Given their scale of attractiveness, moneymaking potential, and role in people’s beauty and grooming routines, it seems as though every girl has experimented with a gel manicure at some point or another. Whether it’s a natural fresh manicure or a polished-up fix-it manicure, gel manicures are an easy way to quickly update your life without breaking the bank. Just be sure to use an appropriate bottle for your particular nail needs.
“I’m always in the business of keeping my nails healthy and shiny, so I use a straight polish to enhance the gel. A lot of times my clients just want something light or something that will fix for a few days, so I use a gel polish,” says celeb manicurist Alexandra Rivera of Pleasures Salon and Spa in NYC. Rivera uses the same image of translucent white gel polish but recommends mixing it with a different shade.
As your budget stretches to the max and you’re eyeing way fewer accidental spills, you might want to look into skipping the barber and veneering your nails yourself. The process adds a little time up front and can take three months or more for a salon manicure. (“Oh, I can do that!” you’re saying right now.) But considering the exorbitant price of a salon manicure, if you wait much longer, it’ll be nearly impossible to get that polished look for little more than you paid for a one-time gel manicure.
So how can you possibly save a few bucks, change up your manicure a bit, and still be wowed by your manicure as much as if you spent four times as much at a salon? We’re here to help.
1. Ditch the Manicure Tank.
If you’re treating yourself to a new manicure, we’ll assume you’re pretty set on what color you’re going to go with. You may be pleasantly surprised, though, if gel treatments can, in fact, be your first nail fix of the year, regardless of what polish you choose.
“Typically, I would recommend a plain gel polish as an inexpensive alternative to a gel manicure,” says manicurist Danielle Lynne Hanger of White Notes Salon in NYC. “Whether you use it for a single day or every few days, it would take less pressure on your hands — you’re not using rubbing alcohol.”
2. “Condition” Your Nails.
A pair of acrylic nails isn’t usually a problem as long as you maintain a healthy, powerful polish! That means taking your manicure seriously and making sure your oil levels aren’t low.
“I recommend a trifecta of care: Keeping your nails at a base coat, setting your nail beds, and conditioning,” says Lynne Hanger. “It can be less expensive to add a few coats of nail masque once a week to a base coat, rather than starting a manicure and ending it with a base coat on a gel nail.”
3. Keep From Getting Little Thumbs.
A gel manicure is pretty much like a splurge for just four or five days, but keep in mind that some nail products are more expensive than others.
“I recommend you start on a clear polish so that your nail beds will be oil-based. Be mindful to start a gel manicure on an oil-based base and finish with a pure acrylic base that you are not heavily addicted to,” says Lynne Hanger.
4. Prepare For Extra Nail Travel.
If you don’t have an X-ray machine or fancy TSA sticker on your tray of nails, your manicure could get lost during your travels. In order to keep your tool from getting misdirected, bring small cuticle or nail files on your next excursion so you can create the perfect manicure before you hit the plane.
5. Use Face Powder.
If you’ve ever thought of mixing your gel manicure with regular nail polish, you should probably try to mix your gel with a nourishing facial scrub. Erin James of Parkdean Beauty Inc. recommends mixing powdered face powder with a hydrating polish.
6. Serve Up Proportions.
Finally, you might be looking for a just-iced gel polish that can get you prepped for your next holiday party (even if it’s your manicure). After all, who wants to sit in gel all day? If you go that route, we suggest that you stock up on one of the many DIY drinks that are going around these days. Consider using cream for your nails, and plain-Jane sparkling flavor for the rest of your body, lips, and feet. (Of course, you could always go big for your desk appearance.)
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