Black paste wax polish is the most common type of polish used by bootblacks. One's polishing technique often determines the most suitable brand to use. The primary differences in polish are wax hardness and color. The three most common brands used by bootblacks in the United States are Angelus, which is the softest, Kiwi, which is moderately hard, and Lincoln, which is hardest.

The color of black polish refers to the fact that black polish is not actually black, but is instead a very saturate, very dark color. Lincoln polish is very dark purple; Kiwi is blue; and Angelus is red. Color selection is less of a factor in most bootblacks brand preference than wax hardness, but some bootblacks select the polish to be used based on the color of the dye used in the leather.

Paste wax polish is distinct from cream polish.