Let’s go over the best haircuts for balding men to help you decide which one will work best for you. The right cut can bring back your confidence and keep you looking stylish and fresh.

9 Best Haircuts For Balding Men

Short Combover And Temple Fade

The short combover with a temple fade is a taper fade that is a favorite amongst those with short or thin hair.

The focus of this cut is the fade on the temple area extending down to the neck. The combover is the cherry on top that makes this cake a sight to behold.

The combination of the temple fade with the short combover makes for a simple yet stylish hairstyle that softens and fills out a receding hairline. It’s an effortless look that’s equal parts professional and cool.

Buzz Cut

When it comes to balding haircuts, the buzz cut is one of the most popular styles.

It’s simple and sleek, and you’ll still have hair on your head if you’re worried about what you would look if you were completely bald.

The buzz cut is a clean yet edgy look that works well for those with thinning hair as the length of the cut is already short.

It takes the attention away from your thinning hair and focuses on an area that others will truly admire. Your face.

Crew Cut

The crew cut separates itself from the buzz cut by including a fade on the back and sides with a slightly longer top.

It has varying lengths and styles compared to the buzz.

In terms of the best haircuts for balding men, this is a step before the buzz cut if you aren’t ready to fully commit to the buzz.

The first variation of the crew cut is high and tight, which includes a short top with a high fade.

The second is a crew with a fade, taking inspiration from the length of a buzz but standing out with faded sides.

Whichever variation you choose, you can’t go wrong with the classic crew cut. Fading on the back and sides with some length at the top has never looked better.

Butch Cut

Living up to the name, a butch cut is masculine and bold. And those who choose it are bursting with confidence.

The butch cut is one of those bald hairstyles that has a short but even length around the head, taking inspiration from the military and army.

It’s the easiest haircut for your barber and it’s super easy for you to do at home by yourself. All you need is a  number 3 or 5 guard for your clippers and you can go nuts. You can’t really mess it up!

There’s no technique to the cut as it’s even all around. It’s a longer cut than the buzz or crew and gives a professional aesthetic.

This makes it one of the best haircuts for balding men.

Quiff With Taper Fade

Combining a quiff with an already stylish taper fade makes for a dashing and sleek appearance.

The contrast between the short hair on the sides with the longer but thin hair on top is a classic, cool style.

You could go the extra mile and razor in the parting of your hair making it more of a defined look.

Maintaining a neat quiff will require more patience and tending to than opting for a buzz cut. But, once you’ve got it, this haircut will change the way you look at your thinning hair.

Faux Hawk

This is the definition of a sleek, punk hairstyle. The faux hawk takes inspiration from the mohawk but ditches the fully shaven sides, going for a fade instead.
Believe it or not, a faux hawk works quite well with thin hair. The thin hair on top is styled upward with a tapered point.

Since the hair is styled upward with the hair giving a spikey aesthetic, it’s one of those hairstyles for balding men that don’t give away that your hair is thinning.

You’re also able to brush the hair forward, lowering your receding hairline.

Regulation Cut

Another one of the best haircuts for balding men is the regulation cut, which takes inspiration from traditional, neat army hairstyles.

The top of your hair is trimmed and styled in a tight combover with a side parting. The sides are tapered or shaved for a very neat, well-kept look. It’s practical and requires little to no maintenance.

To add more finesse to the look, you could look at adding some gel and move the top of the hair backward.

This is a haircut for balding men that doesn’t require much effort but will keep the attention away from your thinning hair.

Spikes With Shaved Sides

Ditching the fade for fully shaved sides and spikey, ‘unkept’ hair on top is another great cut that requires little maintenance.

The shaved sides expose the skin but contrast well with lightly gelled tips on top. This gives the illusion of thickness and volume on the top of the head, taking attention away from any bald spots.

This type of look was very popular during the 90s and to this day serves as one of the best balding men’s haircuts you can get.

The Clean Shave

If you can’t pick a style that suits your current hair situation, choosing a clean shave is the final option.

For many, this seems like an intimidating option, but it makes for the cleanest look, drawing all the attention to your face.

A clean-shaven head is easy to maintain but be sure to apply the right shaving gel after the thin hair on your head has been trimmed.

It’s bold, it’s classic, and it looks fantastic with a beard.

Conclusion

There’s a wide variety of balding hairstyles and haircuts that suit men with thinning hair. Try out some of the haircuts above and let us know which one is your favorite.

The post Haircuts For Balding Men appeared first on Balding & Beards.

We get it. It’s a little early to be going bald. But, the fact is that about 25% of men start experiencing hair loss before they hit their thirties so you’re not alone.

Below are some tell-tale signs of balding at 20 to look out for and how to deal with early hair loss.

5 Signs Of Hair Loss And Balding At 20

Receding Hairline

One of the things you may start to notice is that your hairline looks a bit further back than it used to be. Most men’s hair starts to recede after thirty, so if you’re seeing a change in your twenties, then it is, unfortunately, a sign of balding.

In most cases, the receding hairline forms the appearance of the letter ‘V’ and is known to be the Widow’s peak. But, as it continues to recede, your hairline may start to look more like an ‘M’ as the hair around the temples is often the first to go.

Receding hairlines are caused by aging, changes in hormones, family history, or even stress.

Increased Shedding

Did you know that we lose about 50 to 100 hairs a day? You’ll notice stray hairs coming out in the shower or while brushing your hair. But, if it’s looking like an excessive amount or your hair is coming out in small clumps, then this is a sign of balding.

Eventually, more and more hair will begin falling out and your scalp will be more visible.

Increased hair shedding often happens due to stress. In addition, men have high levels of androgen in their bodies, which can just naturally cause hair loss. Luckily, there are anti-androgen medications you can take if this is the cause of your shedding.

Thinning Around The Crown

When you notice signs of thinning near the crown, it’s likely you’re in the early stages of balding at 20.

You may find that the hair on the sides of your head remains at a consistent length and texture while you have a loss of hair at the crown as well as a receding hairline.

Hair Becomes Difficult To Style

Hair loss means that you lose volume. And as a result, your old ways of styling may not work or look as flattering as they used to. Your hair may fall in a different direction or not stay in the position you want it in, changing the style of your hair.

The second that you notice that your hair is becoming difficult to style or it’s changed its ways in terms of styling, it’s usually a sign of hair loss or thinning.

Prone To Sunburn On Scalp

The last sign of balding in your 20s is if you’re experiencing more sunburn on your scalp. This means that your hair isn’t as thick as it used to be and isn’t protecting your scalp well anymore.

If you are getting more scalp sunburns, you need to start taking other measures, like wearing a hat or cap, to protect your scalp while you’re outside.

Why Is My Hair Thinning At 20?

Right, so now that we know the signs to look out for, what causes hair thinning at 20 for males?

Male Pattern Baldness

A common cause of hair thinning at 20 is male pattern baldness (MPB), also known as androgenic alopecia.

This is a mix of hormonal and genetic factors causing your hair to thin between your 20s and 30s. It causes the hair growth cycle to weaken and stops or shortens the production of hair follicles on your head.

Unfortunately, MPB is a permanent condition.

Stress

Young people are usually under a lot of pressure as they start navigating their adult lives. Studying, exams, starting jobs, moving out – there are numerous stressors that men in their 20s could be experiencing.

Luckily, hair loss caused by stress is usually temporary. Your hair should grow back in a few months.

Medical Conditions

There are certain medical conditions that affect the hair follicles and result in balding. These include scalp infections, thyroid disease, and alopecia areata.

With the right treatment, your hair may grow back.

Medications

On the flip side, certain supplements and medications can actually cause hair loss as a side effect.

Medication used to treat cancer, arthritis, heart problems, and much more can have side effects causing your hair to thin or fall out.

Hair Damage

The final cause is the overuse of hot appliances such as a hairdryer. This causes heat damage to your hair and leaves it more prone to falling out and thinning.

When the dry heat from these appliances meets your hair, it causes the shaft and roots to weaken, making it easier for your hair to fall out.

How Do I Deal With Hair Loss At 20?

There are a number of ways you can deal with hair loss.

First off, you could consider a hair transplant. This procedure takes hair that you already have and uses the grafts to populate an area that has thin or no hair at all. This is quite a pricey route to take. Prepare yourself to spend anywhere upwards of $10,000.

Another option is scalp micropigmentation, where you tattoo your scalp to fill in the bald spots (learn more here).

But, if you want to slow down the process and don’t want to break the bank, you can look into purchasing hair growth products or hair loss treatments. There are a variety of shampoos and formulated hair growth serums you can get off the counter that may help stimulate hair growth.

If you feel like stress and anxiety are a big part of what’s causing your hair to thin, try adopting a healthier and more peaceful lifestyle. Cut out the cigarettes and alcohol and substitute them for yoga and drinking water.

And lastly – you can embrace the bald! Often, hair thinning cannot be reversed or stopped. So, it might be time to shave that head and find confidence in your new look!

Conclusion

And that’s that. Hair loss in 20-year-old males is pretty common and it’s not something that should be feared. Keep an eye out for the signs mentioned and see if making any changes to your lifestyle can help slow down the process. But if not, don’t be afraid to rock the shaved look!

The post Signs of Balding at 20 appeared first on Balding & Beards.

And in this regard, hair can be particularly tricky.

How do you even get started trying to find the right products for your hair?

Well, we’ve got you covered.

In this review, we’re going to explore the 14 best hair products available to men – looking at different types of products, and offering you the very best options in each category.

We hope this will give you a foothold in the market and help you find the very best products for your specific needs.

But there’s more:

We’re also going to help you figure out exactly which products are best for your hair, as well as going into some detail about how the various categories of men’s hair products differ.

Let’s start by looking at the 9 key factors men should consider when purchasing hair products.

Quick Summary

	Pomade Seven Potions Hair Styling Pomade	Washes away easily 100% natural Solid hold and shine - it just works	Check on Amazon
	Wax SexyHair Style Control Maniac Styling Wax	Gives a shine that doesn't appear greasy Gives a hold that lasts all day long Great for a variety of hair shapes and styles	Check on Amazon
	Gel American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel	Great overall texture Includes vitamin B5 Great hold that isn't too stiff	Check on Amazon
	Hair Spray SEXYHAIR Big Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray	Strong hold Adds volume Reduces frizziness	Check on Amazon
	Clay Baxter of California Men's Clay Pomade	Natural-looking matte finish Long-lasting hold Easy to apply	Check on Amazon
	Sea Salt Spray Davines This Is A Sea Salt Spray	Provides long-lasting hydration Many natural ingredients and no parabens Full, textured look with a matte finish	Check on Amazon
	Shampoo Krieger + Söhne Shampoo	Good for all hair types Infused with natural ingredients Reduces dandruff	Check on Amazon
	Conditioner Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner	Dermatologist-tested natural ingredients Adds thickness to fine hair It feels light on your hair	Check on Amazon
	Hair Growth Shampoo Revita High-Performance Hair Stimulating Shampoo	Contains no harmful chemicals Assists in stimulating hair growth Nanosome delivery system	Check Best Price
	Hair Growth Treatment Men’s Rogaine	Easy to apply Clinically proven results FDA approved	Check on Amazon
	Hair Clipper xtava Pro Cordless Hair Clippers and Beard Trimmer	Amazing battery life All in one set Ceramic/Titanium blades	Check on Amazon
	Hair Comb Seven Potions Hair Comb	Handcrafted Gentle sawcut teeth Durable	Check on Amazon
	Hair Dye Just For Men Easy Comb-In Color	Long lasting Easy to use Protects against overcoloring	Check on Amazon
	Hair Cream Tea Tree Shaping Cream	Firm hold Suitable for all hair types Great scent	Check on Amazon

Before you buy: 9 Things to consider when purchasing hair products

We get it:

Choosing hair products can be tricky, especially given how many different options there are on the market.

Some men simply throw in the towel and opt for a ‘trial and error’ response. Or worse, they just buy whatever’s cheapest and assume they’re getting ‘value for money.’

The truth is there are ways to ensure you make good decisions when purchasing hair products, and while one of them is using authoritative, trusted sources (like, say, a long, detailed review…) there are also several key variables you ought to keep in mind when considering your options.

1. The type of product

As will become clear throughout this review, there are numerous ‘types’ of hair products for men, and sometimes it can be a challenge just to tell the differences between them. Is this a pomade or a wax? Are clays and pastes the same?

Having a clear understanding of the differences between the products – and what each is used for and what kind of results you can expect from it – will help narrow down your search dramatically and ensure you get the absolute best product for your specific needs.

2. Your hair type

Many men go through their whole lives without any real sense of what kind of hair they have. And that’s a big problem because different hair products have dramatically different effects and will inevitably be more or less suited to you, depending on the specifics of your hair.

3. What style do you want?

Of course, not every man has a specific style in mind when purchasing products for his hair.

But if you do – if you know, for example, you want to be able to spike it up or sleek it out – then you’ve got a massive head start, and you’ll be much better positioned to find exactly the best hair product for your needs.

4. Hold and Shine

Directly related to the style you’re looking for, you should have a clear sense of what sort of hold and shine you want your product to achieve.

‘Hold’ refers to how much your hair moves when you’ve applied the product – a stronghold is virtually unmovable, whereas a more pliable hold suggests you’ll be able to readjust as you wish.

The shine is really about how ‘wet’ you want your hair to look. Some men really love that sleek, shiny look; others think it looks greasy and artificial, and are after something much more natural.

Most products will be very clear about these things – if they’re natural-looking, they’ll be labeled ‘matte’ or ‘low shine.’

5. Ingredients

As you’ll no doubt realize, the ingredients in a hair product matter a great deal – they’re basically the thing that determines everything else we’re discussing here.

So it’s extremely important to understand exactly what the ingredients in your products are and what they’re going to do.

It’s easy to think of your hair as separate from the rest of your body, but the reality is it’s literally biologically connected to you, and if you’re putting something in it which isn’t safe or healthy, it can have seriously negative effects.

6. Scent

Hair products are famous for smelling terrible – the classic scent of chemical-laden hair spray, for example. But many of the best men’s hair products actually boast pretty nice smells and can add a little extra kick to your cologne or aftershave.

Equally, some men will much prefer a scentless product, and it’s important, therefore, to decide ahead of time and be aware of the scent of the product you’re purchasing.

7. Application and maintenance

It might be surprising to realize, but different hair products are applied in radically different ways and require much more or less maintenance.

Mostly, there will be at least some degree of lathering or technique required, but if you’re looking for a more or less involved process, you should be aware ahead of time and look for specific products.

8. Brand

Of course, brands aren’t everything – good brands have made terrible products, and unknowns often come out with game-changing stuff.

But there is some truth in the idea that brands are signals of quality, and if you find something from a revered brand – say, Jack Black’s – then you’re very unlikely to go wrong.

9. Cost and value

Finally, you should always be aware of the relative costs/benefits of the hair products you buy. Are you really going to get $50 worth out of a conditioner?

Maybe. But if you leap into the fray with no sense of what you want to spend or how much quality really matters to you, you may end up sorely disappointed with your purchases.

The reality is, the price of men’s grooming products varies so much – from a few dollars to hundreds. And knowing exactly how much you value your hair products is important from the get-go.

The 14 best hair products for men

1. Pomade – Perfect example, Seven Potions Hair Styling Pomade

Seven Potions’ Hair Styling Pomade stands out for several reasons.

For one thing, it is made from a fantastic formula of natural ingredients, with plenty of shea butter, sweet almond oil, and sandalwood essential oil, giving it both great moisturizing properties and a sweet, warm smell that you’ll just love.

There’s also the small matter of the quality of the hold, which is just awesome and gives you a high-hold without being overbearing or too tough.

Plus, the shine is lovely, and gives you a sleek, retro look without appearing artificial or (god forbid!) greasy. It will help you look suave and effortless, even on the worst days.

It’s made without any of the bad stuff – no parabens, PEGs, colorants or synthetic fragrances. And Seven Potions guarantee it is entirely vegan friendly, too.

Cleaning it out of your hair is also very easy, because this stuff is entirely water-soluble, and it doesn’t leave your hair dry or sticky or irritated at all.

Ultimately, it’s the best a pomade can get – easy to apply, low maintenance, and a fantastic hold and finish.

2. Wax – Perfect example, SexyHair Style Control Maniac Styling Wax

A good wax should give great hold and shine without making the hair look oily or greasy. We understand that lots of waxes, leave a completely unnatural and often just plain ugly texture in the hair.

That is why we recommend SexyHair Style Control Maniac Styling Wax!

While its hold is firm, SexyHair doesn’t make the hair stiff or hard, and you’ll have no trouble restyling and shaping your hair throughout the day with this product.

It adds just the right amount of shine, making your hair appear stylish and refined. But this wax doesn’t stop here.

It also hydrates the hair because it contains a lot of moisturizing stuff in it, such as safflower seed oil and panthenol. Also, it is humidity resistant for up to 72 hours and is cruelty-free.

Lastly, it doesn’t feel heavy throughout the day and washes off in seconds when it is time to shower.

3. Gel – Perfect example, American Crew Firm Hold Styling Gel

The first thing you notice about American Crew’s Firm Hold Styling Gel is the packaging: it just looks like the real deal, with its cool, slightly retro-looking bottle and branding.

But there’s far more here than just a stylish aesthetic – this really is a top-quality gel, giving you a firm hold that isn’t too stiff, great for almost every hair type and style you could think of.

It produces a wonderfully stylish texture – especially if you’ve got thicker hair. And it is specifically designed to never dry your hair out – as so many firm holding gels do.

On top of all that, the good people at American Crew have made sure to include Vitamin B5 in their formula – this is a vitamin that is often found in hair loss treatments, and the effect is to promote healthier, stronger growing hair.

So while this truly is one of the best hair products you’ll find for thicker hair, it’s also great for men whose hair is thinning – you can combat the problem whilst improving your style.

4. Hair Spray – Perfect example, SEXYHAIR Big Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray

Sometimes, when you want to be truly bold, you need a product that matches that ambition and then some.

If that’s you – if you’re after a ‘wild’ style like faux hawks, spikes, and the like – then SEXYHAIR’S Big Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray is exactly what you’re looking for.

It will give you the lift and hold your hair needs to truly ‘take off,’ with 72 hours of humidity resistance and a ton of added shine to give your hair that extra kick.

The hold itself is medium to firm, but it’s really the volume that you’re looking for here. It also reduces frizziness dramatically, so if you have a problem with hair being too bold naturally and want to reign it in, this stuff is great for that too.

Ultimately, this is not a product for every man – it’s really for a particular kind of trendsetter. And that’s okay: not everything has to be right for us all.

But we have to acknowledge the superior quality here, and if you’re in the market for a hairspray, this is almost definitely as good as you’ll find.

5. Clay – Perfect example, Baxter of California Men’s Clay Pomade

Baxter of California is by now an extremely iconic men’s grooming brand – for decades, they’ve been pumping out a line of truly exceptional products of all kinds, and they don’t show any signs of slowing down.

Their Clay Pomade is an absolute gem: its combination of clay and beeswax is not only ethical and vegan-friendly – but it also produces an exceptionally strong hold that many men will find a game-changer.

It leaves a great, natural-looking matte finish, which adds some extra shine without ever appearing synthetic or greasy. Plus, the hold is an extraordinary combination of long-lasting and pliable – it won’t ever lose shape, but you won’t have a hard time restyling it throughout the day if needs be.

This stuff is really ideal for taming unruly hair – it will help you get into check, restyle it and keep it under control, all without appearing to ever have had to apply a single product.

And the texture it produces is wonderful, too – nice and stylish, without being overtly ‘styled,’ sticky or tough.

Overall, Baxter of California has hit the absolute motherlode, balancing so many different poles to create a truly refined, sophisticated clay – that’s probably why it’s won so many awards!

6. Sea Salt Spray – Perfect example, Davines Sea Salt Spray

Sea Salt Spray is often a mixed ag – whilst it can give you a great, beach-ready look, it also often relies on nasty chemicals and ironically dries out the hair quite badly.

Not so with Davines’ Sea Salt Spray, which is made from completely natural ingredients and products a beautiful, gentle scent while giving you long-lasting hydration and a full, texture look.

The finish has a gentle matte – nothing over the top, just a nice, easy shine that looks authentic and pure. Your hair simply looks like it’s been given the dose of sun it needs to really shine. And the natural ingredients do actually promote healthier follicle growth, too.

For men with straight, fine hair (or a thinning problem!), this stuff will give you the kind of volume you need to hide it.

This isn’t just a niche interest – it’s truly one of the best hair styling products for men you’ll find.

7. Shampoo – Perfect example, Krieger + Söhne Shampoo

You might be forgiven for thinking shampoo is a pretty boring product – it just cleans your hair, what more could it do?

If this is you – if you’re not sold on the potential for shampoo to be a transformative grooming product – then Krieger + Söhne’s Shampoo is exactly what you need to be converted.

See, they use a formula heavily based on tea tree oil to create something which is not really about cleaning your hair – it’s about giving you a relaxing, reinvigorating experience which leaves you feeling energized, motivated, and ultimately excited to start your day.

Whether you’ve just woken up or finished in the gym, there’s always room for a little recharge. And the way this stuff stimulates your scalp and helps your hair feel soft and healthy will give you the boost you need.

It helps tackle dandruff and dry scalps and is safe to use every day without tiring or damaging your hair – as so many shampoos do.

While many shampoos are specialized, this truly is for any man who wants to win. As the name suggests (Krieger means warrior in German), this stuff is for men who take themselves seriously and know how important it is to stay fresh and clean.

8. Conditioner – Perfect example, Jack Black – Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner

Like shampoos, many men assume they know what a conditioner does and don’t bother to worry too much beyond that. But once again, that’s a huge mistake – as a product like Jack Black’s Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner illustrates.

For one thing, Jack Black’s have made sure their conditioner doesn’t weigh your hair down the way so many conditioners can. Instead, it makes your hair feel light, energized, and ultimately gives it that extra life and lift it needs.

The natural ingredients – as you’d expect from Jack Black – are just great. From tea tree leaf oil and silk protein to green tea extract and basil, the formula is beautifully natural and entirely vegan friendly. Plus, it’s dermatologically tested to produce real results.

For men with fine hair, this stuff is just great: it will add plenty of thickness on top, without weighing on it or looking forced. And for men with frizz-related problems, Jack Black’s conditioner will also do well by you.

Jack Black is a great, innovative brand, and it’s unsurprising that they’ve produced such a high-quality conditioner – it’s great for your hair, great for your skin, and even – ultimately – great for your wallet.

9. Hair Growth Shampoo – Perfect example, Revita High-Performance Hair Stimulating Shampoo

DS Labs’ Revita® is a truly game-changing product for men who suffer from hair growth issues – and let’s be real, that’s a lot of men these days!

It is formulated to fight follicular dysfunction – that is, to help your hair grow better, faster, and more healthily.

It uses a unique, highly-effective delivery system that stimulates new hair growth more quickly than other products in the category, and DS’s clinical studies have shown that Revita really does work.

Its key compounds include DHT blockers, ketoconazole, and caffeine, which combine to give the stimulation and nourishment your follicles need.

They’ve also thrown in plenty of biotin (vitamin H, as it’s often known due to its importance in hair growth), which further contributes to the effect.

Another way Revita® sets itself apart is the speed with which it goes to work – rather slowly going to work; it begins immediately working on your scalp to rejuvenate growth and make your hair healthier.

Unlike most of its competitors, Revita® uses no chemicals or other toxic ingredients – it’s just a smart combination of antioxidant and anti-androgen properties, peppered with potent hydrating molecules, hair growth stimulants and amino acids.

Ultimately, this is the absolute most effective hair growth shampoo we’ve come across – and trust us; we’ve tried a lot!

10. Hair Growth Treatment – Perfect example, Men’s Rogaine

Sometimes, hair growth shampoo is simply not enough alone. And in those moments, an actual hair growth treatment like Men’s Rogaine is the best possible route for men with thinning hair.

For one thing, it has been clinically proven to produce serious results – for a long time; it was really the only game in town for sufferers of MPB. It also has a nice, neutral fragrance and is pretty darn easy to apply.

Its key component is Minoxidil, an almost-literal miracle solution that regrows up to 25% more hair. But it also contains botanical extracts and emollient, which combine to help not just regrow hair but make sure the hair that regrows is healthier and thicker and looks better than ever.

Not only that: it also exfoliates the scalp hair, keeping follicles clean and open for hair growth Ultimately, the results speak for themselves: within 12 weeks, you can see visible improvements, and because it’s so easy to apply you can simply slot it into your general grooming regime.

11. Hair Clipper– Perfect example, xtava Pro Cordless Hair Clippers and Beard Trimmer

When it comes to hair clippers, the differences are a little tricky to see. It’s really only when you use them side by side you see the incredible quality of a product like xtava’s Pro Cordless Hair Clippers and Beard Trimmer.

For one thing, their ceramic/titanium blades absolutely saw through your hair with ease and accuracy.

Combined with the precise length control (4 length settings, from 1.0mm to 1.9mm), you’ll be able to achieve the kind of trimming that you’ve always longed for without risking snags or cuts.

They really are just incredibly easy to use: with fantastic battery life (3 hours) and a variety of accessories, it’s a complete hair clipping kit.

The ergonomic design makes them lovely to handle – lightweight, but with plenty of grip and not so light that you overcut. And if you’re cutting for a long time, you’ll avoid the kind of arm fatigue most other clippers produce.

All of that, and they come with an easy storage kit, a cleaning brush, and lubrication oil – a truly low-maintenance, no-hassle kit.

12. Hair Comb– Perfect example, Seven Potions Hair Comb

Hair combs, quite honestly, are often incredibly poor products – they’re flimsy, poorly designed, and crumble after a few uses. But Seven Potions – a great brand which has already popped up on this list – shows us exactly what a hair comb ought to be like.

Theirs is handcrafted for truly quality construction, making for a product that immediately feels superior to its competitors when you hold it. And the construction is backed up by a design that is true class.

The saw cut teeth are extremely gentle on your hair, making for an experience which is easy and effortless – you don’t have to be careful or reserved, you can just go for it and trust that Seven Potions has got your back.

Plus, the comb is extremely durable: unlike so many plastic combs, this thing will last you a long time. Made from cellulose acetate – which is a highly sustainable material – it avoids the static cling and pulling off.

