How do you use a nail salon?

[HairyMaclary]

I have literally never used a nail bar before and only occasionally paint my own finger and toenails.However it’s been a really tough term and I’d like to get both fingers and toes done in time for my holiday but I’m a bit nervous about what to ask for!

I assume for toenails they just paint to your toes but I wouldn’t mind trying some other sort of nails/varnish on my fingers as my fingernails are very short and a bit rubbish. What do I ask for? What are all these things called? I don’t want very long nails though. Is there an ‘idiots guide’ anywhere. The internet is too confusing on this subject!

I wonder if you’d be better off avoiding the nail bars and heading towards a nail technician that does gel nails. The nail bars tend to specialise in acrylics and work on a quick turn around. I think you really want someone who will take their time with you.

I would go in/book.

Could I have gel polish on fingers and toes please.

Gel will last 2-3 weeks generally without chipping.
Its a hard polish that goes over your natural nail. Just choose your colour/colours. Sometimes I go “wild” and get a little nail art! Wee daisies etc!

however…

please please be careful removing it with acetone or get the salon to remove it, if removed badly it can damage your nails. 😊

This is my fairly bog standard if I go to a salon, I am sure others have other suggestions and get fancier things!

I would avoid nail bars and look for a good beauty salom, I likke hthosebthat use OPI products. Thry will do either gel nails or I think its called infinity shine which isnt gel but lasts about 10 days.

You can have quick file and polish or full on mani pedis which may be a good thing to start with.

My OPI salon doesn't do acrylics or any fake stuff though.

I tend to use a beauty salon that does nails.

this morning I went for a pedicure - they filed the skin in my feet, soaked my feet, used a foot scrub, cute and filed the nails, trimmed the cuticles etc and massaged foot cream in. Then she painted the nails. I had normal polish rather than the gel that they use UV on. Even normal polish lasts a month or so on my feet so I don’t see the point of the gel varnishes.

you can have normal varnish manicures as well but they don’t last that long which is why most people have the gel or shellac manicures where they use the UV lamps. Those polishes las much longer but need to be removed properly. They won’t come off with normal nail varnish remover. That’s the bit that puts me off as I’ve found that damages my nails but I’m going to try again for my holiday and have a gel manicure next week.

As others have suggested, find a nail tech, it will be a much more relaxing experience too. Generally they will do a gel polish on your natural nails, or may offer the option of extentions if that's what you're after. I'd book in for a mani/pedi with gel polish, or enquire in advance if you're wanting extentions. But yeah, a nail bar would be an in and out jobby

Thanks - although I feel that’s another level of complication! What’s the difference between a nail tech and nail bar? I assume the nail bars are the ones on my high street where I’m might be concerned about the welfare of some of the staff…? Nail technicians then - in a ‘beauty salon’. I shall do some googling.

Look on a website/app called Fresha. They should have all the decent nail technicians in your area on there. Avoid walk in nail bars.

Ask for gel polish like Shellac as this lasts longer. Manicure and pedicure will cost between £20/40 and should take about 60-90 mins. It's worth paying to go back and have it professionally removed.