How to Make Hair Removal Wax at Home

Co-authored by Heather Richmond, MD

Last Updated: November 29, 2024 Fact Checked

It's nice to pamper yourself sometimes with a trip to the waxing salon, but sometimes you just can't wait for an appointment. If you want to skip the salon and try waxing on your own, this article will show you a simple recipe to make DIY hair removal wax and wax strips on your own.

Ingredients

1 cup (250ml) granulated sugar
1 cup (250ml) honey
1/2 cup (125 ml) lemon juice
1 tablespoon water (optional)

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making the Wax

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In a medium-heavy saucepan, add the sugar and cook over medium-high heat, without stirring—just an occasional swirl of the pan—until the sugar begins to caramelize. This will smell delicious!^{[1]
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Research source}
2
Stir in the honey and lemon juice with a wooden spoon. Be careful: the sugar will be very foamy, and very hot.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Lemon juice has vitamin C. It is beneficial for the skin.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Heather Richmond, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
- Continue stirring until the mixture has melted and has the consistency of pancake batter. If the mixture is too thick, add water 1 tablespoon at a time until you have the right consistency.
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If you want to use it later, let it cool, then refrigerate it.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Using the Wax

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1
Check the length of the hair that you want to remove. Your hair should ideally be between 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch (3 mm and 6 mm) long.
- If your hair is too short, then the wax won't pull the hair out by the roots.
- If your hair is too long, you may experience a little bit of discomfort.
2
Prepare your strips of fabric. If you don't have strips already, you can cut up or tear up a cotton or linen shirt.
- To fix frayed edges, sew around the edges of your strips with a sewing machine.
Baby powder or cornstarch will absorb body oils and moisture, allowing the wax to stick to the hair (not your skin), making the process much less painful.
Using a wooden tongue depressor or a spatula, apply your homemade wax where desired. Apply the wax in the direction of hair growth.^{[4]
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Research source}
Take a strip of cloth, place it on the wax, and smooth it in with the direction of hair growth.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

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Pull lightly on the bottom edge of your fabric strip to see if it sticks well enough.
7
Remove the strip. Hold your skin taut by pulling at it from a point underneath the edge of your fabric strip and pull the strip off against the direction of hair growth. Do this very quickly. Do not pull it off at a 90° angle, but in a more shallow angle.
- Use a moisturizer that suits your skin type to moisturize the area.^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Heather Richmond, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
- Remember, it is better not to buy skincare products from random places online. They may not be what they claim to be.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Heather Richmond, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
It should keep for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator, or a couple months in the freezer.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Is it better to wax at home or go to a salon?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

Karina Villalta

Certified Esthetician

Expert Answer

If you don't mind spending the money, it's always going to be better to have a trained professional do something like this. Your skin will look pristine and they'll make sure there aren't any stray hairs.

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Question

Is traditional wax better than sugar wax?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

Karina Villalta

Certified Esthetician

Expert Answer

A lot of people seem to think so and I think I'm inclined to agree. Sugar wax has no added chemicals or resin, and it doesn't require nearly as much heat as traditional wax does.

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Question

How do you make sugar wax?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

Karina Villalta

Certified Esthetician

Expert Answer

Sugar, lemon juice, and water. Those are the only ingredients you need to make a sugar wax.

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Tips

If you wax a visible area, like your face, you can apply a cooling gel afterward to minimize redness. If you are prone to redness, consider waxing areas of your face on a day when you don't plan to go out.

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If the mix leaves residue on your skin, then rinse the area with warm water. If this doesn't work, boil some water on your stovetop and add 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Let the water cool and rinse the area again.

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If the mixture hardens before you apply it, use a double-boiler to reheat until it melts again.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Try waxing at night before going to bed to avoid redness around the area. The redness should be gone by the next morning, and you can use cooling gel as necessary.
If your mixture is too thin, add a bit more sugar to it until it becomes thicker.

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Warnings

Avoid reheating wax in the microwave. Microwaves heat wax unevenly and may create extremely hot patches. To warm up your wax, place it in a bowl of hot water instead.

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Be sure to test the temperature of the wax very carefully before applying it to your skin.

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