Paraffin manicure The process is simple. First, oils or lotions are used to massage your hands. Then, paraffin wax is melted to a temperature that is safe for the hands. The manicurist dips your hands completely in the paraffin wax for a few seconds and then lifts them out, allowing them to completely dry.

This type of manicure uses a specific type of nail polish—gel nail polish—that is cured with a UV nail lamp to create a shiny, long-lasting manicure that doesn't require extensive time to dry. Getting gel nails usually involves three products: a gel base coat, the actual gel nail polish, and finally, a gel top coat.

Artificial nails can lengthen short nails, making your fingers look long and slender. They can also be hard on your nails. To get acrylic nails (a type of artificial nail) to stick, the surface of your natural nails must be filed until they feel rough. This thins your natural nails, making them weaker.