Most people are familiar with waxing as a reliable and quick hair removal method. Apply a waxing paste on top of the skin and pull it off to uproot the hair. Easy, right?
While it may sound like a simple task, waxing has its science behind it. If you’re new to the hair removal situation, you may want to take a closer look at two types of wax, hard and soft.
Hard and soft wax can remove unwanted hair without any significant difference. However, the efficiency in its application differs depending on the area the hair is located in.
To understand the difference between hard and soft wax, let’s jump into the discussion below!
What Is Hard Wax?
Hard wax refers to the type of wax that sticks to the hair rather than the skin. In other words, you will less likely damage the skin with this type of wax.
Texture wise, hard wax is thicker than soft wax. It hardens once applied on top of the hair at the surface of the skin.
The removal can be done directly by hands so there’s no need for waxing strips. Hard wax is usually recommended for hair removal on the face, armpit, or bikini line areas.
What Is Soft Wax?
Contrasting the hard wax, soft wax is the waxing paste that sticks to the skin underneath the hair. Pulling off the wax also means taking the outermost top layer of your skin.
For that reason, waxing with soft wax tends to be more painful than hard wax. To remove the wax, you will need a fabric strip. The whole ordeal may cause skin redness and irritation.
While hard wax works on narrow areas, soft wax can give efficient results around the arms, legs, and back.
Considering the risks of hard or soft waxing, professional hair removal is your safest bet. Check out our Super Hair Removal (SHR) packages today!
Hard Wax vs Soft Wax
To help you differentiate hard and soft wax easily, here is a list of some of their notable characteristics:
| Hard Wax | Soft Wax |
| Doesn’t require wax strips. | Require wax strips. |
| Doesn’t stick to the skin. | Stick to the skin. |
| Work effectively on smaller areas. | Work effectively on large body parts. |
| Doesn’t work as an exfoliant. | Good for exfoliation. |
| Can be applied in thick layers. | Only applicable in thin layers. |
| Less painful to remove. | More painful to remove. |
| Breaks off easily. | Doesn’t break off easily. |
| Can be applied twice in the same area. | May increase the risk of irritation if applied twice in the same area. |
Read also: Waxing vs Shaving, What is the Differences?
How to Use Hard Wax
If you think hard wax is the best wax for hair removal at home, you can try the following steps to apply it:
- Thoroughly cleanse the skin you will apply the waxing paste on.
- Apply a pre-wax oil to help protect your skin.
- Warm the wax up to 130°F (ca. 54 °C). Remember, the wax should be warm, not hot.
- Apply the warm wax with a waxing spatula following the hair growth direction.
- Once it hardens, you can pull off the wax with your finger in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
How to Use Soft Wax
To remove hair on large areas, you can rely on soft wax. Here are the important steps to apply soft wax:
- Cleanse the targeted area thoroughly.
- While it’s not necessary to warm the soft wax, you can warm it as suggested by the product manual.
- Apply only a thin layer of wax with a waxing spatula in the direction of hair growth. Spread the waxing paste evenly.
- After a couple of minutes, pull the skin taut and remove the paste using a waxing strip. Pull the strip in the opposite direction of hair growth.
So, have you decided which type of wax for your hair removal at home? Generally, hard wax tends to be gentler on your skin, which makes it suitable for sensitive areas. On the other hand, soft wax can cover large areas, like the back or legs.
If you’re new to hair removal, you may want to opt for a gentle, pain-free, and more effective option than risking the side effects of waxing at home.
At Clean & Tidy, we offer you an effective Super Hair Removal (SHR) treatment with long-lasting results, conducted professionally by our licensed therapists.
With our advanced SHR technology, we can assure you no immediate hair regrowth, as the rapid pulses of low-energy light damage each hair follicle in a precise manner.
Compared to other laser hair removal procedures, SHR evokes less pain without an intense burning sensation.
To book an appointment, you can contact us at Clean & Tidy Bugis or Orchard Road. Let us guide you on a painless beauty journey to achieve the ultimate healthy and smooth skin!
Read also: SHR vs Waxing: Which Is the Better Hair Removal Method?
