8 Best Tested At-Home Wax Kits for Smooth Skin from Head to Toe

The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab regularly tests various hair removal products, including waxes. In our most recent study, we tested six waxes and assigned each product to about five at-home testers over a one-month period. The Lab collected 439 data points from this study and reviewed more than 58 tester comments on their experiences with each product. Our picks include top performers from that test and older Beauty Lab tests, along with editor picks based on personal hands-on experience.

A few things to consider when choosing the right wax kit:

✔️ Your hair type and desired treatment area. “Think about how thick your hair is in the location that you want to treat,” says Wizemann.

✔️ Wax type. Decide if you prefer hard or soft wax, which usually take more time and skill, or wax strips, which are easier to use and clean up. “Also, check if the wax needs to be heated in a microwave or on the stove, or if it comes with its own heating device,” adds Wizemann.

✔️ Ingredients (both in wax kits and aftercare). “Ingredients like azulene, chamomile, or tea tree can calm skin post-wax,” says Jessie Cheung, M.D., board-certified dermatologist in Chicago and New York City. “Avoid kits with added fragrance or dye if you're prone to irritation.”

Note: if you have sensitive skin, “look for formulas designed for sensitive skin that contain soothing ingredients such as aloe vera or calendula,” adds Wizemann.

The different types of waxes can be confusing. Wizemann and Dr. Cheung break it down:

• Hard wax works well for removing coarse, thick hair from sensitive spots like the face, bikini line, and underarms. “Since it hardens on the skin and does not need strips, it is often easier to use on small or delicate areas,” says Wizemann.
• Cold wax strips come pre-coated and don't require heating, “making them convenient for travel or quick touch-ups, but they're generally less effective on coarse or shorter hair,” says Dr. Cheung.
• Soft wax “spreads easily over the skin and is better for larger areas like the legs or arms,” says Wizemann. “It is a more efficient choice for removing fine hair from wide surfaces.”
• Sugar wax is another, newer option. “It's a water-soluble paste made from sugar, lemon, and water that tends to be gentler on the skin and is easier to clean up, although it can have a steeper learning curve,” says Dr. Cheung.

For the best results, “hair should generally be about 1/4 inch long so the wax can grip it effectively, though some formulas are designed to work on slightly shorter hair so always check the product instructions,” says Wizemann.

Dr. Cheung advises to always test the wax temperature on your wrist first. “Apply in the direction of hair growth, remove against it, and pull the strip back flat and fast, parallel to the skin, not upward,” she says. You should not wax over sunburned, irritated, infected, or recently lasered skin. Afterwards, “avoid direct sun exposure, tanning, scrubs, retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and other exfoliating acids for at least 48 hours,” advises Dr. Cheung.

“Hard wax is the most forgiving because you can reapply, and it gives you a little more working time than soft wax,” says Dr. Cheung. “Since it adheres more to the hair than the skin, it's less painful and causes less irritation.”

Wizemann notes that wax strips can also sometimes be a good options for beginners because they come ready to use. “They’re a good way to experiment and see how your hair (and skin) behave after. Although they don’t always remove hair as completely as hard or soft waxes, she adds.

GH Contributing Beauty Editor Dori Price did the most recent article update, adding new tested product picks, more details to existing picks, and more information about waxing. She has over 18 years of experience writing about beauty and skincare in particular.

GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann worked alongside Dori on the update, providing insight from her most recent Lab test on hair removal products and devices.