You may never go back to shaving.
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It's totally fine to grow hair in all the parts of your body you want to, but if you prefer hairless, silky-soft skin, then you know having to shave regularly can get pretty annoying. The solution? Try an at-home waxing kit.
In general, waxing will give you more downtime in between hair removal sessions than shaving does. "The hair growth cycle varies among individuals and even on different parts of the body. But usually, waxing or sugaring will last at least three to four weeks and often longer (six to eight weeks)," says Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Of all the hair removal methods out there, though—and there are many—waxing probably takes the cake as the one that's not only the most intimidating, but also the most painful. Plus, if you get it done by a pro, it can also get very costly. At-home waxing kits will not only save you money, but you'll also be able to go at your own pace—aka scream all you want.
Today's formulas are much more advanced and gentle, too. Many include skin-loving ingredients rather than the stinky strips from back in the day. So if you’re ready to ditch your razor, peep this list of the best waxing kits, per customer reviews.
"Nad’s Natural Sugar Wax kit is a good option for at-home waxers,” says Dr. Murphy Rose. Designed to be used on your face, arms, legs, and bikini area, the formula uses your own body heat to warm up the strips, minimizing the risk of burns. It also leaves skin silky for as long as eight weeks. The kit includes Nad’s natural sugar wax, 100 percent cotton washable and reusable strips, wooden applicators, and pre-wax soap with argan oil to prep skin.
Rave Review: "I love this wax. It goes on smooth and doesn’t stick horribly to your skin, like hard wax. The amount of strips that you get is plenty for at least four waxes, depending on how many you use. The wax itself settles well and it rinses off with water if you get it in places that it shouldn’t be. Overall, highly recommend!"
This kit from Bliss lets you experience a spa-level waxing treatment right in your bathroom. Just heat up the wax in your microwave, and apply it with one of the small or large spatulas provided (depending on size of the target area). There are no physical strips—just peel off the hardened wax when you’re done.
Rave Review: "I am beyond happy with this wax kit. It's super easy to use, quick, and extremely efficient. I have pretty sensitive skin on my upper lip, and it's been a struggle to find something that works this well and doesn't hurt me in the process. I love all Bliss products and this gem is no exception. Highly recommend!!"
The ingredients in this are simple —two types of plant resin and avocado oil. But, they're mighty and promise to grip onto hairs—particularly coarse, thick ones—tightly, so that no stubble is left behind. The kit also comes with cleansing wipes infused with jojoba and chamomile oils that help wipe away any stickiness while moisturizing and soothing.
Rave Review: "I was skeptical about buying a kit that was on the lower end of prices, but I shouldn't have been. This wax is literally perfection. So much so that I felt obligated to leave a review. Easy to use, little to no pain, great instructions, and generous servings of wax and wax strips—I will definitely be buying this again when I run out of wax (won't be for a while, they give a lot!)"
This is a bestselling at-home waxing kit on Amazon for good reason. The kit uses hard wax, which is supposed to grip just your hair–not your skin. That means you get smooth skin with a little less pain than other kinds of waxing. Reviewers say it's super easy to use at home.
Rave Review: "I love this kit. Everything is super easy to operate and the manual on tips for waxing like a pro is great. Great purchase and best way to save money on waxing."
If a clean ingredients list is your priority, this will be your best bet. Made with organic sugar, chamomile, citric acid, and water, this roll-on wax might inspire you to make your own DIY version at home.
Rave Review: "I was hesitant to try the roll-on, but I won’t ever go back to the regular sugar wax…This is so much easier and neater!!! Thank you, Parissa!"
Aptly named, you will enjoy the cotton candy scent. Once you melt down the pink and blue iridescent beads, they turn into a hard wax.
Rave Review: "Ran out of wax and picked this up knowing very little about it. My underarm hair was barely the 'rice grain' length, but it got it all out in one pull. Smooth, goes on thin, and pulls even the little hairs out! Definitely enjoying this stuff."
The screw-on, roll-on applicator makes applying this a cinch, allowing you to reach tricky spots more precisely. You can easily wash the applicator after each use with soap and water. To nourish the skin, the formula contains 100 percent organic virgin argan oil from Morocco.
Rave Review: "My wife usually complains about products of this sort and how much effort they are to use. She's been singing the praises of this one. It's so easy to use. Pop it in the microwave for a few and it's good to go! No more mess."
These Nair wax strips are about as easy as home hair removal gets. Just peel the strips apart, apply them, and pull them off. No heating up—not even rubbing—is required, which makes them great for a last-minute beach day or for stashing away in your suitcase on longer trips, too.
Rave Review: "These are SO EASY to use! They're painful, duh, because you're waxing, but these help the whole process go so much faster and easier. I appreciate not having to clean up a mess every time I want to remove hair."
