You're more than happy to let a stranger pour hot wax on you and rip it off, but have you stopped to consider what's IN that wax? If it's never crossed your mind, don't worry, you're not alone. But you SHOULD consider learning more, because understanding what's in that wax may actually help EASE the pain. Most hair removal waxes are actually a combination of other types of waxes // like paraffin and bees wax, //along with some oils or fats and a resin that allows the wax to adhere to your hair, and //unfortunately// your skin, too. Luckily, you have a choice between waxes -- soft and hard. Hard wax won't adhere to your skin, making it less painful, but is limited to smaller areas of more sensitive skin. On the other hand, soft wax, or strip wax, can be used on pretty much any patch of unwanted hair. The REAL difference between them is the adhesive agents in them -- the resin. Soft wax has it, hard wax doesn't . Having resin means you need a paper or cloth strips to help rip the hair from the root. Technicians will use this type of wax on larger areas where the skin is stronger, like your arms and legs, mostly because it removes so much hair in just seconds. Yes, it's more painful, but it won't last long! Without the resin, hard wax wraps around individual hairs, NOT the skin. It's commonly used on more sensitive areas like your eyebrows and bikini line. Keep in mind though, some salons and spas do use soft wax on these areas, but the hard wax is a better choice since it won't damage the skin, aiding in faster recovery. Not only that, most hard waxes are infused with antibacterial agents, as well as calming antioxidants, to really speed along the healing process. For example, tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and lavender and rose oils are natural calming agents, which help with mild to extreme burns. And we know that chocolate contains healing antioxidants, but when it's infused in hard wax it creates a good base to grab even the smallest hairs. Always check with your doctor first before undergoing any hair removal procedure and discuss any medical conditions or allergies you may have with the therapist first. To learn MORE about hair removal procedures and techniques, check out other videos in this series.