17 Best Home Waxing Kits for a Smooth, Bump-Free Alternative to Shaving

Do-it-yourself waxing is a great way to save on salon visits, but it can be a time-consuming activity if you aren’t ~strategic~ about it. That’s where these medium and large strips come into play—they’re designed specifically for removing hair from bigger surface areas (like your legs or back) and formulated with avocado oil and aloe vera to soothe any potential irritation. Plus, these strips are made of a soft-gel wax so you can peel and use them right away rather than having to aggressively rub the strips in your hands to warm them up, lol.

• What’s included: 24 large strips, 12 medium strips, six post-wax serum wipes, instruction manual

THE REVIEW: “I hadn't shaved my legs since maybe the beginning of December so I was HAIRY. My hair is thick and kinda coarse. These strips did an AMAZING job on my legs,” a reviewer raves. “I will def be buying more and recommending it to my girlies!”

If you’re new to waxing at home and are struggling with all the moving parts and pieces of a melting wax kit, try a roll-on stick to keep things a little cleaner and quicker! All you have to do is pop the device into the microwave for 15 seconds, roll it directly onto your skin to apply the wax, and then remove hair with one of the reusable cloth strips provided or any extra wax paper you have lying around. Also, because it’s a honey wax formula, you can easily rinse off any residue with water!

• What’s included: One wax roll-on applicator and 10 reusable cloth strips

THE REVIEW: “This product changed my life. Long-time leg waxer here with tough, fast-growing leg hair,” one customer writes. “I’d been using wax in a jar and managed to get my time down to 2.5 hours for full legs. With the roll-on wax it’s just over an hour to cover the same area. It’s so worth the few extra dollars.”

In France, waxing is much more common than shaving, so it checks that this French-owned brand would know a thing or two about at-home waxing. The wax can be used on the body and face, and doesn’t require waxing strips to remove. Just be careful to test the temperature of the wax on your forearm or wrist before applying.

• What's included: Heater, empty tin, 2 bags of hard wax beads, pre-wax purifying lotion and nourishing oil, protective sheet, vinyl gloves, 5 disposable body applicators, 5 disposable face applicators, small and large measuring cups

THE REVIEW: "I’ve tried other waxing methods in my youth. This product blows them all out of the water,” raves one reviewer. “This did the job, wax was the perfect temperature, no damage to the skin and even with stubborn hair and no skill, it went pretty well for a first time use!”

If you prefer classic, ready-to-use wax strips, you’ll love this kit from Flamingo. The soft, gel-like wax makes it easier (and less painful) to reach both fine hairs and thick, coarse ones. This duo kit comes with everything you need to wax both your body and face with minimal mess.

• What's included: 1 Body Wax Kit — 20 large body wax strips, 8 medium body wax strips; 1 Face Wax Kit — 20 small strips; 14 post-wax cloths, 1 post-wax calming serum for the face

THE REVIEW: "These flamingo strips are super easy to use and are much more cost effective than going to an esthetician. They save a lot of time as well," writes one reviewer. "I love them."

Dr. Gohara recommends heatless, pre-loaded waxing strips like these to simplify the waxing process, which is ideal for beginners or anyone who doesn't want to mess around with hot wax. Just peel apart the strips, apply to a clean section of skin on your face, and peel it off. Just remember to check in with your skin before use. Are you breaking out in the area you want to wax? Are you especially dry or irritated from retinol? Then Dr. Kilmer suggests you postpone, as your "skin is already irritated, so even more easily inflamed."

• What's included: 24 strips (12 double sided), skin shield powder, 4 calming oil wipes

THE REVIEWS: “These are awesome! Well worth the money! I’ve been removing my own hair for years and I love that I finally don't have to mix some messy wax to get the job done," a reviewer notes.

Waxing is typically done by pulling in the opposite direction of hair growth, hence the sting. With this sugaring kit, you'll learn the flick method, which involves using a reusable applicator to "flick" or pull the sugar wax in the direction of growth. But if this method is difficult to master, you can always use the cloth strips to start. Also exciting: the sugaring paste doesn't require any heat, is formulated to work on thick, coarse hair, and can be removed with warm water if you make a mistake.

