The wax is to prevent the inner fibers from wearing aginst each other and to provide some degree of protection from abrasion (dirt, rough surfaces) to the string. Todays fibers are synthetic and will not soak up moisture like older natural fibers. And using a hair dryer is not recomened by anyone in the bow/string industry! The intense heat WILL heat string and WILL cause stretch, so if early string replacement is your goal whip out the Vidal Sasson and get to stylin' Todays strings will last the lifetime of the bow within normal use without abuse.