How to Use a Wax Heater at Home: Step by Step

A wax heater (also called a wax machine) lets you wax at home like a parlour. There are two kinds — a pot heater for hard wax beans or soft wax, and a roll-on heater for wax cartridges. Here is how to use both.

Pot heater or roll-on?

Before you wax

• Hair about 5 mm long (roughly 2–3 weeks of growth).
• Exfoliate the day before, not on the day.
• Clean, dry skin with no oil or cream; a little powder helps.

Using a pot heater with hard wax beans

1. Fill: pour hard wax beans into the pot, half to two-thirds full.
2. Melt: turn the dial up and stir now and then until fully melted.
3. Cool to warm: turn down until the wax is like warm honey.
4. Test: put a little on the inside of your wrist — warm, never hot.
5. Apply: spread a thick layer with the hair growth, with a small lip at the end.
6. Set: wait 30–60 seconds until firm but bendy.
7. Remove: hold the skin tight and flick it off fast against the growth, close to the skin.

Using a roll-on heater

1. Insert the cartridge roller-down and switch on; wait 20–30 minutes.
2. Test a line of wax on your wrist.
3. Roll a thin strip with the hair growth.
4. Press a strip on, hold the skin tight and pull fast against the growth.
5. Remove leftover wax with a little baby oil.

Cleaning the heater

Switch off and unplug. Let leftover wax in a pot cool — clean wax can be re-melted next time. To clean, wipe the warm (switched-off) pot with wax remover or baby oil on a tissue. Never put the heating base in water.

Safety

• Test the temperature on your wrist every time.
• Never wax over moles, varicose veins, cuts, sunburn or irritated skin, or within a week of retinoid creams.
• Do not leave the heater on unattended; keep it away from children.
• Diabetes or poor circulation? Ask your doctor first.

Save with the complete hard wax kit, or browse all wax heaters. Next: waxing aftercare.