Women's Health

Beauty

The 4 Best Hair Wax Sticks, Tested By Beauty Experts

 

Our favorites start at just $7 on Amazon.

We've all been there: after spending hours primping your hair, everything looks perfect except for a few pesky flyways and frizz. I know this struggle all too well, and I have been dealing with it for years until I was introduced to hair wax sticks.

Yeah they kind of look like deodorants, which turned me off until I actually used them. That's because these hair products seamlessly slick down my hair when I'm sporting a high bun or ponytail. They have a stronger hold than most hair gels and pomades, and their compact design makes it easy to target stray hairs. The result: my fluffy blowouts and silk presses look sleek and straight, no flyaways in sight.

I'm not the only fan of hair wax sticks. Celebrity hair stylist Joey Scandizzo says you can think of them as lip balm for your locks. "Like a lip balm, a good wax stick can re-hydrate the hair from the outside in and prevent it from looking and feeling dry," he says. You can use them year-round, but if you opt for a nourishing formula infused with hydrating ingredients, such as the Briogeo hair wax stick, you'll notice a natural sheen and slightly softer hair.

Ahead is our guide on-all things hair wax sticks with tips from hairstylists on how to shop for and use them. We also tested several hair wax sticks and selected four standout options actually worth your hard-earned coins.

What to consider

Great news: Every hair type, ranging from coily to straight, can use a hair wax stick because it’s a dry styling finish that’s the last product used when styling your tresses, says hairstylist Courtney Foster. However, there are some factors that will help determine which ones are a match for your beauty concerns. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to look out for while shopping for hair wax sticks, according to our experts.

Ingredients

Hair wax sticks have a wax base (of course!), but what truly differentiates them from other hair products are the additives used, such as natural oils, butters, or silicones. These hero agents can strengthen, nourish, and hydrate parched strands. Hairstylist Raven Hurtado likes sticks infused with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and castor oil. All three moisturizers are beneficial for dry, curly, and coily hair types.

If you deal with a lot of stray hairs, Scandizzo recommends products made with moisture-fighting ingredients (think: coconut and argan oil) that minimize frizz. Also, sticks containing silicone do a bang up job of smoothing down your strands.

Hold

Next, you’ll want to consider the hold of hair wax sticks. Here’s a quick comparison among the three levels of hold from lightest to strongest, according to Hurtado.

Light, sometimes called flexible hold, is more touchable yet keeps the style in place.
Medium hold tames flyaways and baby hairs down with very little hold.
Maximum hold is when the style is completely slicked down.

Scandizzo favors lightweight options with flexible or light hold. "You want it to do the job of eliminating flyaways and frizz without feeling like you’ve literally applied a tub of wax on your head," he says. "A good wax product will leave a clean and clear result, meaning that it won't leave a white residue behind on dark hair."

How we chose

I’ve been testing beauty products since 2019, including hair wax sticks. Beyond keeping the above factors in mind, I considered how easily each hair wax stick glides across my hair, if they leave behind any embarrassing residue, and how my hair felt after using each stick.

I revisited an old standby and spoiler alert: TIGI Bed Head is the reigning champ of my hair wax stick collection. As for the rest, I tested multiple hair sticks, and also really liked the Briogeo Hair Wax Stick because I can get away with using just a tiny bit of product to slick down my hair. It’s also infused with nourishing ingredients that softened my strands and didn’t irritate my scalp. I also hit up a fellow WH editor and my hairstylist about their go-to recommendations. At just $9, the Kiss hair wax stick is our budget-friendly pick that helps slick down unruly baby hairs on pressed hair, while the Gatsby Tancho wax stick is the hairstylist’s favorite for ensuring her client’s edges are laid without a heavy hold. Below, shop the four best hair wax sticks for all hair types, tested by editors and beauty experts.

Best Overall

TIGI Bed Head Wax Stick

Pros

• Great scent
• No residue
• Long-lasting hold

Cons

• Some testers wish it was a bit more conditioning, but that's a non-issue for me

This is my no-fail wax stick for the past two years because it works equally well on my natural hair and wavy extensions, so I'm confident you'll also love using it regardless of your hair type.

I couldn't escape frizzy hair growing up in notoriously humid Florida unless a professional styled my hair. But that all changed once a new stylist introduced me to this stick. I loved how easily the creme colored wax blended into my black hair without leaving a dreaded crunchy residue.

Even after moving to New York City, I still dealt with frizzy hair, but this wax stick helps smooth down my strands without using any drying ingredients, like sulfates or parabens, that could irritate my sensitive scalp. The combination of beeswax and Japanese wax provides a super strong hold, while castor oil conditions my hair and leaves it smooth and frizz-free with a natural luster.

Because I have a sensitive scalp, I frequently deal with flakes showing up the next day after testing a new beauty product that doesn't agree with me. However, I haven't experienced any annoying flakes from using this hair wax stick. I'm also impressed that my slicked down hairstyles, like a bun or ponytail, remained frizz-free the next day with no touch ups. (Don’t worry: When I reapply there’s no gross residue or buildup.) It's the ideal hair wax stick for someone who wants to minimize their routine and upkeep, like busy moms or student athletes.

