Gone are the days of simply selecting a colour before your nail appointment. These days, thanks to countless new products and formula innovations, you’ll need to do a little more than scroll Pinterest for design inspiration before you can relax in the nail chair. Feeling overwhelmed? We’ve got you covered. From traditional polish, to newer innovations like BIAB, we’re unpacking every different type of manicure, including how long it should last, and how much you can expect to pay. Keep reading for all the important details.
Regular manicure
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Much like the name suggests, a regular manicure is as simple as they come. If you select this option from your nail salon’s menu, you can expect to have your nails cut and filed, your cuticles trimmed and oiled, and a wash of colour applied courtesy of traditional polish. For most people, a regular manicure will last about a week before you might start to notice the colour chipping. But while the results might not be as long-lasting as Gel or SNS manicures, the benefits of this is that it’s easier on your nails, and can even improve your nail health over time, by preventing biting and picking. Even better, a regular manicure comes in as the cheapest of the bunch, starting at around $25 at most salons.
Gel manicure
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Many might consider a gel manicure as one step above a regular manicure. Your cuticles and nail beds will still be cared for in the same way, but your nail technician will apply gel polish – a special formula of polish – which needs to be cured and set under a UV lamp. Prior to the actual colour going on, your nails will be buffed and cleaned with an alcohol solution, and then prepped with a base coat. After the colour is applied, your manicure will be set with a top coat. Your hand will sit under the UV light between the application of each layer. This also makes gel a great option for those looking to try their hand (no pun intended) at nail art.
Gel manicures will last a little longer than a regular manicure, with gel polish usually staying intact for two to three weeks. But to maintain the health of your nails, you’ll need to take care when it comes to removal. While it can be tempting to peel gel polish straight off when the edges start to lift, proper removal comes via soaking the nails in acetone. Typically, gel manicures start at $40.
SNS manicure
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SNS – or dip powder – manicures are loved by manicure aficionados looking for long-term results. SNS is applied slightly differently to regular and gel manicures. First, your nails are filed and buffed and your cuticles trimmed, to maximise the longevity of your results. Then, your technician will apply a clear polish to the nail and, while it’s still wet, dip the nails into a pot of coloured powder. If the powder looks slightly different to the colour you’ve chosen, don’t fret – it will darken as it hardens. The excess powder is then tapped off, and the nails are set with a top coat. Often, the finished SNS will be buffed and filed again, to neaten up the final results.
SNS manicures are slightly more expensive, typically beginning at around $60. The good news is that you’ll require less visits to the salon, with results lasting between three and four weeks.
BIAB manicure
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Somewhat of a newer innovation, BIAB – or Builder In A Bottle – purports to build on the strength of your natural nail with every application. Specifically, its unique formula was designed to mimic the strength of SNS or acrylic manicures, sans the papery, weak nails they often leave behind. Like gel, BIAB is painted onto the nails and cured under a UV lamp. Typically, two to three layers are applied per manicure, with the final layer buffed down to ensure uniformity. It's BIAB's long-lastingness that draws many in, with a BIAB manicure typically lasting three to four weeks. Be warned, however: this kind of manicure will set you back around $90.
Acrylic manicure
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If you weren't blessed with naturally long or strong nails, you might prefer the effects of an acrylic manicure. The most durable of all manicure options, acrylics are combination of acrylic powder and liquid monomer which is applied and sculpted over your natural nails, to lengthen and strengthen. Sometimes, acrylics can be applied in conjunction with extension tips, for added length. Because of their sturdiness, acrylic nails last the longest of all manicures, typically staying intact for six to eight weeks. That being said, they're also more expensive than some manicure types, and will set you back upwards of $60 each time.
