Hard wax, often referred to as hot wax, is a traditional and very effective form of ski wax. Its application involves applying the wax to the ski or snowboard slide using an iron, which melts the wax to allow it to penetrate deep into the structure of the slide. Once the wax has been applied and melted, it is important to allow it to harden and then remove any excess material, usually with a squeegee followed by gentle brushing.