Should I get my first manicure?

April 8, 2024 2:21 PM

I want to try getting a manicure, but not sure which type (or if any) is right for me. Details inside.

I like having my fingernails painted. I don’t mind doing it myself, but I hate how much work it is compared to how long it lasts (< 1 week). I don’t enjoy the upkeep.

I keep my nails pretty short, and have no desire to grow them longer or make them look artificially long. (Just a sensory thing, it’s always bothered me. Maybe someday I wouldn’t mind attempting a slightly elongated oval.)

My cuticles are in pretty good condition. That being said, I’m afraid of a rough technician cutting my skin, or getting an infection.

I know you can get a manicure that just involves general nail and skin care + polish, but I’m not interested in that, since I don’t need a ton of nail care (I’m a little afraid of it) and I can do the polish myself. What I really want is polish that lasts ~2 weeks in good condition.

On top of everything, my nails are pretty brittle and thin, another reason I have never really grown them out. I know some manicures are harder on nails than others. These days I barely ever wear polish, but back when I did, I could change my color every two weeks or so and my nails weren’t in incredible condition, but they were OK. I’m a little worried that a more hard-core type of manicure would leave my nails in bad shape.

Any suggestions? Some thing I should try? Should I avoid manicures altogether? (Bonus points, can you recommend a nail salon in San Francisco or Marin?)

posted by stoneandstar to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (17 answers total)

Response by poster: (By “~2 weeks,” I mean ideally at least 2 weeks. Longer would be great.)
posted by stoneandstar at 2:21 PM on April 8

Gel manicures will last 2 weeks but the removal process is much rougher than regular polish. The polish needs to be filed off, then the nails soaked in acetone. But a gel manicure will last 2 weeks or longer (the problem being that your nails grow so there's a gap between the cuticle and the polished part of the nail).
posted by kingdead at 2:29 PM on April 8 [2 favorites]

it sounds like you don't really want a manicure at all, just polish that lasts. i don't use gel polish, but gel polish is what you want. i am heavy into nail art, so could go on at you all day about making manicures last. but the quick answer is gel polish. you can do it at home but need to buy a light setter thing.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 2:29 PM on April 8 [1 favorite]

Have you ever tried nail stickers? I also have brittle, thin nails that peel and they’re the only thing that works for me.

I use two coats of Nailtiques Formula 2 Plus nail protein as a base, then apply ManiMe custom-fit gel manicure stickers and finally a top coat.

I almost always get two weeks out of a set and I feel like the nail protein plus the stickers actually protects my nails. I’ve been doing this routine for over a year and my nails are longer and stronger than they’ve ever been.
posted by kittydelsol at 2:51 PM on April 8 [12 favorites]

I had a gel manicure as part of my sister's wedding, and while it did last a good long while, I was unhappy with the state of my nails after removal. That's the tradeoff: duration versus damage.
posted by Pallas Athena at 2:55 PM on April 8 [5 favorites]

I am also a nail polish devotee who thinks you may be a good candidate for nail stickers (also called nail wraps). Regular polish from a professional nail tech won't last any longer than regular polish you do yourself, and any other salon nail treatment sounds like it would be more harsh than what you're looking for.

Dashing Diva used to be the #1 best in class recommended brand, but they have recently announced a transition to the pyramid scheme MLM network marketing business model. (You may already be aware of other pyramid scheme nail wrap brands Jamberry and Color Street.) Since Dashing Diva is out now, I believe Fox and Lily is the brand people are generally liking the most.

(Edit to add: I'm unfamiliar with the ManiMe recommended above, take a personal recommendation for sure! Just stay away from anything sold under a predatory business model please and thank you.)
posted by phunniemee at 3:04 PM on April 8 [4 favorites]

Regular (color or clear top coat) can be a way to strengthen/protect your nails. Especially if you use non acetone remover.
In addition to removal issues with gel manicures, they also use uv light to cure it - which is probably the silliest way to eventually get skin cancer.
posted by atomicstone at 3:25 PM on April 8

Have you tried buffing your nails? No polish, just a satisfying shiny smoothness. Done with either a single buffer and nail buffing cream, or a “nail buffing block,” no cream required, with fine-sandpaper-like sides.

Experiment carefully if you have thin nails. Start with an orange stick to push cuticles back.
posted by xaryts at 3:28 PM on April 8

I get regular pro pedicures, not manicures, so not totally analogous, but I usually just get regular polish for the pedicure and that lasts a good month usually. I typically need a new pedicure because my nails have grown out, not because the polish comes off. It doesn't stay perfectly the whole month and there is some variation(I might have a small chip on one nail and some months, it just does not last as long) but it's way longer than the week or so I get doing it myself.

