So, what actually happens when you 'get your nails done'?

[BobinogBobbleHat]

I appreciate this may be a basic adulting answer which has passed me by.

But, I have been wondering what getting one's mails done actually entails. I see people talking about gels, and tips, and getting things removed and then re-done and I don't understand any of it.

The reason I'm thinking about it is that I would occasionally like to paint my nails, but I don't want to buy nail polish because I do it so seldom that it would be wasteful - I'd never get through a bottle.

So is it a thing to go to a salon and just get your nails painted a nice colour with nothing else technical going on?

Same question with toes really. Sometimes I think maybe it would be nice to get them done at the beginning of the summer but it all seems more complicated than necessary.

I know how you feel op! I’ve had my nails painted at a salon before but seems daft to pay so much for normal polish that’ll just chip in a day or two.

Lots of women at work get their nails done with long lasting ‘stuff’ and I fancy it too but don’t know what I should be asking for. Is it acrylic? Gel? What lasts a long time and are they fake nails or done on your real ones?

Yes you can just go and get them painted if you want, nothing technical involved. A gel is basically a nail polish that hardens under UV light and will last for weeks, but it will grow with your nail so you usually get it removed and reapplied. Gel on toes is great as it stays on for ages and always looks nice and shiny.

I have mine done every 3 weeks (wouldn’t bother for myself but my job is client facing and I think it helps to look groomed).
The nail tech firstly removes the last lot by soaking in acetone.
thdn buffs, trims and files the nails.
removes cuticles with tiny scissors
then 1 layer of clear stuff
then 2 or 3 layers of polish
then 1 or 2 layers of clear stuff
then cream stuff on cuticles.

they’re called bio gel or something, just my own nails painted.
costs £40 every 3 weeks, takes an hour a time.

Oh yes I forgot to say they’re put under a UV light after each coat. Last really well, never ever chip.

Just ask for a gel polish. I used to get acrylics - which is basically a nail extension if you like long nails. I prefer a gel polish over anything now.

On your question, you can just get varnish but part of that package is also tidying up your nails (shaping them, pushing your cuticles etc). Then they got painted. That's a basic manicure.

I get a gel polish on natural nails that last 3 weeks. Each layer is cured under uv light so it sets hard. Acrylics are basically long false nail extensions.

I prefer mine short and professional.

Starts with nail prep (cuticles, shape about 10 mins) then base coat, 2 colour and a top coat.

I wouldn't get regular polish as it chips or smudges to easy.

To remove it needs a 'soak off' which they can do if you can do at home. Just need a gel removal tool and I have a finger bowl from Poundland to soak them in and takes 10 mins and a buffing 'white block' is handy. I only do my own soak of as I have them done only one every 4-6 weeks.

I get a gel file and polish on toes which is the same. For foot filing and scrub etc it's a pedicure. Gel on toes lasts about 4-6 weeks.

Tips are acrylic tips (fake nail extensions)

They can be 'infilled' every three weeks (filling in the growth as the base of the nail) a few times but have to be removed and started again after a few times.

Thanks! This is the sort of thing which always makes me feel I've missed some info somewhere along the line and I can always rely on mumsnet for help!

You can get a basic file and polish, which sounds like what you are after. My salon does it for a tenner (London). Upgrade to a full manicure (they’ll take a bit more time, push back cuticles etc). And if you want something longer lasting ask for Shellac/gel polish rather than normal nail varnish.

It is a faff! I don't go often but each summer I usually get a pedicure with gel nail polish. It lasts for weeks on toes and looks perfect, the only thing is like pp said it's difficult to remove at home (hence you get into the habit of having it reapplied...)

A good alternative to feet is to get a regular pedicure with OPI polish. This is an expensive long lasting regular varnish - I still get a good 2-3 weeks out of it on my toenails before it chips. And then you can take it off with normal nail polish remover at home.

For finger nails I always get gel (the rare times I bother at all that is, with 3 young DC!)

I have SNS over my real nails which is powder (any colour or French pink and white which is what I normally have).

Makes your nails hard as if you've had acrylic put on so they don't break, they last 4 weeks until I go and get them redone. Costs me £35.

alternative FOR feet that should say

I just get mine painted a colour. I call them gels. The colour lasts 2 weeks. They file them a nice shape and then paint them in layers. It normally peels off after 2 weeks, otherwise they can remove and re-do. Be warned it destroys the nail underneath though.

Is nail varnish really so expensive you wouldn't want to try it at home?

Just get a quick dry version like Essie Expressie and some acetone. Shape nails with file, soak your hands & feet, push back cuticles, dry with flannel, then apply polish.

Do while watching TV. I have a soft canvas pail to hold water for soaking my feet.

Seche Vite topcoat really works to prolong the life of your manicure & pedicure.

Meant to say that I love the look of gel but don't want to put my nails through all of that wear & tear.

Is nail varnish really so expensive you wouldn't want to try it at home?

No, not at all. I didn't mean waste in terms of money. But I'm trying to reduce having inessentials that in the end, end up in landfill. A bottle of nail varnish which I might use three or four times before it goes gloopy and becomes unusable definitely falls into this category.

I've got bottles of polish I've had for donkeys' years (decades!) which are still fine after a good shake. I do mine at home when I can be bothered

You can put a couple of drops of remover in it to thin it out again

I've never managed to get that to work for me!