Whether your brows are bushy, ultra thin, or in that sweet spot in between, they can easily go from editorial-worthy to having a mind of their own in a matter of days. But don't wave a white flag on the ongoing battle you have with your brows just yet: Try taming them with eyebrow wax to groom them back to perfection.
Though applying a glob of wax to your face and ripping it off seems intimidating, it's actually pretty easy — and not as painful as you'd expect. There are even special formulations for sensitive skin types to enjoy without irritation.
According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anna Chaco, M.D., there are two main types of waxes available:
Soft wax is effective at removing hair and is appropriate to use at home, but it is generally best for larger areas like the legs and back.
Hard wax is gentler on the skin and less painful to remove, making it is better suited for sensitive areas like your brows and bikini line.
You can also find hard and soft waxes formulated for sensitive skin. We added two great options to our list for your consideration.
Skincare and Waxing
“Waxing can be effective, but potentially damaging to the skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner, M.D. If you use exfoliating acids or a retinol cream, your skin is more sensitive. This means you'll need to take a simple precaution: Stop using those harsh products at least one week before waxing. Ditto if you take oral acne medicine like Accutane, notes Dr. Marisa Garhisck, M.D. She also cautions against using a face scrub at least a few days before you decide to wax your eyebrows.
Before waxing be sure you don't have any areas with raw or open skin, says Zeichner, who is also the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. Once you're good there, he recommends washing your face so your skin is clean and dry of any potential grime.
After waxing, don't forget to slather on moisturizer to help hydrate and repair the skin barrier. Zeichner says that if you develop any burns or sores from the waxing, apply Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to protect the area. (This affordable product is also a derm-approved way of treating eczema.)
How Often Should You Wax?
It takes between 2 and 4 months for eyebrow hair to grow back, according to nonprofit medical center Cleveland Clinic. However, if your hair grows back at a much faster rate, then you'll probably feel more comfortable waxing once a month. Just don't overdo it — you can maintain the shape of your brows with a pair of tweezers.
How We Chose
Our former beauty editor, Jennifer Hussein, has stunning brows, but she’s the first to admit that it takes a lot of grooming to keep them on point. To help you narrow in on the best eyebrow wax kits available, she’s personally tried and tested a slew of products on the market, and 10 of them have earned her approval. Garshick also shared her favorite at-home eyebrow wax recommendation. All 11 of these options are highly rated, and have amazing reviews on sites like Walmart, Amazon, Ulta, and more.
If you tend to overwax — or if the thought of putting hot wax on your face makes you uneasy — this easy-to-use wax pen should be in your eyebrow prep kit. It allows you to apply as little or as much wax as you need with precision, so you don't have to cut strips into pieces or break out the tweezers for tough spots.
Hussein isn't the only one who adores this handy brow wand. “As a waxing pen, it helps to precisely shape and wax the eyebrows without leaving a big mess behind,” Garshick says. The Manhattan-based dermatologist also appreciates that you can simply wash away the wax with water for easy at-home cleanup.
Have sensitive skin? Then regular wax may be too tough on your skin — and this could lead to irritation.
If your skin doesn't take well to the average waxing kit, then grab this alternative. It's made with sensitive skin types in mind to ease pain, and its hard-wax formula doesn't require any strips.
Before you break out the makeup products, you actually should prep and prime your brows into their natural shape by waxing them. This face waxing kit is our favorite for having everything you need to clean up your brows — 20 wax strips, six post-wax cloths to remove any residual wax, and a calming serum to ease irritated skin.
Parissa simplified the at-home eyebrow waxing ritual with this mess-free kit that is ideal for both beginners and those with fine-to-medium hair, says Garshick.
Notably, these gentle wax strips are made with cruelty-free and natural ingredients like cane sugar, tree resin, vegetable oils, and beeswax. The eyebrow wax kit also includes a roller ball filled with blue azulene oil to help calm your skin and prevent the likelihood of ingrown hair.
Clean-up is easy, too: Just rub some oil on your skin to remove wax.
Scared of hot wax? First off, same. But you don't need to use any heat with these wax strips from JOY. Simply split the wax strips apart, apply in direction of your hair growth, and swiftly remove in the opposite direction. Et voilà: Super-smooth skin and precisely crafted arches that will last up to 28 days.
When you're done, just swipe off any excess wax with one of the finishing wipes that come in this kit.
This wax kit stands out for its all-natural, organic sugar-wax formula. Sugar wax is not only a great natural alternative to conventional wax, but it's also known to be gentler on the skin, have longer-lasting results, and result in less pain than other waxes.
Another bonus: Its roll-on application makes applying this wax a total breeze. And if you accidentally get some on a part of your brow that you'd like to keep, simply rinse it off with water. (Sugar dissolves in water, after all!)
Typically, you should wait until your eyebrow hairs are at least a quarter-inch long before waxing — but sometimes, that's just not realistic for your brow grooming needs. Enter Sally Hansen's salon-quality wax strips.
This kit comes with a whopping 34 wax strips, available in different sizes to fit anywhere on your face or body. Its genius is really in the formula, though: It's strong and adhesive enough to grab your pesky short eyebrow hairs when you're in a pinch.
If you have easily irritated skin, these wax strips are literally made for you. The strips are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and made with sensitive skin types and delicate areas in mind.
However, these strips are made from beeswax, so those of you who would like to avoid animal byproducts may want to opt for something else.
We get it: Sometimes, pre-made wax strips can be hard to make sure you get the proper precision you'd like. So, if you'd rather go the hot-wax route, this option is amazing for shaping your arches (and getting rid of peach fuzz, too).
This hot wax kit comes with everything you need: microwavable wax, an easy-to-use applicator, brow guide, aftercare lotion, and mini tweezers.
Bonus: You don’t need cloth strips for this wax. Just apply and peel off.
Once you're finished pampering your eyebrows, feel free to use the rest of these gentle wax strips on the rest of your body. This particular formula is easy on skin, yet grabs each and every hair — no matter its length or thickness. This makes it great for a head-to-toe waxing session.
Plus, it comes with 40 wax strips to use as you please.
This honey wax is a total dream for anyone with sensitive, easily irritated skin. Its gentler, sugar-wax formula is infused with honey to soothe, calm, and moisturize your skin during the waxing process, leaving little to no pain.
It's made specifically for facial use, so feel free to use this wax on your brows, upper lip, chin, and hairline.
Jennifer HusseinBeauty EditorJennifer is the Beauty Editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse.
Nicole SaundersBeauty EditorNicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty.
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