An image-fixing method contains: passing a recording medium bearing an image through a nip between two or more fixing members to fix the image onto the recording medium; and ejecting the recording medium along with the fixing member contacting with a non-image-
bearing surface of the recording medium, wherein the fixing member contacting with an image-
bearing surface of the recording medium has a lower surface
hardness than that of the fixing member contacting with the non-image-
bearing surface, the image is comprised of a toner containing toner particles, each toner particle contains
wax having an
aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, and
polyester resin having an aromatic ring, a total amount of the
wax in the toner particle is 1 to 20
mass %, determined by DSC, an amount of the
wax located in the specific region of the toner particle is 0.05 to 0.40 that is an
intensity ratio (P2850 / P828) determined by FTIR-ATR, and the wax is partially or entirely encapsulated in the toner particle as dispersed particles.