More Than Just a Manicure: Spa Manicure

Did you know our hands, with their well-cared appearance and gestures to emphasize our words and feelings, reveal even more clearly than our faces exactly who we are and how much we value our beings and self-care?

Without doubt, our hands are our invaluable supporters in every aspect of our lives... They assist us throughout the day, both in our actions and in expressing ourselves to the outside world. That alone is enough reason why they’re entitled to special attention and pampering in our selfcare.

Likewise, our nails... These strong guards that shield our hands with their keratin “armor”, are also indicators of how healthy and well-groomed we are. In this regard, spa manicures can offer us much more meaningful contributions beyond cosmetic care; since they give our nails and hands the much-deserved care with their holistic health ethos.

In this article, we’re “touching on” what makes a spa manicure special...

What is a Manicure?

Manicure is usually defined as a cosmetic hand care that involves removal of dead skin, shaping and polishing of your nails to give them an aesthetic appearance. We can say that this definition often applies to standard manicure treatments offered in beauty centers.

What is a Spa Manicure? 

Spa manicures take the salons’ approach prioritizing the appearance of your nails one big step further. Indeed, Spa treatments focus not only on the beauty, but also on the health of your nails, and your hands. They also contribute to your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing through the accompanying treatments and therapies, quality of the products used and their suitability to your needs, ambiance of the venue, the delicacies offered, the courtesy and expertise of your therapist.

In many Spas, you can receive a manicure alongside your other treatments, as part of your program, or as an individual service. Depending on the Spa and manicure treatment you choose, the products and techniques used in it may vary. But these differences will not affect the Spa’s approach to your treatment, which prioritizes your well-being.

Manicure Treatments You Can Receive at Spas 

American manicure: Your nails are given a rounded, natural look and the tips of your nails are colored in a more natural shade than the French manicure. 

French manicure: Your nails are shaped in a square-oval shape and painted in neutral colors. The tips of your nails are highlighted with a sharp shade of white. 

Express manicure: A mini manicure treatment, complete with only filing and buffing, or after a short exfoliation boost. 

Hot stone manicure: Your manicure is accompanied by hot stone therapy which focuses on relaxing your hands and supporting your energy flow with warming stones and massages.

Paraffin wax manicure: Growing in popularity as we approach winter, this treatment uses warm paraffin wax to bring profound nourishment to your nails, hands, and wrists. 

Extensive manicure: This manicure, displaying best the holistic approach of spas, includes massages, deep-moisturizing treatments like paraffin wax, heated gloves or wraps, and natural oils. Some spas, especially those with a separate beauty salon, also offer gel and shellac manicures that stay unbroken for about two weeks. In these treatments, a special polish is applied to your nails and UV light is used between coats to harden the polish.

What Makes a Spa Manicure Different from a Salon Manicure?

In addition to the standard steps of a spa manicure, such as exfoliating your cuticles and shaping and beautifying your nails, many “plus” factors are blended into your treatment;

Consultation support: Your spa visit often begins and ends with a consultation with your specialized therapist/practitioner. This helps to identify and address your health condition and needs, and to ensure that you continue to experience the results of your treatment more effectively after you leave the spa.

Health-oriented treatments: Because spa manicures are dedicated to your overall wellbeing, they consist of longer and more multifaceted steps than standard manicures. And they are practiced in such a way that values the health of your entire body, not just your nails. Spa manicures use natural and healing products that are selected or tailored for you. Exfoliation, like salt scrubs, is applied without irritating your skin and nail tissues. Moisturization is enhanced with treatments such as herbal masks and warm wraps. Also Spas take care not to use toxic ingredients including toluene, formaldehyde, and acrylates in your treatments. That’s why you most probably will not find any gel, acrylic or shellac manicure in a good spa’s menu. If the manicure you want contains harmful ingredients, your therapist will warn you beforehand and inform you about the cautions you may take for your health.

Reassuring expertise: At spas, all therapists, including manicure practitioners, are specialized and experienced individuals who care about your health and hygiene. This allows you to experience your manicure and accompanying treatments such as reflexology, neck and head massage with peace of mind.

Holistic wellness approach: The spa manicure also pays attention to your mental and spiritual wellbeing. During your treatment, your therapist will only and solely focus on you. She/he will gently analyze and pursue your feelings and act according to your needs. Moreover, your treatment will contain ingredients and techniques that will calm your stress and appeal to your senses. While treatments will refresh and nourish your skin, massages will balance your blood and lymphatic circulation, release energy blockages in your body through the nerve endings in your fingers, relieve your pain and stimulate your happy hormones. In short, a spa manicure treatment alone can help you leave the spa feeling much more serene and healed than when you entered.

Amenities that value your comfort: In contrast to the often bright and colorful atmosphere of beauty salons, spas are dedicated to your relaxation, with ambient elements such as dim lighting, minimalist décor and aromatic scents, allowing you to get away from the outside world and reconnect with your Self. Since spas usually offer special bathrobes, slippers and other clothing equipment for your indulgence in your me-times, you can embark on a more sensorial and pampering selfcare journey during your spa manicure experience. You will also be offered herbal teas, spa waters and healthy light snacks during your treatment to help you stay hydrated and soothe your senses.

To sum up, a spa manicure is more than a luxury beauty treatment, it is a valuable element of self-care that contributes to our holistic wellness and wellbeing.

See you in other articles on the vast Spa universe that helps you connect with your inner being and holistic health instruments...