Perfect Pedicure FAQ
What is a pedicure?
Pampering one's feet is the ultimate luxury indulgence, yet few people take time for it. A pedicure involves soaking your feet in warm water in a foot bath. The water contains a soak that will soften skin and calluses. Rough dry skin is removed with a foot paddle, nails are trimmed and buffed, cuticles pushed back. This is followed by a relaxing foot and lower leg massage before your feet are slipped into paraffin wax booties, breaking through the sanitation seal. Once the paraffin has cooled, the booties are removed and disposed of, toes are ready for painting.
Why Paraffin?
The Ultimate Occluse Mask
Paraffin’s long carbon chain molecular structure makes it a 100% occlusive mask with exceptional elasticity and heat retention. Occlusion and hydration are known to increase the permeability (ability to be absorbed) of molecules into the skin. When an occlusive paraffin treatment is applied to the skin, it prevents loss of water and directly increases hydration levels by up to 50 percent. A well-hydrated stratum corneum is up to ten times more permeable than when it is dry, making paraffin one of the most effective means of driving in serums and cosmeceuticals. Skin is left smooth and soft, renewed and protected.
A Heat Reservoir
Paraffin wax has a tremendous thermal capacity, meaning its ability to absorb and retain a great amount of heat. As paraffin melts, it absorbs energy through a simple process called heat transfer. In its liquid state, paraffin is a tremendous reservoir for heat. During treatment, the heat held in the paraffin is transferred into the skin stimulating the skin’s natural processes, self-hydration and detoxification.
The Benefits of Heat
Therapeutically, paraffin treatments are effective heat treatments and have been used by physical therapists and MD Rheumatologists since the 1950s. There are several benefits to warm paraffin treatments including: an increase in extension of soft tissues; removal of toxins from cells; enhanced blood flow; increased function of tissue cells; relaxation of sore, stiff muscles; and relief of painful arthritic joints.
What is paraffin?
Paraffin is an organic food grade by product of petroleum created by a lengthy process of distillation, purification by boiling, chilling and intense filtering. The result is a dense, heavy wax-like substance that has been used for therapeutic purposes for thousands of years.
The ancient Romans poured molten waxes on the body prior to massaging to loosen muscles.
The French covered wounds with paraffin to help the healing process and protect against infection.
During World War 1, paraffin was used in British military hospitals to help with orthopaedic problems.
How hot is the wax?
The products contain minerals that are designed to consistently heat paraffin to a prescribed 50 degrees C immersion temperature in just 5 minutes.
How long will the pedicure take?
The treatment is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
Is this a safe & sanitary treatment?
A SKYN we leave nothing to chance when it comes to the safety, comfort and peace of mind of our clients. We use footbaths fitted with a new disposable tub liner for each client. We autoclave our implements and also have Tweezerman Pedicure Kits for you to purchase, and bring with you each time you have a pedicure, that way, only you use those implements. Every measure is taken to ensure this is the safest and most sanitary way for you to enjoy your indulgent pedicure. We use hypoallergenic medical grade booties pre filled with physiotherapeutic spa grade paraffin with a sanitation seal. These are disposed of after your treatment. These paraffin treatments are totally hygienic with their single use design. This is a must have treatment!
At SKYN we don’t believe in, or use, “Spa Chairs” due to their history of causing infections from improper cleaning and sterilizing. Spa Chairs and whirlpool type footbaths are a breeding ground for Microbacterium Fortuitum bacteria that can cause boils and scarring on the legs.