions without washing the hair or reapplying any product.
Wax is very popular in men’s hairstyling, however, it also comes handy in women’s hairstyling since it’s versatile and works well in a variety of hair types including rough, sort, curly, straight, wet, dry, short and long.
You can achieve your ideal look in minutes once you know your way around hair wax. One thing to keep in mind when using hair wax is that it can accumulate on the scalp. This occurs as a result of poor washing and is easily remedied by shampooing thoroughly.
Hair wax vs hair gel
Considering its similarity with hair wax, people often get confused between the two.
Hair wax is the most popular styling tool since it leaves your hair pliable and restyleable. Hair wax can deliver a soft to medium hold with a natural-looking finish. Its versatility means you can use the product for any hair type and length. Moreover, if you want to temporarily change your hair colour, then hair wax is a great solution.
If you have thick hair that you need taming, then your best bet is a hair gel. It’ll give you the strong hold that you need and leave your hair with a hard, crunchy finish. Hair gel is a great styling tool as long as you don’t need to rework your hair throughout the day. Hair gel is both easy to apply and remove thanks to its water-based formula.
| Hair wax | Hair gel | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Waxy and semi-solid | Jelly-like and wet |
| Used when dry or wet | Dry | Damp |
| Hold | Natural soft hold | Strong rigid hold |
| Restyling | Pliable and easy restyling | Dries and hardens hair, can't restyle without washing |
| Removal | Requires thorough shampooing | Washes off easily |
What do you use hair wax for?
Hairstyling
The ultimate syling tool, hair wax can craft the desired style and texture of hair as well as improve hair volume, gloss and structure. Hair styles created with hair wax tend to last longer without losing their shape. No need for reapplication as you can restyle the hair throughout the day to suit your mood. It can be washed away with a quick shampoo and scrub.
Facial hair
For those looking to keep their beards and moustaches looking neat without trimming, you can invest in a hair wax to style to your heart’s content. The strong hold of the wax is perfect for thick facial hair.
Eyebrows
For peoples with thick eyebrows, the holding power of the hair wax makes it possible to manage and style eyebrows when you don’t have time to trim or wax them or to sport a bold look. They can also be used to tint the colour of your eyebrows by making them darker, covering greys and making them more noticeable.
Natural vs chemical wax
Hair waxes can contain a range of ingredients from natural wax to synthetic, chemical products. Hair wax can also be made at home with natural ingredients whereas commercial ones tend to use more chemicals.
Here are some of the products that are needed to make hair wax:
Natural wax
Natural wax is either animal or plant-derived. Some of the animal waxes used are beeswax and Lanolin.
Plant-based waxes include carnauba wax (palm wax), soy wax, Japan wax, jojoba wax, emulsifying wax candelilla wax, castor wax and rice-bran wax.
It may be important to you to choose a wax that is plant-based if you are vegan or advocate for animal welfare.
Chemicals
The chemicals used are all considered safe for human hair and work as emulsifiers and preservatives to give texture to the hair. Common ingredients include Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Petrolatum, Cetearyl Alcohol, carbomer, VP/VA Copolymer, Propylene Glycol.
These chemicals will allow the product to have a longer shelf life as well as provide more nourishment for your hair and give a better hold. It depends on personal preference whether you opt for a product with all-organic ingredients or not. They will, naturally, incur a higher price tag as well.
How to apply hair wax
When applied badly, hair wax can make your hair looks greasy and weighed down. A little goes a long way, here’s a quick guide to applying your hair wax properly:
- Apply wax to dry hair since it provides better adhesion whilst also retaining your hair’s natural volume and form.
- No matter how long or thick you think your hair is, only use a small amount of product to begin with since a little can go a long way. You can always apply more after, but it’s harder to get the product out of your hair if you put too much in.
- Wax requires warming up which will make the application easier and more evener. Rub a bead of wax between your fingers and palms and spread it in a very thin until it is unnoticeable.
- Start applying the wax from the bottom of your hair and move to the surface/ends. Avoid contact with the scalp.
- Afterwards, you can optionally spritz your hair with hairspray for additional maintenance and hold.
Things to consider
**Matte or shine: **Waxes and gels are likely to give you either a shiny or matte finish. Products with a shine finish will reflect light and make your hair look glossy. Matte means your hair will absorb light and not shine.
Hold: What differentiates many hair waxes is the holding power. They tend to be categorized as either low, medium or maximum-hold. This refers to the strength of the product to be able to keep your hair in the same position.
Price: Hair waxes and gels can range from as low as $3 to over $70. The main difference between the two prices includes the ingredients and the branding.
How to apply & style: It’s necessary to warm up the paste before applying it to the hair, so rub the product between your fingers before application. Once cool, it’ll harden to add body and texture.
Hair type: Long, short, curly or straight, hair wax is a brilliant all-rounder and works well with all hair types.
**Hairstyle: **There are many men and women’s hairstyles that can be created with hair wax and gel. Take a moment to consider which look you’re going for to find the right product for you.
Other hair styling products: Pomade is an umbrella term for many hair styling products that are not gel-like. Hair clay can range from a thick to creamy consistency and is used to volumise the hair whilst controlling frizz. Hairspray can also be used to aid the styling process by holding hairs in place.
You can read reviews on the best hair waxes and gels to help make up your mind by scrolling up.
Any wax is like that. You need to use a deep cleansing shampoo or straight soap (followed by conditioner). I find soap the most effective.