• What's included: 6 oz of firm sugaring paste, 1 reusable applicator, 5 reusable cloth strips, step-by-step instructions

THE REVIEW: "I used to wax before I sugar waxed and it was more painful and more expensive. I can do this one at home and myself without having the fear of having wax stuck on my kitty," one reviewer writes. "Just be careful to be doing it in a cool place, otherwise it can get sticky."

If you want the heat of a wax warmer and beans, but the ease of a strip, the waxup roll on is a great alternative. Not only does the kit come with everything you need for a wax, the honey wax's key ingredient is meant to soothe irritation and keep skin moisturized, making it great for sensitive skin. This wax does take at least 30 minutes to warm up, but once it does, you'll be a waxing pro in no time.

• What's included: 1 roll on wax warmer, 25 waxing strips, 2 wax cartridge refills, 1 almond oil wax remover

THE REVIEW: "This wax was great. I've gone to get waxing done professionally and it was nice to be able to do this service mostly on my own," one user writes in their review. "Definitely worth the price. I have really sensitive skin so it was nice to not have an allergic reaction to this wax."

Don’t expect to find any strips in this home waxing kit. Instead, you’ll get a microwavable hard wax that’s applied directly onto your skin for fast and effective hair removal. You do have to be fairly careful with the temperature, though, so make sure you follow the directions super diligently (it takes around three to five minutes to heat up the wax, and you’ll have to stop and stir in intervals).

• What's included: Microwavable cup, 5.3 oz wax, skin cleanser, pre and post waxing oil, 3 large spatulas, 3 small spatulas, sample of the ingrown hair eliminating pads

THE REVIEWS: “This waxing kit is fabulous! I've used it consistently for several years for underarm and lip waxing and probably saved hundreds of dollars over doing these areas in the salon," states a tester.

For the past two years, I've become a legit expert at waxing with sugar wax. The pros? It's strip-less (meaning you can just spread the wax directly on your skin with your fingers and then rip it off), and it's ~organic~, so if any of the obscure (though totally safe) ingredients in regular wax freak you out, this sugar wax is made of just sugar, citric acid, and water. This is a great starter option, especially for those with deeper skin tones. "Darker skin types can [become] hyperpigmented with any irritation," Dr. Kilmer advises, adding that if hyperpigmentation is a concern, you should consider easing into at-home waxing with a gentle product.

• What's included: 40 oz of Luxury Pro Ultra all purpose universal paste

THE REVIEWS: “ I used this sugar wax to give myself a Brazilian wax and it was legit like a pro did it—i didn't have any issues and it didn't take too long either," a reviewer writes. "It's a bit more expensive than the other sugar waxes on the market, but considering you get so much product it's honestly a bargain," says a reviewer.

Yup, nose hair wax kits are a thing, and they're also very easy to use (and def beat tweezing your nose hairs out one by one). Just dip the rounded applicator into the warmed wax, swirl it around the insides of your nostril, then after a max of two minutes, pull it down in one swift motion.

• What's included: 45 g of Nad's Nose Wax, 8 applicators, 4 mustache stencils, 4 wooden spatulas, 4 antibacterial wipes, 4 post-wax calming oil wipes

THE REVIEWS: “I'm seriously so glad I tried these on my nose," asserted a tester, adding "you’ll be amazed at what you pull out!"

Complete with wax beans for coarse hair all over your body and face, plus the wax warmer and the pre- and post- wax sprays, I highly doubt you'll be making the trek to the salon again anytime soon. Even better, the wax bowl is silicone, so once you're done, let any leftover (unused!) wax fully harden, and then next time, pop it out of the silicone bowl to warm up and use again.

• What's included: Wax warmer, removable silicone bowl, four 3.5 oz bags of hard wax, pre-wax oil, post-wax oil, 10 large applicator sticks, 10 mini applicator sticks

THE REVIEWS: “The packaging it came in is very cute and it's a great little warmer," one reviewer writes. "It turns on and off to keep the wax at your desired temperature, and even when I've applied the wax too hot, it didn't burn which certainly eases some of the nerves of waxing yourself."

