Waxing is one of the most popular and effective ways to remove excess hair because it’s fast, convenient, has long-lasting results, and leaves a silky-smooth finish.
It can also be used on facial and body hair, including sensitive areas like the bikini line and underarms. Waxing has become even more popular over the last year because it can be done at home easily.
With so many people having to continue their grooming routines in their homes because of lockdowns across the world, waxing has become increasingly popular among DIY-ers.
However, the process can seem daunting if you’re new to it and have no experience dealing with the different types of waxes.
The two main types of wax are hard and soft wax, and most people don’t know the difference between the two when they’re starting out.
Additionally, if you’re perusing your drugstore’s wax aisle and are new to waxing, you may be extremely confused. With so many brands, product types, and labels available, it’s difficult to know what the right choice is.
So, if this is your first foray into waxing, don’t worry. In this guide, we’re going to cover everything, from how to use wax to discussing hard wax vs soft wax, which is better, their advantages and disadvantages, and which body parts each type is best suited for. Read on to find out which wax type you should choose.
The Different Types of Waxes
In the world of waxing, there are three different types of wax you can choose: hard wax, soft wax, and sugar wax.
In this article, we’re discussing hard wax vs soft wax, which is better, and when to use these different types of wax.
What Is Hard Wax?
Hard wax is much thicker than soft wax and works by hardening on one’s skin. This kind of wax can be removed when it is hard, and thus, you don’t need waxing strips to take it off.
Hard wax adheres to the hair rather than the skin, making it easier and less messy to remove.
Additionally, since it only adheres to hair and doesn’t stick to your skin, it doesn’t damage the skin. Hard wax is best used on smaller areas like underarms, your face, and your bikini line.
What Is Soft Wax?
Soft wax is wax that adheres to both your hair and your skin. When it is removed, it takes away the top layer of skin along with hair and provides physical exfoliation.
Because of this, it’s more painful to use than hard wax and can leave your skin inflamed and irritated. Soft wax is great for use on large areas of the body such as arms, legs, and back.
Hard Wax vs Soft Wax: Which Is Better?
There’s no concrete answer as to which kind of wax is better because both hard and soft waxes have their pros and cons.
The answer can differ depending on personal preference and the body part you’re using the wax on.
Check out the advantages and disadvantages associated with both hard and soft wax so you can determine which one is best suited to your needs.
Advantages of Hard Wax
Many people prefer hard wax to soft wax because of its many pros.
No Need for Wax Strips
Since hard wax hardens as it dries on the skin, it can be pulled off without wax strips. This not only makes the process easier but also results in cost savings.
While a pack or two of muslin wax strips may not seem costly at first, the cost can add up over time. If you use hard wax instead of soft wax, you can save on this cost.
Less Wax Residue
One of the worst things about getting waxed is dealing with the sticky residue left behind. Waxing may leave your skin smooth, but you sure do need to do a lot of clean-up in order to take advantage of that smoothness.
Hard wax eliminates this and leaves behind little to no residue. It’s much easier to clean up.
Grabs Short, Coarse Hair
Hard wax is great at grabbing short, coarse hair, eliminating the need to wax the same area repeatedly.
Gentler and Less Painful
Of course, the biggest advantage of hard wax is that it is more gentle and less painful. Because of this, it’s often used on sensitive areas like the face, bikini line, and underarms.
Additionally, if you miss a spot, you can wax over it to remove the remaining hair. This is much harder with soft wax because it can be quite irritating.
Hard wax is gentler on the skin, and waxing over the same area isn’t as irritating, especially if you do so carefully and use materials like pre-wax oils.
Disadvantages of Hard Wax
Despite being less painful and not requiring wax strips, hard wax does have some cons.
Breaks Off More Easily
Because hard wax hardens and comes off on its own, it can sometimes break off when you’re trying to pull it off, making it troublesome.
Additionally, because it’s so prone to breakage, it can only be used in small areas. Hard wax isn’t suitable for larger areas like arms and legs since it can break and cause more problems.
Needs to Be Warmed Up
Hard wax needs to be warmed up when applied to the skin. It hardens relatively quickly and doesn’t allow for much work time.
Advantages of Soft Wax
There’s a reason soft wax is widely used across the world. It can be extremely effective. Check out its advantages here.
Can Be Used on Large Areas
Hard wax can break off when applied to larger areas, but this isn’t a problem for soft wax.
If you’re waxing your arms, legs, or back, it’s not efficient to use small patches of wax. Soft wax can be applied in large patches and pulled off with wax strips, making it quick and efficient.
Grabs Fine Hairs
While hard wax is known for grabbing coarse hair, soft wax is known for being able to grab fine hair, making it great for larger areas.
