Hard Wax vs. Soft Wax - What Are The Differences?

Wax on. Wax off. With waxing being the favourite way to remove hair and so many different varieties of waxing styles, from stripless wax to soft wax, sugaring, epilation and everything in between.

We thought we would help smooth out the jargon. So grab a cup of tea, sit back and relax while we rip off the strip and explain in a pain free way exactly what wax is and debunk some of those waxing myths.

Soft Wax - also known as “strip wax,” is a thin consistency wax that is used to remove hair from the body and face using a non-fiber wax strip.

Soft wax can be made from several different ingredients however the base of most soft wax’s is Glyceryl Rosinate (a pine resin), Liquid Paraffin (a mineral oil) and Mel (or honey to us common folk), it’s naturally sticky consistency makes for a perfect adhesive when warmed.

The main benefit of soft wax is that it adheres to the skin as well as the hair follicle. This gives a smoother finish to the finish as the wax removes any dead skin which helps with exfoliation.

Soft wax is also great for removing finer and softer hair such as facial hair and can cover a wider area of skin.

We all have our flaws, even soft wax. Although soft wax can be used in larger surface areas you are only able to apply the wax to the area once so any missed hair will need to stay until your next removal.

Soft wax, if not used correctly could leave you in some sticky situations as the wax does not dry as fast as hard wax.

No. Most soft wax comes in a microwaveable pot for easy home use. But you do need to use wax strips with soft wax to pull it off.

Hard wax, also known as “stripless wax” is a thicker consistency wax vs soft wax. Hard wax has been specifically designed to be used without strips and to adhere to the hair and not the skin, unlike soft wax.

Hard wax can come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes. From discs to beads, it is a better wastage system than soft wax as you can limit the amount you can melt before waxing.

A good hard wax has a thick glossy consistency.

Hard wax is used by applying a thick layer of wax to the desired area in a figure of eight motion. This is then repeated until the hair is completely covered. Once the wax is no longer tacky it is then ready to be pulled off.

The simple answer is no. A pain-free waxing session depends on the skills of the person waxing. Correct preparation, application and removal will all contribute to a pain-free wax.

Yes. Since hard wax is better used on thicker more coarse hair it is the perfect wax to use for intimate waxing. This is because you are able to go over the area twice which will result in a smoother finish.

Soft wax is applied in the direction with the growth of the hair and then removed against the growth by using strips.

Hard wax is applied in a thicker layer, in small patches against the growth of the hair and then removed in the direction against the growth of the hair.

Cleaning up for both waxes is very similar. Use Mylee Equipment Cleaner to remove any excess wax that may have spilt out of your Mylee Wax Heater.

The perfect temperature for soft wax is 43 - 45 degrees.
 

The perfect temperature for hard wax is 55 - 65 degrees.

So to summarize soft wax is best used for finer hair in larger areas and hard wax is best for those more intimate areas.

Heat your wax to the perfect temperature to avoid burning your skin and causing any adverse reactions to the wax, you can ensure this by using our Mylee Wax Heater.

If you're a waxing beginner we suggest taking a look at our Mylee Waxing Kits which come with everything you will need for beginning your waxing journey.

Don't forget to stock up on all our favourite stripless waxes and our soothing strip waxes too!