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Growing hair on your body is a personal preference. Some people prefer to go the natural route, while others put in a ton of planning, minor pain, and a hefty chunk of change to achieve silky smooth and hairless skin. The latter may feel nice, but keeping up with it at the salon can be quite the chore. That’s why at-home waxing can be a good alternative to salon appointments and laser hair removal.
Just like getting a manicure vs a DIY mani, the results probably won’t mirror salon quality, but it will do the trick. Whether your at-home wax is an in-between-the-salon touch-up or your way to eliminate stubble entirely, the following roundup of the best at-home wax kits is good information to store. Better yet, store these products in your beauty closet so you’re prepared to go hairless in a time crunch when you can’t make it to your waxist. From wax beans, to strips, and professional grade kits for the face and body, ahead, we present the 10 best at-home wax kits.
At-Home Waxing Tips
Before diving into your first at-home wax, it’s important to read the directions on your kit of choice. After all, ripping hair off your body from the follicle is no easy feat. “You want to make sure your skin doesn’t react poorly to anything in the formulas you’re using before fully diving in,” explains Flamingo Founder and General Manager, Allie Melnick. “The inside of your arm is a good spot for this.” Another hack? Try waxing at night before you go to bed to give your skin restful hours to recover before you face the world. A wax specialist from Athena Club shares that prepping your skin with an exfoliant can make the best results because it gives your skin a clean slate. Plus, for the best results, “we recommend avoiding deodorant or alcohol-based products for 24 hours after waxing, and exfoliators for 48-72 hours after waxing. A gentle moisturizer can be used if your skin still feels dry,” she says.
Pros
- Affordable
- Subscription option
- No heat needed
Cons
- Strips tend to miss a few hairs
Athena Club is an affordable modern self-care brand that provides great razors and stylish shaving products, performs well, and is inexpensive. Just like everything else the brand makes, their wax strips are made from top-performing, clean ingredients. The strips are made with all the nourishing stuff like sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil, tea tree leaf oil, carnauba wax, and shea butter to extract hair from the follicles without damaging the skin. These are a great option for those with sensitive skin. Use the strips followed by a post-wax wipe to help calm any irritation.
Athena Club Rating: 5/5 stars
An Athena Club Reviewer says: “This wax kit has literally zero flaws. I couldn’t figure out how to write a review until they literally emailed me asking me to, and I was happy because I felt guilty not being able to write one. It sounds weird the product is that good! No other wax strip I’ve tried can compare to this one. The price is good and the shipping is fast. It’s all pros, no cons.”
Best for | Body |
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Comes with | 24 wax strips, 6 post-wax wipes |
Pros
- Similar to the salon process
- Can control heat temperature
Cons
- Not for Beginners
- Can be painful
This professional-style wax kit has over 11,000 near-perfect reviews on Amazon. It’s a best seller for those who want to do it like the pros, heating up wax beans for hair removal on the eyebrows, face, lips, underarms, chest, bikini, legs, and more. It has different scents and types, like lavender wax beans for sensitive areas and black wax for thick, coarse hair. It takes some practice, but this baby can get you pretty close to salon quality smooth with long lasting results.
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I love this at-home waxing kit! The warmer works well, and the temp adjustment is nice. It took me a few tries to figure out the correct thickness to apply the wax but there also are directions with some tips. I’ve done armpits and bikini line, small areas at a time to practice. I would recommend this to others who want to do their own waxing at home.”
Best for | Thick, coarse hair |
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Includes | LCD digital wax warmer, 4 bags of hard wax beads, 20 piece wax strips, 2 pairs of waxing gloves, wax oil, wax applicators, silicone bowl |
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Pros
- Gentle on the skin
- Easy to grip
Cons
- Does not grab coarse hair
These soft gel wax strips will work wonders on facial hair removal, without the burn. The sticky gel grabs super fine hairs without irritating the skin. Plus, it comes with easy directions and additional products to prep and soothe the kit for pre and post-wax care, making this a great choice for beginners. Each strip has a wavy edge for an easy grip and control over where you remove hair and can last two pulls.
Flamingo rating: 3.5/5
A Flamingo reviewer says: “These are easy to use and work very well on my facial hair. I had a tiny bit of redness after use but it went away within a half hour using the calming lotion as directed. I have very sensitive skin, so I was pleased that no irritation resulted. These are effective, simple to use, and way less expensive than having it done at the salon.”
Best for | Face |
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Includes | 20 wax strips, 8 post-wax cloths, 1 calming serum |
Pros
- Easy to use
- No heat
- The wax can be used more than once
Cons
- Some say it doesn't pick up all the hairs
This no-heat formula comes with natural sugar wax to remove hair at the root of your face and body. It comes with a step-by-step guide, suitable for beginners without the risk of burning your skin. It’s made for all skin types and has everything you need for a proper sugar wax.
Amazon rating: 3.5/5
An Amazon reviewer says: “As a first time waxer, this product is AMAZING. I’m not scared of burning my skin, and the reusable strip cloths are an awesome addition to the kit. Everything is easy to clean since it’s a sugar wax, which just makes the process that much easier to endure. I have sensitive skin that can be fairly reactive, and coarse, thick dark hairs. I used this product on my legs, and the results were impressive! The redness from the waxing even went away within a few minutes after use. This was an impressive product and I will definitely be purchasing again!”