This is a comb any man’s hair can enjoy – whether it’s thick or thin, wavy, or straight. Plus, it’s waterproof and designed to be thin, allowing you to take it wherever you’ve got to go.

13. Hair Dye– Perfect example, Just For Men Easy Comb-In Color

Hair dye is tough to get right: for most men, the biggest concern is to get a dye that looks natural and won’t damage their hair, but historically most dyes have used ammonia or peroxide, which tends to sadly do both.

Just For Men’s Easy Comb-In, Color takes away all of those anxieties: its formula is completely safe, producing natural, effortless coloring in a variety of 11 different shades, so you can match yours to the exact needs of your hair.

It’s also exceptionally easy to use: all you do is comb it in, wait 10 minutes, and rinse your hair out.

The results last up to 8 weeks and look flawless. And the smart people at Just For Men have even built-in protection against the danger of over-coloring – the dye simply stops working after 10 minutes, meaning if you forget or get distracted, you won’t come out of things too badly.

The set also comes with a comb applicator, which helps you apply it more strategically and precisely to exactly where your greys are.

14. Hair Cream– Perfect example, Tea Tree Shaping Cream

Tea Tree Botanicals is a sub-brand of John Paul Mitchell systems – a leader of men’s grooming products you probably recognize from earlier in this review.

Their shaping cream is a fantastic way to conclude our list, with its lightweight formula infused with beautiful tea tree oil that provides a firm but not-too-firm hold.

This is a product that is genuine for ‘all’ hair types – whatever your needs, this stuff will make it totally pliable and give you a long-lasting hold and a strong matte finish.

The flexibility you get – particularly with such a strong hold – is unusual, to say the least. And the extra texture is gentle but effective.

The scent is great, too: a refreshing tea tree kick with the slightest bit of citrus to refresh and reenergize you. Plus, the cream actually has active botanical ingredients that help invigorate and heal your hair throughout the day.

Ultimately, this is a really smart, simple product that will make a great addition to any man’s hair grooming arsenal.

Method to the madness: How we chose these products

There are no two ways about it: cultivating a list like this is tough.

The number of great products we have to leave off the list is tough, and the number of terrible ones we have to try is even worse. And while we can’t try every single item on the market, we try to be as diligent as possible in our pursuit of the best – and that involves testing an awful lot.

Put simply, we make a very large shortlist by checking reviews – both offline and in the trade magazines – and we go about testing them in each category to determine exactly what the best products around are.

The result, we hope, is a list that truly distills the very best products you can get your hands on today. But we’re always open to suggestions for new products, or if you feel a truly exceptional item has been robbed of its place on our list – let us know in the comments!

What hair product is best for my hair?

As we mentioned earlier, the type of hair you have matters a lot in choosing hair products. And the main way to determine which products are best for you is to look at your hair and decide what it is you want to change about it using a product.

If it’s particularly thin, you probably want to give it some extra texture and thickness – a hairspray may well be the best option for you, therefore. But if it’s unruly and wild, it might be a wax or gel that best suits you.

If your hair is thinning, avoid heavy oil-based products that might wear it out and add to the problem. And if you have particularly oily hair, you’ll want to avoid excessively oily products – though you’ve probably already figured that one out!

Ultimately, a certain amount of experimentation is inevitable, and the process of nailing your hair care regime will be one of discovering which ingredients and products work best in different contexts.

Try keeping notes whenever you try something new, and always – repeat, always – remember to read reviews to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself in for.

Knowing the difference: the many types of hair products

When it comes to hair products, there are tons of options out there—and you can’t just grab the first one off the shelf and expect it to do the job. If you’ve been struggling with your hair, don’t worry: we’re here to help.

The differences between all the many types of hair products can be confusing (and if you’re anything like us, then you’ve probably ended up with a product that doesn’t do what you want it to). So, we thought we’d clear things up for you.

Knowing what the best products are is all very well, but it’s still important to understand what each category does and how they differ:

    1. Pomade

Pomade is great for short and medium length hairstyles – particularly if you’re after a more ‘retro look. It gives you a pretty high-shine, but it tends to offer a lighter hold than many other kinds of products. It’s often more about the look of the hair than the styling per se.

2. Wax

Hair wax is usually oil-based and has relatively low-shine, which is ideal for lots of men. The texture can be off-putting, for sure, and it’s much harder to get out of your hair than gel or putty.

3. Gel

Gel is perhaps the quintessential hair product for men. Generally, it’s used on wet hair and gives you a really easy, strong hold. The downside is many gels have too much of a shine – it’s a greasy look, really.

Gels tend to water-soluble, which makes them easy to wash out of your hair. But they also often have a high alcohol count and a tendency to dry out your hair over time.

 4. Hairspray

Traditionally hairspray would be associated with women. But these days, plenty of men are coming round to the uses of it, and there are plenty of great products specifically designed for men’s hair.

If you have thin hair, hairspray is a great way to add volume; equally, longer hair can be given a nice firm hold with the stuff.

5. Clay

Clays tend to be drier than other hair styling products, which gives them a lower shine but also gives them a unique and often very cool texture. You’ll find that clays vary wildly in terms of their hold, and regardless of your hairstyle, you’ll be able to find one that matches you.

The key thing with clays is that they add thickness and a nice rougher texture to your hair.

6. Sea Salt Spray

Sea salt spray is fantastic for getting a beach-like look – particularly if you’ve got thinner hair. It tends to. E used to achieve a tousled, wavy style and gives you a matte finish that looks healthy.

7. Shampoo

Shampoo is obviously a standard hair product even for men with no interest in the dark arts of grooming. But knowing that shampoo can vary so massively – from ingredients to cost – is important.

The best shampoos don’t just clean but actively help promote healthier hair growth and make your hair look not just cleaner but fuller and more alive.

8.  Conditioner

Again, conditioner is a classic you’re likely familiar with. It should be used after shampooing and reduces the friction between strands of hair to make hair look healthier and feel more manageable. It’s essential if you’re looking to style your hair ambitiously.

9. Hair growth shampoo

Hair growth shampoo is a specific sub-genre of shampoo, which is specifically designed to promote hair growth for men who struggle naturally – whether it just doesn’t grow fast enough or is actively thinning.

It tends to use active ingredients that nourish the follicles and help hair grow more easily.

10. Hair growth treatment

For men with real hair growth issues, shampoo often isn’t enough.

That’s where hair growth treatments come in: they are specifically formulated to rescue your hair and rebuild your body’s ability to grow it.

While they might sound like magic, many of them are clinically-proven to produce results.

11. Hair clippers

Hair clippers help you trim and clip your hair with ease: rather than doing it with a traditional razor – which is often dangerous and always unable to fully deliver the results you want.

You get a clipper specifically designed to get to the difficult bits and give you the nuanced, detailed cut you want.

12. Hair comb

Hair combs are another classic, but many men overlook the differences – some combs are woeful and likely to actively harm your hair.

Whereas others – like the one from seven Potions we discussed above – are worth their weight in gold and will help you with virtually every aspect of your hair care regime.

13. Hair dye

Hair dye is often given a bad rap, but that’s really unfair.

The truth is, many men really struggle to grow hair, which looks full or matches their general aesthetic, and for the hair dye can be an absolute lifesaver.

While historically many hair dyes have been ineffective and damaging, these days, we have a whole host of great products that really work.

14. Hair cream

Hair cream is a styling product that adds a natural-look shine to your hair and generally gives you a low-to-medium hold.

It’s generally used to get rid of frizz without having an excessive effect on your hair’s aesthetic, and it can be a godsend for men who want to be as subtle as possible with their use of styling products.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve discussed the best hair products for men, all that’s left is for you to go try them yourselves.

We’d love to know how you find them – which really stand out for you? And which are you most excited to try?

Let us know in the comments below.

The post The 14 Best Hair Products Every Man Needs appeared first on Balding & Beards.

Shaving should never be a chore – if you’re not enjoying it, something’s seriously wrong.

Nothing feels more manly than expertly lathering up your face and cutting that facial hair down to size. You are in total control – at least, that’s how it ought to feel.

Lots of men don’t enjoy shaving because, frankly, they find it too difficult.

Either they can’t get to the tricky spots properly, or they’re heavily prone to nicking or irritating their skin.

It’s not just that this means they miss out on the pleasure of shaving – they also miss out on the opportunity to make bolder, more nuanced decisions with how they shape their facial hair.

In a hurry? Here are our top picks:

Zirh Aloe Vera Shave Gel

The best shaving gel you’ll find anywhere is Zirh Aloe Vera Shave Gel. It’s suitable for all skin types, which is extremely useful, and its aloe based formula promotes healthy skin and facial hair growth.

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EZ Blade Shaving Gel

Another solid gel is EZ Blade’s Shaving gel, which can be applied without water. Its natural oil based formula is very clear, which makes shaving very close or hard-to-reach areas much easier.

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In this article, we’ve put together a super-streamlined list of the 7 very best shaving gels for men – that includes the best shaving gel for sensitive skin, the best shaving gel for oily skin, and a whole bunch of options in between!

But there’s more:

We’ve also put together all the information you need to make informed consumer decisions about shaving gel in the future.

We created an expert guide for using shaving gel and broken down all the different shaving accessories you’ll need in conjunction with your new, premium shaving gel – all so that you can have the best possible shaving experience.

Quick summary

	Our #1 Choice Zirh Aloe Vera Shave Gel	Aloe vera based formula Transparent lather Suitable for all skin types	Check on Amazon
	EZ Blade Shaving Gel	Waterless application Natural oil based Very clear gel	Check on Amazon
	Anthony Shave Gel	Allergy and dermatologist tested Suitable for sensitive skins Wet or dry use	Check on Amazon
	Vichy Homme Anti Irritation Shaving Gel for Men	Contains salicylic acid and vitamin C Minimizes acne and irritations Prevents ingrown hair	Check on Amazon
	Dr. Bronner's Organic Shaving Soap	Variety of scents available Includes ethically sourced ingredients Suitable for oily skins	Check on Amazon
	Bulldog Men's Original Shave Gel	Suitable for close shaves Great price Smooth on the skin	Check on Amazon
	Shave Gel - Shaving Gel with an Aloe Enriched Formula	Masculine scent Rich foam Suitable for all skin types	Check on Amazon

5 Considerations before you buy shaving gel

A well-groomed, carefully cultivated man doesn’t buy things without considering them in detail – that’s obvious.

Shaving gels are no exception, and in fact, while it may seem a less ‘exciting’ product than some, getting the right shaving gel can actually make a huge difference to your grooming results.

So we’ve put together a list of the five most important things you need to bear in mind when buying one.

1. Know your skin type

Everybody’s skin is different. It’s easy to forget that when buying grooming products, and focus on the quality of the product or which branding you like most. But it really is a vital consideration, and you need to remember that.

For example, shaving gels vary in the degree of moisturization they provide, meaning whether you have oily or dry skin will dictate which shaving gels are particularly effective for you.

Equally, the degree of sensitivity your skin has will need to be factored into your choice. So knowing what the best shaving gel is will also mean understanding, which is the best shaving gel for your skin.

Fortunately, we’ve taken all these things into account in our choices for this review, meaning there’s an option for everyone’s skin to enjoy.

But if and when you venture beyond the products we’ve included here, understanding and respecting your skin’s needs will be essential.

2. Be scent-aware

An often-overlook component of shaving gel is its smell. Now, of course, this is not your main concern. But it should be taken into account for a few reasons.

Firstly, if you’re shaving several times a week, the gel you use is going to be a fairly present part of your life, and nobody likes a nasty smell. But beyond that, the scent will linger on your skin every time you use the gel.

Some men prefer to go for scentless options to remove any potential problems, but plenty of options on our list have actively pleasant scents, which will compliment your moisturizer and cologne nicely if chosen well.

3. What are you using it with?

Shaving gel, in of itself, is not all that useful. If you don’t have a good quality razor, for example, the best lather in the world won’t help you achieve a great shave.

So you need to be very aware of how the shaving gel you choose will interact with the other items you already own.

For example: knowing what the best shaving gel for safety razors is might be pretty useful if you only ever use safety razors!

Likewise, if you’re going to go with a gel that is most effective with a shaving brush, you’d probably best own one before you buy the gel!

Too many men think of grooming products as singular purchases. But what you’re really doing is putting together a collection of products which, combined, will make for truly great grooming.

Later in this review, we’re going to discuss the various shaving accessories available, how to decide which you need, and how to use them more effectively.

But for now, just remember to bear in mind that different gels will require and work best with different shaving products.

4. Ingredients are important

There are two reasons why ingredients need to be a consideration for you when buying shaving gel: firstly, shaving gels can – if they contain nasty ingredients like parabens, phthalates, dyes, or sodium sulfate – be really problematic for the skin.

These things can cause everything from mild irritation or blotchiness to full-scale mutant-looking rashes.

But beyond that, there’s an ethical concern: are the ingredients in your gel ethical? We’re not here to impose morals on you – it’s just important to know that some gels do use ingredients that are at odds with some people’s ethical beliefs.

So if you feel strongly about certain things – say, palm oil, or toxins – it’s really important to be wary of such things in your shaving gel.

We’ve obviously avoided including any ethically suspect shaving gels on our lists, and likewise products which we believe might cause irritation.

But it’s still important for you, as a conscious consumer, to be aware of what you’re putting on your skin and what practices you’re supporting with your purchases.

5. Price and value

Put simply: you need to know what you’re getting and what you’re willing to pay for it.

Finding the best shaving gel for sensitive skin is one thing, but finding the best deal on it and being comfortable with the price you’re paying is also important.

Shaving gel is very important – it’s a fact.

But, remember that it’s one of the many grooming products you require.

Blowing your budget on shaving gel without considering the razors you need or any of the other shaving products you might require is counterproductive.

So always be aware that value is relative, and think seriously about whether or not you want to spend lots of money on a shaving gel. Because if you do, it’s certainly worth it – just not if you know you’ll end up feeling you didn’t get your money’s worth!

The 7 best shaving gels for men

1. Zirh Aloe Vera Shave Gel

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Best Features:

• Works for all skin types
• Aloe based formula
• Transparent lather

Best Shaving Gel For:

Loves of transparent gel

Overview

Zirh’s Aloe Vera Shave Gel earns its place on this list for a simple reason: its transparent lather.

It is non-foaming and remains totally transparent throughout your shave, which for many will be a boon – it means you can see in detail where you’re shaving and make for a much closer, more detailed and precise shave.

However, it does also mean it can be a little tricky to know where you’ve actually put the gel – so this stuff requires a certain amount of attention and care to use properly.

It works on all skin types, which is great – particularly for men whose skin somewhat varies between seasons. And its aloe formula is great for replenishing, conditioning and revitalizing the skin, giving a new level of moisture and leaving you feeling super fresh.

It’s also incredible value – relative to its value, Zirh really are punching above their weight.

However, not everyone loves the scent – one reviewer has described it as smelling like petrol! And the gel is undeniably colder than most, which can be a little bracing.

Pros

• The transparent lather makes close shaves easier
• Aloe vera is refreshing and great for the skin
• It’s fantastic value

Cons

• Many reviewers dislike how cold the gel is

 

Bottom Line

A skin-friendly gel that’s great for all skin types.

2.EZ Blade Shaving Gel

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Best Features:

• Completely waterless shave
• Oil-based
• Very clear gel

Best Shaving Gel For:

An expert shaver on budget, looking to carefully cultivate his facial hair without the cost.

Overview

EZ Blade Shaving Gel is an unusual specimen – it comes in a tub, which is relatively uncommon for a shaving gel, and it doesn’t require any water at all to use.

Given its price, you might imagine these are bad signs. But this is actually a very high-quality product, with an oil base which makes it friendly to irritable skin.

While the gel initial looks slimy when applied, it becomes a perfectly smooth and clear lather, facilitating a really careful close shave over all areas.

It is completely non-foam, meaning you don’t need to use water, and therefore avoiding the messiness issues some other gels suffer from.

So this is a great, wallet-friendly product for precision shaving. But it does require a level of expertise, because, without water, the lather dries more quickly than other gels, meaning you’ll need to get to the shaving pronto!

Pros

• It’s completely clear, which allows you to see exactly what you’re doing as you shave
• Natural oils produce a great scent
• Waterless applications make for very clean, fuss-free shaving, particularly good when pushed for time!

Cons

• Dries very quickly, meaning you’ll need to be efficient with your shave!
• Some enjoy the foamy experience of shaving

 

Bottom Line

A unique product for men who know exactly what they’re doing and want to do it fast without the fuss of foam.

3. Anthony Shave Gel

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Best Features:

• Non-foaming
• Great for sensitive skin
• Natural formula

Best Shaving Gel For:

Extremely sensitive skin

Overview

Combining a solid slate of natural ingredients like kelp, elm extract, eucalyptus oil, and rosemary, Anthony’s Shave Gel is an extremely natural, paraben-free gel that is ideal for men with very sensitive skin who need a truly moisturizing, nurturing lather.

It is highly lubricating and non-foaming, meaning it provides the means for a really nice, clean shave. Plus because the lovely concentration of aloe vera ensures your skin will feel fresh and vital after a session.

With plenty of cooling properties, it also ensures your skin stays totally irritation-free and actually helps promote hydration. And because it’s such a strong concentration, you need less of this stuff than most gels – making it very cost-effective.

However, we really should mention the scent – some reviewers really hate it! And while we must say we found it fairly pleasant, you may end up siding more with the reviewers!

Pros

• Great for sensitive skin
• Can be used wet or dry
• Allergy and dermatologist tested

Cons

• The scent is not to everyone’s taste – to put it mildly!

Bottom Line

A natural, hydrating gel for sensitive skinned men.

4. Vichy Homme Anti Irritation Shaving Gel for Men 

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Best Features:

• Suitable for acne-prone, sensitive skin
• Contains salicylic acid and vitamin C
• Dermatologist tested

Best Shaving Gel For:

Men who have acne-prone sensitive skin

Overview

We’ve all been there, gentlemen. At some point in our lives, we’ve all looked ourselves in the mirror, looking at our irritated, sensitive skin and thinking about what we can do about it.

Well, luckily, nowadays, Vichy Homme has the solution!

Vichy Homme Anti Irritation Shaving Gel for Men is made with salicylic acid and vitamin C, and is specifically made for people with oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin.

There is only one word that can describe this shaving gel. Brilliant!

Salicylic acid helps exfoliate the skin, fight inflammation and balance excess oil production. It unclogs the pores, reduces ingrown hair, and minimizes the possibility of unwanted razor pumps.

Vitamin C is a rich antioxidant that hydrates the skin and, as a result, makes it regain its natural color and younger appearance.

The texture of this gel is soft yet thick, allowing you to shave even the most difficult parts. It calms and softens the hair providing ease of movement. It lathers well, but at the same time, it washes away easily.

You will feel your skin soothed and not dry after your shaving session. What more can you ask for?

Of course, there is one small drawback that we need to mention. While it didn’t bother us much, the scent in this shaving gel is pretty strong. If you are allergic to heavy fragrances maybe consider another option on our list.

Pros

• Soothes irritations and reduces acne
• Unclogs pores which prevents ingrown hair
• Makes the shaving experience an absolute joy

Cons

• Scent can be heavy for some

Bottom Line

If you have acne-prone or sensitive skin, this is probably one of the best options you have available on the market.

5. Dr. Bronner’s Organic Shaving Soap

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Best Features:

• Highly ethical ingredient sourcing
• Great range of scents available
• Completely natural shave

Best Shaving Gel For:

Oily skinned men with a conscience

Overview

Dr. Bronner’s organic shaving Soap is our vote for ethical-buyers choice. It is sourced with fair trade ingredients – like organic sugar and white grape juice.

It lacks any synthetic preservatives and detergents. Basically, they’ve made sure it is 100% eco-friendly and organic! But there are benefits to it beyond just a clear conscience.

Its ingredients are natural; it gives the skin a really earthy feeling – shaving with it, you’ll feel far more manly than normal.

It is worth noting that you may need a good shaving brush to help with the application, as it is a little thinner than other gels on our list.

This also makes it the best shaving gel for oily skin on our list, as it retains a very light layer and moisturizes without clogging the pores.

On top of this, the gel is available with several different scents – from unscented all the way to Lemongrass Lime – so you can choose an ideal scent that mixes with your natural shaving experience.

Pros

• It’s always nice knowing you’re buying from a highly ethical business
• Natural ingredients help fight oily skin well

Cons

• The lather is thinner than others, meaning you’ll need to be careful applying it evenly

 

Bottom Line

An ethical company producing a great quality shaving gel – what more could you want?

6. Bulldog Men’s Original Shave Gel

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Best Features:

• Plenty of essential oils
• Great for close shaves
• Super competitive pricing

Best Shaving Gel For:

A man on a budget who still wants quality ingredients

Overview

All too often, we are faced with a cruel choice: either fork out some serious money or settle for low-quality, often toxic ingredients. But Bulldog is seemingly on a mission to fix this.

Their shaving gel is great: it contains zero toxins, eight essential oils, and provides a really smooth, easy shave for the average man’s skin. It appears to work on even the toughest beards and is completely scentless, which for some, is seen as premium quality.

Yet a nearly 6-ounce container of this stuff is shockingly cheap, making it that rare thing: a budget item which is not budget quality.

It is, however, worth noting that the container can cause troubles – it’s a squeezy bottle, which many men loathe – and safety razors can struggle with the thinness of the lather.

So while there are much better quality shaving gels on our list, this is a perfectly good product for anyone who’s unsure that they’re likely to get their money’s worth from a more high-end shaving gel.

Pros

• Fantastic price makes it affordable for all
• Easy on the skin, containing no problematic ingredients and plenty of moisture
• Did we mention it’s GREAT value?

Cons

• The squeezy bottle is pretty annoying, and certain razors fare better than others with the thin lather

 

Bottom Line

A brilliant budget shaving gel – a solid step above the spray can rubbish many men settle for, without breaking the bank

7. Harry’s Shave Gel – Shaving Gel with an Aloe Enriched Formula

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Best Features:

• Beautifully thick foam
• Easy application
• Strong, manly scent

Best Shaving Gel For:

A man’s man wanting a great deal for his money

Overview

Another really great value shaving gel – this time from Harry’s, whose whole range of men’s grooming products are a great stepping stone between the really cheap stuff and high-end premium products.

But please don’t take that as a dismissal of this gel as ‘budget’ – it may actually be the best shaving gel for a safety razor on our entire list!

Its super-rich, thick foam makes for a really easy, comfortable shave, and because it contains lots of aloe and cucumber, it feels incredibly refreshing and reinvigorating after a shave, leaving you ready to go out and get going with your day!

Harry’s’ branding is on-point, too, meaning the packaging looks cool and tasteful, especially if you’ve got a whole collection of Harry’s products.

And for a reasonable price, you can get three cans of the shaving gel – plus its really good quality, so you’ll get even more shaves out of each can than you expect!

Pros

• Three tubes will last several months – even if you’re shaving every day!
• Great for all skin types, which is unusual
• Many seem to really love the smell. However…

Cons

• Some find the scent excessively masculine and strong – we quite enjoy it though, truth be told!

 

Bottom Line

A great way to keep stocked up with shaving gel for long periods without breaking the bank or lowering your standards!

How an expert groomer uses shaving gel

Now that you’ve found the perfect shaving gel for your needs, you might assume it’s all good. But actually using shaving gel is an art in-of-itself.

So we’ve put together a little guide to help you master it, improve your shaves and start feeling in full control of your facial hair.

1. Proper preparation is key

Preparing for your shave may be the most important differentiator between the average man and genuinely great groomers.

That little extra effort will go a long way.

For example, skin tends to be puffy in the morning, so leaving it a little while before you shave – say, fifteen minutes – will make a big difference!

The first thing you’ll need to do is get the hair you’re trimming under control.

If you’re dealing with a longer beard, for example, you’ll want to use scissors to trim the excess to a more manageable length and quite possibly apply some pre-shave oil to give your lather a helping hand.

Finally, before you start lathering, it’s important to remove any dead skin that might be lingering to keep your facial hair soft and nicely hydrated.

Some men choose to do this in the shower; others simply throw some warm (but not too warm!) water over their faces.

Either way, the important thing is to use a good quality exfoliant – rub and rinse it gently, to avoid unnecessary irritation!

2. The art of lathering

Turning shaving gel into a proper lather requires more effort than other shaving products – but this just means there is more room for nuanced skill on your part!

The first step is to fill a hand (or bowl, if you choose!) with the correct amount of gel.

Usually, this will be around ¾ of an inch of gel, but different products will need different amounts, and part of your process will need to involve experimenting with the gel you use to master exactly what is the optimal amount.

Next, you’ll need to rub it in a circular motion, using a few fingers. This will take roughly 20 seconds, although again, you’ll need to learn exactly how long your specific product needs.

The tell-tale sign that it’s ready will be that it grows in size. And depending on the product, you will likely benefit from adding some amount of water to the lather, too.

Once you have a good, full lather, you need to apply it gently and evenly, making sure to leave absolutely no patches at all. And finally, you’ll be ready to get going with your razor!

3. How expert groomers shave

How you shave largely depends on the results you’re looking for. However, there are a few important tips to remember when using shaving gel.

First is to always shave with the grain – i.e., in the same direction, your hair grows! This will allow the gel to guide your razor and avoid hacking at your face.

We get it – it’s tempting to shave against the grain, and get that ‘smooth’ feeling. But it’s incredibly dangerous to do this, and you’ll soon realize that when your razor gets caught and slices your face!

The angle of your razor should always be between 30 and 45 degrees.

You should never push the razor – instead, use a light pressing motion to ease it along in a downward ‘swiping’ motion with as little pressure as possible. Always go steady with this – it really isn’t a race!

Another important tip is to rinse the blade regularly as you go because shaving gel has a habit of clogging the blade.

And finally, leave your lips till last: the hair there tends to be thicker, and therefore the longer you leave it, the more time that hair will have to soften with the gel!

4. Post-shave tips

Now that you’ve finished the actual shave, it’s time to maintain your skin and tools.

Firstly, you’ll want to rinse off the lather with cold water, helping to close your pores.

Then you should apply some aftershave balm and/or beard oil to cool your skin and keep it in tip-top condition for the whole day.

