Like any hair product, ingredients matter—especially when the primary function you’re looking for is firmness. When it comes to wax sticks, Korab suggests looking for formulas with nourishing ingredients. “I would look for oils in the wax stick, as they add moisture, shine, and condition the hair. I would also look for waxes, as some have stronger holds than others,” she explains.
Cavalcante concurs, noting that beeswax or candelilla wax are great foundational ingredients because “they provide hold and help shape the hair without making it crunchy.” For moisture and shine, he prefers natural oils like castor oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil, which are excellent for conditioning the hair while keeping it smooth and polished. “Lanolin is another helpful ingredient that softens and adds manageability, especially for dry or coarse textures,” he adds.
