I remember the first time my mom took me to get a manicure. I was about eight years old and absolutely mesmerized by all the colors of tiny nail polish bottles lined up on the wall. All I had to do was choose a color and let the manicurist do her thing. But the first time I took my teenage daughter for a manicure, the options were endless. Did she want gel? Dip powder? Tips? Acrylics? Those were the questions thrown at me while I was checking her in for her appointment.
The world of manicures and all the variations available today continues to grow and evolve. For some, it’s a no-brainer as to what manicure to get. But for others, it becomes a problem of contemplation. So, the next time you’re booking a manicure appointment and don’t know what type of manicure to get, consider this your go-to guide, replete with insight from nail experts, including how much they cost and how long they last, to make it easier to decide on the right type of manicure for you.
Meet the expert
Classic Manicure
For those who prefer simple nails, a classic manicure is often the way to go, whether done at home or the salon. This quick manicure includes a water soak to help soften the cuticles for basic cuticle care, along with nail shaping and applying a basecoat, regular nail polish, and a topcoat. “It’s perfect for someone looking for natural-looking nails with minimal commitment,” Lin says. “It’s like getting a buff manicure for shine but with the addition of polish.”
Although the classic manicure works for all nail shapes and lengths, Lin likes it best for short to medium lengths. “But, since regular nail polish can easily chip, reapplication is needed about every five to seven days,” she adds.
Cost: $15 – $60
How Long It Lasts: 5 to 7 days
Removal: Wipe away nail polish by rubbing a cotton ball or round soaked in nail polish remover onto the nails. You may need to repeat the process a few times to remove all the polish.
Soft Gel Manicure
A step up from a classic manicure is the soft gel manicure, ideal for those who tend to be a little rougher on their hands and nails and need a manicure with staying power. A soft gel manicure follows the same steps as a traditional manicure but relies on gel-based nail polish that is cured under a UV or LED light for a long-lasting, glossy finish. “Its main benefit is longevity,” Hanna says.
Soft gel manicures include a base coat, color coat, and topcoat, and they are often the mani of choice for all nail lengths and shapes. “They’re a good option when you want a manicure that lasts longer than regular polish but still has a natural look,” Smith says. But unlike other types of manicures, they don’t add strength or length to the nails. And with a soak-off soft gel manicure, which Hanna says is easier to remove than hard gels, there’s next to no damage to the natural nail beds as long as it is done correctly. You can also add nail art into the mix with a gel manicure since the durable formulas are easy to work with.
Cost: $40 – $100
How Long It Lasts: About two weeks, depending on your lifestyle and nail strength
Removal: Requires soaking the nails in acetone and then wrapping them in foil. While you can remove gel polish yourself at home, if done improperly, it can weaken the nails and leave them brittle, which is why Lin says professional removal is best.
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Hard Gel Manicure
A thicker type of gel manicure, hard gel is built onto the natural nail to add strength. Like a soft gel manicure, hard gel requires a base coat and topcoat and is cured with a UV or LED light. Most hard gels are neutral in color, think white, pink, nude, or beige, so gel polish can be layered on top to give a pop of color. “The manicure gives a more durable, longer-lasting finish and is perfect if you want to strengthen the natural nails and wear them long and in a more dramatic shape,” Hanna says.
Smith shares that hard gel manicures are great if you are rough on your hands and need added nail strength. “Plus, they allow the natural nails to grow with added support while still giving a natural look.”
Cost: $50 to $70+
How Long It Lasts: About three weeks
Removal: Filed off using an e-file. “Because of the strength and durability of hard gel, the removal process can weaken the natural nail and cause thinning of the nail plate and breakage if done improperly,” Lin says.
If you want the staying power of a gel manicure but with far more strength and hard-as-a-rock nails, an acrylic manicure is probably best. “Acrylics are actually an extension method manicure that uses acrylic powder and a monomer solution that is built onto the nail to create a hard, artificial nail,” Smith explains. Then, any type of nail polish can be layered over it.