The gel can occasionally dry out the skin, and a good quality balm or lotion will rejuvenate it nicely for the rest of the day!

Finally, you need to make sure your razors, gel, and any other accessories you’ve used are properly put away – that means, for example, making sure there’s no excess gel clogging the cap of the canister! – so that they’re ready for use the next time you shave.

Too often, men want to just get on once they’ve shaved, but properly taking care of these products will make them last longer and perform better in the future.

Why use shaving gel – an analysis

So we’ve talked a lot about shaving gels so far – which are the best, how best to use them – but we haven’t really delved into quite why you should use a shaving gel.

At least, we haven’t delved into why you should choose shaving gel over shaving cream or other lathers on the market.

And the truth is, the choice really isn’t so fast and dry as that – there are nuances to the question, and for some men shaving cream may actually prove the preferable option.

The key difference between shaving gel and other shaving lathers is the kind of lather you get: generally speaking, you’ll be using less (if any) water with a gel, making it less soapy and runny – though of course, a large part of this is the skill of application!

Gels also tend to have more moisturizing ingredients and less fragrance, making them less likely to irritate the skin.

They are better at lubricating, making them ideal for men with sensitive skin who fear to nick their chins, and they tend to be thicker and more transparent, making them the ideal choice for really finely sculpting facial hair.

However, because they’re thicker, some men find gels awkward to use. And they have a tendency to clog up your razors if you’re not vigilant with your post-use cleanup.

Shaving foam is more popular for fans of a wet shave, and the relative ease of application – they’re faster to lather and generally just come in canisters – means that men who are tight-pushed for time may benefit from opting for them too.

Ultimately, the choice really comes down to personal preference: some men like the traditional feeling of shaving cream, and even aesthetics can play a large deciding role.

We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to let us know what your preference is and why in the comments below!

7 Brilliant shaving accessories

The right razor and shaving gel will get you far – but there’s a whole world of shaving accessories to explore beyond these essentials. So below, we’ve listed seven of our favorites for your consideration.

1. Beard scissors

Beard and mustache scissors can, of course, be used instead of a razor altogether, making them less an accessory and more the main event! But the reality is, relatively few men will be able to get the exact shave they want simply from a pair of scissors.

Instead, they function as a really great accessory to shaving, allowing you to more easily trim down the excesses of an over-grown beard, or delicately put the finishing touches on a particularly tricky facial hairstyle.

So regardless of how you use them, scissors are an essential tool for any man looking to cultivate a complete shaving set – just make sure yours are good quality!

2. Pre-shave scrub

One of the key reasons we use shaving lather is to raise the hair from the face so that the razor can get a good purchase on it without risking slashing your skin in the process.

If you have a pile-up of dead skin (which there is no shame in – it can accumulate incredibly quickly!), it’s harder to gain that purchase because your skin is uneven and thick.

Therefore, a good quality pre-shave scrub, to exfoliate this build up and make your skin as clean and supple as possible, is an important investment for great quality shaving.

It is easy and quick to use, and the small added effort will lead to great results – both a better shave and healthier, better-looking skin in general!

There are plenty of great, affordable options here – like Cantu Men’s Cleansing Pre-shave Scrub – which will make a fine addition to your shaving kit.

3. Pre-shave oil

Shaving gel is enough – a good quality shaving gel for sure. But for many men, particularly those with super sensitive skin, a pre-shave oil will add an extra layer of protection, as well aiding closer, more detailed shaving by increasing lubrication.

Choosing between the many options can be tough, but once you find a product that suits your particular skin, having a pre-shave oil at hand will make your shaving experience that much easier, more refined, and more enjoyable.

Pre-shave oils can be beneficial if you have extremely sensitive skin or if you don’t use a very high quality razor blade. However, many of today’s best shave gels already contain skin moisturizers and conditioners, so it may not be necessary for you to use a pre-shave oil as well. If you have dry skin or tend to experience ingrown hairs when you shave, then a pre-shave oil could be helpful for you.

4. Shaving brush

Some will claim that using a shaving brush with shaving gel is unnecessary – one of the gel’s benefits is its thickness, and shaving brushes primarily exist to make creams thicker and fuller.

But consider this: a shaving brush almost immediately makes your shaving experience easier and, crucially, cleaner.

Rather than using your fingers to lather up your gel and then having to wash them haphazardly, you can simply use your brush, delicately wash it up, and get going with your shave!

So find yourself a great shaving brush – like Proraso Professional Shaving Brush – and save yourself the hassle!

5. Aftershave and post-shave balms

Aftershave is, of course, now most closely associated with cologne, and used primarily for the purpose of smell. So it’s easy to forget that it was originally used as a way of healing the skin after a shave – hence the name!

The truth is, aftershave is like medicine for your skin – it eases any ailments from your shave, and helps maintain your skin’s texture and appearance. These days, there are many different variations to choose from – from post-shave cooling balms to aftershave gels.

So you’ll be spoilt for choice, both with regards to the scent you swing for and the nuanced differences in ingredients and benefits.

6. Beard oil

There are numerous benefits to using beard oil – it helps fight dandruff and fix embarrassingly patchy-looking beards. But it also helps to soothe the skin after shaving and combat in growing hairs, which might otherwise rudely pop out.

Once you’ve learned to apply it like a master and decided on the brand for you, having a good quality beard oil to apply as part of your post-shave routine is a big deal.

Having a good quality beard oil will make the shaving process more complete, leaving you completely put together, as well as giving you a great smell, a great looking beard, and taking care of your easily-irked skin!

7. Wash bag

The ultimately shaving accessory may not be involved in the shaving process at all. We’re talking, of course, about the wash bag.

It’s so easy to overlook, but when you have a proper shaving set to put together – from pre-shave oil and beard scissors to beard oil and the rest – it’s going to take a lot of work to keep it all organized – let alone lugging it about to the gym or on the weekend away!

So a really good wash bag – like Jaald Men’s Genine Leather Toiletry Bag – is about as good an investment as you can get.

The ease of having everything living in one place, never having to worry where you left your pre-shave oil or whether you’ve remembered your razor, is worth every penny of the purchase!

How we chose the best shaving gels

As you’ll by now, no doubt understand, what makes a great shaving gel is a big question.

So a lot of different elements go into choosing the right shaving gel: everything from the ingredients and price to your own skin type and razor of choice needs to be considered.

We can only hope our review will have helped you navigate your options and make sense of the market.

Whilst we can’t possibly try every shaving gel that’s out there– there are literally hundreds – we’ve sampled a very large amount of them.

We tried to ensure we included choices for as many different skin types, personal preferences, and economic considerations as possible.

So that regardless of your circumstances, there’s something on our list for you.

Conclusion

And that brings us to an end – we’d love to know what you think of our choices, and whether you feel that shaving gel is a good choice for today’s well-groomed man.

Is it your choice of lather? And if so, what do you enjoy about it?

What do you think is the best shaving gel? Did it make our list? If not, please let us know what we’re missing!

If you’ve found this review useful, please let us know and share it with friends who might similarly appreciate the help!

The post The 7 Best Shaving Gels for Men (All Skin Types) appeared first on Balding & Beards.

Beards and mustaches come in all different shapes and sizes, from the weak and wimpy to truly unruly mountain-man. And many men struggle to create any kind of aesthetic order to their facial fuzz.

But there’s actually a wonderful, underappreciated grooming product that can help you keep your facial hair in check: beard wax.

The best beard and mustache waxes help you style your facial hair no matter its natural composition, as well as offering other benefits like moisturization and improving the general health of your hair.

In this review, we’re going to look at 8 of the very best of them, so you can find the best men’s beard wax for your specific needs.

But there’s more:

Too often, mustache wax reviews simply present you with products without any context or guidance.

So we’ve made sure to also include plenty of useful advice about the different types of wax, balm, and oil – as well as illustrated guides to applying the stuff.

Before we get into all of that, we need to provide some background on stache wax. And we’ll do that by looking at exactly what it is you should be looking for when you’re in the market for mustache and beard wax.

Quick summary

	Best for Longer Beards The Bearded Goon’s Ridiculously Strong Beard & Handlebar Moustache Wax	Super strong hold 100% natural with subtle scent So long lasting it feels like forever	Check on Amazon
	Best for Medium Sized Beards Seven Potions Beard Wax	Great natural hold that doesn’t go stiff Great creamy texture Amazing scent	Check on Amazon
	Best Versatile Jack Black - Wax Pomade	For hair and beard Fragrance-free Natural formula	Check on Amazon
	Best for mustache Mustache Wax by Mountaineer Brand	Natural ingredients Great moisturization Designed specifically for mustache	Check on Amazon
	Honest Amish Original Beard Wax	Has been popular for decades Tames even the most wildest beard hairs Handmade	Check on Amazon
	Fisticuffs Cigar Blend Mustache Wax	A very bespoke aroma Soft texture, easy to apply Doesn't look or feel waxy	Check on Amazon
	Firehouse Moustache Wax Wacky Tacky	Offers a solid hold Long-lasting Made by hand	Check on Amazon
	The Hairy Bastard All-Natural Hair and Beard Wax for Men	Excellent tobacco scent Provides a light sheen Smooth texture	Check on Amazon

Before you buy: 6 Things you have to consider and look for when buying a beard and mustache wax

1. The style you’re going for

The first thing you really need to determine is what you want to do with your beard wax: there are a variety of adventurous styles you might plumb for, and they will require subtly different kinds of wax and routines to achieve.

Of course, this depends in part on what you’re working with, and you have to be realistic: if you have whisper-thin facial hair, no amount of wax is going to get you the wild mountaineer look.

But within reason, the world is your oyster, so think seriously about what style will suit your face and general style.

2. The hold

Now you’ve got a style in your sights, the hold is really the key thing to consider with beard paste. Beard and mustache waxes come in a variety of ‘strengths’, from light to extremely strong, and this determines how long it will hold and how tough the hair will become.

The strongest mustache wax is probably preferable if you’re looking to keep a full-on handlebar mustache in place, and you’ll want something like The Bearded Goon’s Ridiculously Strong Beard and Handlebar Mustache Wax .

On the other hand, if you have a shorter beard or mustache, you’ll want a soft/light hold, like Fisticuffs’ Cigar Blend Mustache Wax .

And medium-strength waxes are ideal for intricately styling longer beards and mustaches – something like Seven Potions’ Beard Wax will go down a treat.

3. Ingredients

As with any grooming product, you should be careful about the ingredients your wax contains. Natural, organic ingredients are really always preferable, so something like Jack Black’s Wax Pomade – which features tea tree oil, moringa, and a bunch more – works great.

While you don’t want to 100% rule out synthetic ingredients like petroleum jelly, if you can find a more natural alternative, you’ll be glad of it.

It may sound silly, but just looking at the number of ingredients can be useful, as a greater number of ingredients tends to be indicative of higher quality.

While all the best waxes tend to include a mix of beeswax, natural oils, and butter, some have a far greater variety in their blend, and that tends to make them more effective, and often better for your beard.

4. Scent

Scent is clearly not the biggest consideration, but you should definitely be conscious that beard and mustache waxes can give off a stench.

Some are lovely, like Seven Potions’ Beard Wax, which has a sandalwood and cedarwood smell that’s richly masculine. But some men simply don’t want their beard to have a scent – and that’s fair enough.

Those men will probably prefer to find a scentless product like Jack Black’s Wax Pomade . Or at least one that’s lightly scented, like The Bearded Goon’s Ridiculously Strong Beard and mustache Wax , which has an extremely mild, earthy scent.

5. Color

There aren’t many products out there that come in as broad a range of colors as beard and mustache waxes. From your basic brown and black to the more unique green and purple, you can find them all. This can make it difficult to pick the right one for you.

Waxes vary greatly in their color, and not every color is likely to work with your particular hair color or complexion. You should be mindful of this when you’re choosing a product.

While some products – like Firehouse’s Moustache Wax Wacky Tacky – work with pretty much any hue of facial hair, many are too dark for light-haired men.

6. Value

Finally, we want you to get the best deal possible, so you should have value in mind at all times. That means understanding the full range of prices you’re faced with and making a clear decision about how much you’re willing to invest – and what you expect to for your money.

Of course, brand names like Jack Black’s are going to cost a little more, but you’ll also have a greater guarantee of quality. Some products – like CanYouHandlebar’s Secondary Strong Hold Moustache Wax for Men – even come with a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

The 8 best beard and mustache waxes for men

1. Best for longer beards, strong hold: The Bearded Goon’s Ridiculously Strong Beard and Handlebar Mustache Wax

What stands out about this beard and mustache wax

• 100% natural ingredients
• Incredibly strong hold
• Has a very mild, light earthy scent

The best beard and mustache wax for

Men with long beards in need of a ridiculously strong hold

Overview

There are no prizes for guessing the big USP of The Bearded Goon’s Ridiculously Strong Beard and Handlebar Mustache Wax: it is insanely strong, and if you’ve got a particularly unwieldy beard that just won’t behave, this will be for you.

For men who want that big, woodsman look, it’s perfect. And it’s not just about strength: it also boasts a formula made of 100% natural ingredients – not nasty artificial stuff, no animal cruelty.

There’s plenty of shea butter and essential oils, as well as pine tree resin and lanolin, and it creates a blend that is a fairly clear color that should work with most beard hues.

The scent is very, very gentle: a sort of earthy smell that disappears very quickly, so this will be an ideal choice for men who don’t want a strong, active scent in their wax.

The Bearded Goon has a reputation to uphold, and this stuff more than lives up to it. While you don’t get a ton of wax in each product, you won’t find a stronger, more intense wax anywhere. And it’s great for your mustache, too.

2. Best for medium-sized beards: Seven Potions Beard Wax

What stands out about this beard and mustache wax

• Medium hold
• All-natural ingredients
• Conditions & protect the beard

The best beard and mustache wax for

Men with medium-sized beards

Overview

If you’re the kind of guy who can grow a nice, long beard but never really feels you’re able to get a real ‘style’ going, then Seven Potions’ Beard Wax is purpose-built for you.

With its natural formula – filled with coconut oil and organic jojoba wax – it provides a lovely medium hold that is great for a really intricate, adventurous beard and mustache style. And the hold isn’t rigid or excessively tough – it looks natural, like your beard just sort of happened like that.

It’s actually very healthy for your beard too: it gets rid of beardruff, split ends, itching, and the rest, actually helping to condition your facial fuzz so that it feels great, is easier to play with, and is generally more attractive.

The scent is also a real treat: with a mixture of sandalwood and cedarwood that they call ‘Woodland Harmony’, and it’s not just beautifully masculine but actually lasts a while. So while this will put some men off, it’s a big plus for any man who isn’t averse to a scent in their wax.

Ultimately, this is a truly premium product that is worth the extra financial investment – especially if you’re a true beardsman.

3. Best versatile: Jack Black Wax Pomade

What stands out about this beard and mustache wax

• Organic ingredients and fragrance-free
• Great hold
• Versatile: Can be used for both beard and hair

The best beard and mustache wax for

Men looking for a versatile product

Overview

Jack Black’s is a brand we’ve talked about many times on this site, and for good reason: their products are consistently excellent, with a unique take on every category.

Their Wax Pomade is a beautiful beard and mustache pomade that provides a flexible hold, and gives you plenty of control over the style – whatever style you’re looking to achieve.

Its PureScience formula is made from natural ingredients like Sage leaf, grapefruit peel oil and sea kelp. And this makes it not only great for styling – it makes it good for your beard, giving it a healthy boost and a lovely, natural shine.

It is anti-frizz, and while some find it a little too oily, most find the texture is perfectly agreeable. Plus it’s fragrance-free, which is ideal for many men.

The color is generally great for all hair, and can even be used on your head if you so choose!

4. Best for mustache: Mustache Wax by Mountaineer Brand

What stands out about this beard and mustache wax

• Plant-based ingredients
• No petroleum
• Designed for mustache

The best beard and mustache wax for

Men who are all about the stache

Overview

Mountaineer’s founder, Eric Young, has a rocking beard and a fire mustache, so you know that this brand’s products are made with care and passion – and this is evident with their Mountaineer Mustache Wax.

We’ll admit, this is a niche item: if you don’t care about the stache, you can skip reading this and go ahead. But if you’re looking for a product that will allow you to acquire the mustache you’ve always wanted, this is the guy for you.

Made with all-natural ingredients such as beeswax, grape seed oil, and shea butter, you know it will take care of your hair in the best possible way. Rest assured this wax will not irritate your skin and is not sticky.

Beeswax provides the strong hold that helps you achieve even the most unusual mustache shapes, while grape and shea butter keep the hair above your upper lip hydrated and conditioned.

So, what else?

While there is no artificial aroma, you can still smell the beeswax and its natural ingredients. It is not a powerful smell, so it won’t overlap with your cologne which is a plus, in our opinion.

Another benefit is that it is very affordable. That means you won’t need a loan to take good care of your mustache.

The only drawback of this product is that you might find the texture a bit hard. Make sure to use an air dryer to soften it down before application.

5. Honest Amish Original Beard Wax

What stands out about this beard and mustache wax

• Handmade product
• Very masculine scent
• It has a real legacy

The best beard and mustache wax for

• Men with wild, untamable beards

Overview

It’s no surprise that the folks at Honest Amish know a thing or two about beards.

Amish men, after all, have been rocking beards since – well, long before the surge in popularity of beards over the past several years. When it comes to beard wax products, they know what they’re doing.

And their Honest Amish Original Beard Wax is considered the oldest beard wax recipe on record. If you’re looking for quality, it never hurts to go directly to the source.

While it first hit the market in the 1970s, Honest Amish Original Beard Wax remains popular to this day, and it’s still doing the job for which it was originally intended: to tame the wildness of a man’s beard.

It doesn’t get any simpler than that when it comes to explaining what beard wax is for.

One reviewer described the Original Beard Wax as being the facial hair equivalent of hair spray, although one should never confuse an Honest Amish product with anything that doesn’t include all-natural ingredients.

The point, however, is that this wax provides superior hold as well as an excellent balance of style.

The hold is derived from all-natural beeswax, while styling superiority comes from all-natural butter.

In other words, your sometimes-unruly beard will stay in place and look good. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

Honest Amish Original Beard Wax is also good for conditioning facial hair follicles as it’s holding them in place.

Like all Honest Amish products, the Original Beard Wax has a natural masculine scent that’s refined, not overpowering.

The bottom line is that it’s hard to go wrong with any of Honest Amish’s beard products. They’ve certainly been in the business long enough to know what they’re doing.

6. Fisticuffs Cigar Blend Mustache Wax

What stands out about this beard and mustache wax

• Unique cigar-infused fragrance
• Very soft texture
• Hold is medium/light

The best beard and mustache wax for

Men who want to smell masculine

Overview

The Southern California company Fisticuffs LLC takes men’s facial hair very seriously, as evidenced by its motto, “Grave Before Shave.”

Their Cigar Blend Mustache Wax also shows their commitment to men’s grooming. The stuff is good.

While it’s not an (all) natural mustache wax like many of the other high-quality products available – it contains a bit of petroleum jelly to help with the ‘hold’ – it delivers quality in all the important categories, not the least of which is its scent.

What’s so good about its smell? Just look at its name.

Cigar Blend Mustache Wax combines vanilla and cigar (yes, cigar) in a unique fragrance that’s hard to beat.

OK, not everyone loves the smell of a good cigar; although it’s hard to resist, that shouldn’t be your sole reasoning for choosing another wax. But the cigar scent in the Fisticuffs’ wax is far from overpowering.

If you’re not a fan of ‘heavy’ waxes, this wax is a good choice for you. It’s has a softer texture than most other mustache/beard waxes and can be applied to your facial hair after only a few seconds of softening it between your fingers.

It’s also for you if you like a hold that’s not too stiff. You can still get the kind of hold you prefer, only with a softer feel. But if you’re looking for the strongest hold available, Cigar Blend Mustache Wax may not suit your needs.

All in all, however, this is a quality wax that stacks up against any of the other top products on the market.

7. Firehouse Moustache Wax Wacky Tacky

What stands out about this beard and mustache wax

• Long-lasting hold
• Handmade quality
• Works well with any hair color

The best beard and mustache wax for

Men who struggle to find a wax to match their hair color

Overview

Firemen and mustaches have long been synonymous.

Nobody is quite sure why, but history shows that the brave men of the firehouse don mustaches more readily than other male sub-groups.

It’s also part of the history behind Firehouse Moustache Wax.

As the story goes, Mississippi fireman John Pitts – a devoted mustache wearer – was on a quest to find a wax of the highest quality and was mixing up his own batches.

Each batch was tried by the other gents at his firehouse until he’d found the best mix – which is how Firehouse Moustache Wax came to fruition.

Pitts’ recipe is a closely-guarded secret, mind you. You won’t find the Firehouse Moustache Wax ingredients listed anywhere, although we can assume that, like most waxes intended for mustaches and beards, it includes beeswax.

Its unique history aside, Firehouse Moustache Wax Wacky Tacky (one of its variations) is a damn good wax.

Waxes are all about the hold, and Wacky Tacky earns high marks in this category. No matter how tough your mustache is to tame, Firehouse Wacky Tacky will help keep those hard-to-manage hairs in place.

You don’t need a ton of Wacky Tacky to keep your mustache in place, either.

A small amount between the fingers is enough to give you the kind of hold you need. And it keeps its grip no matter the weather conditions, including humidity and heat than can wilt mustaches and beards.

Wacky Tacky looks darker than most mustache waxes, but it lightens up when it’s applied and works well for almost any hair color. As tinted beard wax goes, few products are better.

What else is to like about Firehouse Mustache Wacky Tacky?

It’s non-greasy, for one, and leaves your mustache looking naturally shiny and healthy. It’s also longer lasting than a lot of waxes, and most users find that one application will hold up for the entire day.

8. The Hairy Bastard All-Natural Hair and Beard Wax for Men

What stands out about this beard and mustache wax

• Tobacco scent
• Medium hold
• Non-greasy blend

The best beard and mustache wax for

Men with long beards that need styling

Overview

The Hairy Bastard (the company that is) has hit upon something with its All-Natural Hair and Beard Wax. Specifically, its tobacco scent is one of a kind, and leaves beards smelling amazing, with notes of sun-baked tobacco, oak barrels, and earthy soil.

The HB All-Natural Wax has many other benefits besides its wondrous fragrance, however.

For one, it provides a nice, medium hold that keeps your whiskers in place without making them too stiff. Plus, it won’t dry out and leave behind a bristly look and feel.

For another, it’s not greasy but instead serves up a light sheen that helps make your beard look great. Whatever type of sculpting and shaping your desire, The Hairy Bastard Wax has your back.

All of The Hairy Bastard’s beard waxes are hand-crafted, which is another reason we like their All-Natural Wax. Plus, they come in 2-ounce and 4-ounce cans, depending on your preference.

How we chose the best beard & mustache waxes

Our goal with any of our reviews is to provide you with a guideline for making your buying choices.

While we can’t try every beard and mustache available, we do research a lot of them. By combining our research – including the reviews of others – and personal experience, we’ve come up with a list that will point you in the right direction.

What’s the difference between beard wax and mustache wax?

Beard wax, mustache wax – what IS the difference?

Honestly, there’s not much of a difference at all.

True, they have different ingredients – although not dramatically so – but if forced to answer, you might say something like, “Mustache wax has a stronger hold while beard wax also acts as a conditioner.”

You can also add the beard wax is softer than mustache wax.

But, other than that, mustache wax and beard wax are almost one and the same.

Beard balm, meanwhile, has been described as the “lovechild” of beard oil and mustache wax. We’ll let you create your personal vision for that.

Another thing about mustache wax: Its main ingredient, in almost every case, is beeswax. It gives you a secure hold without bombarding you with chemicals that you’ll find in many other grooming products.

Mustache wax, as noted in our product reviews above, may also contain pine resin (sap) that further strengthens the hold.

Again, mustache wax isn’t a conditioner for mustaches or beards. Beard balm and beard oil will provide conditioning and can be used on your mustache, as well. Balms and oils will also resolve any issues you may have with beardruff, i.e., dandruff in your beard.

Finally, both beard and mustache wax are good for protecting your facial hair from the elements because the wax forms a protective layer that acts as a barrier from harsh conditions.

How to correctly apply beard wax in 8 easy, illustrated steps

Now that you have the right stuff to keep your beard from getting too out of control, let’s take a look at how to apply it:

1. Clean your beard with one of the high-quality beard shampoos or a beard wash of your choosing. We recommend shampooing it during your normal morning routine.

Clean your beard. Even if it doesn’t look dirty, you want to make sure any dead skin cells and oils are removed for an optimal wax application.

2. Make sure your beard is completely dry. Adding wax to a damp or wet beard reduces its effectiveness.

The main thing to keep in mind when using wax? Make sure your beard is completely dry. Adding wax to a damp or wet beard reduces its effectiveness—you won’t be able to achieve the hold you want. And nobody wants that!

3. Use a beard brush to remove any stray hairs. All good beard grooming kits should include a beard brush.

The beard brush is a vital tool when growing a beard. It’s great for detangling and softening the hair, and it can help to distribute the natural oils that are produced by the skin throughout the beard, which means fewer flyaways and a softer, shinier appearance.

Whether you’re using a classic beard brush made out of boar’s hair or you prefer a newer silicone version, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Here are some tips for using your beard brush:

-Use it every day to ensure that your beard stays soft and smooth.

-Brush in an upward motion to help add volume and length to your beard.

-Be gentle! You don’t need to apply much pressure.

4. Put a small amount of beard wax in your palm. It may take you a few times before you have a good idea exactly how much wax you’ll need for your beard. A good rule of thumb is that you should start with a small amount and only add more if needed.

5. Apply the wax to one side of your beard while rubbing it in until its consistency is smooth. Repeat the same process on the other side of your beard while being mindful that you’re using the same amount on each side.

6. If you’ve ever tried to tame a wild beard, then you know it requires some careful maintenance to keep from looking like a cave man. To do this, you’ll need to invest in a quality beard comb and, for those of us who have coarse hair that’s prone to frizz, a good wax.

Use a quality beard comb to shape the hairs of your beard in the same direction. Which direction depends on the style of your beard.

7. Also, use a small amount of wax to in the front of your beard. And like with the sides, use a comb to shape it in the direction that you want.