These wax strips from Sally Hansen are infused with coconut and marula oils for a more nourishing and less irritating waxing experience. They’re large enough to cover a good amount of ground—like armpits and legs—and can leave you hair-free for up to eight weeks.
Rave Review: "I’m not a very coordinated person, but I was able to use this product. It was AWESOME! It did what it was supposed to. I heated a dish towel in the microwave for 20 seconds, put the strip in the towel to warm up, and then used it. So easy!"
This wax kit from Parissa—recommended for short, stubborn hair that large strips can sometimes miss—includes wax, a metal pan, and several disposable applicators for you to apply the wax with. Just heat it up, apply, and peel off the strips against the direction your hair grows to get rid of that fuzz.
Rave Review: "This is exactly what I was looking for. Very easy to use and the instructions were easy to understand. Didn't hurt at all! The key is to NOT let it get all the way hard. After you apply, let it cool for a sec and pat/press lightly with your fingers. Once it's almost hard, but still lightly gummy and tacky, pull fast. It works!"
This wax gel from Nad’s is made with all-natural hair-removing ingredients, like molasses, sugar, and honey. As if it couldn't get any more #eco, the kit also includes cotton strips that can be washed and reused.
Rave Review: "This is an amazing product. They stopped carrying it at my local store, so I am glad that Amazon carries it. It really works. It hurts a lot less than traditional wax and the cleanup is so much easier because you just wipe away the [excess] with warm water."
If your sensitive skin always turns red after waxing, try this option from Veet. The wax strip kit contains shea butter to help moisturize and soothe skin post-wax. Die-hard at-home waxers love this, with many reviewers calling this formula the gentlest and cleanest they’ve ever used.
Rave Review: "It worked so well! It didn't hurt at all—not stinky either. The wipes took away any sticky feeling from the wax. My legs are smooth and soft. I'm a customer for life now!"
This waxing kit from Gigi contains everything you need to create your own mini waxing studio, including a warmer, crème wax, calming lotions, spatulas, and cloths. Def do a test-patch of the wax—it’s a bit sticky—before applying to larger areas.
Rave Review: "Great product, no regrets! Don't be scared of trying out hard wax. This is very simple stuff....It was really easy [to use], even though it was my first time [waxing] a very sensitive area."
If you're looking to tackle different parts of your body, this kit comes with 28 gel wax strips that are big enough to be used on your arms, legs, and underarms. You can wipe away any stickiness and residue with the included post-wax cloths that are infused with almond oil.
Rave Review: "I get excellent results with these strips, which are very efficient in pulling up my leg hair. The soothing cloth for use at the end takes any sting out. Highly recommend."
Ripping hair out of your nostrils sounds pretty intimidating, but it doesn't have to be with this kit. It comes with a special applicator that can only go so far into the nose, so that you can only remove the hair at the edge of the nostril.
Rave Review: "Follow the directions scrupulously. The amount it pulls out is staggering…I can breath easier as a result. It works folks! So much better than the scissors and hair trimmers I’ve used."
This kit comes with 32 wax strips in varying sizes, so you can wax most areas of your body. Customers love that the strips smell like berries. It's your best bet for getting something close to a professional wax without paying the steep price.
Rave Review: "It was my first time trying out a waxing product. It exceeded my expectations. It is very easy to use and did an excellent job to pull the hair out completely. I ordered it again and and also waxed my daughter's legs and arms. It has saved me money and it also smells very nice."
Before waxing, you should know there's more than just one type of wax. If you want to use something stripless, go for hard wax. "Hard wax is a type of wax that adheres to the hair follicle (versus the skin) and hardens and removes on its own, eliminating the need for paper strips," says Dr. Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Philadelphia and a clinical associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University.
For some, it may even feel less painful than soft wax, so it's great for sensitive skin, says Dr. Saedi. The only caveat is that you may have to apply it several times in the same area to make sure all the hairs you target are removed.
Soft wax, on the other hand, is soft and is applied in a thin layer, explains Dr. Saedi. "Then, a strip is used to adhere and remove the wax. Often, the top layer of skin is also removed, so it can be irritating for people with sensitive skin."
Whether you use soft or hard wax is your preference, but Dr. Saedi recommends soft wax for larger areas because it is a quicker process than using hard wax. That said, hard wax gets a better grip on thick, coarse hair.
Ideally, beginners should look for kits that contain everything you need to get the job done—wax, strips, and finishing oil, at minimum. Novices may also appreciate waxing kits that come with pre-loaded strips, since they're less messy and require less precision. The tradeoff? You're limited to the size of the included strips, so look for kits with multiple sizes if you're targeting different areas of the body.
