What Is A Paraffin Manicure?
Looking at the menus of nail salon chains, one special add-on that can elevate any manicure or pedicure experience is paraffin.
Nail techs typically melt wax in specialized salon basins before applying it to clients’ hands or feet. Prior to this treatment, an exfoliating scrub is often applied.
What Is Paraffin Wax?
Paraffin wax is a thick and safe liquid that can be heated to extremely high temperatures without harm. While usually produced from petroleum-derived sources, beeswax or natural products also contribute. When combined with other oils to form fragrant or therapeutic waxes it offers unlimited possibilities.
Paraffin treatments involve covering your hands or feet in liquid wax. After being immersed, they’re then covered with plastic until the wax hardens and cools – after which point, it is removed and allowed to dry naturally.
Heat from wax helps open pores, allowing skin to absorb the moisturizing oils absorbed through it and treat dry winter hands effectively. In addition, wax also treats chronic ailments such as fibromyalgia and arthritis by increasing blood flow to affected areas, providing greater joint flexibility while moisturizing nails, cuticles, cuticle care and pedicures are available services as well.
How It Works
Paraffin treatments utilize heat to penetrate your pores, opening them up to release toxins from your system and increase blood circulation to the area being treated. They also moisturize dry hands and nails while softening cuticles and giving nails an overall healthy, shiny appearance. Treatments can be conducted both in salons as well as at home with special wax warmers or paraffin blocks.
Before beginning, make sure your skin and fingers are free of cuts or scratches. After washing and drying your hand or foot thoroughly before applying wax, allow it to heat before taking your hand out of the basin to allow it to cool for a few seconds before repeating this process 6-8 times before checking the temperature of the wax before dipping again.
Once the wax has set, a regular manicure can be performed, including trimming and filing the nails and moisturizing with lotion. Some spas offer additional scents or essential oils in their wax to create an exquisite experience for their customers.
Benefits
Paraffin wax provides soothing relief from dry, cracked skin by opening pores and flushing away dead cells that clog them up. Furthermore, paraffin can improve circulation while helping relieve stiffness or soreness in joints – typically part of a manicure or pedicure treatment, some salons offer this service separately.
Hot wax treatments should not be done if there are rashes, cuts or broken skin as this could result in burns from its high temperatures. Also not advised are people suffering from diabetes or poor circulation as it could disrupt blood flow to affected areas and children can also develop heat rashes or minor burns from its use.
To make the process more convenient, some salons use an insulated basin to store their wax while others prefer disposable plastic bags that may be easier to manage. Nail technicians who offer paraffin treatments should always clean out their basin after every client, disposing of any leftover wax from previous treatments.
Side Effects
A paraffin manicure is an indulgent way to soften dry skin and seal in moisture on the hands, adding luxurious scents so that hands feel rejuvenated after peeling it away. While such treatments are recommended for those without varicose veins, as the warm wax causes blood flow to rush to its treated area; this may pull fluid away from other parts of the body and potentially cause numbness or tingling sensations in those suffering chronic venous disease.
Heat from paraffin wax treatments increases circulation, relaxing muscles and relieving pain from arthritis or joint problems. Furthermore, paraffin wax hydrates skin, nails and cuticles while healing hangnails by clearing away dead cells while sealing in moisture. Although non-toxic and safe for most individuals, those living with diabetes or high blood pressure should consult their physician first before receiving treatments.