8. Use a hand towel to wipe up any excess wax, if necessary.

How to apply mustache wax in 5 simple steps

As you might expect, applying mustache wax is a different process than applying beard wax although the principle is the same: you don’t want to use too much (or too little):

1. The beeswax found in most mustache waxes will have a very hard consistency when you first open the tin of your chose wax. That said, you should warm the tin to soften the wax before using it.

Note: You can warm the tin in a variety of ways – with a hairdryer, leaving it on a warm vent, etc.

2. After you’ve warmed the wax, scoop out a small quantity. Rub the wax between your thumb and index finger to soften it further.

3. Apply it by starting at the center of your mustache and working outwards. The wax should be applied evenly throughout your mustache. It’s up to you whether you want to use both hands or one hand to apply the wax.

4. The smoother the consistency of the wax, the better, so be sure to rub out any excess clumps of wax for the best results.

5. If need be, apply a small amount of wax during the day if your mustache hairs begin to go astray.

How is beard/mustache wax different than beard oil and beard balm?

By now, we hope you’re convinced that your men’s grooming kit should include beard and mustache wax, beard oil, and beard balm. It should, of course, also include other ‘beard products’ such as beard brushes and combs, shampoos, and conditioners.

With all this stuff at your disposal, however, it’s helpful to understand the differences, especially when it comes to beard and mustache wax, beard oil, and beard balm.

Let’s take a closer look:

Beard balm is the lovechild of beard oil and mustache wax

OK, maybe not “lovechild,” but beard balm is a hybrid between beard oil and mustache wax. Like beard oil, beard balm contains carrier and essential oils. Like beard and mustache wax, the balm also includes some wax (along with shea or cocoa butter).

While excellent for shaping your beard, beard balm doesn’t have the staying power of beard and mustache wax when it comes to hold. Beard and mustache wax provides a stronger hold that will last you throughout the day.

It’s in the ingredients

Beard and mustache wax contains carrier oil, but their primary ingredient is beeswax.

Beeswax is the magical material that keeps a beehive together, which certainly demonstrates its strength. It only stands to reason that it can hold your stray facial hairs in place.

Why use beard wax? Again, it all gets back to the ‘hold.’

And if you want to wear a handlebar mustache or any other mustache style that requires shaping your mustache into place (and holding it in place), then you must have mustache wax.

Beard and mustache wax isn’t for conditioning your beard

But beard oil is, and that’s the biggest difference.

Beard oil conditions and moisturizes your facial hair follicles and the skin beneath it. It also gives your beard a nice sheen while making it fuller and more manageable. Beard oil doesn’t contain wax of any kind.

Conclusion

And that’s a wrap, loyal readers. If you have any questions or want to share your experiences with beard and mustache waxes, we’d love to hear from you. Your comments are always welcome.

The post 8 Best Beard & Mustache Waxes that give a Powerful Hold appeared first on Balding & Beards.

And that’s a real shame because the best conditioners can be the difference between fine and great hair.

Not only does it make your hair look better, it actually makes it healthier, too. If you suffer from dry hair, fragile hair, or similar problems, conditioner can be the difference you need to make in your morning schedule.

It can be difficult navigating the crazy number of choices you have these days. Just searching for conditioners on eCommerce websites will give you hundreds of brands, along with multiple options from each.

So, we’ve put together this review as a way of narrowing down your options and making sure you only buy the very best conditioners there are. These hair products will provide the extra moisture and health you need for all sorts of hair textures, making sure you never have a bad hair day again.

In a hurry? Here are our top picks:

And that’s not all:

We’re also going to give you an illustrated guide to using conditioner and explore the important distinctions between conditioner and shampoo.

Before we begin, let’s look at the 4 key factors you need to consider when buying a conditioner.

Quick summary

	Best for Sensitive Scalp Jack Black - Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner	Natural ingredients Hydrates the hair Strengthens the hair	Check on Amazon
	Best for Damaged Hair Nia Restructuring Conditioner	Provides long-lasting hydration Reduces damage to hair Helps make hair more manageable	Check Best Price
	Best for Dry Hair V76 by Vaughn Hydrating Conditioner	Reduces itchiness and flakiness Provides superior hydration Cleans and softens your hair	Check on Amazon
	Billy Jealousy Cashmere Coat Hair Strengthening Conditioner	Fantastic peppermint scent Great for scalp acne and psoriasis Detangles the hair and makes them soft	Check on Amazon
	K & S Men’s Hair Conditioner	Heals damaged hair Soothes a dry scalp while reducing dandruff Money-back guarantee	Check on Amazon
	PURA D'OR Biotin Original Gold Label Anti-Thinning Shampoo & Conditioner Set	Helps the fight against hair loss, proven by science Packed full of natural ingredients Smells the finest	Check on Amazon
	Verb Hydrating Conditioner	Formulated with natural ingredients Vegan and cruelty free Repairs and hydrates the hair	Check on Amazon
	It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner	Versatile, multi-faceted product Excellent for curly hair Protects your hair from damage	Check on Amazon

Before you buy: 4 Things to consider when purchasing a conditioner

Like shampoo, conditioner is not a one-size-fits-all type of product. For example, oily hair and coarse hair will need different types of conditioners. You’ll also see the best results with different conditioners if you have straight hair or curly hair.

Yes, all conditioners are designed to add moisture to the hair and scalp, as well as soften the hair and increase its luster, but they come in different types, and some are better for certain kinds of hair than others.

1. Let’s start by looking at the three main types of conditioners:

• Rinse-Out Conditioner

This type is the most common of all conditioners. You know the type: you apply it in the shower after washing your hair and then rinse it off when you’re finished. This type of conditioner is the middle ground between a deep conditioner and a leave-in conditioner.

• Deep Conditioner

Deep conditioners provide more intensive treatment for your hair and work to get to the root of your hair follicle. In most cases, deep conditioning involves leaving the conditioner on your hair for 10 to 30 minutes and requiring you to wear a shower cap or a hair mask after you’ve applied it.

As a general rule, deep conditioners should be applied two to three times a week for maximum effectiveness.

• Leave-In Conditioner

You apply this type of conditioner after your shower and, as its name implies, is meant to remain in your hair throughout the day.

Leave-in conditioner both conditions and detangles your hair and often contains a heavy oil mixture. It works much like a facial moisturizer by nourishing your hair. Some leave-in conditioners include sunscreen to act as a protective barrier from sun and heat damage. Leave-in conditioner is also usually the best type of conditioner for dyed hair.

2. Key ingredients

Hair conditioner is no different than many other men’s grooming products in that you’ll find products with all-natural ingredients and some with a mix of natural and man-made. Here are some ingredients to look for:

• Cetearyl Alcohol

Cetearyl alcohol is a “fatty” alcohol that won’t dry your skin like other types of alcohol. Instead, it acts as a natural emollient to soften your skin and hair.

• Carrier Oils

You’ll find carrier oils in many men’s grooming products, including beard oil, shaving cream, and more. Carrier oils are effective because they mimic the (sebum) oil that’s excreted by the glands along the root of your hair follicle and moisturize your skin and hair.

Jojoba and argan are the mildest of oils and have a mild scent that’s often masked by other fragrances found in a particular brand of conditioner.

• Vitamins

You’ll find vitamin B5 in virtually every conditioner on the shelf because it helps repair damage to your hair follicles.

3. Your hair type

Knowing your hair type is an important part of that care.

Here are some general rules for determining your hair type:

How to Tell Your Hair Type

1) You have straight hair if your hair hangs straight down from the root and tends to look flat when it’s wet.

2) You have curly or wavy hair if your hair bends or curves in different directions from the root and has a lot of volume.

The natural texture of the hair you have is one of the most important considerations when buying a conditioner.

• Oily, Flat Hair

Men with hair that stays oily or greasy often don’t use conditioner, but others do because they overly shampoo their hair to rid it of its greasiness. That said, stay away from conditioners that claim to provide extra hydration and moisture. If you have an oily scalp, these types of conditioners might cause more damage. 

Instead, look for brands that strengthen, volumize, or balance your hair. Leave the moisturizing conditioner for people with dry hair.

• Dry Hair

Excessively dry hair often becomes damaged and brittle, making your choice of conditioner of even greater importance. Dry hair can cause future damage in the long run, and moisture retention should be your number one priority when you’re looking for a conditioner for your needs.

Shop for conditioners that moisturize, hydrate, smooth, or balance hair, while avoiding volumizing, strengthening, and fortifying conditioners that won’t provide enough moisture to your hair.

• Normal Hair

Suppose you have normal hair, congratulations. In your case, the options for buying a conditioner are many, indeed, and you’re able to focus on a conditioner that simply feels good or works the best for you.

• Fine Hair

If you have fine hair, choose a volumizing conditioner that gives your hair more body and a fuller-looking style.

• Thin Hair

If your hair is thinning, look for a conditioner that increases the size of hair strands to give the illusion of thicker hair. There are also hair loss conditioners that stimulate the scalp to support hair growth.

• Sensitive Hair/Scalp

If your scalp is sensitive and easily irritated, look for a gentler conditioner that’s sulfate-free. You’ll have a harder time dealing with a traditional conditioner because of your hair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXO2yIJRLuI

4. Do I need It?

Lastly, the question of whether men should use conditioner may be in the back of your mind. The better question, perhaps, is why you need it:

• Your hair follicles become damaged due to brushing, blow-drying, adverse weather, excess sun, etc. Shampoo does a great job in cleaning your strands of hair but doesn’t lock in moisture and may leave your hair looking – and feeling – dry and brittle.
• Conditioner treats your hair with nutrients but also makes it more manageable for styling purposes.

OK, now let’s take a look at the best conditioners for men.

Well, let us help you make up your mind! Here are seven reasons why conditioner works great for men:

1. It makes your hair softer and shinier

2. It helps protect your hair from sun damage

3. It can repair damaged hair

4. It can make styling easier

5. It can reduce tangles and knots in long hair

6. It can keep your scalp healthy by maintaining its natural oils and bacteria levels

7. And it can make your hair smell great!

The 8 best conditioners for men

1. Jack Black – Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner 

Well, I’m sure most of you know Jack Black by now. It is a brand that simplifies skincare for men creating luxurious non-complicated products for their needs.

Jack Black Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner is a great example of its true quality reputation. It is formulated with premium organic ingredients without any artificial fragrances, parabens, or sulfates.

This makes it very ideal for men with a sensitive scalp that is irritated easily.

Looking deeper into the main ingredients it contains:

• Tea tree leaf oil which is antibacterial and antifungal
• Basil which has been proven to improve and speed up hair growth
• Skil Protein which moisturizes and softens the hair
• Green tea extract which stimulates hair follicles to prevent hair loss

Overall, a great selection of ingredients that will soften and certainly improve the health of your hair. While it is free from artificial fragrances, it does have a mild scent from its natural ingredients that you will surely appreciate.

However, quality comes at a price.

The price is a little bit expensive compared to the amount you are getting (295 ml), which might be an issue for some.

Who’s it for: Men with sensitive skin

Bottom line

An exceptional premium conditioner that will amaze you with its effectiveness.

2. Nia Restructuring Conditioner

If there’s one thing you can count on with DS Laboratories’ products, it’s the backing of high-tech innovation, clinical research, as well as the endorsements of leading dermatologists around the world.

They’re all reasons why you should give serious consideration to DS Labs’ Nia Restructuring Conditioner, which combines science and research to create a product that many customers love.

It also has hair-healthy ingredients such as Honey Bee Moisture Complex, which nourishes the scalp and hair; panthenol, which improves that flexibility and elasticity of hair follicles while also creating a nice shine.

There is also tocopheryl acetate, a source of vitamin E that helps stimulate hair growth.

In short, it does everything you’d expect a quality conditioner to do: it repairs split ends, hydrates the hair with long-lasting moisture, reduces damage while giving it a lightweight, soft feel that lasts throughout the day.

The Nia Conditioner is suitable for all hair types and safe enough to use if your hair has had a lot of sun exposure, or damaged by styling or color treatments.

It also features DS Labs’ unique Nanosome delivery system, which allows the conditioner’s active ingredients to penetrate the scalp to the desired depth. The nanosomes, which encapsulate the ingredients, release their contents in a gradual, systematic manner.

Who’s it for: Men with all hair types

Bottom line

The Nia Conditioner by DS Labs is an innovative product that will help your hair’s overall health while making it softer, silkier, and more manageable.

3. V76 by Vaughn Hydrating Conditioner

V76 by Vaughn Hydrating Conditioner is another notable addition to our list of the best conditioners for men. Why? Because it is a product that aims to provide the absolute best hydration to its user.

Free of parabens and other harmful chemicals, its main ingredients consist of sage leaf, chamomile, and vitamin E.

Sage leaf hydrates by bringing back lost moisture while detangling and softening the hair.

Chamomile promotes hair growth and assists in the reduction of unwanted dandruff.

Vitamin E strengthens and brings shine to the hair because of its rich antioxidant properties.

All the ingredients combined reduce scalp itchiness and create a strong hydration effect that moisturizes even the driest hair types.

However, one thing to keep in mind is that some reviewers didn’t like the smell because it was very overpowering. So if you don’t want a conditioner with a strong smell then this one might not be for you.

Who’s it for: Men with dry hair

Bottom line

A great conditioner for hair that thirsts for hydration.

4. Billy Jealousy Cashmere Coat Hair Strengthening Conditioner 

Billy Jealousy clearly knows a thing or two when it comes to hair care products, and this is evidenced by the multiple products they have available, such as hair shampoos, hair conditioners, hair pomades, gels, and the list goes on.

It is a brand well-known for its quality, especially in the USA, so it is no surprise we have included their Billy Jealousy Cashmere Coat Hair Strengthening Conditioner on our list.

The conditioner is made with peppermint, lemon peel extract, and panthenol, which have lots of benefits for our dry and rough hair.

Peppermint prevents hair loss and potentially helps to improve hair growth. It gives a soothing sensation and treats unwanted scalp conditions, such as acne and psoriasis.

Lemon peel extract helps bring back the natural shine and makes the hair easier to detangle.

Last but not least, panthenol gives great nourishment leaving the hair soft and conditioned.

As far as the application goes, rest assured this conditioner is lightweight and great for everyday use. It helps detangle, get rid of dandruff, and generally make your hair more manageable and easier to style.

But there’s more.

Billy Jealousy is famous for the unique and pleasant scents of its haircare products. This means you’ll definitely receive a lot of compliments about how your hair smells.

The scent has peppermint notes, lasts long, and certainly brings out masculinity.

Looking at its staggering bottle and its performance, it goes without saying that this is, unfortunately, a conditioner that is not for everyone’s pockets. But if you decide to purchase it, your hair will surely thank you for it.

Who’s it for: Men of all hair types

Bottom line

A cool conditioner that’s terrific for unruly hair and has a lot of health benefits for the hair.

5. K & S Men’s Hair Conditioner

You’ll see the phrase “warrior grade” associated with Krieger and Sohne products because the word “Krieger” means warrior. That’s part of the reason why they believe their products will unleash the warrior within you.

Now, whether a conditioner is truly capable of that is open for debate, but you have to like the K & S spirit. We also know that they have excellent products for your hair, including their stylist-level conditioner. This stuff answers the bell in true warrior fashion.

Let’s break it down:

• The peppermint oil difference

The K & S Men’s Hair Conditioner is infused with peppermint oil, which helps soothe your dry scalp while reducing dandruff and further skin irritation. Peppermint oil also relieves stress while giving your overall mood a boost. Nothing wrong with that.

• Healing qualities

If you’ve experienced dry, broken hair in the past, you know the frustrations that come with it, but the K & S Men’s Conditioner is designed to alleviate all that negativity and frustration.

Its list of ingredients includes tea tree oil, a substance used in healing ointments, and aromatherapy. Simply put, it’s good for your hair’s overall health and helps make the K & S Conditioner the best conditioner for damaged hair.

• And there’s more

Another ingredient you’ll find in Krieger & Sohne’s conditioner is burdock extract. This product claims to purge toxins from your hair while stimulating new cellular growth.

• Nice scent

The K & S conditioner has a minty smell that is subtle and perfect for a man. You’ll notice it – and others may, too – but it won’t overpower anyone.

• Leaves a nice shine

Another thing we like about this conditioner is that it leaves your hair shiny and smooth but without the greasy feel, and look, of lower-quality conditioners.

• The guarantee

K & S offers a hassle-free money-back guarantee on all of its products, which we know you’ll like. If you’re not happy with the product for any reason, simply send it back for a refund.

Who’s it for: Especially good for men with dry, damaged hair

Bottom line

Krieger & Sohne has an excellent conditioner to pair with its top-quality shampoo. Their conditioner restores and replenishes your hair while making it easy to manage. You’ll like its scent, as well.

6. PURA D’OR Biotin Original Gold Label Anti-Thinning Shampoo & Conditioner Set

PURA D’OR’s Anti-Thinning shampoo and conditioner set is a genuine marvel: rarely will you ever see so many natural ingredients in a single product, let alone so many that are specifically great for reducing hair loss and damage!

And they’ve got proof: in randomized trials, after 8 weeks of daily use, people who washed with PURA D’OR showed significantly less hair loss in their brush as well as generally increased volume and reduced breakages.

So how is it they’re achieving this?

Well, there are 24 different ingredients and 17 DHT blockers in there. And we’re not going to go into the intricacies of every different one. But the most important are:

• Biotin (often known as Vitamin B because it’s so vital to hair growth!), which supports healthier and thicker hair
• He Shou Wu, which promotes better circulation of blood, helping hair grow faster
• Nettle Extract, which is a DHT blocker and helps promote healthier hair growth
• Argan Oil, which is brilliant for keeping your hair naturally moisturized without greasing it up
• Vitamin E, which helps keep your scalp moisturized, promoting hair growth
• Niacin, which is important for circulating nutrients that the follicles need to grow effectively

And that really is just a sample of them.

The net result is a head of hair that is fuller and thicker, with less hair loss and a healthier, cleaner appearance. And it keeps your scalp healthy, too!

It’s also worth mentioning that this is not only a shampoo for the already follicly challenged – it’s also a great way for all men to protect themselves against the tragedy that is thinning hair!

Who’s it for: Men with dry hair

Bottom line

Whether you already have thinning hair or not, this is a great bulwark against the balding and will keep your hair and scalp super fresh and healthy.

7. Verb Hydrating Conditioner 

Verb Hydrating Conditioner is another great conditioner for people who struggle with damaged and dry hair. Its key ingredients are argan oil, hydrolyzed quinoa protein, and vitamin B5.

Argan oil is rich in antioxidant properties, improving the hair’s health and promoting growth.

Quinoa protein prevents breakage of the hair while providing an excellent nourishing and conditioning effect.

Vitamin B5 also strengthens the hair, reducing hair loss and boosting volume.

Its formulation doesn’t contain any parabens or sulfates and is cruelty-free. What more can you ask?

However, it does contain a strong fragrance, which might cause side effects to people who are easily irritated or have sensitive skin types.

Who’s it for: Men with damaged hair

Bottom line

Verb’s is another company that isn’t on everyone’s radar but delivers quality products that outdo those of many big-name manufacturers. You’ll like how this conditioner makes your hair look and feel.

8. It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Conditioner

Perhaps the real miracle is all the things It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Conditioner can do: from repairing dry and damaged hair to making your coffee in the morning.

OK, so it can’t really deliver your caffeine fix, but there’s no doubt that this is an extremely versatile product that, besides being the best leave-in conditioner, is also the best men’s conditioner for curly hair.

But it’s also a conditioner that works well no matter your hair type. Do not stop reading if you have straight hair.

While its name makes you think of something that’s a perfect 10 (does anyone remember Bo Derek?), it actually references the 10 things that it can do. While not every item applies to men – it is, after all, a unisex product – it’s worth listing them:

1. It repairs dry and damaged hair
2. It adds shine to your hair
3. It gets rid of tangles
4. It controls frizziness
5. It helps protect and seal hair color
6. It prevents split ends
7. It stops hair from breaking
8. It creates a silky feel
9. It enhances your hair’s natural body
10. It also acts as an iron spray and thermal protector

If your hair is curly, It’s a 10 Leave-In Conditioner is particularly effective after rinsing your shampoo and regular conditioner away. Simply add this leave-in conditioner at the end, and you’ll better manage and style those luscious waves, coils, and kinks.

Furthermore, you can use any other hair styling product in conjunction with the It’s a 10 Leave-In Conditioner. In either case, you’ll manage your hair more effectively while also giving it excellent body.

So, what makes this conditioner so good – beyond its many functions, that is?

As with most quality grooming products, it all starts with ingredients, and It’s a 10 Leave-In Conditioner has several that enable it to do what it does.

Green tea leaf extract is one of those ingredients and benefits your hair by shielding it from environmental damage, while vitamin B5 (panthenol) both strengthens and softens your hair.

What else? Well, silk amino acids help repair damaged hair, while Camellia Sinensis leaf extract also aids in softening your hair while curbing breakage.

So, who is It’s a 10, anyway?

Based in the U.S. (Florida), It’s a 10 is a sought-after brand by many salons and professional stylists. It was several years in the making – with long research devoted to finding the best formulas for its products – before hitting the market with rave reviews.

They’re also a socially-conscious company that’s heavily involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Right Action for Women, a group devoted to helping women with breast cancer.

Who’s it for: Men with wavy/curly hair

Bottom line

This is a go-to option if you’re looking for a conditioner that stays with you the entire day. It has a long list of benefits, including that it protects your hair from damage. Plus, you can share it with your wife or girlfriend.

Choosing the best conditioner for men

Our reviews of products like conditioner, shampoo, shaving soap, beard oil, essential oils for thick hair – i.e., things you apply to your beard, face, and hair – usually take into consideration a few similar things.

That includes ingredients – the more natural ingredients, the better – price (we strive to find products that fit every budget), user reviews, and even versatility and scent.

But it all comes down to performance, and if products don’t deliver in the performance category, then they aren’t included in any “best of” reviews. To that end, we think all of the products listed here make the grade, and we certainly think they’ll serve you well.

The right stuff: How to use a conditioner in 7 simple, illustrated steps

There’s no need to overly complicate what’s not an overly complicated process, but applying conditioner, like applying shampoo, does have a right way and a wrong way. Let’s look at the right way:

1. Know your hair type

Your first step is knowing your hair type and choosing your conditioner accordingly. Your first step is knowing your hair type and choosing your conditioner accordingly. As mentioned in a previous section in the article, choose your conditioner based on the thickness and texture of your hair, as well as depending on if your hair is oily or dry.

2. Applying the conditioner

Apply conditioner in the same way you would shampoo: squeeze a small amount into the palm of your hand and then spread it through your hair by using your fingers. Most hair experts suggest that you start at your neck and work your way up.

3. Apply away from the roots

Experts also urge you to apply conditioner away from your hair roots and scalp. As conditioners are meant to target your hair more than your scalp, make sure that it is evenly spread across your head and is being applied to all your hair.

4. Let it sit

After you’ve spread the conditioner evenly throughout your hair, let it sit for a couple of minutes – or more – before you rinse it out. This will ensure that your hair and scalp have the time to absorb the ingredients properly for better results.

5. Rinse

Rinse your hair with warm, not hot, water to get all of the conditioner residues out. Conditioner takes a bit longer to rinse out than shampoo. Some say rinsing it with cold water adds extra shine.

6. Dry it, carefully

Blot your hair with a towel to dry it, rather than squeezing it dry. Tugging and squeezing will damage hair follicles. Doing this over an extended period of time might contribute to male pattern baldness. 

7. Or, leave it in

There’s no rinsing if you use a leave-in conditioner. Just apply it as you would other types of conditioner but leave it in until the next time you shampoo. Several people use leave-in conditioners after using rinse off conditioners for even better results, looks, and protection. 

Conditioner, shampoo – It’s all the same, right?

No, it’s not.

And while many shampoo manufacturers offer a 2-in-1 benefit by adding conditioner to their for formulas, shampoo and conditioner are different things.

The basic difference isn’t hard to figure out: shampoo cleans your hair while conditioner adds body and helps strengthen it.

While both of these products work on your hair and scalp, shampoos tend to be more focused on the scalp, while conditioners are more focused on your hair.

But there’s more – namely science.

Conditioner 101

First, conditioners are the we-got-your-back solution for when shampoos may strip your hair of natural oils. Conditioners, normally applied after shampoo, make up for the loss of natural oils.

Whether they’re moisturizing, deep, color protectant, or acidifying conditioners, they perform the same basic function. If you’re looking for clean hair, you need shampoo. But if you’re trying to make your hair soft, conditioners are the answer.

• But how do conditioners work?

Here’s where we’re going to get a bit scientific.

First, when your hair starts to look frizzy or limp, it’s because the cuticle layer of your hair/scalp is worn down. The cuticle layer protects the inner layers of a hair strand. When the cuticle layer of flakes fits snugly together, your hair looks its best.

As the invisible, molecular bonds that hold cuticle cells together weaken over time, individual hair strands tangle and may break off.

However, the key ingredients in conditioners – known as cationic surfactants – bind with hair strands and cover them, as well as covering the cuticle flakes, to provide a nice nest of protection.

The small amount of acid found in conditioners is then able to make the cuticle flakes fall tightly together to give your hair the smooth feeling – even after you rinse the conditioner out.

OK, that’s enough science, although we should mention that conditioners include Cetearyl alcohol, a chemical agent designed to reduce evaporation on the skin.

Meanwhile, emollients keep the skin moist and also reduce evaporation on the skin (while also restoring vitamins and minerals lost during shampooing).

Conditioners have a higher pH level than shampoo because the extra pH provides a balance that helps develop amino acids, which make your hair shinier and full of body. A hydrating conditioner will improve the health of both your hair and scalp in the long run.

• A quick word about leave-in conditioners

While you rinse most conditioners out of your hair after applying them and working them deeply into your hair and scalp, leave-in conditioners – a.k.a. leave-in hair treatment – remain in your hair until the next time you shampoo.

Leave-in conditioners represent a third step during the grooming process that follows shampooing and the use of typical conditioners you rinse out of the hair. They come in many forms, from spray to liquids to creams.