This gentle home waxing kit comes with pre-waxed strips that are cut into three convenient shapes for your face, your brows, and your bikini area. And to help settle any post-wax redness or irritation, you’ll also get a lightweight, cooling oil you can gently pat on your skin.

• What's included: 17 double-sided wax strips — 4 large, 12 medium, 18 small; 6 Azulene Oil post-wax wipes

THE REVIEWS: “I’ve been buying these for years. They are the most effective brand of wax strips I’ve found, and far better than any of the many wax alternatives I’ve tried like “sugar” strips, etc. I’ve found they work even better when warmed up a bit," one tester notes.

The best thing about this at-home wax kit is that you don't need a bulky wax warmer taking up space in your home—just pop these wax beans in the microwave for 45 second intervals until it becomes a honey-like consistency. Plus, it's formulated with aloe vera to help soothe skin while you wax. Spread the wax on your skin, let it cool, then quickly and firmly peel it back against the direction of your hair growth.

• What's included: 4.8 oz wax beans

THE REVIEWS: “This was my first experience with any waxing product and I'm so impressed," states a tester. "I viewed a lot of product videos before using to make sure I had a good idea of what to do and the whole thing was so simple."

Need a little brow maintenance? These sensitive-skin-friendly wax strips are an easy alternative to plucking or trimming your eyebrows. Warm up the strips by gently rubbing them between your hands, then press them on your skin (you want to place them in the direction your hair is growing) and peel them off in the opposite direction quickly.

• What's included: 16 double-sided mini strips, post-wax Azulene oil

THE REVIEWS: “Holy cow—these teeny-tiny wax strips have some major elbow grease behind them. It cleaned up my brows and got all my unwanted hairs in one fell swoop!" one reviewer writes.

As someone with a *super* sensitive bikini line, finding a formula that actually removes all my hairs but doesn't cause irritation can be tricky. Luckily I found this sugar wax that's infused with soothing cucumber and green tea extracts. It ideal for soft, hair-free skin that won't be inflamed post-use.

• What's included: 3 oz Natural Body & Bikini Wax, 12 washable and reusable cotton wax strips, 6 wooden applicators

THE REVIEWS: “This worked really well for me," reads a review. "I’ve never gotten a wax before so I wanted to try it on myself before I paid somebody $50+ to do it. The kit is a very useful, it comes with everything you need and I was able to wax my armpits successfully."

Waxing can be scary for those of us with sensitive skin, which is where this gentle home waxing kit comes into play. The ingredient is aloe vera, which is loved by derms for its ability to soothe and reduce inflammation. Use this in conjunction with a fragrance-free moisturizer to remove any redness post-wax.

• What's included: 32 wax strips, 4 calming oil wipes

THE REVIEW: "This system is very simple and quick. The directions are very clear and helpful," writes one reviewer. "Most important thing with these is to hold that skin taught while removing the strips — it makes it less painful."

A side note: Before you use any home waxing kits, you gotta make sure your skin is properly exfoliated. Two days prior to your wax, massage a gentle body scrub (this one from Dove smells like lavender and coconut and is a fave on the Cosmo beauty team) over the areas you’re planning to wax to buff away any dead skin cells. This helps make sure your wax pulls at your hair, not your rough, uneven skin.

THE REVIEWS: “I've used two other exfoliators from Dove and this one is now my favorite by far," reads a review. "The scent is so refreshing and relaxing—especially when I pair it with the lavender body wash. Plus it makes my skin soooo smooth too."

Post-waxing skincare is an absolute must if you want to avoid ingrown hairs or irritation. This serum from Topicals is formulated with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and Zinc PCA to gently exfoliate and keep ingrown hairs from forming. It’ll also help keep dark spots and discoloration at bay, and because glycolic acid helps fight body odor, it can be used as a makeshift natural deodorant in a pinch.

THE REVIEW: “As someone who struggled with ingrown hairs after waxing, I almost gave up completely on getting waxes, and just decided to try this on a whim,” one Sephora customer writes. “I’ve been using it for just a couple weeks now and the improvement — WOW!”