Wax is one of the oldest forms of textile resist and is perhaps the strongest. It is possible to use it in long, cool, immersion dyebaths and in hand painting projects. Natural beeswax, microcrystalline wax and paraffin wax can all be used in numerous combinations for a variety of effects. Natural beeswax is malleable and tacky and when mixed to a ratio of one to one with paraffin creates a strong resist and the characteristic crackle that defines batik. It may also be used at a ratio of 70% beeswax to 30% paraffin to create concise detail with little crackle. Microcrystalline wax is also known as synthetic beeswax, it is a strong batik wax that when used alone gives a light crackle effect. It can withstand the alkali of a typical dyebath well and is most often used to strengthen a beeswax and paraffin mixture.

Paraffin wax is sold in bead form making measuring and melting easy.