There are many benefits to leave-in conditioners, including

1. They add additional moisture and keep hair hydrated throughout the day. They’re great for hair types that need more moisture than a regular conditioner provides.
2. They help detangle knotted hair while making it easier to brush.
3. They help make hair more manageable and responsive to styling. If you have tight curls, leave-in conditioners can make your hair easier to manage.
4. They provide further protection from environmental damage such as the sun, excess chlorine, or weather extremes.

Shampoo

Shampoo has been around longer than conditioner. While humans have used cleaning agents in their hair since, well, the era of the great pyramids, commercial shampoo first emerged onto the grooming scene at the turn of the 20^th century.

In fact, shampoo comes from the Hindi word “champo,” which means to massage the head with hair oil. The most common oil used in this process is coconut oil, which is known to strengthen the hair shafts and cuticles for better-textured hair.

The easiest way to describe shampoo is to think of it as a detergent for your hair and scalp. It contains detergents and surfactants – chemicals that produce lather and cleanse oil and dirt from your hair.

The primary purpose of shampoo is to remove the particles that build up in your hair, not the least of which are dandruff and environmental pollutants. It also removes dead skin cells that build up on your scalp and attach themselves to hair follicles.

While most shampoos include a nice-sized list of ingredients, water makes up 70-80% of their entire formula. The rest consists of cleaning agents, oils, anti-dandruff agents, etc., but the agents are typically mild.

• Do you need to shampoo every day?

That remains open to debate, but most people choose to make shampooing part of their daily grooming routine.

However, deciding not to shampoo for even a couple of days may have a host of negative consequences, including thinner-looking hair, a musty smell, and even in-grown hairs on your scalp.

And you know how aggravating in-grown hairs are on your face (and under your beard). They’re not any fun on your scalp, either.

Conclusion

The topic of men’s conditioner isn’t explored as much as it should, and making slight changes in your hair care routine can give you hair that looks and feels much better. In this article, we have outlined the best conditioners with high ingredient quality that you can use.

Do you have a favorite conditioner that you think should be on the list? Or questions and comments about those we’ve listed here? If so, we’d love to hear your comments and suggestions! We promise to respond promptly.

Until next time, friends.

The post 8 Best Conditioners for Men who Want Magnificent Hair appeared first on Balding & Beards.

In a hurry? Here are our top picks:

Along the way, we’ll delve into hair clay buying tips, compare clay with other styling products, and discuss the proper way to apply it.

Quick summary

	Our #1 Choice Baxter Of California Clay Pomade	Provides a distinctive, natural-looking matte finish Easy to apply but gives a long-lasting hold Excellent for controlling unruly hair	Check on Amazon
	Layrite Cement Matte Hair Clay	Perfect for those who prefer a firmer hold Long-lasting matt finish Water-based product with a nice aroma	Check on Amazon
	Smooth Viking Hair Styling Clay For Men	Gives volume and texture a boost Easy to apply and easy to remove Great for a variety of hair lengths	Check on Amazon
	Aveda Men’s Pure-Formance Grooming Clay	Excellent hold Most effecitive for shorter hair Provides an attractive, matte finish	Check on Amazon
	Jack Black Clay Pomade	Consists of natural ingredients End result is a great looking, natural finish Easy to use	Check on Amazon
	Pete & Pedro Clay	Offers an excellent texture Professional salon standards Great for men with fine hair	Check on Amazon
	Krieger + Sohne Premium Styling Clay For Men	Solid but natural and flexible hold Effective for a range of hair styles Made with natural ingredients	Check on Amazon
	V76 by Vaughn Texture Clay	Gives an excellent natural matte finish Very light on the hair Works great on fine hair	Check on Amazon
	Verb Sculpting Clay	Gives a subtle shinny finish 100% vegan and natural Hydrates and conditions the hair	Check on Amazon

Before you buy: 6 Things to consider before purchasing hair clay

As befits a product that has gained in popularity in recent years, there’s no shortage of choices when it comes to hair clay. Finding the differences between products makes your buying decision even more challenging.

So, what should you look for in a hair clay? Here are some tips:

Hairstyle/Length

Your current hairstyle, or the hairstyle you hope to achieve, is one of the most important factors when choosing hair clay. Your hairstyle helps determine the length of your hair, and hair length helps determine the type of clay you’ll need.

While you can use clay on most hair lengths, make sure that you buy clay with a stronger hold if you have long hair.

If you’re trying to achieve a loose and casual style with long hair, then clay is ideal. You won’t get the same kind of hold as you do from a pomade or gel, but you don’t need a super firm hold for popular “messier” styles.

Hair clay helps to add volume to your hair if your hair length is short(er) or medium. It’s also effective for a thicker, stronger hairstyle in which you need a hold that lasts the day.

Hold

When we talk about ‘hold’ regarding hair styling products for men, we mean how strongly it keeps your hair in place. Most hair clays have a medium hold, but the hold often varies from product to product.

Men’s clays are designed to have the strongest hold of any men’s hair product.

They’re typically made with a mixture of clay, beeswax, and water, which helps them create a hard shell around your hair that locks it into place. This makes them ideal for men with thicker hair and a lot of strands to manage. Men with thinner hair may want to stick to pomades or gels instead.

Finish

By finish, we mean “shine,” which is how glossy your hair looks after you’ve applied a styling product. The majority of hair clays have a matte (dry) finish that makes it seem that you don’t have any product in your hair at all.

When it comes to hair clays, the “finish” is everything. If you have thin hair and are looking to add thickness, a clay with a matte finish will give your mane more body while also making it look less oily. If you’re going for a more natural look (or just want your hair to last longer) then this is the product for you.

Ingredients

The best hair clays for men are the ones that give you the kind of volume and texture you want.

Choosing products with plenty of natural ingredients is a good choice for any styling product. Look for clays that have ingredients like beeswax, bentonite, lanolin, and carrier oils that help nourish and soften hair.

On the other hand, try to avoid products that contain parabens. Parabens are synthetic preservatives that can be harmful to your hair or scalp. Then again, some parabens meet safety standards published by the FDA.

Clay

Hair clay contains clay – no big surprise, right? The clay most commonly used in hair clay is bentonite, which is naturally sourced and formed from volcanic ash that’s weathered over time. Bentonite is good for hair health in that it helps draw toxins from the hair and scalp.

Clays are different from other styling products, like waxes and gels, because they don’t leave your hair with a shiny finish. In fact, they’re often called clays because of the matte finish they give.

In general, most clays are going to be great for shorter hairstyles. Since one of their main benefits is adding thickness and volume, if you have long hair, you’ll probably want to stick with waxes or gels that will hold the shape of your style.

Price

The price of hair clay products varies widely from product to product, in part because of their ingredients, but also because of other factors, like brand name, etc.

Of course, just because certain hair clay brands cost more doesn’t mean they’re more effective for styling your hair. If you’re choosing within a certain price range, do your research to find the best clay, or clays, that fits your budget.

Ok, let’s move on to our hair clay reviews:

The 9 best hair clay products for men

1. Baxter of California Clay Pomade

You’ll often see the words “premium” or “luxury” used to describe Baxter of California’s products, but that doesn’t mean they’re pretentious or not suited for every man. They also get the job done in a simple, powerful way.

Their Clay Pomade is no exception: it’s a high-quality product that ranks among the best hair clays for a lot of reasons.

For one, it produces a firm hold that should last you the entire day, but it’s one that’s not so strong that you can’t move your hair around and re-style it if needed.

B of C’s clay includes bentonite and beeswax but also has other natural ingredients, such as lemon peel, fennel, and sage oils.

Fennel seed oil has many hair health benefits, including that it stimulates hair growth, provides needed moisture, and also helps to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungus on the scalp. Fennel also includes vitamin C, which is a strong antioxidant.

While you’ll also find petroleum in Baxter of California’s Clay Pomade, it isn’t sticky and won’t leave a shiny, greasy-looking finish. Its scent, meanwhile, has subtle hints of lemon and sage.

This clay has a lot else to offer, including that it provides a natural, matte finish, while it also gives hair a lot of texture and definition. Applying it to damp hair and styling it with a hairdryer will help add volume, while it even works to remove frizz from hair.

Like with most other clays, you don’t need a huge glob of Baxter of California’s Clay Pomade to get your desired style and to hold it in place.

You’ll maintain somewhat of a wet look if you apply it to wet hair – but not a high gloss, mind you – while applying it to dry hair helps you to achieve a natural, smooth appearance.

Bottom Line

Baxter of California’s Clay Pomade deserves to be on our list for a lot of reasons, including that it provides a natural-looking hold that should last you the day, but it also works to tame frizzy and otherwise unruly hair in a way that many other clays don’t.

It’s yet another quality product from a high-quality company.

2. Layrite Cement Matte Hair Clay

Layrite – the company, that is – has its roots firmly planted in the world of men’s barbering. Founded by a barber, Layrite’s products are formulated by professional barbers who know a thing or two about men’s hair.

Their Cement Matte Hair Clay well represents their quality line of products, and we think it’s one of the best men’s hair clays.

It’s also strong stuff: it provides a powerful hold that you won’t find in most clays. It’s meant to last, and one application should keep your hair in place all day long.

Layrite Cement Matte Hair Clay is a go-to option for men with long hair or men who want to rock a more extreme hairstyle. While it’s the best hair clay for thick hair, men with thinning hair also may find it useful, because it helps to add volume.

You’ll also like the Cement Matte Hair Clay’s textured, natural-looking finish that doesn’t leave behind tell-tale flakes like some other clays.

Because of its thick texture, you’ll have to rub the clay between your hands to warm it up before you apply it, but that’s hardly an inconvenience, given the results you’re able to achieve.

It’s also good for men with extremely curly or coarse hair who may have trouble finding a styling product that helps them keep their hair in place for a longer period.

As its name suggests, the Cement Matte Hair Clay has a low-shine, matte finish. Your hair looks natural, not contrived.

Layrite’s hair clay is water-soluble, which means it’s easy to wash out in the shower. Meanwhile, many users like its light vanilla scent that isn’t overly sweet and doesn’t overpower your cologne or aftershave.

Bottom Line

Layrite’s Cement Matte Clay has too much going for it to not include it in any review of the best hair clay for men. It provides a superior hold while creating a natural look, it has a nice scent, and it works on hair that’s often harder to style.

3. Smooth Viking Hair Styling Clay For Men

In many ways, Smooth Viking’s Hair Styling Clay For Men is on a different end of the spectrum than Layrite’s super-hold clay. Smooth Viking’s clay shouldn’t be your first choice if you’re looking for a maximum hold that lasts 24 hours, after all.

But Smooth Viking’s clay is similar to Layrite’s in the most important category: performance. It delivers excellent results in a variety of ways, including:

• It has a shine-free, matte finish without leaving any residue or sheen behind. That’s crucial for achieving certain hairstyles in which no shine is needed (or wanted).
• It has a similar feel to hair gels and creams but with a more fibrous texture. Unlike creams and gels, you don’t have to worry about using too much product and leaving an unwanted shine on your hair.
• Smooth Viking’s Hair Styling Clay hold, while not as strong as some clays, is still strong enough. Some reviewers say you shouldn’t count on its hold for more than 16 hours, but that’s more than enough to cover most people’s typical day.
• It lasts for a fairly long time, and it stands up to moisture and humidity, including the kind of sweat and humidity that comes from a hard workout.
• It works well for a wide range of hairstyles, including shorter, combed styles.
• It helps to provide thickness to thin hair and provides texture to flat or straight hair without feeling like it’s weighing your hair down. We think it ranks among the best hair clays for fine hair.
• It’s easy to apply. For one, it breaks down quickly in your hands as you prep it for the application. It also washes out easily.
• You don’t need to use a lot of this clay to get the style and hold you desire. A little goes a long way.

The Smooth Viking Hair Styling Clay’s ingredients include bentonite clay mixed with petroleum, beeswax, lanolin wax, as well as a mix of essential oils. It has what some describe as an “earthy” scent that reminds one of, well, clay.

In any case, the scent quickly dissipates.

Bottom Line

Smooth Viking started as a company devoted to everything men’s beards but has since expanded into hair care – for which many satisfied customers are grateful.

Their Hair Styling Clay is versatile, leaves a natural-looking matte finish, and helps add thickness and texture to your hair.

4. Aveda Men’s Pure-Formance Grooming Clay

You’ll find Aveda Men’s Pure-Formance Grooming Clay in a variety of reviews of men’s styling products. The logical conclusion is that they must be doing something right but – as always – it comes down to performance.

In that regard, Aveda’s Grooming Clay proves its worthiness.

The Pure-Formance clay provides strong hold without adding too much shine, and it helps to add thickness to hair – which makes it a good choice for men with thin hair, but it’s also suitable for most types of hair and hairstyles.

While its hold is perhaps its strongest feature – and it’s a hold that still leaves your hair workable, when needed – Aveda’s Grooming Clay also leaves a nice-looking matte finish that you’ll often find in top-quality clays.

You can use it on dry or wet hair, but it may work best on damp hair that you blow dry following application.

It also can help you achieve more complex, aggressive hairstyles without leaving your hair feeling brittle or dry. While its hold is on the strong side, it doesn’t leave hair so stiff that you can’t rework it if your style goes out of place during the day.

Bottom Line

Aveda’s Pure-Formance Grooming Clay makes it easy to style your hair and to keep your hairstyle in place during the day. You’ll like its natural finish and that it retains your hair’s natural bounce.

5. Jack Black Clay Pomade

What you won’t find in Jack Black’s many styling products are harmful ingredients. That fact is part of the company’s mantra for delivering quality products that don’t damage the hair, skin, or beard – and their Clay Pomade is no exception.

JB’s pomade is vegan and doesn’t contain parabens, alcohol, colorants, or synthetic fragrances, while it’s also dermatologist-tested and cruelty-free. That’s a good place to start, for sure, but it also has many other benefits, including its hold and matte finish.

As its name implies, the Jack Black Clay Pomade has pomade-like qualities but with a finish of clay. It provides a natural finish, whether you apply it to damp or dry hair, without much shine.

As far as its hold, Jack Black’s Clay Pomade ranks as medium to strong, but it depends on the thickness and length of your hair.

Meanwhile, its list of natural ingredients has everything you need to keep your hair healthy:

• Tea Tree Oil – You’ll find tea tree oil in a multitude of hair products, because it helps to reduce itching and dryness
• Lavender Oil – Helps soften hair’s brittle ends
• Sage Leaf Oil – Helps reduce and eliminate bacteria that cause scalp irritation
• Organic Basil Leaf – Adds volume and texture to hair
• Green Tea Leaf Extract – Stimulates hair follicles for healthier regrowth

The JB Clay Pomade has a creamy texture, creamier than many other clays, and is easy to wash out of your hair. We like that it’s easy to apply on damp hair and that it leaves no clumps, but it’s important to work it into your hands before you apply it.

It also has a subtle, clean, and natural scent that’s derived from the essential oils used to formulate it.

Bottom Line

Jack Black’s Clay Pomade is a good, all-around product that meets every man’s hair styling needs. Its natural ingredients are beneficial to overall hair health and help add texture and volume to your hair.

6. Pete & Pedro Clay

The founders of Pete & Pedro – Aaron Marino and Stephen Posta – don’t want you to have just any type of hair. They want you to have “good” hair, and to say a product qualifies as good (skip other adjectives like “phenomenal” and “amazing) is high praise, indeed.

Their Pete & Pedro Clay is, make no mistake, good, although you could also say it’s very good. But we’ll stick with good, and it’s good enough to make our list of the best hair clays.

So, what do we like about it? It’s considered salon-quality, for one, because of its design rendered by high-end hair stylists.

But the proof is in the performance, and Pete & Pedro’s Clay delivers with a paraben-free product that adds plenty of body and thickness to men’s hair. Its ability to add volume helps make it one of the best clays for men with thinning hair.

Pete & Pedro’s also delivers an all-day hold that’s not overly strong but strong enough to leave your hair pliable and easy to work with if you need to re-style during the day. Also, it leaves a matte finish that looks completely natural.

This clay has a light, non-gritty texture and is easy to apply without forming clumps. The length of its hold depends on the thickness of your hair; for men with thin, fine hair, an 18-hour hold isn’t out of the question. Moreover, it washes easily out of your hair.

Another thing worth mentioning about Pete & Pedro’s Clay is its scent. It has a masculine fragrance that most men want from a styling product. As the folks at Pete & Pedro put it, it smells earthy – but “if earth smelled like a freshly-bathed Tiger!”

If nothing else, it sounds interesting.

The primary ingredient in this clay is bentonite, but it also includes mineral oil, beeswax, and lanolin.

Bottom Line

Pete & Pedro’s Clay is an ideal choice for men with fine and thinning hair and delivers excellent results that you’d expect from a great (or “good”) styling product. Definitely worth your consideration.

7. Krieger + Sohne Premium Styling Clay For Men

Krieger + Sohne is another company that’s built a strong reputation in the past several years for creating quality men’s grooming products.

It’s also determined to create hair products that live up to a warrior’s standard (Krieger is the German word for warrior) for strength and quality.

The K+S Premium Styling Clay certainly lives up to a higher standard – including in its list of ingredients that are paraben-free and filled with kind of natural stuff that A) won’t damage hair and B) won’t stiffen like many styling products infused with synthetic ingredients.

Among the Premium Styling Clay’s natural ingredients is beeswax which, along with the clay, provides a firm hold and the right amount of control you need for styling your hair as you wish.

You can adjust the hold through the amount of clay that you apply: apply a small amount and get a softer hold; apply more for a stronger hold.

The K+S Premium Styling Clay gives you the freedom to create any style you wish while also adding volume to flat hair. It has a lightweight finish that’s ideal for shorter styles or for longer styles that call for a more natural look.

Bottom Line

The Krieger + Sohne Premium Styling Clay is a versatile option for men looking for clay that works on a variety of hairstyles. It leaves a natural look and plenty of movement and flow in your hair.

8. V76 by Vaughn Texture Clay 

We understand that finding the right clay might be difficult if you are a person who prefers a more relaxed matte appearance for your hair. This is why we were so relieved to find V76 by Vaugh.

V76 by Vaugh means serious business with their V76 by Vaughn Texture Clay if you have fine to medium thin hair that is tired.

Unlike a lot of clays, it doesn’t weigh down your hair, giving you a light hold that allows your hair to stay put but still breathe.

It gives a great texture that gives excellent manageability throughout the day without making the hair stiff.

What will make you love this texture clay even more is that it doesn’t make the hair appear shiny or greasy. Instead, it gives a matte natural look, which makes it almost unnoticeable that you have applied a hair product.

But there’s more.

It also gives some extra volume to the hair, which is always a welcome feature.

Of course, there are drawbacks we need to mention, however.

While the scent of this clay is woody, elegant, and masculine, you might find it a bit overpowering if you want to use it with your favorite cologne. Plus, the price is a little higher than you might be expecting to pay – although it really is worth it if you have thin hair!

Bottom Line

This is a great clay for people who want some control but don’t like their hair to look unnatural.

9. Verb Sculpting Clay

Verb Sculpting Clay is a fantastic hair clay that balances shininess, hold, and flexibility. Its main ingredients are argan oil, avocado oil, and sunflower seed extract, so you know it is also beneficial to your hair.

Let’s talk about its ingredients a bit more.

Argan oil moisturizes the hair while also protecting them from everyday damage. It reduces split ends and hair breakage and helps with hair growth as it assists to keep the scalp healthy.

Avocado oil also enhances hair hydration, keeping them healthy and soft. It is rich in vitamin D, which is vital for the creation of new hair follicles. It is also rich in biotin, assisting in minimizing hair loss and promoting hair growth.

The sunflower seed extract is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, fighting conditions such as scalp acne, redness, and itchiness. It stimulates the hair follicles and promotes hair growth.

Applying it to your hair provides a medium hold and a subtle shine. While other clays provide stronger amounts of hold level, it is definitely enough for medium to short-sized hair.

Lastly, you will definitely feel your hair more hydrated. One thing to keep in mind, you need to blow-dry the clay for around 15 seconds before applying it because it is pretty thick.

Bottom Line

The perfect choice for vegans or anyone else looking for a subtle clay, which will make hair healthier.

Applying hair clay for men (A simple, illustrated guide)

It often seems like life comes down to the basics. The more complicated we make certain aspects of our lives, the more challenging things become – at least it often seems that way.

The same is true of applying hair clay: the better you are at the basics, the easier the process becomes, and the better your hair looks.

Here are some basic tips for applying hair clay:

1. A little goes a long way

As a general rule, you don’t need to use a lot of clay to “lock” in your hairstyle – and that’s particularly true of the highest-quality clays. In that way, clay is a lot like hair wax: use a small amount, especially at first, and then only add more if you need it.

2. Warm it up

You’ll need to warm the clay up before you apply it, and there’s nothing complicated about it. Simply rub it between the palms of your hands until it’s of a consistency that makes it easy to style and shape your hair.

Never skip this step to apply your clay onto your hair straight from the can.

3. Dig deep

It’s not advisable to apply some hair products to the roots of your hair. Not so with hair clay, which you can rub into hair from its roots to its tips. Applying it down to the roots helps to provide long-lasting hold.

4. Spread it all over

Cover every strand of hair with your styling clay. Evenly distributing it ensures that you won’t leave any noticeable streaks behind. Run your hands through your hair while, again, making sure that you cover it from root to tip.

You can lift and push your hair back to create more volume.

5. When to apply it

Styling clay is versatile enough to use before or after styling your hair. Many users prefer to style their hair first and then use a blow dryer to add even more volume.

The hairdryer also helps to lock in the clay’s moisture. Others prefer to blow dry their hair into the style they desire and then apply the clay after their hair is dry.

6. The finishing touches

There are a few ways to achieve your hair’s “look,” including with a hairdryer, or you can style it with your hands and fingers to achieve a loose, textured style. For structure, such as with a side part style, use a comb to put it in place.

Again, a hairdryer helps set it into place. Use one of your dryer’s lower heat settings; if you want an even firmer hold, you can add a bit more clay or even use hairspray.

Tale of the tape: Hair clay vs. other styling products

With so many styling products available – from clay to wax, pomade to gel – understanding their differences and what purpose they serve best is helpful, especially as you’re looking for one that best fits your needs.

Let’s break down clay and several other styling products while taking a closer look:

Clay

We might as well state the obvious at the start: to be a true hair clay product the product must include clay.

OK, so that fact won’t rank among the hottest news stories of the day, but there are some products marketed as hair clay that don’t contain clay. We’re not interested in that kind.

To know you’re buying a legitimate hair clay, check the ingredients for clays such as bentonite or ozocerite. Bentonite is the best and offers a variety of benefits for hair besides serving as an excellent styling tool.

A hair clay’s base typically consists of petroleum jelly or water. Petroleum jelly isn’t as greasy as it sounds and provides moisture to hair while providing a better hold than water-based clays.

Hair clay usually has a thick consistency that breaks down into a manageable styling product when you heat it up, such as by rubbing it between your palms.

It’s a lot like hair wax – and has similar ingredients – but the clay helps make your hair look and feel thicker while adding volume. Using a hair dryer after you apply clay can create even more volume.

Hair clay creates thickness by, in part, adding fullness to individual strands of hair.

It also comes with a hold that ranges from medium to strong. You can choose a stiff hold or one that allows you some freedom to re-style your hair during the day.

Most clays include beeswax, which helps hair to retain moisture without making it look greasy or oily. In any case, you can expect most clays to provide plenty of hold.

Another important feature of hair clay is that it creates a textured, matte finish that helps your hairstyle look natural.

Pomade

Unlike hair clay, pomade has a long history. By “long,” we mean a couple of centuries ago, but today’s pomades hardly resemble the products of yesteryear (which were made from, among other things, bear fat).

Many of today’s pomades are oil-based and typically leave a high to medium shine.

Water-based pomades have a higher shine but less hold than oil-based ones, but classic pomades, like those that became popular in the U.S. in the 1950s and 60s, are oil-based.

So, how do you use pomade? For starters, they’re great for creating classic looks like the pompadour, the quiff, the Duck-tail, and other styles that hearken back to the “greaser” look.

Pomade’s hold is stronger than that of other styling products, but it’s not so firm that your hair becomes so stiff that you can’t restyle it during the day. Pomades won’t dry out during the day, and they don’t leave tell-tale flakes.

The hold varies from product to product, however.

Pomades work best with medium to thick hair. And, as a final note, you’ll probably want to think twice about buying an oil-based pomade if you have acne. The oil can clog pores and aggravate your acne issues.

Hair Wax

Like clay, hair wax is a great option if you’re looking to add volume to your hair. And, like clay, wax won’t leave a glossy shine like pomades but enables you to create the messy, strategically-tousled look that many men prefer these days.

While a wax’s hold typically ranges from medium to medium hard, it’s not so firm that you can’t re-work your hair during the day, if needed.

Like pomades, they don’t leave flakes – at least not the high-quality waxes, that is – and they tend not to dry out (again, the higher-quality waxes).

Wax is a versatile product in that it’s suitable for almost every hair length and thickness. It’s also a good choice if you have sensitive skin, because its ingredient list usually includes natural oils and beeswax.

It’s often diluted with oil or fat to make it more pliable before you apply it to your hair.

Hair wax also comes in a wide variety of scents. Most of the fragrances come from natural – not chemical – ingredients, which is always a good thing.

Hair Gel

“Hair gel” often is used as a catch-all phrase for a variety of hairstyling products, but it’s a different product than clays, waxes, and pomades. For one, gels typically include a copolymer called PVP K-90 that helps provide superior holding power.

The hold, mind you, is something that sets gel apart from other styling products. Most hair gels provide a stiff hold, although some produce a lighter hold.

In most cases, however, the hold is plenty strong enough to last you through the day (but not as workable as most other hairstyling products).

Hair Cream

Creams work well for giving mid-length and longer hair a natural, healthy look, as well as a natural-looking shine that isn’t too greasy or oily.

Many men with thin or fine hair use hair cream, instead of pomade or wax, because cream has a lightweight feel, but it’s good for a variety of hair types, including for frizzy hair that’s hard to keep under control.

Paste

Hair pastes tend to have a thicker consistency than pomades – similar to hair clays – and you only need a small amount to get your preferred style and hold.

Paste has a medium hold and shine and is water-based, which makes it easier to wash out between applications.

Paste provides volume and texture, especially if you apply it to damp hair, and is another good option for men who prefer the tousled look.

