A Buyer’s Guide to the Different Types of Wax Warmers

If you want to offer waxing services at your salon, you’ll need the proper equipment and supplies. One of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll need is a wax warmer to keep your wax warm and ready to use.

However, there are many kinds of wax warmers on the market, and it can feel intimidating to find the right one. Keep reading to peruse our buyer’s guide for the different types of wax warmers so you can find the best one for your salon.

Hard-Wax Warmers

Hard wax is one of the most popular types of wax for body waxing. As the name suggests, hard wax starts off hard, too hard to easily apply to skin. Because of this, most hard wax comes in small beads that can melt down for application.

There are various types and sizes of hard-wax warmers on the market, but the standard for a hard-wax warmer is 1 pound. That means you can easily melt 1 pound of hard-wax beads in the warmer.

While you can melt smaller amounts of hard wax in this standard warmer, you probably don’t want to waste the space. Your salon is a busy place, which means keeping wax warm and ready all day keeps business flowing smoothly. You can melt the pound of wax at the beginning of the day and use it throughout the day for different clients. In fact, you can pour as many beads into the warmer as it can safely hold. You just need to use a new, clean applicator each time.

Soft-Wax Warmers

Some people think that since soft wax is softer than hard wax, you don’t need to warm it before application. While you don’t need to melt soft wax as much as hard wax, you still need to heat it up, so it reaches the right consistency. If the wax is too hard and cold, it won’t stick to hairs. However, if it’s too runny and hot, it can damage your client’s skin. Soft-wax warmers help warm the wax to the right temperature and keep it there for the best consistency while waxing.

Some people refer to these types of warmers as can warmers, since you place the entire can of soft wax inside. Since soft wax comes as one mass instead of in beads, you must warm the entire container before you can use the wax.

Roll-On Warmers

Some salons invest in roll-on wax instead of hard-wax beads or containers of soft wax. Most roll-on wax is soft wax, but since it’s not packaged in a container, you must use a different warmer. Depending on the type of device the roll-on warmer is, you will either place the unwarmed wax directly into the device or warm the wax separately before inserting it into the device.

Roll-on wax is a great option for specific waxing scenarios. For example, it works great for people with severe allergies who worry about warm wax that’s sat in the open all day. Even though this is not an unsanitary practice, roll-on wax provides extra assurance and peace of mind, as it is single use. The roll-on device also provides wax artists an excellent level of control over the wax, which is important for small, sensitive areas, such as the face.

Unfortunately, despite the advantages of roll-on wax warmers, maintaining consistent temperature can be difficult. Roll-on warmers will heat the wax to the right temperature, but since you then remove the wax from the warmer, it will cool. You may have to stop to reheat it throughout the waxing process, which some clients don’t like because it can feel like the process takes too long.

Combo Warmers

If your salon utilizes both soft and hard wax, you may want to invest in a combo heater. These usually have pots that you can use for both hard and soft wax, which makes application easier. Plus, with a combo warmer, you'll waste less space on equipment since you'll have a waxing tool that does it all!

Large Wax Warmers

If you serve lots of people or provide lots of waxing services, you need to have enough wax for everyone and every service. The standard hard-wax warmer that can warm 1 pound or the standard soft-wax warmer that can warm one container may not have the adequate capacity for your salon’s needs.

Fortunately, you can find larger wax warmers to accommodate large waxing needs. Keep in mind that manufacturers and sellers will label large wax warmers differently, so you may have to read more about the product to know if it’s large enough. Some will include the amount they can warm at a time in pounds or liters on the label. Others will simply come with a label that says “large.”

Small Wax Warmers

If you’re introducing waxing services at your salon for the first time, you probably don’t need a large wax warmer, you may not even need a standard wax warmer. That’s okay. While you can buy a large or standard wax warmer if you anticipate a high waxing demand, you can always buy a small wax warmer to start out.

As with large wax warmers, small wax warmers come with various labels depending on their manufacturer or seller. You’ll find some labeled “starter,” others labeled “small,” and others labeled according to the amount they can melt, which is often less than a pound. Read the descriptions of each warmer and speak with the manufacturer or seller to learn which small wax warmer is the right choice for your salon’s needs.

Important Criteria to Evaluate

In addition to understanding the types of wax warmers you have to choose from, you should also investigate some key criteria to further narrow your search. This makes it easier to select the perfect wax melting pot for your business once you've decided on the type you need. Evaluate details, such as:

• Temperature control: Does it hold a consistent temperature?
• Capacity: How much wax can it melt at once?
• Heating speed: How long does it take to heat up and melt wax?
• Size: Will it easily fit into your salon’s service rooms?

You can get a better idea of all of this by reading through the product description once you have a few wax warmers picked out. Reading through reviews is also a great idea, since this reveals how fellow salon owners feel about the product. For instance, while manufacturers may claim their wax warmer heats efficiently, buyers may complain about a faulty heating element. By evaluating this, you'll buy the best quality wax warmer for your business.

Tips for Maintaining Your Wax Warmer

When you buy a wax warmer for your salon, you should take time to read through the manual to see what the manufacturer recommends regarding use and maintenance. You don't want to overload your warmer or use the wrong type of wax in it. Remember, your equipment is an asset, and by taking care of it, you can continue moving your business in the right direction. One of the most important parts of maintaining your wax warmer is regularly cleaning it. For more information on cleaning your wax warmer, visit our post CLEANING YOUR WAXING EQUIPMENT - NEED to KNOWS

There are many different types and sizes of wax warmers. We hope this buyer’s guide gives you a clearer understanding of these types and sizes so you can buy the best warmer for your salon. For more info on wax warmer life cycle, visit our post 3 Signs That Your Salon's Wax Warmer Needs to Be Replaced

At Bombshell Wax, we sell equipment and supplies to help your salon thrive, including wax warmers for hair removal. We also sell the necessary accessories to help you get the most out of your wax warmer, such as body and face applicators, wax warmer inserts, and wax pot scrapers. You can shop small or in bulk with us. So no matter the size of your business or where you are in your wax artist career journey, we can help you succeed. Browse our website to view all the products we offer, and contact us with any questions—we are always happy to help!