Wax Heater

Choosing the right heater is very important, the more confident you become in using the tools the faster the waxings can be completed.

Pot & Spatula

This is by far the most common form of heater and application method that is used throughout the industry. The wax is usually warmed inside some form of inner bucket, either a removable container that it is poured into, or in the tin that the wax is supplied in. It is then applied to the body using a spatula, usually a disposable single use wooden one. Although it can be a reusable plastic or metal spatula, though hygiene precautions need to be followed using them.
This method of application is the most versatile, it can be used to wax any part of the body and is the only method that is suited to the use of hot / non-strip waxes. And it can be used for applying wax to any part of the body. The heaters come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the most commonly found sizes are 500cc and 1000cc.
When choosing a heater you need to consider the types of waxes you want to use, and how much waxing you expect to carry out on a busy day. Personally I use two 1000cc heaters, one for strip and one for non-strip wax. The price difference between the two sizes isn't that great, and the flexibility of using the larger heater is well worth the extra spend.
If you are looking to offer non-strip waxing then you must use a separate heater, you won't have enough time to change and heat the waxes between clients. You will also find it can be beneficial to have the option to use both waxes during an appointment

Tube Waxing

Most tube waxing systems use disposable single use heads that are screwed onto a tube of the chosen wax. These tubes are then warmed in a specially adapted heater. The heads are designed to be disposed of after each client to prevent the risk of cross-infection.
The wax available for tube waxing is generally restricted to one or two per manufacturer, and you often find you can't use tubes and heads from different manufacturers together. When evaluating systems you need to look at the sizes of heads available, do they provide a larger size for the body and then smaller ones for the more intricate areas.
As with roller systems the tube can become very hot while in the heater, it is for this reason you should always use a heat protector when handling the tubes and ensure you patch test the wax temperature at regular intervals throughout the treatment. If you are a mobile therapist systems such as tube and roller waxing offer several advantages, however my personal recommendation is to use a roller system. It is more economical and offers a wider range of waxes to choose from.

Roller Wax

A lot of the wax manufacturers now offer roller versions of their leading flavours of wax. It is supplied in plastic cartridges of either 80 or 100g. These will either have a fixed head on, that cannot be removed, or you can attach reusable heads of various sizes depending on the area of the body you wish to wax.
The complete cartridge with head is placed inside the heater to warm to the appropriate temperature. There are generally two types of heater with the first being hand held where the cartridge is placed into a heater you can also use to apply the wax. This has the advantage of helping maintain the temperature, whenever you return the heater to its stand it will continue to heat the cartridge. And it is also insulated to help keep the cartridge warm.
The second type has several chambers, usually up to six, that the cartridges are placed into. You can then remove them and use to apply the wax. You have to be careful of both the cartridge and wax temperature here. You will find that when the wax is at working temperature the cartridge is too hot to hold. You therefore need to ensure that you always have an insulated holder to put the cartridge into.
When evaluating roller wax heaters I always recommend you look for one that will hold both sizes of cartridge so that if at some point in the future you wish to change the product you use the heater will accommodate it. I personally use a three chamber heater, and use the rollers for a leg waxing. I find this really helps to reduce the amount of time required to do a pair of legs. You can quickly and easily cover a large portion of the leg before removing the hair.