Balm

Hair balm has several unique characteristics, including that you don’t massage it down to your scalp as you would with other products. It also tames frizzy hair, which not every styling product can claim, but it’s useful for achieving a wide range of hairstyles.

Be wary of using hair balm on a daily basis, because it can make hair look greasy and form clumps. Your best bet is to wash your hair regularly to remove the balm before your next application.

Sea Salt Spray

Sea salt spray has gained increasing popularity in the past few years and works great for men and women who want to achieve the textured and tousled “beach” look.

The salt water found in sprays absorbs the natural oils of your hair to give it better volume and texture.

One of sea salt spray’s benefits is that doesn’t leave your hair feeling sticky or hard, unlike many hairsprays, and provides a light to medium hold that enables your hair to retain its natural “bounce.” You can also use it daily, especially if you use it in moderation.

How we compiled our list of best hair clays for men

The good news is that there are plenty of quality hair clays for men. The product you choose depends on many variables and personal preference, but, for us, we strive to select products that cover a wide range of hair types and styles.

That said, most hair clays accomplish the same thing (they provide texture and volume, they leave a natural matte finish, etc.), but overall performance remains the number one criteria. If a product performs well, and as expected, it’s naturally going to earn high marks.

We also study the reviews of customers and peers. While we want to be careful about reading too much into some customer reviews, it would be crazy to ignore them.

Finally, we take into account other factors, such as price and scent, although the scent isn’t a primary concern, unless it’s unacceptable to a lot of users.

Conclusion

As always, we value your opinion. Do you have a favorite hair clay? Have you tried any on our list? We’d love to hear from you!

The post 9 Best Men’s Hair Clays for a Thick & Full Hairstyle appeared first on Balding & Beards.

So finding the very best hair wax – one that will give you exactly the hold and shine you need but is made from the right stuff – is seriously tough.

To save you the time and effort of scanning thousands of Amazon pages, we’ve put together this list of the very best hair waxes for men. We’re talking about the right hold and shine, and the proper ingredients that are not toxic to your hair or body.

In a hurry? Here are our top picks:

So as you can imagine, there’s a great product for everyone’s needs.

And we’re also going in hard, with a full 101 course on applying hair wax properly; a detailed discussion of the distinctions between wax, pomades, and all the rest; and a solid FAQ where we’ll answer the most pressing hair wax questions there are.

But to kick things off, we’re going to dive into 7 simple factors you need to bear in mind when buying wax.

Quick summary

	Best Natural Jack Black Wax Pomade	Good for thicker hair Also works on beards and mustaches Natural ingredients	Check on Amazon
	Best for Hold VOGARTE Hair Styling Aqua Wax for Men, Strong Hold	Strong hold Gives shine and a healthy look to your hair Easy to wash out	Check on Amazon
	Best for Shiny Hair English Laundry Shiny Hair Wax	Adds excellent shine to the hair Medium to strong hold Fantastic scent	Check on Amazon
	Tigi Bed Head B for Men Matte Separation Workable Wax	Natural look Good for different types of hairs and styles Superior matte finish	Check on Amazon
	MATRIX Style Link Over Achiever 3-In-1 Cream Paste Wax	Works well on all hair types Excellent hold Extremely versatile	Check on Amazon
	CHI Matte Wax	Easy to apply on the hair Strong but balanced hold Matte look	Check on Amazon
	SexyHair Style Control Maniac Styling Wax	Provides a firm hold Shiny finish Washes away easily	Check on Amazon
	Gatsby Moving Rubber Spiky Edge Hair Wax	Extra strength hold Nice scent You don’t need to use a lot	Check on Amazon

Before you buy: 7 Things to consider when purchasing hair wax

There’s a lot of competition among hair wax brands trying to be a top dog while also trying to grab your attention in the hair products aisle.

Yes, there’s so many choices and so little time, to borrow a cliché.

And if you go into it armed with basic knowledge (and take your time before choosing), you’ll be better off than the guy who simply grabs the first – and perhaps only – product he knows. Or doesn’t know. Hey, we’ve all been there.

Here are a few basics about hair wax:

1. Don’t Choose Wax if You’re Going for the Slicked-Back Look

Pomades are the way to go if you want your hair to look “slick” when styled. You won’t get that look with wax, but they do provide a bit of fluff and are an excellent choice if you’re in a hurry in the morning.

Like pomade, they don’t flake and are easy to work with, even long after you’ve applied them during your morning routine.

2. How Does it Hold?

Just like with pomade and many other hair products, “hold” is everything (well, almost everything) with hair wax. Most quality hair waxes should last you all day long, but it’s not as hard of a hold as you’d find with a hair gel.

So, it’s a good idea to check yourself in the mirror throughout the day – and you may want to apply a bit of wax if you’re planning to go out right after work. Which leads us to our next question?

3. Do You Re-Style Your Hair Often Throughout the Day?

Different from hair gel and many pomades, hair wax allows you to re-style your hair without re-applying more product or re-washing. In most cases, all you need to do is pinch and twist your hair back into shape. Fast and easy.

4. Waxes Smell Good

The consensus among many men’s grooming experts is that hair wax smells better than other styling products. Of course, what smells “better” and what doesn’t is a matter of taste. But you will find a wide range of scents in hair wax products.

5. Don’t Cheap Out

This advice isn’t anything new – and applies to virtually any product you buy – but you get what you pay for with hair wax. If a wax dries out and becomes flaky, it’s very likely that it’s a cheaper, lower-quality product.

We’re not suggesting that you bust your budget and buy the most expensive brand on the shelf, but don’t be afraid to make a sound investment in your wax and yourself.

6. Hair Wax & Its Many Aliases

Finally, hair wax often goes by other names, such as paste, putty, glue, or even “molding gum.” A product’s ingredients should tell you whether it’s truly a wax.

7. How Does it Shine?

While wax doesn’t appear greasy, it will give your hair some shine. Most waxes range from low to high.

OK, now let’s dive in and take a look at the best hair wax for men.

The 8 best hair waxes for men

1. Jack Black Wax Pomade

Best features

• Provides excellent control
• Works great on thicker hair
• Can also use it on your beard and mustache

Best hair wax for:

Men with thick and curly hair

Overview

Some men have a lot of hair – you know who you are, lucky bastards – but who don’t feel the need to go gonzo and shape it into a Mohawk or pompadour. Perhaps they work in a professional setting where straying-from-the-norm hairstyles aren’t appreciated.

Or, maybe they just like it the way it is – simply styled, but looking good. And if your hair is curly or frizzy, then it’s worth your time and money to check out the Jack Black Wax Pomade.

It gives you good control over your frizz or straying curls and waves and is the best hair wax for thick hair.

Here’s another cool thing: It even helps condition your beard and mustache. In other words, it’s a versatile tool to toss into your grooming kit.

But the versatility and the ability to keep your thick locks under control aren’t the only reasons we like Jack Black Wax Pomade. It’s also packed with natural ingredients and doesn’t include parabens, artificial fragrances, or colorants, so you don’t have to worry about skin reactions or unnatural smells.

Instead, the ingredient list includes tea tree leaf oil (reduces dryness and itching), sage leaf oil (fights infection), organic basil leaf and kelp (thickens, nourishes, and volumizes your hair), as well as green tea leaf extra that stimulates hair follicle growth.

Of course, beeswax is included to give you a marvelous hold while also locking in moisture throughout your hair. It even works to control dandruff.

Jack Black Wax is also dermatologist-tested and (animal) cruelty-free.

You’ll find the wax lightweight and that it gives your hair a pliable, high-finish, natural-looking shine. You also don’t need to use a lot of it to get an all-day hold, and it rinses easily from your hair and won’t leave it feeling dry or greasy.

While it’s excellent for thicker hair, it’s also lightweight enough that it won’t weigh down thinner hair types. And, as mentioned earlier, you can use it to condition and tame those stray hairs residing on your beard or mustache (or both).

Bottom Line

Jack Black is making its name with quality grooming products that have natural ingredients, and that get the job done. There Wax Pomade is easy to use, provides a firm hold, and is easy to rinse out.

2. VOGARTE Hair Styling Aqua Wax for Men, Strong Hold

Best features

• All-day hold
• Gives hair a shine
• Very even spread

Best hair wax for:

Extra firm hold and low-maintenance hair styling

Overview

VOGARTE’s hairstyling aqua wax comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which is very reassuring for prospective buyers. The reality is, however, that we can’t imagine they get many customers returning the product – because it absolutely does the job

This is a water-based wax that is designed to offer a particularly strong hold, ideally to keep the hair in place all day and minimize touch uptime. It does this brilliantly: if what you’re after is a strong styling wax, this is your stuff.

It doesn’t only help you create a firm style – it also gives the hair a really radiant finish. Some wax can look greasy or grimy, but this stuff really makes your hair look healthy and natural, even while it holds it in patently unnatural positions!

And it’s not only your hair that avoids grease: because it’s water-soluble, VOGARTE’s wax is unusually easy to wash out – even with very standard shampoos. And it leaves your hair exactly as it was, with no greasiness or stains – basically no evidence at all.

The only downside is the scent, which is quite strong and, for some, a bit off-putting. It’s a fresh smell, for sure, and some will find it energizing. But it is a bit of a stench, and it’s definitely important to be prepared for that.

Bottom Line

A great, water-based wax that will keep your hair in place all day with ease, and then wash out just as easily in the evening.

3. English Laundry Shiny Hair Wax 

Best features

• Paraben-free
• Adds high shine
• Premium brand

Best hair wax for:

Men who like to add a bit of shine to their hair.

Overview

English Laundry is a premium designer brand that also specializes in men’s grooming and hair care. While being a relatively new brand – launched in 2009 – it has expanded to more than 4000 locations around the USA, giving you an indication of the quality of the brand and how fast it is expanding.

Their English Laundry Shiny Hair Wax is the only wax a man wants if he yearns to achieve high shine levels without weighing down his hair or making it look greasy.

Made with beeswax, sunflower seed wax, and jojoba esters, it packs the necessary ingredients to provide great hold and care to your hair.

Beeswax has been a top-notch ingredient in waxes since ancient times. It is highly moisturizing, encouraging hair growth and reducing hair loss. It smoothes out and strengthens the hair, making it easier to style. It also gives a shiny look.

Sunflower seed wax helps repair the hair and protects against oxidative stress. Its antibacterial properties keep the hair healthy and shiny.

Jojoba esters also hydrate and condition, protecting the hair from breakage and split ends. It also helps control dandruff and scalp psoriasis.

You will love the hold that this wax has to offer. It is definitely strong, but rest assured, it doesn’t make the hair stiff.

But there’s more. Who doesn’t appreciate a great scent?

You will fall in love with its fragrance. It reminds you of a vintage barbershop, but it still manages to be unique and sophisticated. English Laundry combines sandalwood, lavender, and citrus fruits to achieve its signature smell.

Bottom Line

This is a great wax for people who prefer shiny hair. You will also appreciate its vintage scent.

4. TIGI Bed Head B For Men Matte Separation Workable Wax

Best features

• Natural look
• Excellent for men with short or thinning hair
• Helps thicken hair

Best hair wax for:

Men who want a natural finish on their hair

Overview

You apply your hair product, take one last look in the mirror, and think, “That doesn’t look like my hair at all!”

If you’ve experienced the above scenario, we understand your pain. While you want your wax, or pomade, or whatever, to give you good hold and allow you to achieve your desired style, you don’t want the result to look like someone else’s hair or, even worse, artificial.

And that’s a good reason to choose TIGI Bed Head B for Men. Make that a great reason. After you’ve applied TIGI Bed Head B, it’s quite possible that others won’t notice that you’ve used wax at all.

It provides one of the most natural looks there is and applying it in the right amount leaves a superb matte finish with excellent texture.

But there are plenty of other reasons to choose TIGI Bed Head B for Men:

• It’s a good wax for adding volume, which makes it an excellent choice for men with short and thinning hair. While it’s extremely versatile and good for almost any hair length and style, it’s the best hair wax for thin hair.
• You’ll like how easy it is to rework your hair long after you’ve applied it. You can adjust your style simply by using your hands, or you can apply a small amount of water (not much, mind you) for even easier styling.
• Beeswax is a key ingredient and helps keep your hair in place while keeping it healthy. It also gives structure and fullness to your hair follicles. Carnauba wax is another key ingredient – it’s used in a variety of hair products – and it has a softening effect that gives you superior styling flexibility.
• Its shine is perfectly natural and not artificial-looking.
• It has one of the best matte finishes of any styling product out there. A matte finish is preferable if you have short hair (almost too short to comb) or if you’re going for the tousled, “bad-boy” kind of look.
• You can combine TIGI Bed Head B for Men with a natural finish hairspray for even more precise styling.

Bottom Line

This is an excellent product from a company that makes a wide range of grooming products for men and women. You’ll love how it looks, and it’s so subtle others may not know that you’ve even used a wax.

5. MATRIX Style Link Over Achiever 3-In-1 Cream Paste Wax

Best features

• 3 in 1 cream, paste, wax
• Strong hold
• Medium shine

Best hair wax for:

Men who want a firm hold

Overview

MATRIX has done it!

Their MATRIX Style Link Over Achiever 3-In-1 is the perfect product that combines all the qualities of cream, paste, and wax in one product, making the men’s grooming routine easier and less time-consuming.

How does it achieve that?

It spreads like a cream, has a more pasty texture, provides a subtle shine, and holds like a wax.

It is formulated with Candelilla Wax, so you know that it is rich in nutrients and health benefits to the scalp and hair. It is an ingredient that is often used as a substitute for beeswax as it gives similar benefits. It prevents water loss and helps protect the hair from breakage and split ends.

This 3-in-1 wax makes styling easy; all you have to do is apply a small amount, and your hair will remain in place throughout the day.

But while its hold is strong, it’s not so strong that it makes your hair feel stiff or unnatural. It provides excellent texture and a little extra lift, but you can move it around during the day if the mood strikes. It controls flyaways without any issues.

There’s also nothing greasy about this formula, and it’s easy to wash out. No stickiness, no tackiness!

So, what else?

It gives a satin finish (medium shine) and has a wonderful scent that your friends and girlfriend will truly appreciate. It is somewhat fruity and not overpowering.

Lastly, it works with all kinds of hair, so even if you have curly hair, its hold will still manage to provide you with great manageability.

Bottom Line

It is a versatile product that provides a solid shine, is suitable for all hair types, and keeps your hair in place throughout the day.

6. CHI Matte Wax

Best features

• Matte look
• Very strong hold
• Suitable for all hair types

Best hair wax for:

An ambitious, involved hairstyle

Overview

Well-known design house CHI developed this – their strong hold matte wax – as a way of making ambitious, often curly and outlandish hairstyles easier to achieve. And they’ve definitely succeeded.

Made from elastic polymers, it offers an intensely strong hold without getting too greasy or stiff, giving you just the right amount of room to style and re-style. And though some reviewers find it a little thick and gloopy, most report finding it very effective and easy to use.

One great thing about it is you can use it on just about any hair style. While it might not be as good as some other on this list for shorter hair, it is certainly effective for any style that requires hold. It gives the hair a dry matte and very natural, healthy looking finish.

All you need of this stuff is a tiny finger full, and you’ll have more than enough to completely transform your hair. And while being a little more subtle is a challenge with such strong stuff, it is definitely possible.

It’s worth noting that this is not as natural in terms of ingredients as others on this list. And while it won’t harm your hair, it is important to know what you’re buying.

Bottom Line

A great, reliable and above all strong holding wax.

7. SexyHair Style Control Maniac Styling Wax

Best features

• Strong hold
• Cruelty-free
• Suitable for medium to short hair lengths

Best hair wax for:

Men who are looking to add a shine to their look.

Overview

SexyHair Style Control Maniac Styling Wax is worth a mention in our list. It has a firm hold that lasts long in order to suit every man’s stylish needs.

It is very versatile, and short to medium-haired men will appreciate the impressive control that this wax has to offer. A small amount is enough to achieve the style and shiny finish you are looking for.

You will also appreciate its non-greasy texture. Your hair will look healthy and natural rather than sticky and dry.

Throughout the day, it also doesn’t feel heavy on your hair and washes off in a matter of minutes when needed.

Overall, a great wax for those who want a shiny look with absolute control. However, it is important to note that it doesn’t add hair volume like other waxes on our list, which makes it not very effective for people with thinner hair.

Bottom Line

SexyHair Style Control Maniac Styling Wax provides a hold that offers great control, and it works for men of many hair types.

8. Gatsby Moving Rubber Spiky Edge Hair Wax

Best features

• Very strong hold
• Excellent for short hair
• Ideal for spiked looks

Best hair wax for:

Men who want an extra-strength hold

Overview

The Moving Rubber Series is a collaboration of the Gatsby brand and Japanese hairstylists that has been around for a little over a decade.

Its developers sought a product with maximum hold, moveable texture, and something that will help the user get exactly the style they prefer.

Their Spiky Edge Hair Wax – the hardest wax of the Moving Rubber series – meets all of the goals listed above.

Whether you desire a Mohawk look or individual spikes, the Spiky Edge Hair wax is for you. For one, its hold is very strong, and it’s ideal for short hair that you want to make stand up.

You could also use it slick back your hair, but, again, it’s best for shorter hair and a spiked look.

While it’s a hard wax with extra strong hold, it has a soft enough texture that allows you to reshape your hair several times throughout the day without having to re-apply it. It leaves a light feel in your hair that helps make it easy to style and re-style.

Two key ingredients in this wax are candelilla and microcrystalline, which are both waxes that play an important role in keeping your hair in place.

Other key ingredients include a palm oil derivative that’s good for your skin, and stearyl alcohol, a conditioning agent. Unlike hair products that can dry out your hair and cause damage, it’s a wax that’s good for everyday use.

The Spiky Edge Hair Wax has a unique, green apple-like scent that’s not necessarily overpowering, but will stay with you longer than a lot of other hair wax fragrances.

Finally, it’s very affordable and is a great investment in that a can of it will last you for a long time.

Bottom Line

If Mohawks and spikes are your look, you owe it to yourself to try out the Spiky Edge Hair Wax. It provides excellent firmness without looking like you drenched your hair with product.

Choosing the best hair wax for men – Our method

We don’t have a crystal ball. Nor do we pick names from a hat. However, we do roll up our sleeves and do a ton of research when it comes to choosing the products for our “best of” reviews, and it’s the same approach we used for choosing the best hair wax for men.

As always, we study the products themselves, some through personal experience, while also considering the reviews of others we trust. A wax that performs as advertised and makes grooming easier for men always get high marks.

And, as with most products (hair or otherwise), the price isn’t always a strong indicator of how good a specific product is. That said, we hope to provide products that offer a wide variety of price ranges from high to low.

That said, we think you’ll like the products we’ve listed here.

Applying hair wax 101: How it’s done

Now that you’ve chosen your go-to hair wax, here’s how to apply it to get its maximum benefits:

1. Damp or Dry?

The consensus with hair wax leans towards the “dry” side of the equation when discussing whether to apply it to wet or dry hair. Hair wax doesn’t as adhere as nicely to wet hair.

Additionally, applying wax to wet hair can cause your hair’s outline and form to change when it dries. Also, the hair’s volume may be lost when hair roots are wet.

Your best bet when applying wax is to dry your hair completely while shaping it into the desired look (and basic form of your style).

2. Use a Little, Not a Lot

We’ve used the phrase “a little goes a long way” in reviewing the best hair waxes, and in regards to other hair styling products such as pomade and conditioner.

It’s also true with wax: use as little as possible while still being able to achieve the style and shape that you desire.

Some experts suggest that you use only a dime-sized portion of wax, even if you have longer or thicker hair. Putting too much in at first may lead you to have to wash, condition, and dry your hair all over again. Not fun at all, especially if you’re in a rush.

Note: if you have a more complex hairstyle, you may have to apply an extra bit of wax. But never apply too much at first; see how your style looks after the initial application and go from there.

3. Loosen the Wax First

Your wax is much easier to apply when it’s soft. Many waxes have a harder consistency when you first open the can, but it will soften if you heat it. Rub vigorously to soften it until there’s not a single lump left.

It’s much easier to deal with wax when it’s already soft instead of when it’s already in your hair.

4. Applying It

Start with a small amount of wax and work spread it on your palms, fingertips, and between your fingers.

The important thing to keep in mind is that you should spread the wax so thinly that it becomes colorless. Also, there’s no need to apply the wax repeatedly over the same area because one application should be more than enough.

Start by applying it on the underside of your hair, then move to the surface and the tips. Finally, arrange the hair into the desired shape by twisting it with your tips.

It’s best to apply it with your fingers, not with a comb or a brush. Yes, you can create a side part with a comb, but it may take a bit of practice to perfect it.

5. Keep it Off of Your Scalp

Do not let the hair wax touch your scalp. Your hair will look greasy, and the wax will be extremely difficult to wash off.

6. Hairspray, But Only if Needed

If you’ve set your hair with wax but are still having trouble maintaining its hold throughout your day, you can apply a hairspray finish over the style you’ve created with wax. But you won’t need hairspray with most waxes.

7. Adjust, Adjust, Adjust

Remember – everyone’s hair is different, and how much wax is needed varies from person to person. It may take some tweaking before you figure out how much you need for your hair. Again, start with a small amount and only use more wax if your hair needs it.

Hair wax vs. pomades vs. gels vs. clays

Yes, you truly have options when it comes to products that help style and keep your hair in place. We’ve talked at length about hair wax in this post, but hair wax isn’t the only game in town by any means.

After all, there’s also pomades, gels, and clays, and that doesn’t even get into other products like shampoo and conditioner.

Honestly, there’s no excuse for not making your hair look good – unless you’re going for the unruly look (and hair products can help you achieve that look, as well).

All that said, let’s dive in and take a peek at waxes, pomades, gels, and clays, including their differences, attributes, and more.

Wax

We’ve said it already, but it’s worth repeating – hair wax is the most popular hair styling product you’ll find on most supermarket shelves (and in most salons). The majority of incredibly-coiffed male models you see in magazine advertisements are using hair wax.

A key ingredient in most waxes is beeswax, which is diluted with fat or oil to make it easier to apply. Many waxes also have natural oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, and others, which add shine and moisture. Without those oils, waxes leave a matte or relatively dull finish.

What sets wax apart from other styling products? Hold, for one.

Most waxes have a medium to medium-hard hold that’s going to keep your hair in place, but also make it relatively easy to re-style your hair after you, say, come inside from a windy day.

Again, you won’t get a strong shine from many wax products, but if you’re looking for a slicked-back look, then you’re better off with pomade. Wax will give your hair a more “fluff” look if that’s your preference.

Wax is definitely a good option if you’re one of those folks who’s perpetually running late in the morning. It allows you to style your hair quickly – with a nice hold – and washes out of your hands much easier than pomade.

Wax is also a very versatile product in that it’s suitable for any type of hair – thick, thin, long, and short.

Most waxes have a pleasant, natural scent, and come in a variety of price ranges.

Pomade

Pomade is a hair product that lasts longer compared to other hair products (like hair spray) and has had a huge resurgence in the 2010s. It’s primarily used for hairstyles like the pompadour, quiff, or the ducktail.

Available in two forms – water and oil, water-based pomades are usually better and more expensive, they’re also easier to wash off and healthier for your scalp.

Using pomade does not dry out your hair or freeze it in place. Instead, it’s best for hairstyles that allow some room for your hair to move freely. You can check our review of the best pomades right here.

Gel

You can trace hair gel’s roots (no pun intended) back to the ancient Egyptians. As legend has it, they’d apply a gel to the hair of mummies so that the deceased would enter the afterlife looking well-groomed.

Hey, I guess you never know who you’re going to meet on the other side.

Today’s gels contain various chemicals that provide a firm hold while also extending the life of the product. Keep in mind, however, that most gels are water-based.

The hold is a big reason many men use gel. Most gels provide a firm hold – very firm.

If you’re looking for something that is almost certainly going to stay in place throughout the day, then gel’s a good option. It’s not very workable, but you probably won’t have to “work” with your hair anyway because of its intense hold.

Gel is water-based, meaning its easy to wash out, and that it’s ideal for people who have sensitive skin or are prone to acne. If you have those issues, stay away from oil-based products.

Gel works particularly well with men who have medium to thick hair and works well with most hair lengths, as well.

Like wax, gel is relatively easy to apply, which is always helpful when you’ve overslept and are in a blazing rush to get out the door.

Buyer beware: You’ll save money by buying a cheap gel, but cheaper gels tend to dry out and flake. There’s no need to create your own dandruff, after all.

Clay

Clay is the new kid on the block when it comes to hair styling products. It’s also unique and generally used less than wax or gel.

But it does have some advantages:

• Clay has many of the same benefits of hair wax and includes bentonite, which makes your hair follicles look and feel thicker, and adds volume.
• Hair clay is good for all skin types. Some clays even have healing properties that repair damaged hair and soothe dryness on the scalp.
• Clay comes in a very thick, solid paste, but you’ll hardly notice that it’s in your hair after you’ve applied it. Its finish is very natural and matte-like.

The major downside to hair clays is that they’re typically more expensive than other styling products.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does hair wax do?

Hair wax is a hairstyling and grooming product that contains wax. The wax helps keep hair in place but while still keeping it pliable (depending on the strength of the wax’s hold).

Which hair wax is best?

Paul Mitchell Dry Wax, the first pick on our reviews above, is a superior hair wax that works great for all types of hair but is especially effective for men with thick or curly locks, as it provides a very firm hold.

Is hair wax allowed in hand luggage?

The answer is yes, but with some provisions.

Most notably, hair waxes and other liquid hair products should be placed in a clear, plastic bag; check the airline for the bag’s size restriction. Also, the amount of hair wax you can bring is typically no more than 3.4-ounces, or 100ml.

Is hair wax considered a liquid when flying?

Hair wax, and other solid toiletries, are subject to the same TSA limits, i.e., they cannot be more than 3.4-ounces (or 100ml). They must be placed in a quart-sized, clear plastic bag before you pack them with your luggage.

Is hair wax water soluble?

Wax is an organic compound that’s insoluble in water. However, it is soluble in organic, nonpolar solvents such as benzene.

Is hair wax vegan?

Most hair waxes contain beeswax and don’t fall into the vegan category. However, vegan hair products abound in other forms, such as the Andalou Naturals Styling Gel.