Disadvantages of Soft Wax
Despite its many advantages, soft wax does have several disadvantages.
Requires Wax Strips
Since soft wax doesn’t completely harden, it needs to be removed from the skin using wax strips.
Whether you opt for muslin wax strips or make do with paper ones, these can be a hassle to use. Additionally, the cost of the wax strips can add up, making soft wax a relatively expensive option.
More Painful
Because soft wax removes both skin and hair, it tends to be more painful than hard wax. This is especially true for sensitive areas and areas where the skin is relatively skin, for example, around the eyebrows or the bikini area.
Sticky and Leaves Behind Residue
Since soft wax doesn’t harden and has to be removed with wax strips, it leaves behind a sticky residue.
This residue can be difficult to clean off and time-consuming to remove if you don’t know how. If you’re struggling with getting rid of sticky soft wax residue, we suggest using some cold cream!
Can Result in Inflammation and Irritation
If you apply soft wax on the same area multiple times, it can cause excess exfoliation and result in redness and irritation.
In fact, since soft wax adheres to both the skin and the hair, it always removes the top layer of skin along with the hair.
People experience redness even when they wax a spot only once. Those with sensitive skin may experience more irritation than others.
Which Wax Goes Where?
Admittedly, there’s no rule about only using soft wax on certain parts of the body and using hard wax on others. You’re free to use the type of wax you want.
However, there is something to be said for minimizing pain from waxing. Waxing is one of the most effective and long-lasting hair removal methods out there, but there’s no denying that it can be painful, especially when you’re first starting.
Some areas are a lot more painful than others. Areas like the bikini line and the upper lip can sting even the most experienced of people.
Choosing the right wax for the region minimizes this pain and makes the waxing process much smoother. So, when it comes to hard wax vs soft wax, which is better for which area, and when each type should be used, follow these general body area guidelines.
Arms and Legs
Are you waxing large surface areas like arms and legs? Soft wax is the way to go for this since hard wax can break apart easily on larger areas.
On the other hand, soft wax, especially when it’s in the form of strip wax or honey wax, is extremely malleable and can be removed quickly and efficiently.
Underarms
Since underarm hair is coarser than regular arm and leg hair, using hard wax can give you a neater result.
Additionally, as previously mentioned, hard wax is your best friend when it comes to sensitive areas or areas where the skin is especially thin.
Underarms qualify as a sensitive area that can be quite painful if not waxed properly.
Bikini Line
The hair in the bikini area is best removed with hard wax since it grips onto the coarse hair more effectively and removes it completely.
Bikini lines are never a pain-free area to wax but using hard wax really makes a difference in the pain level you experience.
Additionally, since hard wax isn’t as sticky as soft wax, removal is easier, and you don’t have to spend ages cleaning up and removing wax remnants from your bikini line.
How to Use the Different Types of Wax
Now that you know all about hard wax vs soft wax, which is better for use on which parts of the body, and the advantages and disadvantages associated with them, it’s time to learn how to actually use the wax you end up selecting.
How to Use Hard Wax
Use the following steps to use hard wax effectively.
- Clean the skin so that it is ready to be waxed
- Apply a pre-wax oil so that there’s a barrier between the wax and your skin. While hard wax adheres to the hair and not the skin, this still helps to nourish your skin and protects it. We suggest something lightweight like grapeseed oil or a specialty pre-wax oil.
- Warm the wax to approximately 130°F. Make sure that it is warm and not hot. You can test it on the back of your hand to ensure that it isn’t too hot and won’t end up burning your skin.
- Use a waxing spatula or a wooden applicator to apply wax in the direction of hair growth.
- Wait for the wax to harden.
- Once it’s hard, grip the wax and pull it off in the opposite direction, taking care to remove the strip in one fluid motion.
How to Use Soft Wax
Are you ready to use soft wax? Follow these steps for the best results.
- Clean the area you’re about to wax.
- Warm the wax to the temperature suggested in the product’s instructions.
- Hold your skin taut and apply the wax in a thin coat. Make sure that you’re applying it in the direction of hair growth and are spreading it evenly.
- Place a wax strip over the wax and rub it so that it has completely adhered to the wax.
- Still holding your skin taut, remove the strip in the opposite direction in one fluid motion.
Final Thoughts
Both hard and soft waxes are suitable for use at home and remove unwanted hair with great success. Unlike methods like shaving, waxing has more long-lasting results and leaves your skin baby soft and smooth.
Therefore, when it comes to considering hard wax vs soft wax, which is better, and which one to choose, both can be great. Which one you end up picking depends on the area you’re waxing and the result you want.
Hopefully, this article has been helpful in that regard and has assisted you in making a decision one way or another. Be sure to follow our waxing tips for the smoothest results!