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Original poster

Is a regular (non gel or shellac) manicure worth it?

21 replies

Lagirl20 · 30/12/2022 17:07

Possibly a silly question but here goes. I’d like to have a manicure but a regular one. I’ve had shellac/gel in the past and it’s destroyed my nails. But is it worth getting a regular manicure? Normal nail polish chips v quickly when I apply it myself. What do you think? And how long before an event should I get it done? Gel/shellac usually lasts at least 10 days on my nails but I can’t imagine that a regular manicure would last anywhere near that long. Thanks!

OP posts:
TangledWebofMincemeatDeception · 30/12/2022 17:16

I wouldn’t bank on a regular manicure looking great for more than a couple of days, so I’d have it done as close to the event as possible.

I think manicures are worth it for the nail & cuticle care, as well as the nail shaping.

ApolloandDaphne · 30/12/2022 17:24

My nail salon has stopped doing regular manicures/polish and you can only get gel now. I'm not sure if this is the norm now?

Focalpoint · 30/12/2022 17:40

I hate shellac etc so regularly get a normal polish manicure. Vinylux. Lasts about 5 days. Comes off with normal nail polish remover.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 30/12/2022 17:42

I do manicures. No gel because people are falling out of love with it. I use a high quality product and it lasts 3 weeks.

user864 · 30/12/2022 17:57

Have you considered BIAB as an alternative?

Regular polish will chip in a day or two, personally I don't think it is worth it

TangledWebofMincemeatDeception · 30/12/2022 18:00

@DobbyTheHouseElk what product? I’ve never known a regular polish to lady anywhere near a week, never mind three weeks!

user863 · 30/12/2022 18:21

TangledWebofMincemeatDeception · 30/12/2022 18:00

@DobbyTheHouseElk what product? I’ve never known a regular polish to lady anywhere near a week, never mind three weeks!

I agree with you here. No matter how premium the polish is 2 days on hands and then chips. Toes will last longer

LittleDisaster · 30/12/2022 18:35

I obviously do it all wrong but I've never managed to get home from the salon without smudgjng it. It seems to take a very long time before it's completely dry

LittleDisaster · 30/12/2022 18:36

When I do my nails myself, over the course of a whole day, allowing thin layers of base coat, 2 coats of colour plus top coat to dry thoroughly between coats, it lasts a week.

rc22 · 30/12/2022 18:52

I used to get regular manicures. If you're careful and use rubber gloves for cleaning etc, they can last for up to a fortnight. However, I ruined quite a few by smudging them the minute I walked out of the salon.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 30/12/2022 20:09

It’s perfectly possible. Chipping after 2 days isn’t normal. Professionally applied it is possible to get 3 weeks on hands and 8 or more on feet. If you are finding it chips after 2 days, you need to complain.

TangledWebofMincemeatDeception · 30/12/2022 22:04

Oh I wasn’t doubting that - professional application obviously helps a lot! Was just interested in what particular product. I couldn’t get to three weeks of any manicure, sadly, as my nails grow quickly so it already looks pretty shit after two weeks. And I’m also very hard on my nails - very hands on in combination with being too lazy/impatient to use gloves/take proper care. But I’d be very happy to get a week out of it! However it wouldn’t be professionally applied since I’d be doing it myself...

watchfulwishes · 30/12/2022 22:08

LittleDisaster · 30/12/2022 18:36

When I do my nails myself, over the course of a whole day, allowing thin layers of base coat, 2 coats of colour plus top coat to dry thoroughly between coats, it lasts a week.

Same, but I don't take a day to apply it. But it lasts a week.

TangledWebofMincemeatDeception · 30/12/2022 22:12

I really wish I could make it last a week 😞😞

CraigDavid · 30/12/2022 22:14

I use OPI infinite shine base and top coat and get a week out of it. Two layers of colour.

SecretVictoria · 30/12/2022 22:15

If you’re my DM, yes. If her nails never grew, she could keep polish on for the rest of her life! Nothing lasts on mine apart from acrylic so I’m no help. You could just have a clear/very pale colour so chipping isn’t so obvious.

MajesticWhine · 30/12/2022 22:15

I totally agree about shellac/gel. I hate it and it left my nails in terrible condition.
So for me I would do a regular manicure and polish for a special occasion. Toes in the summer seem to last for several weeks so far better value.

Pinkittens · 30/12/2022 22:40

I paint my own nails with regular polish and have done for years, so I'm pretty used to it. I've had professional manicures with traditional polish and in my opinion, if you have a steady enough hand to paint nicely then you can definitely DIY.

There are better and worse brands of nail polish, and within the brands not all colours and finishes perform the same. Some individual colours or finishes are more prone to chipping, some are more prone to peeling, some are more prone to smudging. Some are watery meaning you'll need at least 3 coats and then they combine chipping, peeling and smudging!

