Hard Wax vs Soft Wax: Which is Better for Your Skin?

When it comes to waxing products, most fall under one of two categories: hard wax and soft wax. At The Wax Room, we only use a high-quality hypoallergenic, hard wax for all services. Still, it’s important to know the difference between the types of wax, so you better understand why we believe hard wax is the better, gentler choice.

What is hard wax?

If you’re wondering what the difference is between hard wax and soft wax, you're not alone.

Hard wax is a thicker, more sturdy wax often utilized for sensitive or large areas. Believe it or not, hard wax is actually more gentle on your skin than soft wax. Part of this is because it adheres well to shorter, fine hairs.

When is hard wax used?

hard wax on arm

Great, but when do we choose hard wax over soft? Are we going to receive an ear pulling signal from the package? Like hi, hello, pick me! Hard wax is heaven sent for coarse hair. Since it acts as a shrink wrap around hairs, the delicate skin on our faces prefer hard wax since it snags the shorter, but still noticeable hairs. We believe that hard wax is best used in every instance over soft wax due to its gentler nature, and suitability for all skin types.

What does hard wax adhere to?

Hard wax does an incredible job of adhering to fine, short hairs. It’s perfect for those occasions where your next wax appointment won’t lineup with when you’re heading out of town or for an unexpected special occasion.

What is hard wax usually made of?

Hard wax might sound a little scarier than soft wax, but rest assured that there are no chemicals or toxins to be weary of. Hard wax is made of rosin, paraffin and natural plant extracts. Some combination of the three is what you can expect from hard wax no matter where you find it. The Wax Room’s hard wax is natural, beeswax-based.

What is soft wax?

Soft wax is developed from a few core ingredients: you’ll see the word Glyceryl Rosinate which is the fancy word for pine resin, Liquid Paraffin which is a mineral oil and Mel which is just honey. Since it’s naturally sticky, honey is the perfect adhesive when it’s warmed up.

What is soft wax best used on?

Soft wax is great in a pinch between waxing sessions and it can also be used on areas like your back, legs or other large surfaces. It offers exfoliation as it removes hair, but can also cause unwanted irritation.

Why should you only use soft wax once on an area?

Soft wax delivers a level of hair removal and exfoliation that would be dangerous to double dip on. Your skin will need time to heal between waxing sessions, especially since soft wax is known to pull hair and adhere to skin as well as hair. Because of its adhesiveness, soft wax cannot be used on the same area twice. The last thing you want to be dealing with is inflamed, irritated skin.

Pros and cons between hard vs soft wax

Some waxers use a combination of hard and soft wax depending on the service. While they both have their merits, we solely focus on hard wax for our clients. Due to hard wax’s gentle nature, you can use it twice over the same area of skin without causing further irritation, unlike soft wax.

Benefits of hard wax over soft wax

With hard wax, we’re talking minimal race so there’s no need for strips, proper adhesion to coarse hairs and wax that doesn’t stick to your skin. Hard wax can be applied twice if needed and it can also be applied thicker than soft wax. There’s less of a mess, it’s usually a little less painful and it’s perfect for those hard to reach, small sections and intimate, sensitive areas. It also tends to leave you feeling a lot less sticky afterward!

Advantages of soft wax over hard wax

Soft wax drives a hard bargain. It sticks perfectly to extremely small, fine hairs and is great for larger body areas like backs and legs. Its viscosity makes it easily spreadable and consequently makes it a great option for speed waxing, but speed isn’t our goal at The Wax Room. We aim to make your waxing session the best it can be, with minimal discomfort.


Being armed with the right information can help you make the decision that best serves your skin. At The Wax Room, we only use hypoallergenic hard wax to make every waxing session the most comfortable and pleasant experience.

In conclusion

The Wax Room wants all women to feel comfortable, yet empowered about beauty and waxing. For that reason, we always use high-quality, hypoallergenic hard wax. We know that it’s the most comfortable experience that makes you fall in love with the world of waxing, and not be turned away after your first session. Come feel the difference from the passion and care we put into each and every appointment!

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