What Is A Paraffin Manicure?

As winter approaches and days become shorter, many people find their hands becoming dry and chapped – this is when a paraffin manicure becomes especially beneficial.

Waxing is an increasingly popular salon treatment used to soften skin and cuticles, and can easily be done at home using wax blocks or hand basins. But what exactly is waxing?

What is Paraffin Wax?

Paraffin wax treatments are increasingly being offered at salons and spas as an effective way to pamper hands while relaxing them, or you can do it at home yourself if you have all of the right equipment.

At first, a manicurist exfoliates and cleanses their client’s hands and nails before immersing them into warm paraffin wax, usually found in a manicure basin. Next, their hands are submerged for 15-20 minutes in plastic with mitt coverings until hardening occurs – you may choose commercially available paraffin such as FPO’s Pinnacle Nurture Infused Therapeutic Paraffin or GiGi Tropical Parafin Wax which contains mango oil among other skin-nourishing ingredients.

Melting paraffin wax yourself can also be done using commercially prepared baths available at medical supply stores, double boilers or slow cookers – as long as a candy thermometer is available to track its temperature between 100 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

How is Paraffin Wax Used in a Manicure?

Paraffin wax treatments make an excellent addition to a manicure or pedicure because of their skin-softening and moisturizing benefits, particularly during the cold months when cold weather and dry nails can exacerbate hand discomfort. Paraffin treatments have especially proven popular during these winter months when cold temperatures and cracked, brittle nails can aggravate existing issues on hands and nails.

At a paraffin manicure, the nail technician will either dip the client’s hand into melted paraffin, or apply it all over their hand before wrapping in plastic and towels for optimal comfort and therapeutic benefits. Once applied, they’ll wait about 15 minutes until softly peeling off their wax-coated hands before gently unwrapping and removing it all at once.

Liquified wax allows for complete hydration of hands and fingers, including cuticles and skin beneath nails. The heat generated from melting the wax also opens pores of skin and nails to cleanse away dirt and debris while softening hard or cracked areas. Once the liquefied wax has been removed by a manicurist, they will apply moisturizer as a final step to treat your hands and nails.

What are the Benefits of a Paraffin Wax Manicure?

Paraffin wax treatments offer a luxurious and therapeutic experience that will leave your skin silky-soft. Perfect for people with dry skin, especially cracked or calloused hands. Additionally, paraffin can open pores and remove dead cells to leave hands with silky-smooth hands!

Arthropathy patients may benefit from regular paraffin treatments to ease their discomfort by relaxing stiff joints. Studies show that people receiving regular paraffin treatments report reduced pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Home paraffin wax kits or salon treatments may offer this treatment option, though for best results and comfort it’s best to go to either option. When performing it at home it should be melted to an ideal temperature so as to provide comfortable warmth rather than scorching hotness. Diabetics should avoid these treatments, however, as it could worsen their condition further and cause numbness or heat rash.

Where can I get a Paraffin Wax Manicure?

Paraffin wax treatments can be added onto manicures or pedicures for an additional fee at many nail salons and spas, like LA VIE. We utilize pure citrus-scented paraffin wax with spa-style mitts for an extremely moisturizing treatment that also soothes muscles.

After exfoliation, your technician will ask you to immerse or paint your hands into melted wax containing essential oils for an added sensory experience. After approximately 15 minutes have passed, she’ll remove your hands from the wax and apply a moisturizer coat as an aftercare regimen.

While paraffin treatments are generally safe, they should not be performed on people with hypertension, diabetes, varicose veins or those who are susceptible to heat rash as the hot wax could increase blood flow to the area being treated, potentially leading to numbness and other unusual sensations in these individuals. If however you suffer from chronically dry skin a paraffin wax manicure could prove extremely helpful.