Nails, clueless, Help!

[Thighdentitycrisis]

I’m going to a wedding. Booked a manicure this morning and have never had nails done,
what do I ask for? I want a low key look, but “done”

A French polish would be low key, natural colours with white tips.

@FionnulaTheCooler
Thanks is that gel or regular ( if that exists?)

I would have gel ideally. It won't chip like normal polish.

Im a nail salon virgin!

I would get a gel manicure with a a neutral colour, they will be able to show you some colours that you can choose. Also dont be shy, if you dont like the colour when they put it on, tell them and choose a different one. Try on a nail first to see etc. it feels awkward but they are used to it!

I wouldn’t go for a French manicure if you are going gel polish; go for a more modern take - use a very pale pink like this image, so it looks like your nails only better. That is this year’s ‘understated’ look. I’ll post the photo.

https://pin.it/4i2FceXJP

I was in this situation a couple of months ago, I asked for a French manicure gel polish.

Things I learned

• it took longer than I expected, about an hour they do many many coats of polish
• the way the gel manicures work is first they shape with a file then they neaten up the cuticles with cuticle oil, the pushy stick thing and the little clippers, then they buff the nail over the surface before putting on polish. They do a base coat then you stick your hand under the light while they do the other hand, then 2 more coats with the light between each coat. Then they paint the white tip on, light again, then touch up the white tip, light again, then a top coat light again, then they use a cotton wool pad with alcohol on to swipe over the top and set the polish.
• it lasts several weeks, then you need to remove it. You can go back to the salon to do this or you can do it at home, you need good quality acetone, cotton wool balls and foil. You soak the cotton wool in acetone, put it on your nail, wrap in foil and leave it about 15 mins then the polish should come off. It is not like normal polish you use at home so it does not come off with a quick swipe.
• your nails will need a bit of TLC after being covered in gel polish for several weeks, so get some sally Hanson hard as diamonds or the like and be prepared to give them a break and some nourishment in a few weeks.