Is hair wax temporary?

Yes. While hair wax helps to hold hair place while providing other benefits, you can wash it off with shampoo or rinse it out with conditioner. Using too much wax – because it contains oil – makes it harder to wash off, however.

Is hair wax water-based?

Hair wax is oil and wax-based, not water-based. It’s an organic compound that’s insoluble in water.

Is hair wax gel?

Hair wax isn’t gel, although – like gel – it helps to hold hair in place. Gel is water-based, however, and easier to wash than wax, as we mention in our comparison of different hair products above. Gel offers a firm hold.

Is hair wax hard?

While hair wax is harder than other hair styling products, such as gel, its hardness often depends on the product. You can make harder waxes more pliable by warming them up in your hands before you apply them.

What is hair wax used for?

Hair wax is primarily used to hold a hairstyle in place after you’ve washed and dried it. Hair waxes tend to create a matte or natural finish, and they’re pliable enough that you can re-style your hair during the day if needed.

What hair wax is best for thin hair?

The Bed Head B Wax by TIGI, which we list in our reviews above, is ideal for thin hair for many reasons, including that it doesn’t have a heavy feel or finish.

When to apply hair wax

As we discuss in our “How to Apply Hair Wax 101” section above, the best time to apply hair wax is when it’s dry. Hair wax doesn’t adhere well to wet hair and makes it harder for you to achieve your preferred style.

What are the side effects of using hair wax?

Hair wax is pretty harmless to health, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have a few side effects. Some waxes contain chemicals that may irritate the scalp and damage hair, while some experts say excessive use of wax may lead to hair loss.

Can hair wax be used daily?

How often you use hair wax depends a lot on the condition of your hair. If your hair is damaged, or if you have a sensitive scalp that’s easily irritated, you should only use it two to three times a week. Otherwise, you can use hair wax daily.

Can hair wax cause dandruff?

Hair wax doesn’t cause the condition defined as dandruff. Product build-up that hasn’t been washed out may show up on hair, but it’s not the same as the tell-tale white flakes of dandruff.

Can hair wax cause acne?

Because hair waxes, pomades, and the like contain greasier wax and oil-based ingredients, they can clog pores, trap bacteria and, perhaps, cause acne. Then again, if you confine it to your scalp, you should be in the clear.

Can hair wax damage hair?

Some waxes contain chemicals that may damage hair and irritate the scalp. Or, if you apply too much wax, it may say some experts, lead to hair thinning and hair loss.

Can hair wax be applied to wet hair?

There’s nothing to stop you from applying wax to damp hair, although you won’t get the same results as you do from applying it to dry hair because wax doesn’t adhere as well to wet hair.

Can hair wax make you bald?

Baldness in males and females has many causes, including genetics. Some people are naturally pre-disposed to suffer male and female pattern baldness. Hair wax is not a cause of baldness.

Can you use hair wax on a mustache?

Some hair waxes come in a stick form that makes it easier to apply to your mustache, or you can apply it with your fingers. Your best bet, however, is to use a quality beard and mustache wax that’s designed for facial hair.

How is hair wax made?

Hair wax is a styling product made from plant or animal-derived waxes, such as beeswax. It also may include natural oils such as olive oil and coconut oil in its ingredients.

How do you remove hair wax from your hair?

A common way to remove hair wax from your follicles is through the use of a conditioner and shampoo.

First, wet your hair completely with warm water. Next, apply a quality conditioner and work it into your hair and scalp with your hands. Finally, rinse out the conditioner and wash your hair with shampoo.

How do you remove hair wax without shampoo?

Various methods abound for getting hair wax out of your hair without using shampoo. One method involves using more hair product – in this case, a water-soluble, wax-free styling product such as paste or cream. Work the product into your hair and then rinse it out.

How do you remove hair wax from your skin?

It’s pretty easy to remove hair wax from the skin: place a hot, wet washcloth on the wax residue and let it sit for a minute or two. This should soften the wax, so it wipes off with the washcloth easily.

Conclusion

And that, friends wraps up another product review. If you have any experience with the waxes we’ve reviewed, we’d love to hear your thoughts about them. Or, is there a hair wax you like but doesn’t appear on our list? We’d love to hear from you, too.

We always welcome your feedback and comments, no matter what topic we’ve covered. We welcome all comments and suggestions.

The post 8 Best Hair Waxes for Men That Provide Excellent Hold appeared first on Balding & Beards.

There’s the convenience factor, of course (you can shave with less fuss), but also the fact that today’s best electric razors provide a close, comfortable shave that rivals that of manual shaving.

Not all electric razors are made the same, however, and, for our money, we think Philips Norelco makes some of the best shavers you’ll find. The Philips Norelco Electric Shavers will not only be more convenient to use, but will also give you a clean shave, much unlike manual razors. 

In a hurry? Here are our top picks:

We’ll also look at things to consider when buying a Norelco shaver the product description, how to use a Norelco razor to get the best shave, the different settings on it, and how Norelco stacks up against other electric shaver brands.

Quick summary

	Our #1 Choice Philips Norelco Electric Shaver 7500 For Sensitive Skin	Suitable for wet and dry shaving Perfect for those with sensitive skin Multi-directional shaving heads helps reach the difficult areas	Check on Amazon
	Philips Norelco 6500 Shaver	Easy to use and no skin irritation, a beginners choice Comes with a turbo button for more power Can be used in the wet and dry	Check on Amazon
	Philips Norelco 5100 Electric Shaver Wet & Dry	Speedy but effective shave Efficient at trimming hairs of all sizes Precision trimmer for the finishing touches	Check on Amazon
	Philips Norelco SP9820/87 Shaver 9000 Prestige	5-minute quick charge Sharp blades that protects sensitive skin 8-movement Contour Detect technology	Check on Amazon
	Philips Norelco Oneblade Hybrid Electric Trimmer & Shaver	Simple and easy, but very effective Different length guides Excellent for edging and styling	Check on Amazon
	Philips Norelco Shaver 2100	Quiet motor for discreet shaving A solid all-rounder Shaves close but without causing irritated skin	Check on Amazon

Before you buy: 6 Things to consider when purchasing a Norelco shaver

One of the nice things about buying a Norelco shaver is that you have plenty of options from which to choose. You can choose between their expensive models and the relatively budget-friendly ones. 

Philips Norelco is a company that has a long-standing reputation for excellence and manufactures razors to fit a variety of needs, such as for men with sensitive skin. The products give you the closest shave without painful razor bumps or ingrown hairs. 

The trick, then, is to choose the PN electric razor that best suits you, your whiskers, and your skin. There’s no doubt that you’ll find one that does, but here are some things to consider when choosing between the many Philips Norelco makes and models.

1. Foil or rotary

Electric shavers almost always come in two types: foil or rotary.

Foil shavers were the first type of electric razors to hit the market – thanks to the efforts of shaving icon Jacob Schick many moons ago – and are recognizable by their thin, curved metal foil that covers oscillating blades.

Rotary shavers, a more modern invention, feature three rotating shaving heads that pivot. You can shave your face in circular motions with a rotary shaver; the design of a foil shaver limits you to a straight line, up-and-down movements. Rotary shavers also cut your hair in a different shape and pattern than foil shavers, giving you a distinct shave. 

Each type – foil and rotary – has its advantages and disadvantages.

• Foil shavers tend to have more skin-friendly features that provide a close gentle shave without causing razor burn, razor bumps, and other types of skin irritation. They’re also considered less “aggressive” than rotary shavers, which is another reason why they’re a good choice for men with sensitive skin.
• Rotary shavers are ideal for men who don’t necessarily want a complete shave but are looking to trim the sides. They’re a bit less gentle on the skin, and you should keep that in mind if you have sensitive skin.
• Another advantage of rotary shavers is that they’re excellent for trimming hard-to-reach areas, such as around the chin, jawline, and nose, because of how easily they pivot.
• Foil shavers, in general, are a good choice for men who shave every day. The sharp blade and the wide range of trimmer attachments available for them makes it easier to give shape to difficult hairs of all types. 
• Foil shavers are best for flat surfaces and straight lines. They are typically less expensive than rotary shavers and quieter because they use oscillating blades instead of rotating blades. However, they cannot handle very long or very short hair well, since the hair can get stuck in the foil.
• Rotary shavers have three round heads on a circular disc with spinning blades underneath each one. These allow them to cut hair from any direction, so they work well on contours like your jawline and neck. Rotary shavers also tend to be more powerful than foil shavers: they are better at cutting long hairs and are great if you have a thicker beard.

2. Wet & dry shaving

Many electric shavers today – including Philips Norelco shavers – have wet and dry shaving capability.

That is, you can use them with water and shave cream (and in the shower) and can clean them with water, or you can use them with no moisture at all. If you have sensitive skin, shaving gels and creams can soften your beard to help prevent irritation.

The problem with cleaning dry shave trimmers is that you have to put a lot of effort into cleaning them, and oiling them can get messy. Small bits of hair can get stuck in the construction, and since water entering the mechanism might mess it up, you have to do the entire process manually. 

Wet shaving:

-more control over razor blade angle

-easier to see what you’re doing

Dry shaving: 

-Faster

-Easier to clean up

-Convenient for travelling

3. Cord or cordless

Do you prefer greater freedom of movement when shaving – such as the ability to move about your bathroom and house without restriction? If so, then a cordless shaver – one that runs on battery power – is your best option.

Or, you may like the convenience of knowing that – while using a shaver with a power cord – you don’t have to worry about the battery’s charge running out. Besides, many shavers come with cords long enough to give you some freedom of movement.

We’re sure that there’s only a small area in your bathroom where you stick around to trim your hair. The problem with corded trimmers is not exactly about how much you can move around, it’s the presence of a power outlet around you that gives you the freedom to use it to its full capacity. 

If you do decide to go cordless, look for shavers that come with a low-battery indicator feature. Of course, they must also come with a means for which to charge them.

Another thing you need to keep in mind when choosing between corded or cordless trimmers is that corded trimmers are typically more powerful than their cordless counterparts. If you need something in a professional capacity, a corded trimmer is usually the better option.

A good balance between the two options is a dual option trimmer or shaver. You can use these kinds of trimmers in both a corded and cordless capacity, giving you both the power and the freedom to move around as you need. 

Botom line:

Corded electric shavers are great for a quick shave, but you’re limited by the length of the cord. If your bathroom or shower is far from an outlet, or if you just want to take your shaver on the go, you might prefer a cordless electric shaver.

4. Blade & trimmer options

Philips Norelco shavers offer a variety of blade and trimmer options that provide added convenience for users.

Multiple blade options allow you to adjust the blade to create the desired closeness of shave, while pop-up trimmers make it easier to do finer, detail work on your beard, mustache, and sideburns.

You’ll also have a choice between click-on trimmers and built-in trimmers, i.e., trimmers that you attach to the shaving unit and those built into the shaver’s body.

Some shaving experts suggest that click-on attachments enable you to trim difficult-to-reach areas of your face more efficiently.

The good news is that a lot of trimmers today come with multiple attachments that can work on several different types of hair to give you just the right results. These attachments are readily available with standard trimmer models. 

5. Price

You can find Philips Norelco shavers to fit every budget. How much you pay often depends on how much you want – do you want all the bells and whistles, or is a razor with fewer gadgets, but still provides a clean, close, comfortable shave more to your liking?

What kind of trimming attachments do you need for your face, or do you prefer to use another device for more specialized tasks, such as mustache trimming? If you need different lengths or styles for different parts of your face, do you prefer a device that does it all or do you need specialized devices that do the job exactly right?

6. Skin type

While we touched briefly on skin type while comparing foil and rotary shavers, it’s worth emphasizing that your type of skin will help you determine what razor is best for you.

Men with sensitive skin may benefit most from using a foil shaver, but that’s not to say you automatically should ignore rotary razors just because your skin is prone to razor irritation.

Men who have normal skin types—meaning their skin isn’t too oily and doesn’t have any visible dry patches—can opt for a safety razor. These razors are designed for one-time use, so you can throw them out after shaving. The blades in these razors are very sharp, which means that they can cut through hair easily without having to press down on your skin.

For men with dry skin, however, safety razors might not be the best choice as the blades can be more likely to irritate your skin. Instead, you might want to consider an electric shaver. These shavers won’t pull or irritate your skin as much as a safety razor would and will help keep your skin hydrated by distributing natural oils throughout your beard when it’s being shaved.

Lastly, those with sensitive skin may want to stick with disposable cartridge razors. But this doesn’t mean you can just buy any disposable razor—you’ll want to make sure it has a pivoting head and moisturizing strip to help prevent irritation while shaving.

The 6 best Norelco shavers

1. Philips Norelco Electric Shaver 7500 For Sensitive Skin

Shaving shouldn’t be a drudgery. For men with sensitive skin, however, it can be a hassle because of razor burn, bumps, and other types of irritation potentially caused by shaving.

Fortunately, electric shavers such as the Norelco 7500 take the sting out of it by providing a comfortable shave without sacrificing closeness.

It’s also an excellent all-around razor that’s suitable for men of all skin types and beard density, and it’s the best Philips Norelco shaver overall.

The 7500 comes loaded with features that make shaving easier and not a hassle, including Norelco’s patented Comfort Rings.

The latter contains thousands of powder-like beads that help create a smoother shaving surface, so the rotary foils glide easily over the skin. According to the folks at Norelco, the Comfort Rings’ micro-beading technology reduce friction by up to 85%.

We also like the 7500’s GentlePrecision blades that cleanly cut short and flat-lying hairs while also providing a close cut on stubble that you haven’t trimmed in a couple of days.

The 7500 also features Norelco’s DynamicFlex Technology, which enables the shaving heads to move in five directions, making it easy to trim the various contours and hard-to-reach places of a man’s face and neck.

The Norelco 7500 shaver includes an LED display with a 1-level battery indicator which warns users when the battery’s juice runs low. The LED also has a cleaning indicator, replacement head indicator, and a travel lock indicator.

Keeping your 7500 in shave-ready shape is easy, thanks to a SmartClean cleaning station that lubricates – and charges – the razor to help keep it running at maximum efficiency. The cleaning station is skin-friendly because it uses no alcohol.

The 7500 runs on a Lithium-ion battery (typically the longest-lasting batteries found in electric razors) but also comes with a power cord.

It’s suitable for wet and dry use, thanks to Norelco’s AquaTec technology. Feel free to use it with your favorite shave foam or gel or in the shower.

Bottom Line

It’s not easy picking a single standout from Norelco’s lengthy list of quality electric razors, but the 7500 is worthy of special mention. It has all the features you’d expect from a Norelco product, and it’s good for men of all skin types.

2. Philips Norelco 6500 Shaver

While the 6500 doesn’t come with the bells and whistles the 7500 or 9000 comes with, it doesn’t mean it’s any less effective. In fact, in most cases, it has similar effectiveness.

The 6500 comes with an anti-friction coating and is waterproof, meaning you can use it with your favorite shaving gels and creams. Similar to other Philips Norelco shavers, it comes with their patented comfort ring coating, making gliding it on your skin, effortless.

It does a great job protecting you from irritations, redness, or accidental cuts. Even though it doesn’t feature a cleaning station or a fancy led screen, it does come with the turbo button, which lets you increase its power by 10% for the denser parts of your beard.

But there’s more.

The battery charges in one hour and has a 5-minute quick charge technology that lets you get juice for one shave if you are in a hurry. When fully charged it lasts around 50 minutes despite the advertised 60. However, it is still pretty solid and better than many others.

These are not the only reasons we like it, however.

• It comes with a click-on trimmer that lets you detail shave your mustache and sideburns.
• The shaving heads simply pop open with one touch of a button and the shaver is waterproof, making it easy to clean.
• Comes with additional replacement heads, which last for about a year.

Last but not least, we liked is the 6500’s motor’s quietness. Without the excessive loudness of other electric shavers, you’ll receive a clean, relaxing shave.

Bottom Line

The Norelco 6500 has a simple design and doesn’t come with all the fancy features that more expensive Norelco shavers have yet provides all of the performance you’d expect from the company’s excellent line of electric shavers.

3. Philips Norelco 5100 Electric Shaver Wet & Dry

How fast of a shave a razor provides is often important for a few reasons, including that it helps you scurry out the door in the morning when you’re running late. Fast blades can also cut whiskers more efficiently without the pulling and tugging of sluggish blades.

Not that a fast razor guarantees a close shave, but we think you will appreciate the closeness provided by the Norelco 5100 – a razor that many men claim will lap the field regarding speediness.

A bonus is that it also provides a close shave without skin irritation, which makes it suitable for men with sensitive skin.

The 5100 comes with Norelco’s MultiPrecision blade system that cuts both long and short hair efficiently and smoothly.

The razor’s five-directional rotary heads move independently and make it easier to cut close to the skin, as well easier to trim trickier areas, such as the neck and jawline.

Moreover, you won’t have to make several passes to get the smooth, close shave you desire.

The 5100 is suitable for wet and dry shaving, thanks to its AquaTec function. You can shave dry, you can use your favorite shave foam or gel, or you can even shave in the shower.

The 5100 also comes with a SmartClick precision trimmer that allows you to take care of the finer details (sideburns, mustache, etc.).

The 5100 is cordless and comes with a Lithium-ion battery that provides over 40 minutes of run time, which is approximately 13 shaves, on a one-hour charge. There’s also an LED that lets you know how much battery time is left and includes a cleaning indicator.

Bottom Line

The 5100 appears in plenty of Philips Norelco razor reviews, and with good reason. It’s a fast, efficient shaver that can handle long and short whiskers, as well as touch-up work.

4. Philips Norelco SP9820/87 Shaver 9000 Prestige 

The Norelco SP9820 ups the ante when it comes to shaving the facial contours unique to every man.

Let us explain why!

This is a razor that is versatile and provides advanced features that not all standard electric razors have.

The SP9820’s close shave capability comes from, in part, its unique Contour Detect Technology, in which each shaving head moves in eight directions independently. It’s a technology that makes for a more efficient shave that follows the curves of your face. The Contour Detect Technology along with its ergonomic design makes it easier to handle.

Additionally, its NanoTech Precision Blades help provide an extremely close shave due to their strengthened nanoparticles, which assist increasing precision.

You can achieve a really close shave without worrying about cutting yourself, due to the razor’s inclusion of protective rings around the shaving heads. This helps the shaver to glide easier over your skin, minimizing the chance of causing irritations. Therefore it is suitable for sensitive skin types as well.

There are plenty of other reasons why we include the SP9820 on our list of best Philips Norelco shavers, including:

• The SP9820 comes with a SmartClick precision trimmer that will help you refine the details of your mustache, sideburns, etc.
• It is waterproof, so you can use it for both wet and dry shaving.
• Its Lithium-ion battery provides 60 minutes of runtime. It takes one hour to fully charge the razor (if you’ve run the battery completely out). While the battery life is not the best you can find, it comes with a 5-minute quick charge function that provides enough runtime for one shave if needed quickly.
• It comes with a luxurious travel case which also protects it from any damage.

Bottom Line

This is a powerful, yet gentle on the skin electric razor that is durable and multifunctional. It’s worth the investment.

5. Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid Electric Trimmer & Shaver

Is it a disposable razor? An electric razor?

At first glance, it’s not easy to tell exactly what the Norelco OneBlade is, but it is indeed an electric razor (even if it looks a lot like a disposable).

It’s also a versatile grooming tool that allows you to trim, edge, and shave any length of hair, and it can serve as a manscaping body groomer if you so choose.

The OneBlade name comes from the razor’s single shaving surface, which looks like a small foil, and it also features a rapid cutter blade that’s said to move 200 times per second.

It also comes with a dual protection system that enables you to get a clean, comfortable shave even on longer hairs.

The OneBlade is good for detail work; it comes with three trimming combs that help to give you a fast, even trim in the most hard-to-reach places, while the dual-sided blade is excellent for precise edging and creating the exact look you prefer.

It’s an ideal tool for men who wear a variety of facial hair styles, including stubble and longer beards.

You can also use the OneBlade for wet and dry shaving, and, because it’s water-resistant, it’s easy to clean.

We also think it’s perhaps the best Norelco shaver for the money. It’s inexpensive, for one, but a blade should last four months before a replacement is needed.

Bottom Line

The OneBlade is a surprisingly effective tool for trimming your beard and creating the shapes and styles you want. It also comes at a nice price.

6. Philips Norelco Shaver 2100

Everyone has to start somewhere, including shaving with an electric razor.

That’s one reason to like a razor such as the Norelco 2100 – it’s considered an ideal “entry-level” shaver that’s great for newcomers but effective enough for use by men of all levels of shaving experience.

Like the Norelco OneBlade, the 2100 comes at an affordable price without skimping on any of the craftsmanship through which Norelco has built its name.

It features a CloseCut blade system that gives a close shave without irritation, while its blades are self-sharpening and maintain their consistency from shave to shave.

The 2100’s shaving heads flex in four directions to easily handle the unique curves and contours of a man’s face.

It also includes a pop-up trimmer that handles the “detail” work of sideburns and mustaches – for putting the finishing touches on whatever style you want to achieve.

The 2100 is capable of wet and dry shaving, and it’s easy to clean (with water), thanks to a one-touch feature that opens the heads so you can rinse them.

Moreover, it’s an extremely quiet razor that some users say is so quiet you can’t hear it unless you’re standing next to the person using it.

Its Lithium-ion battery provides up to 35 minutes of shave time and needs about eight hours to charge completely. An LED display lets you know when battery power is running low.

Bottom Line

The 2100 is a no-frills razor that still delivers the quality shave you expect from Norelco’s products. You could spend more on another razor that doesn’t provide as good a shave.

How to use a Norelco razor to get the best shave every time

If you’re new to shaving with a Norelco razor – or to electric shavers in general – your skin may need a couple of weeks to adjust. You may experience some slight irritation and discomfort in the beginning, but that’s normal and shouldn’t last very long.

There also are certain things you can do and techniques to follow to ensure that you’re getting the most from your Norelco razor with each shave. Here’s a closer look:

Pre-trim

Shaving longer whiskers with an electric razor is sometimes a chore and often uncomfortable. You’ll do yourself a favor with a bit of pre-trimming if your beard is a couple of days old and heavier than usual.

Most Norelco shavers come with trimming attachments that help you to thin the forest, or you can use a quality pair of beard and mustache scissors.

Don’t use too much force

There’s no need to use excessive force when using your Norelco shaver – or any electric razor for that matter. Gentle pressure is enough to make your facial hair stand upright while ensuring that the blade catches and cuts it.

Too much pressure creates friction between your shaver and skin, which can lead to irritation. Go easy, friends – especially if you have sensitive skin.

Shaving difficult whiskers

Most men have a few facial hairs that seem to defy their best shaving efforts and escape the shaver. One of the ways you can get them to cooperate is by gently pulling the skin in that hair taut because it will lift the hairs and make your shaver’s job easier.

Shave against the grain

While manual shaving (with exposed blades) involves shaving with the grain, the opposite is true for shaving with an electric razor. The shaving heads and foils of an electric shaver will best lift and capture your whiskers when you shave against the grain.

Also, remember to shave with circular motions only when using a rotary shaver. Foil razors limit you to up-and-down movements and can easily irritate the skin if you operate them with circular motions.

Wet shaving

Many men use their Norelco razor for wet shaving and feel that doing so gives them a closer shave. One of the keys to wet shaving is using a quality shaving foam or gel, and it’s always a good idea to wash your face with soap and water before you start shaving.

Dry shaving

Dry shaving is always an option with any Norelco electric razor and is less complicated than wet shaving, in which you use products such as shave foam or gel.

To get started, wash your face with water and a good face wash or soap. Use warm water, because it will open up your skin’s pores and give your whiskers an extra bit of “lift” that helps your shaver’s blades catch them.

Let your skin dry completely before you begin shaving and then use circular motions to trim your facial hair (or up and down motions when using a foil shaver).

Detail work

Save your sideburns and mustache for last and give them a touch-up as needed. Again, your Norelco shaver probably has styling and trimming attachments that enable you to handle “detail” work smoothly.

Finishing up

A couple of things you should do after you’ve finished shaving and trimming is 1) apply aftershave and 2) clean your razor.

Aftershave will soothe your skin and give it the fresh-shave feeling that many men love while also easing potential skin irritation that’s the bane of men with sensitive skin.

Finally, it’s important to clean your Norelco shaver after every use, whether you rinse it with tap water or use the cleaning station that comes with many shavers.

You can also use a cleaning brush (most electric shaver kits include them) to wipe away excess whiskers left on the blades.

Following a consistent post-shave cleaning routine will help keep your razor working its best while also ensuring that you get the most life from it as possible.

How Norelco stacks up against the rest

The Philips company – which later became Philips Norelco – produced its first line of electric shavers in 1939. In other words, they’ve been in the shaving game for a long time and have introduced a lot of unique technology since then.

Many men swear by Norelco’s shaving products, including their body groomers, and that loyalty isn’t simply driven by marketing and advertising. Their razors produce superior results in a lot of categories, and there are plenty of reasons to like them:

Blades

Norelco’s shavers come with blades designed to provide a closer shave with fewer passes. They’re designed with a precision lift and cut technology that works on whiskers of different lengths.

Norelco’s blades often change from model to model, however, but that’s true of many other electric razor manufacturers, including Braun.

Most Norelco shavers feature blades that move in different directions – which, again, isn’t unique – but it does allow users to trim hairs from different angles, which also helps improve shaving accuracy and decrease the likelihood of razor burn and bumps.

Type

Electric razors come in two types: foil and rotary. While Norelco manufacturers both types, one of their major competitors (Braun) focuses primarily on foil razors.

Both types of razors have their advantages, but one of the things we like about rotary shavers is that you move them in circular motions; foil shavers restrict you to straight-line or up-and-down movements.

Power

Norelco, Braun, and Panasonic shavers have motors of varying degrees of power, and you won’t have trouble finding one with a motor powerful enough to suit your needs.

Braun may have an edge in power – its AutoSensing motor ranks among the best in the business – but more powerful motors typically generate more noise, which may or may not influence your buying decision.

Accessories

Norelco shavers come with a boatload of accessories – as evidenced by our razor reviews above – and include everything from precision trimmers and stylers to travel pouches and cleaning stations. Norelco has you covered if you like gadgets.