Best for | Beginners, all body parts |
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Includes | Easy instructions, cleansing soap, sugar wax jar, cotton strips, wooden spatulas |
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Pros
- Easy to use
- Calming formula
Cons
- Some say it takes a long time to heat up and cools down quickly
- Some say the wax does not pick up fine hairs
Bliss sought to recreate a spa-like formula in the comfort of your own home with their Poetic Waxing kit. With calming chamomile oil, it’s a great option for those with sensitive skin. Plus, it’s a low-temperature formula you heat in a microwave that hardens quickly, making the process fast, easy, and (almost) painless.
Amazon rating: 4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “Waxing is never easy or fun. But I’ve tried all sorts of methods of reducing and removing my facial hair and I keep coming back to this. It’s easy, quick, and it works. It’s economical because you can reuse the wax over and over. It’s super easy to heat in the microwave (use a lower power setting for a longer time for best results). I keep the mug on parchment paper to collect spills (to reuse!) and prevent the wax on other surfaces.”
Best for | Face and body, sensitive skin |
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Includes | Applicators, pre and post gel, microwavable mug, and wax |
Pros
- Long lasting results
- Grabs thick, coarse, and fine hair
Cons
- Can be painful and messy
- Takes time to set up and clean up
This top-rated professional style at-home waxing system is not for beginners, but it’s the closest option to salon-quality results, especially for thick, coarse hair around the bikini and Brazilian area. Good results can take time, and while this is no quick and easy process, it’s a great investment tool that costs a fraction of the price of one Brazilian wax treatment. It has everything you need for pre and post-wax care, along with different-sized wood applicators for all body parts.
Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have really coarse hair and have tried so many different hair removal products, all of them resulting in nothing but painful horror stories. This wax works well, as long as you take the time to learn how to use it correctly. It spared me the frustration and sticky messes other people experienced.”
Best for | Salon-quality results, thick/coarse hair, Brazilian/bikini area |
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Includes | Honee wax, wax warmer, cleanser, after-wax treatment, muslin strips, and various size applicators |
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Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to use
Cons
- Some report breakouts after using the oil
This Sally Hanson kit is an icon at drug stores. It’s full of classic face wax strips that are quick, easy, simple, and just work. It’s a pain-free process of hair removal that entails a bit of warming in your hands, proper shaping, sticking, and voila! Plus, it’s super affordable and easy to pack, making this an easy purchase on repeat for travel.
Amazon rating: 4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I got these to get rid of unwanted hair when I’m traveling. This product is great and compact. You can carry it anywhere with you. The only issue is that you need to make sure you store it in a good environment. Otherwise, it would make a mess.”
Best for | Face, travel |
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Includes | 18 wax strips, post-wax face oil |
Pros
- Less pain than traditional waxing
Cons
- Some say it can be messy
Sugaring lovers should get their hands on this top-rated kit. The process removes hair with far less pain than waxing and this kit sets you up for success. It’s a no-heat process, perfect for fine hairs and sensitive skin. The formula consists of only a few simple ingredients of natural sugar, organic citric acid, and purified water, making it a reaction-free process.
Ulta rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “I’ve never done regular waxing before. I was scared of the burning and pain. This product is so easy to use (no heat), has very little pain, and is very efficient in removing hair. Plus, it’s easy to clean and leaves no irritation after waxing. It’s amazing! I will buy it over and over again.”
Best for | Fine hair, full body, face |
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Includes | Classic sugaring doh, reusable cloth strips,reusable applicator |
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Pros
- Storage is easy
- Great for sensitive skin
Cons
- Strips can miss a few hairs
As seen on Shark Tank, this wax kit is a game changer for anyone with sensitive skin that doesn’t have time to “recover.” The strips are hypoallergenic and free of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. The entire system is super easy to use and store. All you have to do is rub the strip in your hands for 20 seconds to heat the wax, pull the strip apart and apply it to the skin, hold the skin taut, and pull the opposite of hair growth. It also comes with aloe cream post-wax for extra soothing.
Amazon rating: 3.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I found these magic wax strips, and I have never looked back. They are so easy to use. They get 99 percent of my lip hair lip as easy as 1-2-3 (warm the strip, place it on lip, pull the strip off). It is instantly smooth and not even red. I can’t be happier with this product.”
Best for | Upper lip, brows, face |
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Includes | Storage tin, 24 hypoallergenic wax strips, aloe vera cream |
Pros
- Picks up thick, coarse hair
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not suitable for fine hair
Waxing your bikini area—whether you go full Brazilian or keep it tailored is an entirely different ball game. The hair tends to be thicker and more difficult to remove, plus it’s in an area vulnerable to pain. VidaSleek tailors its products to your hair type and body area because some need extra power. This kit works wonders on thick, coarse hair, especially down there. It’s compact, easy to use, and a naturally derived formula infused with avocado oil for a beautiful finish.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I’ve tried other brands, but this is the one that I come back to and my only choice from now on. My waxing lasts for a while, keeps me hair-free, and the process becomes even easier the more you do it. Their strips are great quality as well from this brand so I do recommend you use it for best results.”
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Why Trust ELLE Beauty
Vanessa Powell is a style and beauty writer and editor with a decade of experience covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. For this roundup, she consulted brand experts about the efficacy of at-home wax kits, researched best selling products and customer reviews, and tested over a dozen brands.
Vanessa Powell
Vanessa is an established editor, stylist and shopping expert covering all things style, gear and wellness. She lives in Los Angeles and is passionate about sharing innovative products, tips and trends for people and the planet.