The Ella Bella Paraffin Wax Machine Brings the Spa to Your Home

As someone who’s always cold, takes skin care very seriously, and works with their hands, a paraffin wax machine is right up my alley. I’d heard of paraffin wax treatments before, but I’d never had one until recently. As it turns out, they’re pretty darn amazing.

Though they’re commonly offered at nail salons and spas, my first experience with a paraffin wax bath was actually at a physical therapy appointment. In fact, it was the very first thing the physical therapist recommended. From my very first treatment, it was clear that they’re every bit as soothing as they sound.

Wanting to reap the benefits of paraffin wax at home, I knew I wanted a machine of my own. Ella Bella was kind enough to send me a review unit. With the help of my husband, I’ve been giving myself at-home paraffin wax treatments using the Ella Bella machine on a nearly daily basis for the last month. Here’s my honest review after using it more than two dozen times.

ELLA BELLAu00ae Paraffin Wax Machine for Hand & Feet

$144.00 from Amazon $150.00 from ELLA BELLA

Intro to Paraffin Wax

What is a paraffin wax treatment anyway? It involves dipping your hands (or elbows, feet, etc.) into warm wax and soaking up all that glorious heat and moisture. Some people, such as myself, find that they can offer some relief, albeit temporary, from pain and discomfort. Others, also including myself, gravitate to their skin-softening properties.

If that sounds a bit intimidating, it’s a lot easier than it sounds, and the Ella Bella machine certainly helps simplify things. But there are some safety precautions you should take into account, such as heating the wax to a suitable temperature (usually between 122–127°F) and turning the machine off when it’s not in use. Fortunately, the Ella Bella machine defaults to 122°F and has 24-hour automatic shutoff. The instruction manual also includes some information on safety, which I recommend reading.

What’s Included

Admittedly, the Ella Bella paraffin wax machine is not the most affordable one on the market. However, one of the things that sets it apart from competitors is it includes everything you need to get started.

Here’s what’s in the box:

• Machine, lid, and power cord.
• Instruction manual.
• 4 packets of lavender-scented paraffin wax.
• 2 reusable hand mitts.
• 2 reusable booties.
• 50 disposable gloves.
• 50 disposable booties.
• 1 spatula.
• 1 applicator brush.

Be Patient While the Wax Melts

Setting up the Ella Bella paraffin wax machine for the first time was pretty easy, but be prepared that it does take some time. Ella Bella advertises that the wax heats up in about 30 minutes or so, but in my experience it takes a bit longer, especially for the first time.

To set up the machine, plug it in and add the four included packets of wax. Then turn it on and set the temperature to 158°F, which is the hottest setting. The idea is to crank up the temperature so the wax melts faster, but you should never dip your hands in the machine when it is that hot. To speed things along, you could also melt one bag of wax at a time, but I melted all four at the same time so I didn’t have to keep coming back to check.

When the wax is fully melted, add the plastic crate so it sinks to the bottom. This is to create a buffer between the hot machine and your hand, foot, etc. Finally, lower the temperature to the desired degree.

I did 125°F the first time but realized I wanted it warmer so I’ve done 127°F each subsequent time. I recommend doing the same: Start lower to determine the temperature that’s most comfortable for you.

This whole process took about 2 hours, but that’s only because the initial setup takes longer. On a typical day, it takes about an hour to melt the wax at a higher temperature and wait for it to lower to 127°F.

While this may sound time consuming, keep in mind that you don’t have to stick around and monitor the machine during this process. I simply get it started an hour or two ahead of time, so I’m never actually waiting on it.

How Hard Can It Be?

When I first received the machine, I was reluctant to open the box and give it a try. I had never had a paraffin wax treatment before — not at a salon, spa, etc. So I really didn’t know what to expect.

Coincidentally, I had a physical therapy appointment a couple days after my Ella Bella paraffin wax machine arrived (though it was still in the box at this time).

What I didn’t expect was for the physical therapist to start my treatment with none other than paraffin wax. It was love at first … dip? I took an immediate liking to it, and I went home and opened up the box that very night.

