My gel manicure after 2 weeks still looked shiny and chip-free!
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The latest craze in manicures – gel nails – promises nail color that doesn’t chip for weeks, but does it save you money? Below I compare the pros and cons of gel manicures compared to a regular manicure and a do-it-yourself manicure.
Gel Nails
I headed to the salon and sat in a chair for one and a half hours to get gel nails, also known as Shellac. Instead of using regular nail polish, the manicurist uses gel polish and UV light to set the color. I chose the berry color pictured above.
She started with a clear gel-based coat and then I had to stick my hands inside the UV nail lamp. She then proceed to add color, making me stick my hands inside the lamp after every coat. She added a gel-based top coat and wiped my nails down with alcohol to prevent the nails from staying sticky.
Pros: There were no chips
gothikrose
This is a guest post by Yazmin Cruz.
With summer fast approaching, it is time to show off your hands and feet. A professional manicure and pedicure will moisturize dry skin, smooth ragged nails and remove cracked cuticles for about $20 per service, depending on the salon. Getting a mani and pedi will add up to a whopping $50 each week, including tax and tip!
Most of us do not have the time or money to get professional care for our hands and feet. So what’s a girl (or guy) to do? Here are three inexpensive solutions.
1. Do It Yourself (DIY) – Getting a manicure and pedicure is a relaxing ritual that allows you to forget about the hassles of your busy week. Doing it yourself can be just as relaxing and gratifying knowing that you’re keeping your hard earned cash in your pocket. You may already have the supplies you need at home. If not, you will need nail clippers, a file, moisturizing lotion and nail polish. If you rather not waste money on polish you can buy a buffing file that gives your nails a natural shine.
2. Girls’ Night – If you like polish and cringe at giving up a huge array of colors that salons offer, have a friend over and do each others’ nails. Ask her to bring her polish so you both have new colors to choose from. Professional polish like Essie and OPI costs about $8 a bottle but you can find cheaper polish in dollar stores. Beware that cheaper nail polish is not always better as it may crack easily.
3. Go to a beauty school – To get your nails done that is. Local beauty schools offer discounted prices on manis and pedis because students do the work. The treatments may even be free. Quality can be mixed, however.
Follow these tips and they will take your nails from ragged to refined in no time.
