Paraffin Wax Treatments in the Salon: Temperature, Steps, Wax Sizes and Hygiene
By Edmond Lin, M1 Nail & Beauty Supply, Markham, Ontario. Last updated 11 October 2026. Temperature limits and directions are quoted from the Mellow Paraffin Wax packaging; the treatment steps are general salon practice.
A paraffin wax treatment coats the hands or feet in warm, melted paraffin, wraps them for 10 to 15 minutes, and peels away to leave dry, rough skin softer. In a nail salon it is an add-on to a manicure or pedicure. You need a paraffin bath with a digital temperature display, scented paraffin wax, liners and mitts. The wax should never be hotter than 115°F (46°C), and wax that has touched a client is thrown away, never returned to the bath.
In this guide
What does a paraffin treatment do?
Melted paraffin holds heat and sets into a soft shell around the skin. The shell keeps the warmth in, and the oils in the wax soften and moisturize rough, dry skin on hands, feet, elbows and heels. Clients with tired, stiff hands or feet usually find the warmth relaxing. It is a comfort and skin-softening service, not a medical treatment.
What you need
| Item | What it is for | At M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Paraffin bath | Melts the wax and holds it at working temperature. Choose one that shows the temperature digitally. | paraffin warmers |
| Paraffin wax | Sold in sealed blocks. Scented waxes such as Lavender and Peach are the salon standard. | Mellow Paraffin Wax Lavender 1 lb, Mellow Paraffin Wax Peach 1 lb |
| Liners | A plastic bag goes over the waxed hand or foot to keep the heat in and the mitt clean. | paraffin bags |
| Mitts and booties | Insulated covers that go over the liner. | cotton paraffin mitts and booties |
| Lotion (optional) | A thin layer under the wax adds moisture and helps the wax peel off cleanly. |
How hot should paraffin wax be?
The Mellow bag is direct about it: do not use or touch paraffin wax hotter than 115°F (46°C). It also says the safest setup is a paraffin machine with a digital temperature setting, and not to use a warmer that does not display the temperature digitally.
- Read the display before every client, not just at the start of the day.
- Test the wax on the inside of your own wrist first.
- Fresh blocks cool the bath. After topping up, wait for the temperature to settle before the next client.
- Keep the machine away from water and other heat sources. The bag notes that paraffin may be flammable.
How to do a paraffin wax treatment, step by step
- Load the bath. Cut the bag open and slide the paraffin block in. Do not heat the wax in the bag.
- Melt and check. Let the wax melt fully and settle at its working temperature, no hotter than 115°F (46°C).
- Prepare the skin. Wash and dry the client's hands or feet and check for cuts or irritation. Massage in a little lotion if you use it.
- Test. Check the wax on your own wrist, then let the client touch a small amount.
- Coat. Build up several thin layers, letting each one set for a few seconds before the next.
- Wrap. Slide a liner over the wax, then a mitt or bootie. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove. Peel the wax off in one piece, starting at the wrist or ankle, and throw it away.
- Finish. Massage in any remaining lotion and continue with the manicure or pedicure. Do the paraffin step before polish, since wax and oil stop polish from sticking.
Dip method or bag method?
There are two ways to get the wax onto the skin. Ask your local public health unit which one it expects.
| Dip method | Bag method | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | The client dips the hand or foot into the bath several times | You ladle melted wax into a liner, and the client puts the hand or foot inside |
| Feel | Even, classic coating | Slightly thicker in places; press the bag around the skin |
| Hygiene | Skin goes into the shared bath | Skin never touches the shared bath |
| Wax used | Only what sticks to the skin | One portion per bag |
How much paraffin wax to buy
Fill the bath to the line marked in its manual and top it up as the level drops. Mellow wax comes in 1 lb (16 oz / 453 g) bags, so counting is simple: one bag is one pound.
| Pack | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 lb bag | 1 bag, 16 oz / 453 g | Topping up a bath, or trying a scent: Mellow Paraffin Wax Lavender 1 lb, Mellow Paraffin Wax Peach 1 lb |
| 6 lb box | 6 bags, 6 lb / 2.7 kg | Refilling a bath after a clean-out: Mellow Peach 6 lb box |
| 36 lb case | 36 bags, 36 lb | Salons that offer paraffin every day: Mellow Lavender 36 lb case, Mellow Peach 36 lb case |
M1 also stocks Sharonelle Paraffin Wax 2 lb and Champion Paraffin Wax Lavender 1 lb. Whichever you choose, stay with one scent per bath unless you want a blend. See all paraffin wax.
Hygiene: the rules that matter
- Warm paraffin does not disinfect. At 115°F (46°C) it is far too cool to kill bacteria, viruses or fungus.
- Wax that has touched a client is single-use. Peel it off and put it in the garbage; never return it to the bath.
- Wash the client's hands or feet before the treatment, every time.
- Use a new liner for every client. Launder cloth mitts and booties between clients, or use them only over a liner.
- Empty and clean the bath on a regular schedule, following the machine's manual, and keep the lid closed between clients.
- In Ontario, salons are personal service settings regulated under Ontario Regulation 136/18. Your local public health unit can tell you how its inspectors apply the rules to paraffin.
When to skip paraffin
Leave the paraffin step out, or ask the client to check with a doctor first, in these cases:
- Cuts, open sores, burns, rashes or any skin or nail infection on the area.
- Reduced feeling in the hands or feet, or poor circulation. A client who cannot feel heat properly cannot tell you the wax is too hot.
- Sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity. The Mellow bag advises asking a physician about extended contact with paraffin wax and fragrance.
- Swelling, or skin that is already hot and inflamed.
Paraffin wax questions
What temperature should a paraffin wax bath be?
No hotter than 115°F (46°C), according to the Mellow Paraffin Wax bag. Use a paraffin bath that shows the temperature digitally and test the wax on your own wrist before each client.
How long do you leave paraffin wax on?
About 10 to 15 minutes, wrapped in a liner and a mitt or bootie. Then peel the wax off in one piece.
Can you reuse paraffin wax?
No. Wax that has been on a client's skin is thrown away. It is never put back in the bath, because warm wax does not disinfect.
How many layers of paraffin wax do you apply?
Several thin layers work better than one thick one. Let each layer set for a few seconds before adding the next.
Can you melt paraffin wax in its bag or in a microwave?
Do not heat Mellow paraffin in the bag; the directions say to cut the bag open and slide the block into a paraffin bath. Use a paraffin bath with a digital temperature display rather than a microwave or a pot, so you always know how hot the wax is.
Is paraffin wax the same as hair removal wax?
No. Paraffin wax is a low-temperature wax for softening skin. It does not grip hair and is not used for waxing.
Do you do paraffin before or after nail polish?
Before. Wax and oil left on the nail plate stop polish and gel from sticking, so finish the paraffin step, clean the nails, and then polish.
Which paraffin wax scent should a salon stock?
Lavender and Peach are the two standard salon scents. They share the same wax base, so the choice comes down to what your clients like. Keep one scent per bath.
Where can I buy paraffin wax in Canada?
M1 Nail & Beauty Supply stocks Mellow paraffin wax in Lavender and Peach, by the 1 lb bag, the 6 lb box and the 36 lb case, in Markham, Ontario, for pickup or shipping across Canada. See also paraffin bags and cotton paraffin mitts and booties.
Paraffin wax, liners, mitts and warmers in stock at M1.
Shop paraffin waxTemperature limits, directions and warnings are quoted from the Mellow Paraffin Wax packaging as read in October 2026. The treatment steps, timing and hygiene points are general salon practice, not manufacturer instructions. This guide is not medical advice.