Key specs

• Key ingredients Castor seed oil, beeswax, rhus succedanea fruit wax
• Hold Flexible

Best Budget Buy

Red by Kiss 24HR Max Hold Edge Fixer Hair Wax Stick

Pros

• Comes in fun, unique fruity scents
• Hold is so strong it lasts all day

Cons

• Can feel a little sticky at first

I've known Women's Health commerce editor Jasmine Gomez for five years, and I have never seen her have a bad hair day. While she regularly gets her curls professionally straightened at a salon, she says Red by Kiss hair's wax stick is her at-home beauty secret weapon.

Gomez, who has a rather extensive beauty stash, relies on this budget-friendly hair wax stick almost daily, so you know it's legit. "I have stubborn edges that frizz up constantly, and this wax stick helps me comb them down into cute baby hairs," she says.

This wax stick offers a pretty strong hold, without giving you the white flakes and hardness gel does. It does feel a little sticky to apply, but when applied on well that stickiness sort of rubs off, and instead reflects as shine. "I always keep one in my purse, and another on my dresser at home," Gomez adds.

It's also infused with castor oil, shea butter, and olive oil to offer some hydration and a natural sheen to your hair. While all these hair wax sticks smell good, Red by Kiss created one made in various fun scents like coconut, strawberry acai, and watermelon. Gomez uses the sweet peach version, but after chatting with her, I plan on adding the mango one to my rotation because it'll remind me of warmer destinations as the weather dips in New York.

Key specs

• Key ingredients Beeswax, castor oil, biotin, shea butter, and other natural plant ingredients
• Hold Strong

Best for Dry Hair

Briogeo Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Sleek Stick

Pros

• Packed with nourishing ingredients
• Vegan formula

Cons

• Some testers with straight fine hair say it's a bit too greasy

My expectations were high because I enjoy using the Briogeo hair mask—and the brand delivers an equally nourishing hair wax stick that's especially wonderful for dry hair like mine. After testing this hair wax stick for a couple of weeks, I can attest that Briogeo created a fantastic option for slick back hairstyles because a little product goes a long way.

This hair wax stick has a smooth texture that easily glides across my front hairs and ensures they stay flat. It also makes my strands a little softer, with a healthier-looking shine that I credit to the impressive ingredient list.

It's chock-full of hydrating agents like castor and plum oils. There are also grapeseed, rose hip, and coconut oils for extra moisture. This winner is the only featured hair wax stick infused with B vitamins, like niacinamide, biotin, and folic acid, and this proprietary blend helps strengthen my hair with regular use, making it handy for women with weaker hair, such as those with color-treated or heat-damaged strands.

Key specs

• Key ingredients Yuzu extracts, plum oil, B vitamins
• Hold Flexible

Best Wax Stick With A Matte Finish

Gatsby Tancho Hair Styling Wax Stick

Pros

• No product buildup
• Subtle cherry blossom scent

Cons

• The push pop design makes it relatively harder to push back down the wax, so go slowly

Tancho should be your go-to hair wax stick if you want smooth polished hair with a matte fish. Foster relies on this Amazon find to tame flyaways and smooth hair. “It has the perfect amount of hold that does not leave the hair sticky or too stiff," she says. "I use it on flyaways, ponytails, and smoothing braids."

Foster always reaches for this hair wax stick when working on film, TV, or fashion shows because it provides a strong hold for a lightweight formula, which means you can use this to switch hairstyles like a sleek ponytail to curls without causing a lot of product buildup.

A bonus for anyone scent obsessed: Tancho has a calming light lavender aroma

Key specs

• Key Ingredients Castor seed oil and beeswax
• Hold Flexible

Hair wax sticks vs. gel, hairspray, and pomades

No, they're not the same as gel, hairspray, or pomades. Hairstylist Foster describes hair wax sticks as solids made from some type of wax, while hair gels and pomades have a wet texture and consistency that have a weaker hold, and can cause blown out or flat ironed textured hair to revert back to curly or coily.

Scandizzo, the co-creative director for ELEVEN Australia, adds that gels are messy and require our fingers to apply. Plus, hair sprays have a wide applicator that can’t target specific areas. That’s where hair wax sticks will be helpful, as they offer precise application without creating a helmet-like feel. And because these sticks are small in size, you can also carry them anywhere, from a small purse to a back pocket, allowing you to reapply when needed to keep up-dos slick, control edges, and even smooth out ponies, Scandizzo says.

What Else To Consider

Scalp Type

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, M.D., notes that you can find some dry scalp and eczema relief in wax sticks made with oils because they have emollient and occlusive properties. Emollients help soften the hair, while occlusives prevent water loss in your hair strands, such as oils with dimethicone, Foster adds.

King cautions that while these moisturizing oils are wonderful for dry hair and scalps, they’re not ideal when you’re dealing with other scalp issues. Women with other scalp issues take note: wax sticks' oils can contribute to existing bacteria and yeast growth, which can aggravate your scalp acne (yup, it’s a real thing!) or dandruff. Some wax sticks also contain a high concentration of drying alcohol, making your tresses more prone to breakage. Others might have sulfates, which are drying and can leave behind residue and product buildup on your hair that potentially clog your pores, notes Hurtado. Lucky for you, all of the wax sticks we recommend include nourishing ingredients instead.

Meet Our Experts

• Dr. Hadley King, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at Weill Medical College at Cornell University in New York.
• Joey Scandizzo is a celebrity hairstylist and co-creative director for ELEVEN Australia.
• Courtney Foster is a hairstylist and trichologist in New York.
• Raven Hurtado is a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
• Stanley Nolan is a cosmetologist and beauty educator at the Ogle School, a cosmetology and esthetician school in Texas.