Wet & Dry Shaving

While foil shavers work particularly well for shaving with thick creams and gels, that’s not to say Norelco’s rotary models won’t get the job done during wet shaving.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Among the advantages offered by Norelco’s cleaning stations is that they don’t use alcohol. That’s another plus for men with sensitive skin – although, to be fair, the alcohol used in the cleaning stations of other major razor brands is often highly-diluted.

Batteries

Norelco shavers use Lithium-ion batteries that typically provide up to 40 minutes of shaving, and perhaps more, before needing a full charge. The battery should last the life of the razor.

How we chose the best Norelco shavers

No matter what your shaving needs or type of whiskers and facial skin, there’s a Norelco Shaver out there with your name on it. Quality Norelco razors abound, which makes narrowing down the field to find the best of the bunch something of a challenge.

We chose the Norelco shavers for our best-of list based on a variety of considerations, including overall performance, blade quality, ease of use, attachments, battery life, and ease of maintenance and cleaning.

We also considered the reviews of others, particularly those of customers like you.

Price is another factor we considered, and our goal is always to provide a list of products that fit the budget of every man.

Conclusion

The Philips Norelco Shaver is a star in the trimming community because of the innovative design and the ease of use it offers to its customers. In this article, we talked about the different item models of the best Philips Norelco Shaver options, the way they work, what skin types they’re best for, and why they are such a hit. 

What are your thoughts? Do you use a Norelco shaver? If so, what model? Or, do you use another type of electric razor? We’d love to hear from you. If you’re interested in similar topics about men’s grooming, please feel free to check out our other articles, as well!

The post 6 Best Philips Norelco Shavers for a Quality, Smooth Shave appeared first on Balding & Beards.

After all, essential oils aren’t just some modern fad. They’ve been around for thousands of years, going at least as far back as the Ancient Egyptians in 4000 BC.

That being said, there are dozens, if not hundreds of essential oils being recommended around the web, and their purported effects can sometimes be vague, misleading, and even over-hyped. With that in mind, we decided to cut through the BS with this list of the best essential oils for hair growth.

In a hurry? Here are our top picks:

We’ve also included a handful of other great products, along with tips for buying and using essential oils for hair growth. You’ll even find a quick rundown of some of the alternative hair growth treatments out there for men.

Quick summary

	Best Overall Hair Thickness Maximizer Organic Hair Growth Oil	100% natural, organic ingredients Money back guarantee Many hair growth benefits	Check on Amazon
	Best for Damaged Hair Hairfinity Botanical Hair Oil	Proven reduction in breakages 100% natural formula Suitable for all hair types	Check on Amazon
	Best Affordable Healing Solutions Rosemary Essential Oil	Helps improve hair thickness It’s suitable for a variety of uses Affordability	Check on Amazon
	Wild Growth Hair Oil	Moisturizes hair and skin Rich in natural oils Assists in hair growth	Check on Amazon
	Grande Cosmetics GrandeHAIR Hair Enhancing Serum	Castor oil with a variety of natural extracts Reduces hair loss speed Proven results on hair growth	Check on Amazon
	Ancient Greek Remedy Oil	Raw, cold-pressed oils Money-back guarantee Regenerates and strengthens hair	Check on Amazon
	Maple Holistics Pure Rosemary Essential Oil Stimulating Scalp Treatment	Produced with top quality rosemary oil Reduces hair loss speed Useful in many other ways	Check on Amazon
	Plantlife 100% Pure Essential Oil	Comes with a pleasant aroma Helps the scalp and the hair Has multiple purposes and benefits	Check on Amazon
	PHILIP B Rejuvenating Oil	Hydrates hair and skin Balances scalp sebum Encourages hair growth and strengthens hair follicles	Check on Amazon

Before you buy: 12 Things to consider when purchasing essential oils for hair growth

For centuries, people have extracted fragrant and nutrient-rich oils from plants to make products like essential oils, soaps, detergents and perfumes. In recent years, however, the many uses of essential oils have expanded way past household cleaning. Instead, essential oils are being used for medicinal purposes ranging from relieving toothaches to treating depression. Nowhere is this trend more apparent than in the hair care community.

Buying essential oils is a sometimes challenging process because, if for nothing else, plenty of products make lofty claims. For another, you may come across many types of the same oil, making it a bit tougher to separate the good from the bad.

But we’re here to help, friends, with a few handy tips that should make it easier to choose the essential oil for hair growth that’s best for you.

1. Organic

One of the first things to look for in an essential oil is whether or not it’s organic. Why should organic be your preference when buying essential oils?

Well, for one, oils extracted from organically grown crops won’t have pesticide residue. We think that’s pretty important.

Organic matter goes beyond crops and livestock. Just like plants, humans and animals need to be safe from ingesting toxins. This is especially important when it comes to something you are going to put directly onto your scalp or hair!

2. The Extraction Process

Essential oils are “harvested” from the seeds of plants through an extraction process. The type of extraction process is important, not only regarding the overall quality of the product but even for personal safety.

Essential oils are a great way to keep your hair healthy and moisturized. They are extracted from the seeds, roots, stems and some flowers of plants and trees. These oils have actually been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes, spiritual development, fragrance and food flavoring. From ancient Egypt through the Middle Ages and into American history, people have valued essential oils for their potency and healing power. They are said to increase concentration, promote relaxation, fight stress-related illness, bolster the immune system and they can also be used in aromatherapy.

Here are three common types of essential oil extraction:

3. Cold-Pressed

Many essential oil experts say the cold-pressed method is the best one for extracting essential oils because the oil isn’t damaged as it can be during a heat-pressed process.

You can usually tell a cold-pressed oil by its fresh scent and light color (the seed’s natural fragrance isn’t lost during extraction). It’s worth noting, however, that cold-pressing isn’t suitable for the extraction of every essential oil.

4. Steam-Pressed

Steam-pressing represents the “heat” option for extracting essential oils. Steam passes through the raw materials to vaporize the volatile oils, which rise with the steam and end up in a condensation chamber.

5. Solvent-Pressed

The first step in the solvent-pressed extraction process uses a solvent such as hexane. The plant’s natural aroma remains intact through this process but solvents such as hexane – which can harm the nervous system if used in excess amounts – aren’t always safe.

6. Avoid Synthetic Fragrances

There’s a difference between pure essential oils and synthetic fragrance oils synthesized through chemical extraction processes. While they may smell the same, or at least similar to, pure essential oils, they may not have the same therapeutic qualities.

7. Type

The list of essential oils that aid hair growth and hair thickening is long and we won’t mention all of them here. But here’s a brief look at five of them:

8. Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree oil comes with many benefits, including that it helps treat dandruff as well as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis – which causes a red, itchy rash on the scalp.

9. Peppermint Oil

Your hair and scalp will love peppermint because it’s effective in treating both greasy and dry hair and helps improve blood flow to the areas of the scalp where it’s applied. It’s also good for opening skin pores to allow more of the essential oil to penetrate the scalp.

10. Lemon Oil

Lemon oil helps dry up greasiness and has anti-bacterial properties that treat latent fungus, as well as dandruff. It’s also good for treating acne.

11. Lavender Oil

Lavender oil helps deeply condition the hair, keeps it shiny, and also works to control dandruff.

12. Rosemary Oil

Rosemary oil has many benefits for your hair and scalp, as well, including that it stimulates root growth and increases circulation to the scalp.

Again, the above represents only a small percentage of essential oils that are proven effective in dealing with hair loss and scalp issues such as dandruff.

Next, let’s move on to our reviews of the best essential oil products for hair growth.

The 9 best essential oils for hair growth

1. Hair Thickness Maximizer Organic Hair Growth Oil

Hair Thickness Maximizer’s products are just what the company name suggests – they’re specific purpose is to give you a thicker head of hair while slowing hair loss.

Other hair growth products promote a variety of uses, which is great, but Hair Thickness Maximizer’s sole focus is on delivering results to the top of your head.

Their Organic Hair Growth Oil certainly has the stuff to promote hair growth: from tea tree oil and peppermint to Jamaican black castor oil and jojoba. And there’s more, including lemongrass, argan oil, and rosehip.

Argan oil, which has proven effects on hair re-growth, is worth special mention, while jojoba oil helps remove excess sebum on the scalp to help promote hair growth.

Jamaican black castor oil, meanwhile, increases the scalp’s blood circulation while also addressing issues such as hair breakage, dandruff, eczema, and a dry and itchy scalp.

The oil’s organic ingredients address several issues common to thinning and balding hair, including hair breakage, receding hair, weak hair, and overall hair loss.

How does it work? In a variety of ways, including:

• It promotes thick, healthy hair
• It nourishes the scalp
• It assists in the preservation and strengthening of existing hair and hair follicles
• It prevents hair loss and breakage

Hair Thickness Maximizer Organic Hair Growth Oil comes in a small bottle with a dropper applicator.

For best results, apply two to three drops to the scalp on the affected area (i.e., where hair is thinning). You can leave it on overnight, or a minimum of 30 minutes before showering, and should use it two to four times a week.

Each bottle comes with a 90-day money back guarantee, meaning there’s no risk in trying this product because you’ll get a full refund if you don’t like the results.

Bottom Line

You need the right oil and blend of ingredients to make a difference in treating hair loss and hair re-growth. Hair Thickness Maximizer nourishes your hair and stimulates the follicles while improving its physical appearance.

2. Hairfinity Botanical Hair Oil

The beauty of Hairfinity’s Botanical Hair Oil is it genuinely works with any and all hair types – men and women, curly or straight. With its 100& natural formula, it has been proven to reduce hair breakage by 95%, and it can have a profound – and rather fast – effect on the thickness and growth of your hair.

Not only that: it works great as a pre-shampoo, as a scalp treatment. Plus it will make your hair softer, easier to style and improve its general health and appearance immeasurably.

All you do is apply a few drops to the ends of your hair each day and wait for the magic to happen.

With a mixture of collagen, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, moringa oil, apricot oil and vitamin E, this stuff is completely free of sulfates, parabens and all the other toxic stuff we want nowhere near our hair.

And while the bottle may appear small for the price, even a tiny amount of this stuff goes an awful long way, so you get far more value for your money than might first appear. Just remember not to large amounts at a time – it won’t affect the results, and you’ll end up wasting good product!

The only drawback is the smell: many reviewers report finding the minty scent a little overbearing or obnoxious, and that’s totally fair. Although many also find it refreshing and energizing – so it’s really down to taste.

Bottom Line

A great, versatile hair oil made with all natural ingredients and plenty of essential oils.

3. Healing Solutions Rosemary Essential Oil

Healing Solutions is a smaller company that produces some excellent products that don’t cost the customer an arm and a leg. Like their 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Rosemary Oil, for instance.

The latter is an excellent example of a quality essential oil product for hair growth. It’s a pure grade rosemary oil that’s very versatile; yes, it helps to stimulate hair thickness and growth, but it serves a lot of other purposes, as well.

Healing Solutions customers report that they’ve used the Therapeutic Grade Rosemary Oil for pain relief, as an antimicrobial in their bath (in place of soap), and that it helps combat skin dryness. Some say they’ve even used it to reduce the amount of gray in their hair.

You can also blend rosemary with other oils, such as peppermint, lemongrass, sage, basil, and eucalyptus.

And, if you don’t like it, you can send it back to Healing Solutions for a full refund, no questions asked.

Bottom Line

The Healing Solutions Pure Therapeutic Grade Rosemary Oil is versatile, including that it’s great for the hair. You’ll also like its scent.

4. Wild Growth Hair Oil 

Wild Growth Hair Oil is definitely one of the best hair growth oils out there. It contains a mixture of carrier and essential oils, such as coconut oil, olive oil, clary sage oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, etc., that are proven to help with hair growth and maintaining healthy hair.

Let’s examine some of these oils as we haven’t discussed most of them in a previous section.

Coconut oil is a fatty oil that helps hydrate the hair and the skin underneath it, reducing dandruff and flakes. This has an effect in less itching and irritating sensations. However, it does make the hair feel a little bit greasy.

Olive oil also hydrates the skin and increases elasticity to the hair. This results in less breakage and frizz. Additionally, a study on mice indicated that a component found in olive oil named oleuropein promotes hair growth as it directly impacts the growth cycle.

Clary sage oil balances sebum production while also revitalizing the scalp. This results in the strengthening of hair follicles, which prevents hair loss.

Lastly, eucalyptus and lavender oils enforce all the benefits of the above ingredients.

It is important to note that this oil is rather thick. It can leave a greasy feel if you overapply, so be aware of that. However, even though you might feel your hair a bit oily after application, it is very effective in hydrating and nourishing the hair.

What we didn’t like about it was its scent, which we believe was pretty strong. If you are sensitive to scents probably this one might not be the best choice for you. Healing Solutions Rosemary Essential Oil or, Healing Solutions Rosemary Essential Oil have more lightweight scents, making them more suitable options.

Overall, this is a great oil that helps with hair growth and moisturizes the scalp. At a great price as well.

Bottom Line

Wild Growth Hair Oil is an effective product that helps improve hair growth for both men and women at an affordable price. Awesome!

5. Grande Cosmetics GrandeHAIR Hair Enhancing Serum 

Grande Cosmetics GrandeHAIR Hair Enhancing Serum says it in its name. It helps you grow the ‘’grande’ hair you have always wanted.

It is a unisex serum that is formulated with castor oil and a variety of botanical extracts, with the purpose of helping you grow thicker hair.

Castor oil is known for its many benefits. It nourishes and softens the hair as well as minimizes the possibility of breakage. It also increases the circulation to the scalp, which has as a result, increased hair growth.

According to the manufacturer when testing the product, 94% of its users had improved hair thickness and 82% reduced hair loss. This says a lot about its effectiveness.

As an additional bonus, it is also cruelty-free and paraben-free.

However, you should consider the low amount of serum you are getting for its high price. While it is a very premium product that screams luxury and can definitely make you see improvements, it might not be the right one for people looking for an affordable option.

Bottom Line

A unisex serum that is full of natural oils which are proven to stimulate hair growth. A perfect combination of performance and luxury.

6. Ancient Greek Remedy Oil

The Ancient Greek Remedy Oil uses a simple formula that includes just four natural raw ingredients – extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil, and lavender oil.

It also includes vitamin E, which is a common ingredient you’ll find in natural treatments for your hair, face, skin, nails, and feet.

But there are plenty of reasons why this oil is appealing to anyone who seeks holistic health solutions, including that it doesn’t contain harmful chemicals, dyes, or color additives. Also, Ancient Greek Remedy Oil never is tested on animals and it’s vegan.

Another thing to like is that it’s extracted through the cold-pressing process that helps retain the oil’s beneficial natural properties.

Greek Remedy Oil’s benefits for hair are many and works for all hair types: straight, wavy, afro, curly, etc. It’s ideal for rejuvenating and thickening weak, brittle hair, and it moisturizes and nourishes dry, flaky scalps.

You’ll also like how it relieves chronic scalp itch, and how it works as a natural dandruff treatment.

Not that Greek Remedy Oil treats only hair, because it’s excellent for skin care as it provides hydration that makes skin softer and smoother, and even relieves skin irritation.

You may also find it useful for cuticle and skin care, depending on your needs. Furthermore, it’s safe for kids, including toddlers.

A 4-ounce bottle of Greek Remedy Oil should last you a long time because it comes with a pump dispenser that makes it easy to target just the areas on your scalp where hair loss and thinning hair are most noticeable. Each bottle has a shelf life of three years.

Last but not least, the Greek Remedy Oil comes with a 100% money back guarantee, which is always a good thing.

Bottom Line

Greek Remedy Oil has a lot of uses, as do the other quality oils on this list, but we like what it does for hair health. You’ll notice your hair becoming stronger and less brittle, while it’s helpful in dealing with dandruff and other scalp issues.

7. Maple Holistics Pure Rosemary Essential Oil Stimulating Scalp Treatment

New Jersey-based Maple Holistics is committed to providing natural, holistic products that enhance personal hygiene and health, and their Pure Rosemary Essential Oil is no exception.

All of Maple Holistics’ products are 100% pure therapeutic grade, which means – among other things – that their products consist of only natural ingredients and are sulfate-free.

Their Pure Rosemary Essential Oil is cold-pressed and made from high-grade rosemary extract.

The oil also serves a variety of health-related purposes, including that it works as an excellent skin treatment.

Rosemary oil, which certainly is in the discussing regarding the best essential oil for hair growth, also is said to help boost mental functions such as concentration, focus, and memory retention.

But our primary interest is how it works to promote hair growth and thickness.

That said, it blocks DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that’s known to slow hair growth. Maple Holistics’ Pure Rosemary Essential Oil also controls dandruff and tames frizziness that can make your hair hard to manage.

Hey, it’s even good for beard health and growth.

All of Maple Holistics’ products come with a money-back guarantee, so you’re really at no risk to try the Pure Rosemary Essential Oil Stimulating Scalp treatment. And, chances are, you’ll like it.

Bottom Line

There’s a lot to like about Maple Holistics’ Pure Rosemary Essential Oil, not the least of which is its effects on hair loss and hair growth. Made from natural ingredients, you can use it safely without worrying about harmful chemicals reaching your scalp, skin, and hair.

8. Plantlife 100% Pure Essential Oil

Ah, rosemary oil. One of the most common oils used in hair growth products, with origins that extend way back to ancient Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans, rosemary has many, many uses – such as a treatment for mental fatigue and circulation problems.

Rosemary is the primary ingredient in Plantlife’s 100% Pure Essential Oil, which comes in a portable 10ml bottle (with dropper) that you can take anywhere. It stimulates circulation to the scalp, which promotes hair growth, while also limiting dandruff and a too-oily scalp.

You can apply a couple of drops of Plantlife’s oil directly to the scalp or add a few drops to your favorite shampoo or conditioner. It has a sweet, camphor-like scent that’s lightweight.

Bottom Line

We’ve already said it but it’s worth repeating: rosemary oil is perhaps the best essential oil for hair growth and Plantlife’s 100% Pure Essential Oil lives up to the billing. You’ll like what it does for your hair and it has many other health benefits.

9. PHILIP B Rejuvenating Oil 

PHILIP B Rejuvenating Oil is another excellent oil that deserves a mention on our list.

It is a blend of ultra-light essential oils that not only do they help with hair growth but also condition and moisturize damaged dry hair.

The blend contains a variety of essential oils, but its main ones are jojoba, lavender, geranium, and olive oils. Rest assure, it is free from any parabens and other possibly harmful chemicals.

Jojoba contains vitamins and minerals that nourish and strengthen the hair, such as vitamin E, C, B, and zinc, while also promoting hair thickness. Along with olive oil, they moisturize the hair preventing split ends and breakage.

Lavender oil has become a very well-known essential oil when it comes to hair products. Except for its divine scent, a study has proven that it promotes hair growth, making the hair appear thicker and grow faster than normal.

Lastly, geranium helps improve the health of the scalp. It regulates excess oil and the production of sebum, reducing the chances of scalp acne and other related conditions.

You will love how lightweight this oil is. It makes the application a real joy and non-difficult. After even the first application, you will notice your hair is healthier, rejuvenated, and more elastic.

While it doesn’t make the hair shiny, it brings back its natural shine.

Its scent is also a treat. It has a floral botanical fresh scent that you will adore. But, as it also contains fragrance, it is a bit on the heavy side.

If you are sensitive to strong scents, consider other options in our list, as several reviewers mention that they found its aroma too much despite it being divine.

Bottom Line

This is one of the best oils that will provide a lot of benefits to your hair. If you have damaged hair or suffer from hair loss, this is an excellent option.

How we chose these products

There’s one primary criterion when evaluating the best essential oil for hair growth, i.e., how effective is the product in growing hair.

Indeed, that’s our main consideration in evaluating the products found on our list – and others – and certainly served as the foundation of our research, including the reviews of others.

There are other things to take into account, too, including the overall list of ingredients (not just the essential oils), and we prefer natural and organic products over those that include chemicals.

We also like essential oil products that serve a variety of health-beneficial functions, which almost all of them do.

Applying essential oils for hair growth (A simple, illustrated guide)

There’s no question that essential oils can boost the overall health of your hair in several ways. They’re also relatively easy to use, but you need to take some care and follow a few rules of the road when regarding how to use essential oils for hair. Let’s take a look.

Step 1:

Perhaps the most important rule when it comes to applying essential oil for hair growth is never to apply an essential oil directly to the scalp.

That doesn’t mean the oils listed in our reviews, mind you, but essential oils that aren’t diluted with a carrier oil(s). Essential oils can harm the scalp and hair if applied directly because of their high concentration and volatility.

Step 2:

A quick word about carrier oils. Unlike many essential oils, carrier oils don’t evaporate quickly or have a strong smell, which makes them ideal for use in diluting essential oils.

Carrier oils allow you to cover a large area of your scalp and skin with essential oils without having to add too much. Examples of carrier oils include coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil.

Step 3:

The amount of dilution needed for an essential oil – that is, so it’s safe to apply to the skin – usually depends on the strength of the essential oil. A very general rule of thumb suggests using 12 drops of essential oil with 30ml of a carrier oil before applying it to your hair.

Note: You can use more than one essential oil and one carrier oil together as long as you maintain the proper proportion of the various oils.

Step 4:

Different carrier oils, when mixed with essential oils, provide specific benefits to the scalp and hair.

For instance, jojoba oil and coconut oil help treat dry and damaged hair. Olive oil, castor oil and coconut oil (again) work as a dandruff treatment. For hair growth, castor oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil are considered among the best carrier oils.

Once you’ve determined your desired outcome, from stimulating hair growth to treating dandruff, you can then choose and mix the proper amount of essential and carrier oils.

Step 5:

You can test your oil on a small area of your body – such as your inner arm – to see if it has any adverse effects like itching or a rash – before using it on your head and scalp.

Step 6:

The following are ways you can use essential oils for hair care:

• Overnight

Mix the essential oil of your choice and massage it into your scalp just before you go to bed. Leaving it on overnight helps you reap the full benefits of the oil. You can then wash off the oil in the morning.

• As a hot oil treatment

Heat up your carrier oil before mixing it with essential oil. Don’t heat it under a flame because you’ll lose much of the oil and its beneficial properties, but heat it by placing it in hot water, instead.

Once it’s warmed up, blend it with the essential oil and massage the mixture into your scalp and hairs.

• With other products

Another easy way to use essential oil is to combine it with another hair care product. You could add a few drops of it to your favorite shampoo or conditioner, for instance, and still experience the same positive results on your overall hair health.

Essential oils, carrier oils, & other hair growth treatments

We’ve talked about essential oils (a lot) and carrier oils (briefly), but it doesn’t hurt to dig a bit deeper. After all, essential oils need carrier oils – and vice versa – to tackle hair growth and hair loss issues, although not all essential oils necessarily aid hair growth.

Moreover, essential oils serve a variety of functions beyond promoting strong hair health, which we’ve also discussed in most of our reviews of the best oils for hair growth.

All that said here’s a basic primer when it comes to essential oils, carrier oils, and a few other hair growth products.

1. Essential Oils

There’s no need to get in too much detail here about essential oils, since they represent the foundation of what we’ve talked about already, but here’s another look at some basics:

• Essential oils are the highly-concentrated oils found in the natural oils of plants. Extracting essential oils from plants requires a distillation process, such as cold-pressing or steam-distilled. Many parts of the plant get used during the distillation process – the roots, stems, flowers, bark, etc.
• The distillation process, as mentioned, produces the highly-concentrated portion of the essential oil, which retains the characteristic fragrance and properties of the plant. In other words, it retains the true essence of the plant – including its healing properties.
• Because essential oils are extremely concentrated and potent, you can’t put them directly on the surface of the skin. If you want to use essential oils to stimulate hair growth, you should mix them with carrier oils to dilute them enough that they won’t harm your scalp.
• And, as mentioned, you can mix several essential oils and carrier oils to get the most beneficial combination for your hair.
• Examples of essential oil for hair growth include peppermint, rosemary, cedarwood, clary sage, lavender, tea tree, lemon, and many others.

2. Carrier Oils

The name says it all when it comes to carrier oils; after all, they’re used to carry another substance – such as an essential oil – to the area in which treatment is needed, such as the hair.

Because essential oils have such a high concentration, you need carrier oils to dilute them enough that you can apply them to the scalp or skin safely.

Carrier oils are extracted from the seeds, nuts, or kernels of plants and, when compared to stronger essential oils, are relatively “neutral.” In turn, that makes them a good balance for essential oils.

Also, carrier oils don’t evaporate at the same rate as essential oils, and many of them have therapeutic benefits.

Some common carrier oils include:

• Coconut oil – One of the most popular carrier oils, coconut oil has a high concentration of antioxidants and provides anti-inflammatory and antifungal benefits.
• Castor oil – Castor oil is good for hair growth and treating hair loss for a variety of reasons, including that it’s high in omega-6 fatty acids that increase circulation to the scalp and help accelerate hair growth.
• Jojoba oil – Like castor oil, jojoba oil offers a fatty acid that mimics the natural sebum in the scalp.
• Grapeseed oil – Not only is grapeseed oil high in antioxidants, but it also moisturizes and nourishes hair while treating dandruff.
• Olive oil – Olive oil is effective for treating dandruff, frizzy hair, and dry skin.

3. Other Hair Growth Treatments

We’ve discussed a variety of common hair growth treatments in previous posts, including topical solutions such as Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride).

Rogaine and Propecia work, in part, by limiting the effects of DHT on hair follicles. While DHT is crucial for many human functions – including that it serves as a catalyst for puberty in young males – it may have a negative effect on hair growth.

Other, more expensive hair-loss treatments include scalp micropigmentation and hair transplants. Both treatments show proven results but, again, they don’t come cheap.

Conclusion

That wraps up another product review, friends. Have you tried any of the products listed here? Have you used essential oils on your hair and, if so, what were the results? We welcome your comments, feedback, and suggestions, and would love to hear from you.

Essential oils have a number of uses. They can be used to make your home smell lovely, they can provide a number of health benefits, and they can even be used to promote hair growth. While taking care of your hair doesn’t require a big commitment, caring for it does take time. However, there are several options for you to choose from when it comes to essential oils for hair growth. Since essential oil guides are readily available on the internet, finding the most effective essential oil for hair growth is just a click away.

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