Style Nails 8 Different Types Of Manicures To Know Let us help you choose the right manicure by walking you through eight types. By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 8, 2024 Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Khara Scheppmann has 12 years of marketing and advertising experience, including proofreading and fact-checking. She previously worked at one of the largest advertising agencies in the southwest. brand's fact checking process In This Article View All In This Article Classic Manicure French Manicure Press-On Nails Gel Manicure Plexigel Manicure Shellac Manicure Dip Powder Manicure Acrylic Manicure Frequently Asked Questions There was once a time when a manicure really just meant one thing: Basic polish swiped onto filed nails, finished with a shiny top coat. Today, there are many more options to consider, and it's become tempting to forgo the old-school, quick-to-chip manicure for something that offers longer-lasting benefits. Before your next trip to the nail salon, make sure to learn about the different types of manicures—plus how long they typically last and how much they cost—in order to choose the best style for you, no matter which shape, length, or color you prefer. Our input on how long each of these is supposed to last assumes that you are protecting your hands and gardening with gloves, for instance. The better you treat your hands, the more intact your nails will be. Here's your handy guide to the eight types of manicures you'll find at the nail salon. At-Home Gel-Free Manicure. Classic Manicure This is the original manicure, using the same products you can buy at a drugstore. You simply pick a level of pampering—basic to deluxe—and get your cuticles clipped, nails filed, and polish applied. Don't forget that "deluxe" may just include a hand massage. There is just so much more to the manicure experience, these days. How Long It Lasts The classic approach can last up to a week with minimal chipping. Who It's For If you're not one to carve out time to get a gel manicure soaked off at the salon in two or three weeks' time, a basic manicure is your best bet. There are simply fewer steps involved, and it's a solid choice if you're in a rush or generally impatient. How Much It Costs Around $20–40, plus tip. Dee Mills / Byrdie French Manicure This is more of a style than a method, but nonetheless, a French manicure is a perpetually classy and elegant choice. This simple treatment of your nails can be had with any of the methods listed here, it just depends on what you would prefer. How Long It Lasts Again, this is more of a style than a method, so it genuinely depends on which approach you take. Who It's For This all depends on your taste, and if you like understated beauty over nail art, this just might be the choice for you. How Much It Costs Looking at the other choices on this list will help you determine cost. While a French manicure done in the classic method might range from $20-$40, gels are a different story. Byrdie / Tamara Staples Press-On Nails This is easily the full DIY approach to a manicure, and press-ons have come a long way. Today's selections come with options in glue or adhesive tabs. How Long It Lasts Press-on nails last up to two weeks. Who It's For Don't feel like you can fit salon time into your schedule? Want to switch out your nails with ease? Looking for overall convenience? Press-on nails will work great for you. How Much It Costs It depends on the brand you choose, with regard to price. The right answer to this is that you do have a lot of choice. Some of your options include Olive & June, Static Nails, and GLAMERMAID. Gel Manicure Think of it as an advanced version of a basic manicure that uses a UV light to cure and harden liquid polish, which is what makes a gel manicure last up to three times longer than regular polish. There's one catch: You'll have to go back to the salon to get it soaked off. Avoid trying to pick it off as it will lead to stripped nails. How Long It Lasts Around two to three weeks. There are secrets to making a gel manicure last, and this primarily means just being kind to your hands. Who It's For If you love your signature OPI or Essie color but need it to last past the weekend, a gel mani will do the trick. Nowadays, most salons carry your favorite nail colors in both regular and gel polishes. How Much It Costs Around $30–50, plus tip. Stocksy Plexigel Manicure Plexigel is a semi-hard gel, making it more durable than the soft nail gel manicure. This method is newer, and can be a problem-solver for flat, brittle, or torn nails. Plexigel is a flexible, yet tough, coating that plumps, lengthens, or repairs a multitude of nail issues. How Long It Lasts The Plexigel manicure lasts for over three weeks. Who It's For You still want a gel manicure, but you would like it to be more durable and to last longer. How Much It Costs You can find Plexigel treatments for anywhere from $50-$100. Sara Gagliardi / Getty Images Shellac Manicure People tend to confuse gel and shellac, but the two types are slightly different. Shellac was coined by CND, a nail brand that developed 14-day-wear gel polish. It’s known as more of a mix of both long-wear gel and regular polish, which is generally better for your nail health. It requires to be cured under a UV or LED light just as gel is. How Long It Lasts Around two to three weeks. Who It's For This is a great option for someone who might like gel manicures, but has weaker nails, which will benefit from the formula and typically-easier removal. How Much It Costs Around $30–50, plus tip. Amazon Dip Powder Manicure For this type of manicure, each nail color comes in the form of a pigmented powder, which your nails are dipped into after being applied a clear liquid formula. It's generally stronger than gel and lasts longer. You'll also see it referred to as merely "SNS," and it requires a trip to the salon to get the polish professionally taken off. It's often marketed as a healthier alternative to acrylic with similar results. How Long It Lasts Around three to four weeks. Who It's For This is perfect for those on-the-go who need a hardy manicure. You'll instantly notice that it feels more resilient than other polishes, which is why it tends to last longer. How Much It Costs Around $40–50, plus tip. Lazar Gugleta / Unsplash Acrylic Manicure This might evoke flashbacks to the long, square-tipped French manicure trend of the early 2000s, but acrylic manicures are still quite popular despite the emergence of gel and dip powder. You can customize an acrylic manicure to look any way you'd like, which makes it appealing for long-lasting color in a variety of shapes and designs. A mix of powder and liquid formulas are typically applied over your natural nail and false tips. How Long It Lasts Around three to four weeks; you can go to the salon for fill-ins when they grow out. Who It's For If you've always lusted over a particular nail shape, only to be let down by your nails never growing long enough, this one might be for you. Acrylics are a popular choice for those who want longer nails (or are prone to biting), as they will feign the appearance of naturally longer nails, all while providing a tough protective layer to keep you from biting your nails. How Much It Costs Around $45 and up; fill-ins are $30 and up. Frequently Asked Questions What are the different types of pedicures? Like manicures, there are several main types of pedicures, which include standard, gel, French, athletic, spa, and mini. Pedicure choice depends on lifestyle, costs, and availability. What type of manicure lasts the longest? For the longest-lasting manicure, choose a gel or acrylic style. Gel nail polish is less likely to chip, and acrylic is even stronger than gel. 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