Any form of hair removal is not the most pleasant experience. Whether you choose hair removal, laser, shaving, or using a hair removal cream, each method has its advantages and of course its disadvantages. Why choose waxing when there are so many options? From longer-lasting results to high-precision removal—and no risk of scratching your knees—many people swear by this stuff, using it once a month, every six weeks, or more (if they’re lucky).
Even so, for someone new to waxing, it can seem like a pretty daunting task, especially when done at home. So, we’re here to show you that there’s nothing to worry about by doing it safely and effectively with the right products. Wax strips, crayons, melted wax beads, and even sugar paste are all popular choices. But it’s important to know the difference depending on your confidence level, hair type, or desired results.
So read on below for helpful tips and tricks on how to get started, the best products to use, and how to minimize your risk. Remember, when it comes to body hair, whether you choose to remove it or not, the choice is really one of personal preference.
1. The Best Home Waxing Kits of 2023
- Best Overall – Veet Wax Strips for Sensitive Skin on Body and Legs: £9.88,
- Best facial wax – Flamingo Facial Wax Kit: £9,
- Best for home waxing professionals – Sugar Coated Full Body Waxing Kit: £10.93,
- Best Salon Quality Wax Set – Mylee Coconut & Arnica Stripless Wax Set: £55,
1) Veet wax strips are suitable for sensitive skin on the body and legs
One of the most popular hair removal brands is Veet. For many of us, this may be the first time we try home waxing, and for good reason. These waxing strips are so easy to use – we simply warmed each strip between the palms of our hands, then separated it, placed it on the skin, rubbed it down, and pulled in the opposite direction of hair growth, and those pesky hairs were gone will pop up. We were particularly impressed with the results for shorter leg hair.
While we were left with some traces of redness, it faded quickly, and any residue can be removed with the handy post-wax wipe included. But the biggest advantage is that by using only the heat from your hands, there is zero risk of burning your skin, which is great if you’re new to waxing.
For example, I have a friend who is a medal manufacturer. Her work is so busy that she doesn’t have time to go to a beauty salon for waxing. So I recommended the Veet home hair removal kit. Her experience after using it was so good that she was able to pick up the technique quickly even the first time she used it. She says it saves her a lot of commuting time to the beauty salon.
2) Flamingo Facial Wax Set
The face may be one of the most difficult parts of the body to wax, but it doesn’t have to be. These wax strips, like the Flamingo Body Kit (scroll down), are very safe and easy to use, with very little risk of something going wrong (unless you’re allergic to wax, so always do a small test strip first). No heat is used – simply place the band where you want to remove hair and pull in the opposite direction of hair growth.
Maybe we developed a new pain tolerance after weeks of testing wax kits, but these are some of the most painless wax kits on the list, making the experience (dare we say it?) almost pleasant. These strips are the perfect size for brows, upper lips, and even smaller areas. We were delighted to get rid of some particularly stubborn chin hair – a huge win.
The kit comes with a detailed list of instructions, as well as post-wax wipes and a calming serum roll-on to soothe any redness
3) Auperwel hair waxing kit
Made from just sugar and water, this wax is 100% natural and has many benefits over regular waxing. It’s vegan, water-soluble, has virtually no waste, is sweetened (which we all know is) gentler on the skin than regular wax, lifts all hair types right from the roots, and smells great. Unfortunately, it’s also the most difficult to use, so unless you’ve mastered a home hot waxing kit, it’s best left to the professionals.
This wax kit says it can be heated in the microwave at 900W for four minutes, but after just two minutes we had a volcanic eruption, which isn’t ideal (although it did make our kitchen smell lovely), so heating is also Getting up cautiously. Even without lava-type results, sugar can get very hot, so be extra careful to test the temperature of your fingertips before going near more sensitive areas.
This wax is well worth the odd blast, though, as it gives us the best results. Not only was there no redness (just a slight redness over the entire area that went away quickly), but the skin was so smooth that even the finest hairs were swept away. It may come with risky apps, so proceed with caution.
4) Mylee Coconut & Arnica Stripless Wax Kit
One of the trickiest things about hot wax is making sure the temperature isn’t too hot (otherwise it will burn) or too cold (otherwise it won’t melt properly on the skin). Mylee’s temperature control gauge conveniently eliminates all the guesswork. A very useful feature.
Another common problem with hair removal without hair removal is controlling the amount you apply to your skin. We ended up using more wax beads than we needed, but these can be easily heated and used again. Since the melted pearl beads harden quickly once they come into contact with the skin, we found this kit to be one of the least messy options of the bunch, leaving no sticky residue on the body. Plus, if you do find that you still have some stray hairs, you can easily go back and clean them out.
Yes, it takes some getting used to, but after one treatment we felt like waxing pros and the result was a bump-free, smooth surface.
Hot wax kits may seem a bit intimidating to new at-home waxers, but if you’re after a salon-quality finish they’re worth the bravery, they’re cheaper in the long run, and they’re easy to use after just one application Get it. This Mylee option may be the most expensive of the bunch, but it really is the complete package. A wax warmer, beads, spatula, and pre-wax, post-wax, and cleaning gel are all included so you don’t have to worry about anything else.
However, as with all of these kits, we recommend that you spend 10 minutes setting yourself up on a flat surface, reading the instructions, or watching a YouTube video or two to get acclimated before you start.
5) FFS Facial Wax Strips
At just £3, these wax strips are a great choice for facial waxing. And, they’re not only suitable for thin and thick hair but can also be used for tufts under the arms or bikini line.
If you want super-smooth skin on the go, these strips are small enough to carry in your purse – you never know when rogue lip hair might show up. But remember, after waxing, our skin will become a little red for about two hours, which is normal but not ideal if you’re going out.
