Getting a manicure kind of feels like going for dinner at a restaurant. Nail technicians have a gorgeous portfolio of beautiful nails and a large selection of choices to offer their clients. As the number of choices rises, so does the confusion about the best manicure type for your nails!
In this article, we to talk about the most popular manicure types, their similarities and differences, their pros and cons, and their pricing! Stay tuned till the end of the video to have access to exclusive deals from the best manicure salon around your location and book the best service for the best price!
The truth is, in reality, once you determine the amount of time you’ve got, your desired pampering, your budget, and whether you want your nails done for a special occasion or for your day-to-day, choosing the best manicure type becomes relatively easier.
In short, there are generally 5 manicure types that are available at most beauty salons everywhere: Basic Manicure, Acrylic Manicure, Gel or Shellac Manicure, French Manicure, and dip powder Manicure. Let’s go through each treatment to get to know them and see why you might choose to go for them as your next manicure!
Basic Manicure
First and foremost, Basic Manicure is the most common manicure that most people know and love. It is the traditional, standard procedure where your nails are trimmed, shaped, and polished. And then, The manicure technician applies cuticle oil to take good care of your cuticles. If you are lucky, you will also get to be treated with a soothing hand massage that leaves you feeling relaxed. Finally, your nails are buffed with standard polish to finish up the procedure.
The best thing about basic manicures is their price and duration. For $15 – $20 and less than half an hour, you will be granted with shiny, vibrant, and pristine nails that you can easily remove at home. The only downside is the quick chipping that occurs to the standard nail polish. Also, basic nail polish tends to lose its glossiness relatively fast, getting duller over time.
French Manicure
The second popular manicure type is the French manicure. French manicure used to be the trend of the early 2000s, but it has been making a comeback in the past few years. The main feature of this classic manicure is leaving the user with plain nails that end with dazzling white tips. French manicures take about 45 minutes to an hour and cost an average of $30 in most nail salons.
The best aspect of the French manicure is the versatility of it. Nail technicians can perform the French manicure with gel or traditional nail polish, leaving the user with more options. French manicure gives you fingers that seem more prolonged, and you can subtly match the polish with any outfit of choice. Additionally, you will get to savor the usual pampering of a basic manicure as well. As with any other traditional nail polish though, there is a high chance of chipping if you choose to have them as your polish. Also, the final look of a french manicure relies a little bit on the natural nail shape and robustness, making them not an ideal choice for everybody.
Gel Manicure
The next procedure is the gel manicure, which is also known as the shellac manicure. Shellac is actually the name of the original brand of gel nail polish. Gel polish is applied the same way as a regular polish, but its unique feature is the fact that it is more flexible when applied and tougher when dried. You would still get to appreciate the easy shaping and the nail care of a basic manicure, but the technician applies gel polish instead of traditional polish. Gel manicure is fixed on your nails with the help of a special lamp, and the whole process takes about 45 minutes, with prices starting from $25 in an average nail parlor.
Gel polish is pretty durable. It won’t chip like conventional polish and keeps its glossiness for much longer. They look nice even after a few weeks, and limitless color options and styles go with them.
They are a bit expensive compared to basic manicures, and removing them can be a bit overwhelming to prevent damage to the natural nail. So It is highly recommended to book a nail removal session to avoid any damage. You could try removing them at home, but make sure to follow the procedures more carefully.
Acrylic Manicure
Acrylic manicures are the next procedure to look at. The nail technician blends a liquid known as a monomer with a polymer powder to create a solid nail overlay that sits on top of your nail. Based on the technician’s creativity and skill, these nails can take any shape or form, from your natural nail shape to fancy forms of all sorts. Acrylic nails pave the way for professional nail art while keeping all the standard elements of a manicure. Acrylic nails are also what is commonly known as false nails when they are bought in ready-made packages. They offer astonishing nail shapes and designs while giving you the option to add length.
Their downside is their proneness to popping off on the daily. The nail growth can be pretty visible after some time, and acrylic nails can turn out to be more expensive than other types of manicure. The procedure can take about 90 minutes and cost you from $30 to $50.
Dip Powder Manicure
Lastly, there is the dip powder manicure. Everything is just like a traditional manicure, but then the nail technician applies an adhesive on your nails and dips them into a colored powder. You wouldn’t have to wait for your nails to dry or cure under the likes of UV light. Also, you could expect your nails to look nice for more extended periods, even more than gel manicures. The procedure takes about half an hour and is usually priced at about $40 to $50 for most styles of powder.
The main disadvantage of dip powder nails, however, is their texture which is not as smooth as most other types of manicure. Plus, the dip powder nails can get thinner after some time, and there better be some rest between each manicure to allow the nails to heal.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Does manicure mean nail polish?
A manicure is a beauty treatment that focuses on fingernails and consists of filing, shaping, correcting, and applying nail polish. So a manicure does involve the application of nail polish, but applying nail polish itself does not necessarily represent a manicure.
- Can manicure be done on short nails?
Of course! Although longer fingernails offer more room for creativity and style, you can still beautify your short nails if you want. You can browse the web or ask your nail technician to have a look at the latest short nail trends right now.
- What manicure lasts the longest?
Gel manicures tend to last about 3 weeks, while acrylic manicures can stretch even further, lasting an average of 4 weeks. The main reason for a revisit to the nail salon, is the nail growth itself. So no matter the lasting duration of a manicure, it can not lost for much longer than a month.
Choosing between different types of manicures is really down to personal choice at the end of the day. There is no best or worst manicure out there, and how you would like them to look and feel should play a significant part in your final choice. We tried to cover all you need to know about different types of manicure treatments. We hope it helped you understand all you needed to know about these similar yet different procedures to make a better decision for the future of your nails.
Beautster brings you all the manicure technicians, nail artists, and nail salons around your location specializing in nail care, manicure, and nail art, to help guide you through finding the best option for yourself! Click here to have a look at the client pictures, check out their calendar, and book a consultation session immediately to ensure your well-being and enjoy having the nails of your dreams!