If you have sensitive skin, look for waxing kits that include skin-soothing ingredients, like castor and almond oils or aloe. And whatever you use, first test the wax in an area on your body that isn't too visible. This will allow you to see if it is gentle enough for your skin. “It's important to use the safest and gentlest wax kits available to avoid irritating, burning, and potentially scarring your skin," says Dr. Murphy Rose. If you experience a bad reaction, you'll know it's time to pivot to a different product.
Post waxing, minimize irritation immediately afterwards and prevent ingrown hairs from forming by applying cool aloe to soothe skin and sticking to loose clothes that won't create friction. Some kits also come with nourishing oils and wipes to help minimize any post-wax irritation.
Before you head off to wax unwanted hair, these are a few other tips you should keep in mind.
Waxing can cause major skin damage—if you're not careful.
Waxing removes hair by lifting it out at the root. With traditional waxing, hot wax is applied to skin and the hair is pulled off in the opposite direction of the way it's growing. The key word here and what can make at home waxing dangerous is that it's hot.
“Hot wax can burn the skin—and it is a particularly dangerous type of burn because the hot product adheres to the skin,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. Always make sure you're following the heating directions closely and that you hold your hand over the wax after it's been heated to gauge the temperature before applying it to your skin.
Then, first test the wax in an area on your body that isn't too visible. "That way you can check the temperature, but also see how your skin reacts," Dr. Saedi explains. Testing a product will also allow you to see if it is gentle enough for your skin. “It's important to use the safest and gentlest wax kits available to avoid irritating, burning, and potentially scarring your skin," says Dr. Murphy Rose. You should also avoid any ingredients you have a known allergy or sensitivity to. If you experience a bad reaction, you'll know it's time to pivot to a different product.
If you have dark skin, hyperpigmentation could be an issue.
"Hot wax tends to adhere the strongest, so while it may remove hairs more efficiently, it can also stick to skin more and pull off those top layers of the skin as it's also pulling out your hair,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose.
It's this exfoliation of the uppermost layer of skin that leaves it more susceptible to post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (also referred to as dark spots), says Uchenna Okereke, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Brooklyn, NY. She says to think of the skin after waxing like a fresh, pink wound.
"Ultraviolet rays are attracted to wounds, making the freshly waxed skin more susceptible to darkening as melanin (the dark pigment in skin) floods the area to try and protect it." Luckily, there is a simple fix: Wear sunscreen! Better yet, keep that new skin out of the sun completely for at least a few days.
Prep your skin by avoiding retinol products, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion.
As mentioned above, waxing is already exfoliating the skin so you'll want to avoid any extra exfoliation a few days prior and a few days following your at home wax. A few other good to knows before getting started: Always wax on clean skin to avoid bacterial contamination in pores and make sure your hairs are long enough (at least 1/4 of an inch) to be grabbed by the wax.
Pull skin taut and away from the direction of your hair growth.
The key to preventing ingrown hairs (an all too common downside of waxing for many) is to get the full hair follicle. The best way to do this is by keeping your skin taut and pulling the wax strip in the opposite direction of the way that your hair grows.
Consider sugaring if you have more sensitive skin.
Sugaring, aka sugared wax or sugar gel, is generally safer because it’s applied to skin at room temperature, (read: no risk of burning skin) and warms up with body heat. “Sugared ‘wax’ is not truly wax,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. “The sticky product is made primarily of sugar, lemon juice and water and variations include glycerin, fragrance, essential oils and/or honey, so it is usually water soluble and any residue left on the skin can be more easily rinsed off after application compared to true hot wax.”
"Threading and sugaring are other hair removal options that, like waxing, remove the hair follicle from the root but with less exfoliating, offering a gentler process," says Dr. Okereke. Though she warns that she's also had patients with coily textured hair that still develop ingrowns and scarring from sugaring as well. The bottom line: "If you know you're prone to hyperpigmentation, ingrowns, or scarring, see a dermatologist to discuss the best hair removal practices for you," says Dr. Okereke.
Jasmine Gomez is the Commerce Editor at Women’s Health, where she cover the best product recommendations across beauty, health, lifestyle, fitness, and more. When she's not shopping for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Follow her @JazzeGomez.
Chelsea Burns is the Beauty Director for Women’s Health and has been writing in the beauty and wellness space for over six years with her work appearing in Real Simple, Health, Fitness, and Byrdie.com. She’s an expert at testing products and is always on the hunt for the best tinted moisturizer.
Celia Shatzman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who has penned stories on topics ranging from beauty to fashion, travel, celebrities, health, entertainment, finance and more. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, she is a beauty and style contributor at Forbes and her work has appeared in New York, Cosmopolitan, WWD, ELLE, Conde Nast Traveler, Afar, Travel + Leisure, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Byrdie, Refinery29 and NYLON, among others.
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