Which Manicure is Best For Your Nails?

There are numerous manicures on the market designed to protect nails without any damage; the one that best suits you depends on your lifestyle and budget.

Some women prefer classic and simplistic manicures without needing any nail art, while others opt for classy and elegant French manicures.

Basic Manicure

An original manicure includes nail trimming, filing, cuticle grooming and polish application. Additional services may include the application of base coat to help your polish stay put and prevent staining.

Manicurists use an electric file to smooth the edges of your nails before buffing blocks are used to smooth their surface and even out any ridges or other imperfections. Finally, cuticle treatments may be applied in order to soften and push back cuticles for an overall more desirable result.

After applying a base coat to prepare nails for their new color, then after painting their nails with color, a top coat seals in their look. A good top coat can extend your manicure’s longevity by protecting its color from wear-and-tear as well as environmental factors like water and sunlight.

Sculpted Manicure

A sculpted manicure uses builder gel products to create long-lasting and super durable nail enhancements, such as long nails or nail tips with length or shape desired. They’re applied directly over natural nails or tips.

Streets points out that when done correctly, sculptured nails are strong enough to withstand daily wear and tear while providing protection for natural nails from bacteria that collect under artificial ones.

“One major drawback of sculpted manicures is their potential damage to nails if not removed and maintained regularly,” according to she says. Chemicals used during application and removal can corrode them further and leave them more susceptible to infections and breakages than expected.

At Paul Edmonds salons, sculpted manicures are performed using Bio Sculpture gel which is an organic nail product without MMA (methyl methacrylate). The gel features liquid monomer and powder polymer layers which enable manicurists to manipulate and shape it to create natural glossy or high shine results.

Gel Manicure

Gel manicures have quickly become an industry favorite in beauty industry due to their chip-free sets that last up to two weeks without chipping. Utilizing liquid resin that cures under UV light, these popular manis dry much faster than traditional polishes.

Dr. Chris Adigun of Chapel Hill, NC-based dermatology practice who specializes in nail health advises using thick emollient on hands and fingers daily, along with wearing gloves when performing chores that could damage them such as dish washing. To combat these adverse effects of nail treatment processes.

Avoid picking at your gels to protect the integrity of your nails from pulling off layers and leading to permanent damage. Have your salon technician safely take them off at the end of each service, or learn how to do it yourself with 100% pure acetone, tin foil, and cotton balls at home.

Acrylic Manicure

Acrylic nails are an increasingly popular look that can give the illusion of longer and thicker nails. A mix of polymer and monomer resin forms a gummy paste that nail technicians apply directly onto natural nails for strengthening purposes, then layer on gel polish for color.

Acrylic nails should always be properly applied; otherwise they can create gaps between your fake nail and real one that provide an environment conducive to bacteria growth, potentially leading to swelling or breaking in real nails.

Bui recommends visiting a salon with an excellent reputation and checking the credentials of its tech before having your nails done. She suggests keeping a hydrating hand cream like The Body Shop Nail & Cuticle Hand & Nail Cream handy so you can regularly apply it to your nails and cuticles.

If you opt for an acrylic manicure, make sure that you soak and hydrate your nails regularly to prevent bacteria from growing under them and keep them looking strong and healthy. This will also keep them looking natural!