If I'm going to an event I'll do it the day before, usually at night, and I allow 1 hour in total for drying and at least another hour before going to bed or doing any smudge-attracting jobs like hanging out washing, as surface-dry nail polish can smudge easily on bedclothes and by putting on pjs etc.

I've found pearl finish polishes are the most long lasting. Glitter are also good but can take a long time to dry because it's too tempting to overload the polish to get even more glitter on. Dark colours tend to not need as many coats as lighter ones (this is for flat colours, not pearl/glitter finishes) as lighter polishes can be streaky. I've found traditional polishes (even from the same brand) vary into roughly three categories of texture: thin and densely pigmented (the ideal), thick and gloopy (good coverage but smudge prone) and thin and streaky (the worst).

Pearl and glitter finishes are the most forgiving for touch-ups in case of mishaps.

I used to routinely use a base coat, but sometimes it's best to just start with very clean and dry nails. Base coats can just create an extra layer of coat unnecessarily. Exception is for very dark or very orange shades, which seem to stain nails.

So I do a single thin first coat and leave to dry 20 minutes. Then the second coat, leave to dry 20 minutes. Then a top coat, leave to dry 20 minutes (more if I can manage to sit still without having to do jobs). A quick-dry topcoat is beneficial.

I've got good at painting my own nails but appreciate it's not for everyone. I do like that I can save money and time by doing it myself, and that I can change my polish whenever I want. Most of my polishes last on average 5 days before chipping, or feeling tatty.

Oblomov22 · 30/12/2022 22:44

I only have My nails painted occasionally, for a party say. Just normal varnish not gel. Sometimes lasts a few days, occasionally a week.

Original poster
Lagirl20 · 30/12/2022 23:06

Pinkittens · 30/12/2022 22:40

I paint my own nails with regular polish and have done for years, so I'm pretty used to it. I've had professional manicures with traditional polish and in my opinion, if you have a steady enough hand to paint nicely then you can definitely DIY.

There are better and worse brands of nail polish, and within the brands not all colours and finishes perform the same. Some individual colours or finishes are more prone to chipping, some are more prone to peeling, some are more prone to smudging. Some are watery meaning you'll need at least 3 coats and then they combine chipping, peeling and smudging!

If I'm going to an event I'll do it the day before, usually at night, and I allow 1 hour in total for drying and at least another hour before going to bed or doing any smudge-attracting jobs like hanging out washing, as surface-dry nail polish can smudge easily on bedclothes and by putting on pjs etc.

I've found pearl finish polishes are the most long lasting. Glitter are also good but can take a long time to dry because it's too tempting to overload the polish to get even more glitter on. Dark colours tend to not need as many coats as lighter ones (this is for flat colours, not pearl/glitter finishes) as lighter polishes can be streaky. I've found traditional polishes (even from the same brand) vary into roughly three categories of texture: thin and densely pigmented (the ideal), thick and gloopy (good coverage but smudge prone) and thin and streaky (the worst).

Pearl and glitter finishes are the most forgiving for touch-ups in case of mishaps.

I used to routinely use a base coat, but sometimes it's best to just start with very clean and dry nails. Base coats can just create an extra layer of coat unnecessarily. Exception is for very dark or very orange shades, which seem to stain nails.

So I do a single thin first coat and leave to dry 20 minutes. Then the second coat, leave to dry 20 minutes. Then a top coat, leave to dry 20 minutes (more if I can manage to sit still without having to do jobs). A quick-dry topcoat is beneficial.

I've got good at painting my own nails but appreciate it's not for everyone. I do like that I can save money and time by doing it myself, and that I can change my polish whenever I want. Most of my polishes last on average 5 days before chipping, or feeling tatty.

incredible! Thank you. Could you share which brand and colour you like best?

OP posts:
Pinkittens · 31/12/2022 08:56

I've tried a lot of nail polishes of all price points.

In general: Rimmel's pearl finish polishes are excellent, so for a quick, reliable and hardwearing finish, I'd recommend these. They go with a lot of outfits as they are often quite neutral (pearl, pinks, beiges, lilacs). I personally don't like iridescent finishes (the sort that shimmer neon green or neon pink, as I think they look a bit cheap) so I choose polishes which are what I call a pearl (some people say metallic or shimmer) finish with no iridescent gleam.

Essie's Speed Setter top coat is great. Essie Expressie worked surprisingly well in the couple of shades I tried. I had Not So Low Key (a burgundy) on, it went on like a dream and lasted for days without chipping, unusual for a polish of that shade. I have many Essie polishes in different colours, some last ages before chipping, some not so long on me, but sometimes that's worth it for the shade. Their glitter polishes are very good but I would do the first coat in a matching plain colour first, so if I want gold or silver glitter nails that really pop, I'd first paint a gold or silver base colour, again probably Rimmel as they do a good gold and silver, then do a coat or two of matching glitter polish from Essie.

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