Life’s too short to stick to a particular type of manicure. That’s because nails define the beauty of our hands. They add a charm to those palms and help them stand out from other parts of the body. 

Choosing the perfect manicure might seem a difficult task. That’s because there’s way more to know about manicures than just selecting the one that will suit you. So, here we are to help you. 

After consultation with various experienced salon owners, nail artists, manicure experts, and nail techs, we have come up with these top 5 types of manicures that are worth investing your time and budget in 2021. So, without any further delay, let’s jump and explore the perfect guide to your manicure routine. 

Basic Manicure

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What is it?

Much similar to the standard manicure, your expert would start with your hands relaxing in warm soapy water. Besides relaxing, it will also remove the dead skin cells. 

After this, the expert would carry on with trimming your nails, shaping, and filing, and buffing them. Finally, she will continue trimming your cuticles, followed by a hand massage and cuticle oil treatment. 

Ultimately, you will get your favorite nail color on your nails. You can also go for a dry manicure, where your hands won’t soak in water. However, in such a case, your nail plate may swell, leading to cracks in your nail polish.

Pros 

  1. It’s a budget-friendly option that revives and hydrates your nails. Thus, it’s beneficial for your nail health
  2. You can experiment with your favorite colors. 

Cons

  1. The flawless finish won’t last long, even if you have applied nail polish. 
  2. Dryness and streaks are common and appear within no time. 

Cost

A basic manicure will cost somewhere between $10-$30. It may also charge less in case you go without nail polish. 

Preparation Time

The average time for a basic manicure is around 45 minutes, following the drying time (if you have applied the nail polish).

Lasting Time & Removal

A basic manicure lasts somewhere for up to 5-7 days. You can remove the nail polish with acetone or polish remover. 


Paraffin Manicure

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What is it?

Paraffin manicure is the treatment where your expert would start with your hands dipped in heated paraffin wax mixed with lavender oil, peppermint oil, or aloe vera. Your qualified hands are then covered and wrapped with plastic gloves and hot towels. 

All these ingredients double up the benefits of paraffin wax, leaving behind a soothing scent. After the cooling of wax, your expert carries on with the usual steps of a basic one.

Pros

  1. It’s the perfect treatment for those having cracked and dry hands. 
  2. Besides smoothening your hands, it also removes dirt, toxins, and dead skin cells from your pores. 
  3. Paraffin manicure relaxes your muscles, reduces stiffness, and increases the blood flow in your hands. Thus, it’s very beneficial for people with mobility disabilities and diseases. 

Cons

  1. People with diabetes and low blood flow might find it challenging to go through the procedure.

Cost

A basic manicure will cost somewhere between $20-$40. The charges are less in case you go without nail polish. 

Preparation Time

The average time for a basic manicure is around 50 – 60 minutes, following the drying time (if you have applied the nail polish).

Lasting Time & Removal

A basic manicure lasts somewhere for up to 1-2 weeks. You can remove the nail polish by soaking the in mineral or massage oils. 


Shellac Manicure

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What is it?

Much similar to a gel manicure, your expert would start with your hands relaxing in shellac, a professional product that appears like a nail polish but feels no less challenging than a gel. 

Your expert would apply base coats, nail polish followed by the final topcoat. To enhance the look and longevity, these steps and processes are followed by UV ray treatment. 

Pros

  1. As the use of UV treatment dries all the coats, you get chip-free nails that last longer.
  2. Besides their longevity, they also impart a glossier look and are friendlier to your nails. 

Cons

  1. If you go for cheap manicures regularly, your nails may weaken and become brittle. 
  2. Due to the many hardened polish layers involved, taking it off might be painful.

Cost

A basic manicure will cost somewhere between $40-$70. However, other factors such as location and type of salon will also affect the costs.

Preparation Time

The average time for a basic manicure is around 45 minutes, following which is the drying time.

Lasting Time & Removal

A basic manicure lasts somewhere for more than 2-3 weeks. You can remove the nail polish in the salon within about 15 minutes by using a CND LED lamp.


Dip Powder Manicure

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What is it?

Unlike other traditional manicures, dip powder manicure uses no wax or no such liquid material. The color of the specific powder applied on your fingers comes up as your nail paint.

Moreover, it’s an entirely dry procedure without the use of UV rays. Instead, some layers of adhesive are used to seal the powder in the nail. Moisturizers or any other thing of such kind are strictly prohibited because this will lessen the manicure’s longevity. 

Pros

  1. Dip powder manicure has long-lasting and durable results. 
  2. The process isn’t messy & doesn’t require any UV ray treatment.

Cons

  1. It can be unhygienic for some people.
  2. As dip powder is a strong material, it can affect your nails significantly.

Cost

A basic manicure will cost somewhere between $36-$54.

Preparation Time

The average time for a basic manicure is around 2 hours.

Lasting Time & Removal

A basic manicure lasts somewhere for more than 2- 4 weeks. However, one should remove it after 15 days. That’s because keeping anything on your nail for long hours may lead to bacterial infections.

You can start removing the manicure by filing and buffing off the top layer of the nail. Following this, you can keep your nails submerged in acetone for 15-20 minutes.


Gel Manicure

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What is it?

Gel manicures are basically of two types. The first type, i.e., the soft gel, is the one in which the gel used is porous. On the contrary, the hard gel is the one in which the gel used is non-porous and sculpting. You can also enjoy it at home by yourself using an LED light.

Pros

  1. Gel manicure is budget-friendly and time-saving. You can get your nails perfectly done without any sophisticated equipment. Moreover, it wouldn’t take much time. 
  2. It’s healthy for your nails and won’t harm them in any way. 

Cons

  1. Your nails may get weakened within less time. 
  2. Removing them without UV rays may be difficult at times.

Cost

A basic manicure will cost somewhere between $20-$65. However, if you opt for nail art, you will need to pay additional charges.

Preparation Time

The average time for a basic manicure is around 1 hour, including the drying time.

Lasting Time & Removal

A basic manicure lasts somewhere for more than 2- 3 weeks. However, you can make the manicure last longer by applying cuticle oil.

You can start removing the manicure by keeping your nails submerged in acetone for about 15-20 minutes.

With the various types of manicures in the trending section, you can choose your desired style. Moreover, if you are an experienced person, you can try out the manicures yourself. However, it’s better to get your nails done by experts and nail techs. With perfection, they also offer sanitization.