Best At-Home Waxing Kits

📅 1. November 2024 ✍️ By Kyle Alvarado ⏱️ 8 Mins Read 🗂️ Der Blog 🕒 Last updated: 5. November 2024 📌 Tags:waxing

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January 08, 2022

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Buying guide for Best at-home waxing kits

We live in a world where things move quickly and every second is precious. Shaving is pretty time consuming, and you’ll just have to do it again in a couple of days. If you want silky smooth skin that lasts for weeks at a time, you need to think about tossing that razor and upgrading to an at-home waxing kit.

Everyone knows waxing can be a little painful, so it isn’t right for everyone, but as long as you choose the right kit, you can quickly remove a lot of hair without irritating your skin too much in the process. How do you know which is the right kit? Do you want soft or hard wax? What’s best for sensitive areas like the bikini line? And do you really need a fancy wax warmer?

It’s a good idea to use baby powder on the area before you wax to dry any excess moisture on your skin.

Hard wax vs. soft wax

There are two main types of at-home waxing kits: hard wax and soft wax.

Hard wax

As the name implies, hard wax is a solid at room temperature. You must heat it up in either a wax warmer or microwave before you can apply it to your skin.

Pros:

Hard wax is a popular choice because it isn’t as sticky as soft wax.
It’s much easier to clean up afterward.
Hard wax can grab very short hairs, and if you miss a spot, you can always go back over it again.

Cons:

You must heat hard wax before applying it.
You can’t cover large areas with hard wax because it has a tendency to break apart easily.
Hard wax is more expensive than soft wax.

Soft wax

Soft waxno special preparation

Pros:

Soft wax can be applied directly to your skin right out of the container.
This is the type of wax you want if you’re looking to cover a larger surface area, like your legs.
Soft wax is good at picking up fine hairs.
Most people say that soft wax is less painful than hard wax.
Soft wax cheaper than hard wax.

Cons:

The downside is you only get one shot on each area. You can’t use soft wax on the same spot twice because it will start pulling out layers of skin instead.
Soft wax is also known for leaving more of a residue on the skin.

Caution

Do not wax sunburned or cut skin, and do not wax the same area more than once within a 24-hour period.

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At-home waxing kit components

Waxing kits usually consist of packets of hard or soft wax, applicator sticks or strips, and possibly a wax warmer (for hard wax).

Wax

Some at-home waxing kits include wax with different scents so you can choose the one that best fits your mood. When choosing a kit, look at the quantity of wax that comes with it, and make sure it’s the type that is best suited to your needs.

Wax ingredients: All waxes have the potential to irritate sensitive skin, but some people feel that waxes made with synthetic ingredients irritate the skin even more. If you’re concerned about this, look for wax that’s made with natural ingredients like honey, sugar, or molasses.

Some waxes are scented, and synthetic fragrances may also irritate the skin. You can avoid this by choosing an unscented wax or by looking for one that has been scented with essential oils.

Replacement wax: If you like the wax that comes with the waxing kit, it’s important to make sure that you can easily buy replacement wax beads when you run out. Do some research online to see how easy it is to get extra wax. Of course, you don’t have to stick with the same brand every time. You can always try out a new type of wax if you weren’t happy with what came in the initial package.

Applicator sticks and strips

As a general rule, hard wax kits come with sticks to help you apply the wax. Once the wax dries, you can peel it off with your hands. Soft wax kits come with strips that you press over the wax and then peel off to remove the hair.

These applicator tools are usually disposable, so you’ll run out of them eventually. You can do some research online to find replacement sticks and strips. Don’t choose an at-home waxing kit solely based on the number of tools included, but if you’re torn between two different models, you can use this as one factor to determine which kit provides the better value.

Wax warmer

If you’re interested in an at-home kit with hard wax, the wax warmer is arguably the most important part of the kit. It’s the only component that’s meant to be reused over and over again, so you want to make sure that you invest in a good one.

Temperature: The best wax warmers heat the wax quickly and easily and have adjustable temperature controls so that the wax doesn’t get hot enough to burn your skin.

Capacity: Also consider the capacity. If the warmer only holds a small amount of wax at a time, you might have to stop part way through the waxing process and heat up some more.

Cleaning: You also have to consider the ease of cleaning. If the wax you’re using is very sticky, you could have trouble getting it off the wax warmer when you’re done. The best wax warmers are easy to wipe clean without a lot of elbow grease.

Microwave: Not all hard wax kits come with a wax warmer. Some hard waxes are meant to be warmed up in the microwave. Kits without a wax warmer are usually less expensive, and this might be the way to go if you don’t plan to wax regularly or if you’re new to waxing and don’t want to pay for an expensive kit right away. However, microwaveable waxing kits tend to be messier, so make sure to follow the directions carefully.

At-home waxing kit prices

At-home waxing kits can range in price from under $10 to $50.

Basic: You can get a basic waxing kit with some wax and a few applicator sticks or strips for between $10 and $20. You probably won’t get scented wax in this price range, and don’t expect a wax warmer if you’re looking into hard wax kits.

Mid-range: You should expect to spend between $20 and $40 if you’re looking for a high-end waxing kit that includes a wax warmer.

Premium: It might be worth spending up to $50 for a kit with a more expensive wax warmer if want a quality machine that’s going to last you a long time.

Tips

Wash your skin afterward in order to remove any residue. Baby oil can also be used to remove waxy residues and moisturize skin.
Apply wax in the direction that your hair naturally grows and then remove it in the opposite direction.
If waxing is very painful for you, consider applying a numbing cream for a few minutes before waxing.
You don’t want your hair to be too long or too short for waxing. If it’s too short, the wax won’t be able to pick it up. Too long and the hair will likely break off part way when you remove the wax. It’s best to wax when your hair is about a quarter of an inch to half an inch long.
Use a moisturizer after you’re finished to help soothe your irritated skin.

If your skin is inflamed or irritated after waxing, consider applying aloe or another soothing cream to help cool down and calm the area.

FAQ

Q. Which type of wax is best for sensitive areas?

A. You can use either hard or soft wax to remove hair around delicate areas like your bikini line, eyebrows, and underarms. Generally, hard wax is favored because it’s gentler on these areas, and you can go back over the area multiple times if you miss a spot.

Q. How much wax should I apply at once?

A. Spread the wax in as thin a layer as possible while being sure to cover all the areas you need. This helps you in two ways: first, it makes your wax last longer, and second, a thinner layer of wax won’t pull as hard on your skin as a thicker layer, resulting in less pain.

Q. How often do I need to wax?

A. The answer will be a little different for each person, depending on how fast your hair grows. In most cases, a single wax will keep your skin soft and smooth for about six to eight weeks.

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