What is the difference between hard wax and soft wax?

Waxing is one of the most popular ways to get rid of body hair. It’s quick, convenient, and — because the hair is pulled out from the root — the results last longer than shaving.

If you are new to waxing, you may be wondering what type of wax to use. There are two different types: hard wax and soft wax.

Although both do a good job of removing hair from the follicle, hard wax is better for smaller, more sensitive areas like your Bikini area, Underarms or Facial waxing. Soft wax, on the other hand, is a better option for larger areas like your legs.

This article will highlight the differences between hard wax and soft wax, and also look at the pros and cons of both in an effort to help you choose the right waxing method for your needs.

WHAT IS HARD WAX?

When it comes to sensitive spots (Hello, Brazilian wax!), hard wax is the way to go. That’s because hard wax adheres to the hairs rather than to the skin, which gives it an advantage in the hair removal process.

“Since hard wax only sticks to the hair, you can treat and retreat areas to make sure all of the hairs are removed without damaging the skin,” explain waxing experts at Wax Spa.

Hard wax is thicker than soft wax and works by hardening on your skin — hence, the name. Once it hardens, you can remove it with your hands, so there’s no need for waxing strips. This makes the process a lot less painful.

According to experts at Wax Spa in Miami, hard wax is best suited for use on your Bikini, Underarms, and Facial waxing.

PROS AND CONS OF HARD WAX

PROS

• It’s gentler on your skin, especially for areas like your face and bikini area.
• You don’t need a material strip to remove the wax and hair.
• It’s less painful to remove, compared to soft wax.
• There’s typically less residue left behind.

CONS

• Applying and removing the wax can be time-consuming if you’re using it on larger areas like your legs and arms.
• Since it hardens and comes off on its own, it can break off easily before it’s ready to come off.
• You need to warm it up before applying it to the skin.

WHAT IS SOFT WAX?

Soft wax adheres to your skin as well as to the hair for a better and stronger unwanted hair removal.

Wax Spa experts explain that this makes the process a little bit more uncomfortable than waxing with hard wax.

Unlike hard wax that comes off on its own, soft wax requires a waxing strip to remove the wax and hair from your skin.

Soft wax works best on large areas like your Upper Body and Lower Body.

PROS AND CONS OF SOFT WAX

PROS

• You can use soft wax on larger areas of your body like your legs, back, and arms.
• It may be more affordable than hard wax.
• It typically doesn’t break off.
• You can apply it at lower temperatures.

CONS

• You need a material strip to remove the wax and hair.
• It’s more painful to remove, compared with hard wax (Unless you wax by Wax Spa experts)
• There’s a higher risk of skin irritation if you apply the wax to the same area more than once (Unless you wax by Wax Spa experts)
• It may be more likely to cause harm to your skin if applied and removed incorrectly (Unless you wax by Wax Spa experts)

THE BOTTOM LINE

Both hard wax and soft wax remove hair and are appropriate for getting rid of unwanted hair.

Hard wax is gentler on your skin. It’s better suited for sensitive areas, and is less painful to remove. Soft wax is better suited for large areas, like your legs or back.

If you’re new to waxing, you should to start off with a waxing session from a licensed esthetician at Wax Spa who has been serving North Miami Beach, North Miami, Aventura, Hallandale, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles, Surfside, Miami Gardens, Miami, Hollywood for the last 15 years.

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