What’s The Difference Between Beard Balm And Beard Wax?

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

When it comes to beard care products, there’s an abundance of choice on the market, and frankly, choosing the right products can be a little overwhelming. All beard care products are designed to either nourish, shape or style your beard; but the best products for you will largely depend on your hair type, length of your beard and, of course, personal preference.

Jericho Australia are the country's leading provider of beard grooming products. We're here to break down the difference between beard balm and beard wax. 

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

The difference between beard balm and wax is that balm is generally more nourishing and will help with styling; where beard wax will provide a stronger hold. There's your short answer! Keep reading to find out which is best for your luscious locks.  

What is Beard Balm?

Before we get into a comparison, it’s important to understand what beard balm is and what styling options beard balm products provide.  

Beard balms are typically made with a mix of beeswax, shea butter, carrier oils, essential oils and (depending on the type of beard balm) fragrance. Beeswax is an excellent humectant, meaning it attracts and seals in moisture, which is good for both your skin and facial hair. This added moisture will not only soften and nourish your hair but will also fight against dry and itchy skin.

Beard wax is an ideal product for styling and conditioning your beard, providing a medium hold. It’s perfect for those with short to medium length beards as it makes styling easy and gives an appearance of thickness while taming flyaways and frizz.

The viscous texture of beard balm allows you to comb through stubborn, wiry beards with ease and can even be used to style your moustache and sideburns. The long-lasting benefits of beard balm make it a good choice if you’ve got a long day ahead of you and you want your beard to stay in place all day.

The most beneficial beard balms contain all-natural products that will nourish your hair and comfort your skin. Synthetic ingredients can irritate your hair and skin, possibly drying them out and creating rashes and flaking skin. Here at Jericho, we think it’s really important to use natural ingredients to keep your heard looking good, but also to encourage thick and healthy growth.

When and How to Use Beard Balm

The best time to apply beard balm is after washing with a naturally-derived beard shampoo, when your beard hair is still slightly damp. Start by brushing out your beard with a beard comb and then warm up a pea-sized amount of balm between your palms and apply to the lengths. You may then brush the balm through again to make sure the balm is evenly distributed before styling.

We recommend using beard balm once a day, only adding more throughout the day if you feel the hold weakening or dryness developing. The longer your beard, the more likely it is that you will have to apply extra balm to extend your style throughout the day. 

Given the benefits, we think beard balm is a staple product every bearded man should have in his routine. It can be used in conjunction with any number of other beard products and will elevate your beard game from average to amazing.

At Jericho, we only stock premium beard balm products made entirely from natural ingredients. Our most popular scents include the Godfather, Salted Caramel, the Lumberjack and the Vanilla Liquor.

Is Beard Balm the Same as Beard Wax?

So, now that we’ve got a better understanding of what beard balm is and when to use it, let’s dive into beard wax.

In short, beard wax provides a much stronger hold than beard balm and is typically used for styling specific areas, like the moustache and sideburns. It’s essentially a more dedicated styling product that doesn’t necessarily offer the moisturising benefits of a balm.

For styles like a handlebar moustache, wax is a favoured styling option as beard balm won’t always have the hold to keep that style in place for any amount of time. Both beard balm and wax are made with similar ingredients, but wax is formulated to be much denser, providing greater hold.

What About Moustache Wax?

Moustache waxing is a styling process that involves using wax to set your hair in a particular style. As mentioned previously, this is ideal if you’re looking to achieve the perfect handlebar moustache, but can also be used in small amounts to elevate your mo, from basic to polished.

Styling with Beard Balm Or Wax:

Whether you’re styling with beard balm or beard wax, here are some basic tips to guide you through prepping and making the most of your chosen products:

1. Grooming and Maintenance

Make sure your facial hair is long enough, but not too long! Regularly moisturising, washing, combing, and clipping can help your hair grow to your desired length and will make maintaining that length much easier.  

2. Know your Style

Having a clear vision will help you train your facial hair over time and will also mean you’re not forever wasting wax or balm on failed styling attempts.

3. Keep it Clean

Before applying any products, it’s best to start with a clean beard and face. Using a good quality beard and moustache shampoo will keep your hair nice and clean without stripping it dry. It will also ensure you start with a beard free of accumulated product, making the whole styling process much easier.

Can I use Beard Balm and Beard Wax Together? 

Yes, you absolutely can! Using beard balm and beard wax in tandem is a really effective way of styling your whole beard without overloading it with unnecessary product. Using beard balm to nourish and lightly style the lengths and the firmer-hold wax only on your moustache or sideburns will ensure you get the best of both worlds.  

While excess product won’t damage your hair, it can potentially cause discomfort and can feel greasy throughout the day. Using minimal product is usually the key to balancing the nourishing properties of a balm and the styling properties of wax.

So, What’s Better Beard Balm or Beard Wax?

To be perfectly frank, the difference between beard balm and beard wax isn’t a question of quality; it all depends on what you’re looking for from a product.  

If you’re after a beard grooming all-rounder that will help nourish your skin and hair while offering styling potential, beard balm is for you. If you’re looking for a firm hold for specifically styling your moustache or sideburns, then beard wax may be the best fit.

Shop Jericho Australia’s Range of Beard Products

If you’re after both a nourishing product for the lengths of your beard and something firmer for your hair, then you can easily use beard balm and beard wax together! Jericho Australia offer an extensive range of beard balms and beard wax products, made with natural ingredients right here in Australia. If you’re still a little unsure on which product may be right for you, contact our friendly team today and we’ll be happy to provide some beard grooming advice!