The $35 Hair Wax Stick I’ve Rediscovered for Creating My Sleek Bun and Frizz Control
Sadaf Razi is Adore Beauty's Senior Beauty Editor.
She's a former fashion editor (who worked at various glossy mags) and stylist-turned digital beauty and lifestyle writer. She has been in the lifestyle/media industry for over 10 years and her work has also been featured on international covers like Elle France and Vanity Fair Mexico.
Some of her fave Adore Beauty products include Cicaplast B5, CeraVe Cleansing Oil and Lancôme Renergie Triple Serum.
In the realm of frizz-fighting styling products, one OG that often falls off our radars is the humble wax stick.
I had let mine collect dust for quite awhile before recently picking it up again after filming a mini tutorial (you can watch below) on how to use one for a sleeked back bun and had forgotten how ridiculously good it is at sleeking down hair and taming frizz.
Like, I’m talking about an instantaneous ONE SWIPE type of situation.
Which if you're anything like me and always rushing to get ready - (especially on travel) is *chef’s kiss*.
I’ve been sporting a sleek bun for years (I did grow up in the '90s after all) - and the ‘slicked back bun look’ has come in many styles and iterations over the years.
For many years I wore it quite low, sometimes I’ll even do a half knot, but thanks to TikTok and the cyclical nature of fashion and beauty trends, up-dos and nineties-inspired sleek buns that sit high on the head have made a comeback:
For me, it’s honestly just the default style on dirty hair days where the mere thought of washing and styling my long, thick hair at the end of a work day sounds about as appealing as paying my car insurance.
Recently, many TikTokers have made hair wax sticks viral again by using them to do their slicked back buns and that’s what inspired me to fall back in love with my absolute favourite pomade hair wax stick.
If you're aksing “does hair wax stick work?” - This one 10000% does.
I truly underestimated the ingenuity of a good hair wax stick like this one. In fact, I might just be putting my other styling product on pause indefinitely.
And my colleague Laura agrees. She told me, "I've repurchased it three times this year - its a must have."
What's even better, the styling hair products I usually use, don't have the hair-loving ingredients my hair wax stick does.
Ok enough with the suspense, which magical hair wax stick do I speak so highly of?
The R+Co Dart Pomade Stick of course!
Still haven't heard of it? Keep reading...
What Is The R+Co Dart Pomade Stick?
What: R+Co Dart Pomade Stick
A vegan and cruelty-free pomade stick that helps you create long-lasting texture and shape.
Is the R+Co Dart Pomade Stick good?
It’s excellent.
Here’s some other reasons why if you're looking for a wax stick for hair, that is long-lasting pomade one should be top of mind:
- Tames ‘on-the-go- flyaways.
- Creates long-lasting texture and shape.
- Can be used to create detailed, textured looks.
- This styling wax stick for hair contains Castor Seed Oil to keep hair hydrated, soft and shiny (can 100% vouch for this).
- Candelilla Wax provides hold by sealing out moisture.
- Jojoba esters provide nutrients and hydration to hair, and add shine and vitality.
- Is sulfate and mineral oil-free.
How to Do a Sleek Bun With Long Hair (Using a Hair Wax Stick).
Wondering how to use hair wax stick for beginners?
Here's an easy three step guide:
Step 1. Sectioning Your Hair.
Like I mentioned before, I personally find it’s always best to do your slick bun on dirty hair days.
Believe it or not a little grease and grit works in your favour here.
However, getting that clean, middle part might seem super easy for a lot of the TikTok girlies, but if you have thick hair like mine with coarse texture (POC friends can relate), that perfect middle part can be a harder pursuit.
I am VERY envious of the gals on TikTok that can effortlessly brush back a middle part with one swoop of a comb.
Not in this camp.
It always takes me a few failed attempts and a big test of my of my patience, before I can secure a clean middle part without that annoying rogue piece that keeps popping up and deciding it doesnt want to play nice with the rest of my hair (there's always one).
So what I like to do first (and those with all types of hair texture can do this too) is section out the two front bits and pin them separately.
Then I’ll brush back the bulk of my hair into a ponytail and secure with my first hair elastic.
Now raise your hand if the first bunch of side frizz has started showing up?
Me too.
This is where the magic starts.
I grab my wax stick, slide and gently press it across the frizzy hairs and boom! The frizz disappear immediately.
The reason I love this R+Co wax pomade stick so much is because when it glides across my coarse hair, it doesn’t pull or tug my strands, it doesn't feel gritty or leave behind any sticky residue either.
Also, a middle part isn’t for everyone, if you like how it frames your face and think it suits you better go for it, otherwise I also like to alternate with pulling everything back without a part.
Step 2. Secure the Middle Part.
Now it’s time to brush back those sectioned off front bits.
Using a fine tail comb I’ll brush back each side.
And yes, this part very much tests my patience as well. What you don't see in the video below (the power of editing) is the amount of fails.
But when it finally decides to play nice, I'll pin and secure each side in with a bobby pin underneath the ponytail.
Step 3. Polish Down Top Frizz and Secure Everything In.
Lastly, I twirl my ponytail into a messy bun and tie down with a second elastic.
When I first started sporting a slicked back bun look, the trend was that the actual bun had to look quite neat, now I love the 'piecey bun' look; making sure I have some wispy bits sticking out.
Then I'll bring back my pomade wax stick and do a final glide over the top of my head to sleek down that relentless top frizz to finalise and polish off the look.
Le fin!
Final Thoughts...
This wax stick is actually so quick and easy to use (as you can see in the video below)
It’s super malleable and just works with the flow of your natural hair so well.
I'm actually angry at myself for not using this magical hair wax stick to do my sleeked back bun sooner.
But, is this the best hair wax stick?
So far I think so, but I've only tried two in my beauty editor lifetime.
However seeing how instantly it slicks down frizz and leaves your hair soft, shiny and NOT crunchy - I'm going to say I think it's up there.
You can watch my mini video tutorial on how to do a sleeked-back bun with a hair wax stick below:
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