We’ve discussed how setup is pretty straightforward, but how does one do a DIY paraffin wax treatment at home? Once the temperature is set, follow these easy steps:

1. Thoroughly wash and dry your hands.
2. Perform a patch test to ensure the temperature is just right (use the included spatula to drop a tiny bit of wax on the inside of your wrist).
3. Submerge your hand into the wax, then remove it.
4. Once your hand stops dripping, dunk your hand into the wax again, and repeat for a total of 3–5 dunks.
5. Use one of the included disposable plastic liners to contain the wax and trap the heat.
6. Place your hand inside one of the included mitts.
7. Leave it on for 10–20 minutes.

If you plan on doing both hands at a time, it helps to have a second person there to assist you. My husband puts the liners and mitts on my hands before setting me up on the couch so I can watch TV during my paraffin wax treatment. Otherwise, you can do one hand at a time.

Removing it is also super simple—the wax peels right off like a glove.

My Results: Softer Skin for the Win

There are two main uses for paraffin wax baths: soothing aches and pains and moisturizing dry skin. I’d say both apply to my case.

The heat therapy helps quiet down some of my pain and discomfort, though this isn’t a miracle cure. Even though I get paraffin wax baths during my physical therapy, it’s mainly used to help loosen up the joints and relax the muscles before stretches, exercises, and massages. While it doesn’t provide long-term relief, the temporary relief is still worth it in my opinion.

My hands are also noticeably softer! I also tend to have dry skin. I go through a lot of hand creams, and I take effort to moisturize my hands every day. It feels like no matter what they’re still dry, but each paraffin wax treatment has left them feeling softer and more moisturized than the day before. In fact, immediately after a paraffin wax bath, the skin on my hands is glowing and glistening.

What I’d Change

There aren’t any cons that are big enough to make me stop using the Ella Bella paraffin wax machine. However, for the sake of this detailed review, here’s what could be improved:

• Lid is flimsy and hard to grip: Made of transparent plastic, the lid feels flimsy compared to the rest of the machine, which feels high quality and durable. However, my biggest gripe with the lid is that it is difficult to grip, especially when you’re wearing the liners and mitts after a paraffin wax treatment. I’ve dropped it into the hot wax several times, which made for a lot of cleanup.
• Hand liners aren’t practical: For the first couple of weeks, I used the disposable liners that are included. However, I ended up purchasing different liners and I preferred those. You want to hold your hands as still as possible, so the wax forms a cast. If it breaks, the heat can escape. The problem with the liners that are included is that they are shaped like your hand, which forces you to spread your fingers, and in doing so you crack the paraffin mold around your hand. The other liners I purchased are shaped like a giant rectangle, which is closer to what the professionals use when I go to physical therapy, and they better at preventing unnecessary movement. 
• Mitts don’t trap heat well: You get two “thermal mitts” with your machine, but they don’t do a great deal of heat trapping. There are other mitts on the market that are insulated, though I have not tried those. I’ve had better success with using a towel I threw in the dryer beforehand and using that on top of the plastic liners. 
• It’s pricey: On a per-treatment basis, having your own paraffin wax machine at home is far more cost effective than any spa treatment. However, the Ella Bella machine isn’t the only one on the market, and it’s not exactly priced competitively. Some competitors are half or even a third of the price, yet they have some similar features. On the other end of the spectrum, the professional-grade machine at my physical therapist’s practice is about $100 more. I think Ella Bella could do a better job of communicating what makes their product different and why it’s priced the way it is.

ELLA BELLAu00ae Paraffin Wax Machine for Hand & Feet

$144.00 from Amazon $150.00 from ELLA BELLA

In My Expert Opinion

The Ella Bella paraffin wax machine has been a game changer in my self-care routine. I’ve been using it practically every night and now I look forward to winding down with the wax on my hands while I relax.

For many people, a paraffin wax treatment is an attractive option to moisturize dry hands. No amount of hand, cream or lotion has been able to get my hands this soft.

There are also those who use paraffin wax baths for pain relief. The heat certainly soothes my aches and pains…temporarily. Still, some relief is better than none.

All in all, my hands are in better shape now, a month into using the Ella Bella paraffin wax machine.