Should I Go with a Regular Manicure or Gel? What's the Difference?

A regular mani just doesn't last on me, so if I get a mani, I go for the gel. That being said, it is very hard on my nails and weakens them. I last had one at Christmas. It lasted more than 2 weeks, but my nails just recently got back to normal. So, I usually just skip the mani altogether and focus on getting a regular pedi.

From what I've heard - gel destroys your nails and they may never be the same again.
Stick with a regular manicure.

The gel looks nice and I have done it but it just destroys my nails when it is removed. Yes, you have so soak in acetone to get it off and even when they help you get it off, it can sometimes take the top layer of your nail. The gel is "cured" with the UV light you stick your hand in. When I do gel which is RARE, I have zinc oxide on my hands to prevent getting dark spots from the light. In my area, the going rate for gel is around $30 before tip and you go back anywhere from 2-4 weeks to get them redone.

I have a friend who uses the powder called Nexgen and she does that regularly. STILL, when she removes it, her nails are damaged. I do not know what this cost but it is also a routine trip to the salon about every 2-4 weeks.

Right before my spring break trip, I got a regular manicure and I jokingly said I hope it lasts til I get there because it was so pretty and regular manicures do come off fast. I am not kidding and I do not know what she used but that manicure lasted a week. IF I had the same color of polish at home, I would have been able to touch it up for another week or so. I paid $30.

Daughter and I stopped doing gel and only do the regular manicure. Now, my daughter buys some brand of glue on nails at Target for $6 that look like they were done at the salon. They even had some for toes. When she puts these on, they last at least a week before popping off.

Good luck.

I live in NYC. A manicure & pedicure near me costs $16 on Monday Tuesday Wednesday and a gel mani pedi costs $23. The gel lasts as long as 3 weeks. The regular as long as a week and a half.

Most I know opt for a regular manicure & pedicure every two weeks and a change of polish every other week ($7).

Best

Gel nails are great - if you have the time and money to keep them up.

Gel nail polish is GREAT - but it requires to be taken care of - you have to soak them in acetone to get it off. They will last anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks. They are strong and keep your polish from chipping.

If you are NOT going to take the time for yourself to get a manicure every two to four weeks?? You need to get a regular manicure and be done with it.

Regular! The gel polish ruins your nails. It took months for my nails to look healthy again. Only did it once, and never again.

I have never had polish on my nails that has lasted unchipped for more than two hours, so I would choose gel polish (which I have not tried) in the hopes that it would actually stay put. Likely, I would never have it removed and just let it grow out and look weird. I'm okay with that.

If you have adequate nails then Jamberry would likely be a great alternative for you. It's like stick on contact paper, sort of. They peel off the paper and you put them over your existing nails. They are so cute, very very many styles to choose from.

If you are like me and don't have good nails then a nail place is probably what you'd want to do. I guess you'll have to talk to some local friends and see where they have their nails done.

another vote for jamberry. my niece uses them and they last lots longer then regular nailpolish and does not damage your nails like gel or acrylic nails will. my niece is an athletic 10 yr old and after 2 weeks of beating her nails up they looked better than my 15 hour old nail polish job done with 3 minute gels nail polish and topcoat.

I would recommend a regular manicure just before your event (say the day before). I always buy a bottle of the polish they use for touch ups and that way, you can get away with it lasting longer. Nowadays they use really good clear top coats that were better than when I got married.

Gel nails are nice but they can potentially ruin your nails. My niece does them and now she basically has to because her nails are in such poor condition.

I am new to manicures period. However, I find that they don't last but a few days, which really urks me. I recently started getting the gel manicure and I am now addicted. I go every two weeks and have had no issues. Even when she removes the previous application, my nails are just fine and my nails only grow if I polish them. If not, they do not grow. I love the fact that it doesn't chip and remains ultra shiny.

Everyone I know who has had the gel has regretted it. All of them have had severe damage to their nails. Go with a regular. Or try Jamberry nail wraps. A friend of mine who always had manicures only uses those now. She loves them and her nails always look she has had a professional manicure.

Updated

Everyone I know who has had the gel has regretted it. All of them have had severe damage to their nails. Go with a regular. Or try Jamberry nail wraps. A friend of mine who always had manicures only uses those now. She loves them and her nails always look she has had a professional manicure.

Gel is more expensive (I don't know your area.) But it does last a lot longer, like 3 weeks. If you wash dishes and use your hands a lot, regular nail polish will chip really quickly.

If you want to try gel, ask the lady if she can do a graduated gel application. That way it has less color near the cuticle and more color halfway up the nail. When your nails grow out, you can't tell so much that they are growing out.

You'll need to go back to see her when the gel starts chipping. What you DON'T want to do is pull the gel off. If you do, it will take off the top layer of your own nails. Instead clip off the gel if you need to.

Decide if you want them again when you go in to get them removed. Tell your lady at the beginning. She will buff your nails to make them look nice.