Hard wax is a thicker yet gentler option that needs to be warmed up (ideally around 130° Fahrenheit) before applying. It works by adhering to the hairs, opening up the pores from the heat. Because of this, no strip is necessary, as it hardens and can be pulled off the skin in its final form by the hands. Hard waxes can be more effective when it comes to removing smaller hairs (from 1/6 of an inch) and hairs in more sensitive, compact areas of the body such as bikini lines, armpits, and face. And according to Crown Beauty Bar, hard wax tends to be less painful on the face and is more effective when it comes to grabbing shorter hairs.

One benefit of hard wax is because of its gentler and non-irritating nature, it can be used on the same area multiple times to guarantee removal of any missed hairs on the first pull. "Since hard wax only sticks to the hair, you can treat and retreat areas to make sure all of the hairs are removed without damaging the skin," dermatologist Hadley King told Healthline. Hard wax also tends to leave less sticky residue behind. However, it is important to note that hard wax is not ideal to use on larger areas of the body such as the legs, as it tends to break more easily in general.