What is the Most Popular Type of Manicure?

An elegant manicure can add depth and dimension to your style while being immensely relaxing and enjoyable.

Basic manicure services offered at salons involve shaping and grooming nails and cuticles before applying a base coat and two layers of polish. Popular add-ons may include glitter designs, textured effects or even ombre effects for added flair.

Regular Manicure

Standard manicure services at any salon typically consist of nail cleaning, cuticle care, shaping or filing, buffing, and hydration – with polish applied at the end. In this style, typically a base coat and traditional polish color of your choosing are chosen.

Gel manicures are similar to regular nail polish manicures in terms of preparation, but employ a special gel that’s applied and then cured under UV lighting for longer-lasting, chip-resistance results. Shellac manicures employ similar technology as gel, but include an additional clear top coat for extra protection and longevity.

Acrylic nails have become a fashionable staple and ideal for anyone seeking longer, stronger, more decorative nails. Made by mixing liquid monomer and powder polymer together and molding it on to the nails to form a hard protective coating; once in place they can only be removed with acetone in a salon.

Gel Manicure

“Gel manicures are very durable,” according to celebrity manicurist Britney Tokyo, but don’t last as long due to being harder on nails and needing additional care – such as using hand cream when swimming or engaging in hands-on sports activities.

Best of all, home gel manicure kits can be found easily at drug stores and beauty e-tailers. Just follow the instructions carefully while wearing gloves to protect natural nails or cuticles from being damaged by an acetone-based fingernail remover.

Powder dip manicures provide longer-lasting nails. This method involves dipping natural or artificial nails (or extensions) into colored powder before shaping and polishing to shape and polish them – Mar Y Sol, who created long coffin nails for Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid among other celebrities, recommends this type of manicure as it lasts four weeks without damaging natural nail plates.

Acrylic Manicure

Acrylic nails are an increasingly popular technique used for long, glamorous nails. Acrylics use a mixture of liquid monomer and powder polymer that’s applied directly onto nails before being sculpted into shape – usually lasting four weeks with professional products unavailable at local nail shops, they should only ever be done at salons.

Soft gel manicures have become an extremely popular trend on TikTok recently, using more flexible polygel polish that’s less damaging to natural nails than hard gel products. Cures under UV or LED lights and can be removed using regular polish remover rather than acetone for removal.

A health-oriented manicure includes cleaning, shaping and cuticle care with an emphasis on nail health. This service is an ideal way to maintain longer-lasting manicures or reduce nail biting habits as its soft formula allows your natural nails to move naturally without chipping as quickly.

Mineral Manicure

Mineral manicures follow the same grooming procedures as regular manicures, with one difference: instead of traditional nail polish, natural ingredients such as lightweight minerals, nourishing botanicals and age-defying antioxidants will be used instead.

At an appointment with your nail technician, she applies a clear base coat before dipping each nail into a different-coloured powder to add color. Finally, this manicure seals its hues with top coat. It offers an ideal alternative to gel or acrylic manicures without their drying effects.

Choose a brand that uses safe chemicals like CND (the company behind Shellac and Vinylux), as these methods will be less likely to damage your natural nails than traditional manicures. CND offers a salon finder to help locate salons near you who provide these services.