The instructions say these strips are heatless, but we found that a quick rub of them on the palm of our hands produced better results. Be sure to peel off these strips quickly or some wax will remain on the skin. If this does happen, we’ve found that rubbing baby oil on the area leaves us with no wax (and it smells lovely).
6) Flamingo Body Wax Set
These heat-free pre-made wax strips don’t even require you to rub them on your palms first. Just peel, stick, and pull in the opposite direction of hair growth – and voila! – Removes hair from the roots in seconds.
We have to admit, the saying “no pain, no gain” rings true for these strips, which resulted in more “ouchs” (and red dots) than some of the other strips in the test. But this is to be expected when waxing a large area, the pain will subside within a few seconds, just like peeling off a plaster. The included wax cloth removes excess residue and soothes skin.
The easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions in this pack are best for beginners and guide you through the entire process. And, 96% of the ingredients are naturally derived without the use of fragrances, parabens, artificial colors, mineral oils, or petrochemicals, making them kinder to the skin for softer, more hydrated results.
7) Veet Expert Cold Wax Strips for Facial Sensitivity
The “expert” in this wax strip’s name should be changed to “extreme” because we guarantee it will pull out all the hair on your face. If you need some real heavy-duty pulling to get rid of a beard or unibrow, trust us when we say this will do the trick. As it can get a little sticky, proceed with caution.
8) Flamingo Bikini Hair Wax Set
Although the bikini line can be one of the most uncomfortable areas to wax, many people prefer to treat the area in the privacy of their own home rather than taking off their underwear and letting a professional take care of it. However, since the hair underneath is thicker, stiffer, and often longer, it may require some heavy-duty materials to get the job done right.
Enter the flamingos. First, it comes with detailed instructions (including some very detailed drawings), three different sizes of heatless waxing strips, and a waxing cloth. While Brazilian wax is not recommended for bald patients, you can customize hair removal to suit your needs because of the different wax strips.
We found these strips to be strong enough to pull all the hair out from the roots in one go, leaving barely any red spots, and (believe it or not) relatively painless. result!
9) Rio full body waxing and hair removal kit
Another hot waxing kit, this Rio option stands out for its two wax types (soft wax and hard wax). Soft wax is best for larger areas (arms and legs), while hard wax is better for more intimate areas (bikini lines, underarms, and facial hair).
With a wax warmer, hard wax tablets, heating pot, soft wax, spatula, removal strips, wax remover, and full instructions included in the package, you get a lot of kit for your money. But, again, when using this product, you do need to take extra precautions regarding skin temperature and how to use and maintain the device.
The wax does take quite a while to heat up, but slow and steady wins the race. Wax remover is a great addition to removing residue and catching mistakes before they happen. We did find this to be one of the most painful options for rounding up, but the results speak for themselves, every hair was removed from the root. And, when it comes to cleaning the kit, you simply wait for the wax to cool completely before removing it from the heating pot, which we found to be a delightful treatment.
2. Waxing FAQs
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about waxing.
1) What are the benefits of waxing?
The main benefit of waxing, compared to razors or hair removal creams, is that it keeps the hair off for longer. After waxing, you may be hair-free for anywhere from a few weeks to two months or even longer. You may also find that your hair becomes thinner and more brittle over time.
Hair removal is generally faster and more precise than hair removal, especially on the face. It is generally less painful and more affordable than laser.
2) What are the disadvantages of waxing?
In order to wax, you have to keep the hair on your legs, bikini line, and underarms to around 4cm (facial hair can be shorter), which can be troublesome in the summer. However, the main disadvantages of waxing are the pain that comes with it—you’ll be pulling out a lot of hair, after all—and the risk of ingrown hairs if not cared for properly.
3) What type of wax should I use?
For newbies, pre-made wax strips are a great place to start getting used to the action and feel of at-home waxing. They create virtually no mess, are very easy to use, and are often affordable. For facial waxing, be sure to choose a custom facial wax, strip, or pen. Wax is often modified for finer or softer hair, comes in smaller strips, and can contain nourishing ingredients to soothe sensitive skin.
For those who are well-versed in waxing, a hot wax kit can be a great investment for long-term use, providing salon-like results at home. Depending on your personal preference for soft wax and removal strips or hard wax that pulls out on its own, you can vary your routine based on your favorite products and try what works best for you.
Sugaring is another hair removal method that is similar in concept to waxing but uses only sugar and water as an all-natural hair removal method. This is best left to those who know what they’re doing, as it can get hot, sticky, and messy.
4) What are some tips for getting the best results when waxing?
- Be sure to exfoliate 24 hours before waxing to remove dead cells, dust, or dirt from your skin.
- Pre-wax cleansing gel is great for preparing your skin and removing excess oil and dirt before waxing. We used this option from Mylee.
- Take it easy. Hair removal can sometimes be painful, so it’s important to stay calm, have everything you need in front of you, and don’t rush.
- Whether you’re using a pre-made wax strip, hot wax, or a crayon, be sure to apply the wax in the direction of hair growth and then remove it in the opposite direction to pull the hair out by the roots.
- After hair removal, treat your skin with cleansing wipes (usually provided) and a soothing moisturizer or treatment lotion, like this one from Mylee.
- Shower after 12-24 hours and exfoliate regularly to avoid ingrown hairs.
3. Conclusion
There are a variety of waxing kits on the market, but hopefully, we can help answer any questions you may have, clear up confusion, and guide you toward the right home waxing kit purchase. For beginners, starting with premade heat-free waxed strips, such as the Veet or Flamingo options, is a great way to build confidence and get used to the feel.
For those who want to wax their face, the Flamingo Facial Wax Kit or FFS Facial Wax Strips are hard to beat. For those well-versed in home waxing, Rio and Mylee hot wax kits deliver salon-quality results in the comfort of your home.