The benefits of beeswax for hair have been known since ancient times. It is believed that Cleopatra used beeswax to beautify her skin and hair, and the Chinese have used beeswax for centuries in their beauty rituals. In this post you will discover all the benefits of beeswax for hair and how you can use it at home.

Beeswax is often found in cosmetic products due to its numerous beauty benefits. It was mentioned in the famous Chinese medical book The Shen Nong Book of Herbs, which was written in the 1-2 century B.C., as a top medicinal ingredient. The book claims beeswax can be used as a beauty enhancement to slow down ageing (source).
Beeswax was also used as a medicinal ingredient in Ancient Egypt where it was a remedy for treating wounds, burns and joint pain. Ebers Papyrus, which is an ancient Egyptian medical document dating from 1550 B.C., mentions beeswax as the main ingredient for ointments and creams. (source). Ebers Papyrus is a medical papyrus of herbal knowledge and the oldest and most important of all medical papyri of Ancient Egypt.
There are other references to Beeswax being used by the Ancient Greeks, Romans and in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a whole host of skin conditions. Many Ayurvedic hair styling waxes today contain beeswax due to its anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties.
This post explores the beeswax benefits for hair.
Beeswax Benefits for Hair
What is Beeswax?
Beeswax is a natural wax that’s produced by female worker bees. The wax is secreted from glands on the bee’s abdomen as they build the honey comb. The composition of beeswax varies depending on the species of the honeybee and the continent they are in.
Composition of Beeswax by Country
Country | Composition of Beeswax |
---|---|
England | English beeswax contains 14.45% cerotic acid and 88.9% myricin |
India | Indian beeswax contains mainly hydrocarbons, unsaturated, saturated, and hydroxy acids |
Japan | Japanese beeswax is for good plasticity and has higher alcohols and hydroxyl acids |
Spain | Spanish beeswax contains hydrocarbons, free alcohols, acids, esters, and hydroxyl acids |
Poland | Polish beeswax comes from darker combs with a higher content of total n-alkanes |
Source: Pharmacognosy: Fundamentals, Applications and Strategies by Simone Badal and Rupika Delgoda
Female worker bees make the beeswax as they ingest honey inside the hive. To make just one pound of wax the bees need to ingest between six to eight pounds of honey. Source: Beeswax Production, Harvesting, Processing and Products, Coggshall and Morse. Wicwas Press. 1984-06-01
At first the wax appears like transparent scales on the bees’ abdomen but after it is chewed and processed by the bees, it becomes white, soft and pliable. The bees then use it to construct their honey comb (source).
5 Benefits of Beeswax for Hair
Beeswax can benefit your hair in a number of ways. Below are the five main beeswax benefits for hair.
1. Beeswax Promotes Hair Growth
If you are worried about hair loss there is evidence to suggest that beeswax actually promotes hair growth. One study conducted in 2016 found that hair wax containing beeswax caused hair to grow after 30 days of daily use.
The wax used in the study contained propolis and cannabis sativa seed oil. Propolis is made up of beeswax along with digested resins from different tree buds and barks. Since the wax contained other ingredients it is difficult to say if it was the beeswax alone that caused the hair growth. The full study can be found here.
2. Beeswax Moisturises Dry Hair
One of the main reason beeswax has been used in hair care is to add moisture to dry hair. Beeswax is rich in vitamins and contains plenty of vitamin A which is associated both with hair growth and keeping the hair and scalp moist.
Beeswax also helps to lock moisture into the hair strands which is particularly beneficial for high porosity hair which easily looses moisture.
3. Beeswax Smooths the Hair
Beeswax is often used in natural products to help smooth flyaways and shape the hair. It is useful not only for natural hair but also to keep twisted and braided styles protected.
4. Beeswax Seals Split Ends
Beeswax products can be used to hold the hair in place and seal split ends stopping them from getting any worse. Once a hair strand has split it can’t be repaired but beeswax can stop the split from travelling further up the hair shaft.
5. Beeswax Can Treat Scalp Problems
Beeswax not only benefits the hair but since it has anti fungal and antibacterial properties, it can also be used to treat scalp infections and dandruff. Since beeswax has moisturising and anti-inflammatory properties it can also treat an itchy, dry scalp.
Ways to Use & Remove Beeswax
You can either use pure beeswax on your hair or hair products that contain natural beeswax. If you decide to use pure beeswax use a small amount and warm it in your hands first. Be aware that beeswax is not easy to wash off and can weigh the hair down if you apply too much.
After you have applied the beeswax the best way to remove it is either with olive oil or apple cider vinegar. Either soak your hair in olive oil for ten minutes before washing or rinse the hair with diluted apple cider vinegar. Either way should clean the beeswax from your hair.
Beeswax Hair Products
Cantu Hair Wax

The Cantu Flaxseed Smoothing Hair Wax contains beeswax, shea butter, honey and coconut oil. This blend of natural ingredients smooths flyaway strands, nourishes the hair strands and leaves a sleek, refined look. It holds the hair without making it crunchy or leaving flakes.
Ultra Bee Dry Scalp Balm

The Ultra Bee Naturally Bee Beautiful dry scalp balm contains 100% natural Cera Alba (beeswax, honey, propolis and pollen) as well as avocado oil, sunflower seed oil which are all high in fatty acids, vitamins, enzymes, minerals, protein, co-enzymes and anti-oxidants.
Massage a small amount of the balm into the scalp to relieve dryness and itching. This product is excellent for soothing irritated skin and skin that has become sore or flaky. It is suitable for sensitive skin and can be used on babies who have cradle cap.
Dax Bees-Wax Enriched with Royal Jelly

The Dax Bees-Wax is formulated with royal jelly and pure beeswax which softens and smooths the hair leaving it looking shiny and healthy. This wax is great for pressing, curling, braid ends, and dreadlocks. It locks moisture into curly or coarse hair and provides improved hair texture and control.
This wax is particularly popular for smoothing braid ends or dreadlocks. It also contains mineral oil which reduces frizz and adds shine. It adds a protective barrier to the hair protecting it from damage caused by styling and environmental factors.
Related: Hair Wax for Women’s Hair
SBC Propolis Shampoo

This shampoo contains propolis which is made with beeswax. The formula includes white nettle, ginger and pro-vitamin b5 for a healthy scalp and hair. It was made for those with a dry or itchy scalp to help alleviate discomfort. Shampoos or hair conditioners containing propolis are excellent for adding moisture to the hair and scalp.
This shampoo is free from silicone, SLS or parabens and won’t cause skin irritation. It is suitable for all hair types and leaves hair glossy and shimmering.
Other Recommended Beeswax Products
Beeswax doesn’t just benefit the hair but has a whole host of other beauty benefits for the skin, lips and nails. I have listed below two of my favourite beauty products containing beeswax.
Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Lip Balm

The Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm first came out in 1991 and is still popular today. It soothes and conditions dry lips leaving them soft and smooth. It contains organic beeswax, vitamin E, peppermint oil, coconut oil, and sweet almond oil to deeply nourish dry skin and stop it from cracking.
Luxury White Beeswax Candle
Although not a beauty product, beeswax candles can help you create a sense of inner peace and calm anxiety. Since beeswax burns slower than other types of wax, beeswax candles last longer and the scent is released more gradually.
This post was all about beeswax benefits for hair
Thanks for reading my post about beeswax benefits for hair. If you have tried any of the products I’ve recommended then please leave me a comment below and let me know how you got on! Beeswax is an amazing organic ingredient in hair and skin care products that has many positive effects.