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Nowadays, the manicure possibilities have multiplied, introducing techniques for every nail goal imaginable.
Looking for long-lasting, often high-shine nails?
@lolo.nailedit
Soft gel is the way to go.
Hoping to smooth out your nails while giving them added strength?
Hard gel is a solid option.
@oliveandjune
Craving a bit more length?
Sculpted nails are worth checking out.
They’re done using regular nail polish.
@gelcare.official/ Instagram
Youll just need to wait about 20 to 30 minutes for the polish to dry, she says.
When you soak your nails, your nail bed expands, she explains.
After applying polish on it, it crackles when your nails shrink back to their normal size.
@apresnailofficial
That leads to shorter wear time.
Average Cost
A regular lacquer manicure comes in at around $20 to $60.
If youre getting nail art, that will cost more, Boyce says.
@lolo.nailedit
Of course, a DIY regular lacquer manicure costs significantly less.
How It’s Removed
The best part about regular lacquer is how easy it is to remove.
Once you brush it ontheres a base coat, color, and top coatits cured under a lamp.
@thenailboxxchi
That said, if youre looking for extra strength, Kandalec points out that there are better options.
Soft gel polish does not add strength; it is only color, she says.
you could expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $50 for a soft gel mani.
@iramshelton
Adding nail art will raise the cost and is often charged per nail.
Your soft gel manicure will typically last for around two weeks.
If you go to a highly trained and rated manicurist, it could last longer.
@orly
Its so porous that it can be soaked off with acetone and foil, Kandalec says.
Soft gel tips are gel tips that are adhered to [your natural nail] with more gel.
So the entire nail is gel.
It’s going to go over your whole nail back to the cuticle, not just on the end.
In that way, they can even out your nail shape, too.
It’s unlikely you’ll spend less than $85 for this throw in of manicure.
Again, nail art will raise the cost.
Since filing too far can damage your nail, you should enlist the help of a pro for removal.
Hard Gel
Hard gelis much thicker than soft gel.
It looks like honey, Kandalec says.
It’s either clear or usually has a nude or pink color to resemble the color of your nail.
(Because of this, its important to wear sunscreen on your hands to your mani appointment.
Acrygel is very durable and very hard.
Hard gel nails cost anywhere from $50 to $100.
This makes them a longer-lasting alternative to soft gel.
Of course, with natural grow-out, youd likely want to get them redone at the month mark.
Since hard gel is not porous, it has to be filed off.
“We know what we’re doing because we know exactly when to stop, Kandalec says.
While the end result resembles hard gel, Kandalec says that its very different.
Kandalec says that acrylics are best for those who like really hard nails.
Think: classic fake nails.
Acrylics start at around $50 and can cost up to $95 or more.
Acrylic nails last two to three weeks and should be retouched in between appointments.
The best way toremove acrylic nailsis by soaking them in acetone.
you’ve got the option to also file them, Kandalec says.
Here, learnhow to remove acrylic nails(along with Kandalecs step-by-step instructions to do so).
SNS is actually a brand of dip powder; how Kleenex is a brand of tissues, Kandalec says.
(Typically the nail technician will have a separate little small tray and then throw it out afterward.)
Its layered on the nail with layers of resin, and then it’s filed and smoothed out.
Dip powder is ideal for shorter nails, Kandalec says, as it doesnt work to add length.
Dip powder manicures are on the more affordable side at between $35 and $50.
The exact cost will depend on the salon you choose.
Gel extensions are done using builder gel, like Orly’s Builder in a Bottle, Boyce says.
It’s an oligomer, meaning the monomer and polymer are already mixed.
This manicure throw in works well for anyone with a bit of a natural nail tip.
Sculpted nails can last upwards of three weeks, depending on the longevity of the product your manicurist uses.
