Types of Manicures

There are various kinds of manicures to choose from. A classic French manicure features white tips that complement your natural nails; however, it can also feature fun variations.

Mirrored manicures are especially fashionable among millennials. This trend utilizes soft gel polish that can be removed with acetone without harming nails.

Basic

As our hands are more visible than ever, manicures have become a beauty essential that keeps them looking glossy and vibrant. But with so many choices available to us, the selection can sometimes become daunting – so we consulted salon owners, nail techs and manicure experts in order to narrow down the most commonly requested types of manicures.

Basic manicure services involve trimming, filing and shaping nails before cuticle care is conducted and finished off with your choice of nail polish color. In many instances, there may also be hand massage involved!

Julie Kandalec, celebrity manicurist and founder of Masterclass Nail Academy advises selecting a dry formula when getting a basic manicure. Wet manicures require soaking which may cause your nails to expand further; in turn causing more frequent chipping of polish and separation from natural nail. Instead, opt for dry or Vinylux manicures which don’t need soaking and last at least seven days or longer without chipping.

Shellac

This manicure involves applying a thin layer of both gel and regular nail polish onto each nail before curing it with UV light for long-term, chip-proof coverage that dries quickly and dries quickly, but improper application could result in its chipping off quickly.

Dunne acknowledges the long-lasting durability of Shellac manicures, yet doesn’t approve of how the product weakens her natural nails over time. To get the best possible experience with this form of treatment it is recommended that a trained technician be used – too much exposure could damage them over time.

As its name implies, a gel manicure consists of an acrylic/gel hybrid product produced by CND and cured using UV light. It offers long-wearing durability but can be challenging to remove when necessary – therefore only applying when absolutely necessary or when desired for high shine effects that outlast regular nail polish manicures. A trained technician should perform this type of gel manicure due to its more complex removal.

Gel

Popular among those looking to add a splash of personality, this manicure can make a bold statement with their style. Your manicurist uses different hues of gel polish to create gradient effect nails; choose from red or black options for maximum impact!

This type of manicure entails trimming, cleaning, buffing and base coating your nails before applying two coats of polygel soft gel polish and curing them under UV light – unlike acrylics it doesn’t damage natural nails!

However, it’s essential to moisturize your nails and hands regularly and see a nail technician trained in CND plexigel for best results. Additionally, some nail technicians layer soft and hard gels for durability. Kandalec advises removing gel polish correctly in order to avoid damage; she suggests visiting someone familiar with CND plexigel as this process provides safest and most convenient results for long-lasting gel manicures.

Acrylic

Once upon a time, manicures were pretty standard – swiping basic nail polish onto nails and topping it off with a glossy top coat. But today there are now various options available for those who desire something beyond this basic approach.

Millennials are particularly fond of shellac manicures, which combine soft gel with regular nail polish to produce long-wearing nail colors without chipping. Once basic steps have been completed, a manicurist applies soft gel directly onto your nails before setting it with UV light to dry before applying a few layers of Vinylux nail colors, long-wearing shades available from Vinylux Nails.

Acrylic manicures utilize liquid monomer and powder polymer to form hard layers that cover your natural nails with extensions that camouflage their appearance. Because this process can be damaging if performed incorrectly, we advise visiting an experienced nail technician when opting for this service.