I have also tried gel polish on toes, and it does last forever, but since I'm usually going back because of nails growing out anyway, the better longevity of gel pedicure is typically not an advantage.
posted by Tandem Affinity at 3:28 PM on April 8

One tip on the cleanliness of the equipment is that you can bring your own good-quality implements to the manicure person and ask to use them instead of the salon's equipment. You can also request that they do not cut your cuticles. This is not an uncommon request, so you don't need to feel strange to ask. I'm not sure if you can request non-acetone polish remover, but you can certainly remove your own polish at home before your appointment.

I also take my own polish because I have a certain brand and color I am devoted to, but it also avoids any small chance of cross-infection from a communal bottle.
posted by citygirl at 3:37 PM on April 8

Removing gel polish will absolutely ruin your nails.

I'm nthing nail stickers. I used them for awhile but have moved away (to polish-less nails) because I want to avoid the plastics.
posted by miscbuff at 4:28 PM on April 8 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I use Dazzle Dry at home. it is a "nail system" with a base coat, color, and top coat. For me this lasts 3+ weeks. It is a bit more expensive than regular polish and a bit of an effort to do the base and the top coats but I find it easy to apply and it does not chip for me. it certainly saves money over nail salon costs. this could be an option for you.
posted by afterdark at 5:23 PM on April 8 [2 favorites]

Best answer: +1 to dazzle dry. I've gotten it at a salon but have been tempted to order the home system. It's not damaging like gels but lasts quite a lot better than regular polish. I only got about a week out of it before I got some chips, but that's 3 times longer than I can make a regular polish manicure last, so that felt like a win.
posted by snaw at 5:40 PM on April 8

Best answer: I get structured gel manicures every 4 weeks like clockwork. I have very soft, thin, bendy nails naturally, and the structured gel (also called builder gel or gel overlay) is more than just a couple coats of polish and it really helps keep your nails from breaking. If you get them consistently, you only have to get the top layer filed off, no acetone, and the tech shouldn't file all the way down to your natural nail unless there is lifting (the gel has already separated fully from the nail.)

The trick is finding a good, gentle nail tech. I have seen hack jobs from salons where the tech files too far down, especially right along the cuticle edge, which can really damage your natural nail. Or if it's poorly applied the gel can lift off completely, which can pull a layer of your natural nail surface with it. There's also the risk of developing an allergy to the acrylates in the gel polish if the gel is not fully cured or is otherwise sloppily applied. I go to a licensed tech who works out of her home so she can set her own prices and her own pace and schedule. It's also a side hustle for her, not her full time job, so she has that hobbyist/perfectionist mindset rather than trying to get through enough clients to make a living.

I also think there's a difference between getting it once in a while (so the gel does need to be fully removed) and getting a new set every 3-4 weeks; most folks who experience gel ruining their nails are getting it removed completely because they are only doing it occasionally, and there's no doubt the removal is what is damaging. I don't mind the commitment and expense of monthly manicures but that is something to consider.

After my last manicure I accidentally slammed my finger down on a counter and it caused the gel to pop off completely a couple days later. Despite that rather violent removal, and getting structured gel once a month for 2 years, when I lamented the loss to a coworker she looked at the bare nail and commented unprompted "How is your nail in such good shape?" I'm not gonna pretend the gel has no effect, but for me it's pretty minimal and since my natural nails are garbage anyway I don't feel like it's a big loss.

I might not do this if I could get a regular manicure to last more than a couple days, but my nails are so soft that they bend and the polish starts to chip in 2 days. So for me it's worth to get the structured gel.
posted by misskaz at 4:33 AM on April 9 [2 favorites]

also for dazzle dry I have the best longevity with the neutral shades. they don't chip for me until I remove the polish due to nail growth. the dark colors I get about one week out of. but a really good week. I don't know the reason for the discrepancy but I thought I would add that in case it is relevant to your selections / you want to try it out.
posted by afterdark at 10:44 AM on April 9

I don't get gel manicures constantly but I maybe get around 6-10 a year?

Removal does leave the nail a bit weaker but I have not noticed my nail growth being affected and once the nails grow out they're the same as they ever were.

To be honest my nails have improved since I started getting semi-regular manicures because having them painted nicely dissuades me from picking and biting at them. I feel like they're stronger now that I don't mess with them as much.

I don't think it's a big deal, you can get a gel mani and see if it works for you, but it's not going to leave like lasting damage to your nails or anything if you give it one go.
posted by unicorn chaser at 1:17 PM on April 9

Interesting re dazzle dry shade longevity. FWIW, my experience supports afterdark's theory. I got the very darkest grey for my manicure and got a good week out of it. I haven't tried the neutrals though.
posted by snaw at 6:16 PM on April 9