The 90-minute manicure, which follows the basic steps of a gel manicure but builds up the nails with acrylic, provides a super strong foundation so that the polish has better staying power. Hanna adds that acrylic manicures are also good for creating super long nails and shapes like almond and stiletto.
Cost: $50 to $100 and up depending on length
How Long It Lasts: Up to three weeks
Removal: Like hard gel, an acrylic manicure is removed by filing them off with an electric file. Any excess length is clipped off.
Dip Powder Manicure
Dip powder manicures (a.k.a dip) are comparable to hard gel and acrylic manicures but require multiple layers of a fine-colored powder consisting of a mix of acrylic and resin that the nails are dipped into several times (after the nails are shaped and the cuticles tended to). Then, the dip adheres to the nails with a special activator glue. As the nails dry, the powder hardens. Then, an e-file smooths out the dip so it isn’t thick, bumpy, or clumpy. Finally, a clear topcoat is applied for a shiny finish.
Dip powder manicures are intricate ones that Smith says, like acrylic, adhere best when the natural nail bed is roughed up a little before application.
If you’re looking for a type of manicure that can help strengthen the nails and allow them to grow, Smith says dip manicures accomplish that without an extension tip. “They are also a great option if you use your hands a lot but like a shorter nail,” she adds.
Cost: $50+
How Long It Lasts: Two to three weeks
Removal: The dip needs to be filed down, and then any remaining color is soaked off with acetone. If done properly, the removal process shouldn’t damage the natural nails.
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Sculpted Nails
Smith says to think of sculpted nails as an application technique rather than a type of manicure. “It’s what we refer to as the process of applying the acrylic or polygel to the nails,” she adds. Sculpted nails involve prepping and filing the natural nails before nail-sculpting stickers are attached to the end of each nail. Then, acrylic or polygel is built onto the natural nail bed, giving an extension-like effect that is then cured with an LED or UV lamp, like a gel manicure.
Highly durable sculpted manicures have the shape of natural-looking nails and give way to strong nails with increased longevity, which is why they’re desired by those who are tough on their nails and hands but still want length while growing out the natural nails. Hanna says sculpted nails are also perfect if you want extra-long, dramatic nails like stiletto or coffin nails. “This type of manicure is highly customizable but requires regular upkeep.”
Cost: $100+
How Long It Lasts: Up to four weeks
Removal: The gel used in sculpted nails needs to be removed first with an electric file and then the remainder soaked off with acetone.
Soft Gel Tips
Like sculpted nails, soft gel tips can add length to the natural nails using a special type of builder gel. As Hanna explains, soft gel tips are pre-formed full-cover tips that are adhered with gel and then cured with an LED or UV lamp. Most soft gel tips are available in a variety of shapes, lengths, and sizes, making them less customized than sculpted nails but still with a lightweight, natural look. “Soft gel tips also allow the natural nails to grow and be healthy while having a strong extension on top,” adds Smith. “Since there is little to no damage to the nail beds, I highly recommend gel extensions over any other extension method.”
Soft gel tips offer a quick way to achieve length without all the details involved with sculpting. Hanna says they are ideal for someone who wants length but prefers a lighter, more flexible option than acrylic, “which is why these tips work best for longer, almond, or square-shaped nails.”
Cost: $75 to $90
How Long It Lasts: Two to three weeks
Removal: Soft gel tips must be soaked off with acetone and then wrapped in acetone-soaked cotton with foil, but Smith says they soak off easily. Some nail techs first file the nails down, while others don’t.
The Bottom Line
Choosing between the different types of manicures can be daunting, but to make the process easier, consider whether you want length, shape, durability, or any combination of the three. From there, your budget and the results will influence your decision, too. At the end of the day, just because you try one type of manicure doesn’t mean you are bound to it for life. The nice thing about all the different types of manicures is you can change it up from one nail appointment to the next.
