If you get your nails done professionally…

[texaslover]

My nails are thin and brittle and never grow long. Right now I do the dip and a regular pedi when I go. I go about every 3 weeks. 2 weeks would be better but I try to stretch it out for financial reasons. I like the dip and find it lasts a long time but the growth and big white strip at the cuticle is unsightly and becomes annoying.

Dip is 40 and basic pedi is 35 so with tips it’s near $100. I’m in a suburb of Dallas.

 

[kyton]

I get my nails topped with builder gel & shellac every 3-4wks. Toes I get done every second visit in summer, winter I don’t bother. Here in Australia my nails cost $50 (USD $30 approx) and best of all - no tipping. Toes would add about the same amount.

 

[Once.Upon.A.Time]

I talked to other clients at the salon and they said that the dip at my salon made their nails stronger. Sadly, it did not work the same for me.

I have noticed when I stop doing it, my nails get weaker.

 

[kyton]

I talked to other clients at the salon and they said that the dip at my salon made their nails stronger.

@robinb possibly you misunderstood - they may have meant their nails are stronger when having the dip over top. I have quite long nails however prefer a layer of gel to give them more strength as I’m quite rough with my hands. Natural nails cop quite a beating which in my case leads to me cracking or breaking them.

When you remove the dip powder your nails aren’t necessarily weaker unless (a) you peel the dip off, removing a layer of nail or (b) your nails / powder were drilled or buffed when being done and / or removed. Again these both remove a layer of the nail which then leads to weaker / compromised nails.

 

[AnnaS]

Gel manicures - maybe twice a year -usually for vacations. They do last a long time but I think I'm done with them. It also takes my nails a few months to recover.

I go for regular pedicures ($28 plus tip) - usually from Spring until Fall. I go every three weeks or so. It does last. If it weren't for the nails growing, polish looks great (unless I hit my toes on something and ruin it/usually a pool/furniture).

Manicure - Very rarely. For a party/wedding/vacation. I try to wear gloves so it can last a few days/barely a week. I also take the single nail polish remover wipes with me when I go away. I remove it once it does not look good/chips. For certain times, I just do my own.

When I do get them polished, I do notice I am not putting my fingers in my mouth (long time nail biter/picking on cuticles).

 

[MamaMermaid]

This is very interesting. You are like @robinb . I have a friend that also can only do straight nail polish. Nothing else. I wonder what causes this?

I've heard people can be allergic. I wonder if I am. After I get gel or dip, my nails hurt or feel "tight" -- it's hard to explain. Do other people feel this way? Now, I'm curious!

 

[JBRB828]

Everytime I get my nails done with gel or dip, it takes months for them to recover. I don't know if it's just my nail or if everyone who gets them done actually has super beat up nails underneath but never see them because they consistently get gel/dip reapplied.

At this rate, I've just stopped entirely. I'm jealous of everyone's pretty nails at work. It's super common and popular in my area to have your nails done.

For years in the 90's I had my nails done in acrylic, then switched to gel. After having the gel removed my nails were brittle and looking horrible. So, for the last 10 years I do them myself with regular nail polish. Sometimes I do leave them naked. My nails recovered so well and now are strong again.

 

[AustinTink]

I have super strong nails and don’t want to ruin them so I stay away from polish on my fingernails. They grow like crazy, so I keep them on the longer side and nicely shaped.

Pedicures are once a month- almost always OPI red- and it runs about $40 plus tip.

 

[Belle1962]

If you are looking to cut costs try locating a cosmetology/beauty school near you. They may offer services and they would be at a reduced rate.

 

[RUDisney]

I've heard people can be allergic. I wonder if I am. After I get gel or dip, my nails hurt or feel "tight" -- it's hard to explain. Do other people feel this way?s Now, I'm curious!

I've always said that my fingernails feel heavy with polish on them. Everyone made fun of me until a friend said she doesn't like to wear polish because her fingers feel heavy.

It doesn't stop me from having my nails done, but it was nice to hear someone thought the same thing.

Yesterday's mani/pedi was $110 plus tax and tip.

 

[kyton]

I've heard people can be allergic.

I developed an allergy to dip powders - I was so sad as I preferred the system over acrylic. In my case I developed hives after each treatment and would scratch myself stupid. I went back to acrylic and stayed that way until 6wks ago when I decided to try builder gel - so far no reactions. My technician did say that dip powders have changed hugely in the last 5yrs but I’m not sure I want to risk it.

 

[holden]

I don't get pedicures regularly but got one yesterday. I don't like the "nail salons," so I went to a hair salon/spa.

I loved the pedicure. It was basic, but that's fine with me. Took about 40 minutes and cost $40 before tip.

 

[auntfrannie]

@robinb "They also used dremel tools to remove polish which damaged my nail bed."

Do any of you follow Dremel on social media? I guess a lot of people were posting about using Dremel tools for their mani/pedis. Dremel responded "our tools are not intended to be used for that purpose". People kept posting so finally Dremel said "please stop telling us that you're using our tools like that". So I would guess that dremel's really aren't good for the mani/pedis!

 

[Toolulu22]

What kind of manicure/pedicure do you get? How long does it last? I just tried dip powder for the first time in a long time. Some people say they can get it to last three or four weeks. Here where I live, it was $38 plus tip. Regular pedicure was $20 plus tip. I never seem to get mine to last as long as other people (color gel anyway)!

I get powder dip manicures every three weeks. I actually have to go today- I pushed it to 3 1/2. Color looks great, but nails have grown out too much. My salon raised the prices significantly this year, but this runs $48. I will also get a spa pedi with regular polish- don’t remember what they raised the price to- but both plus tip will run $140. I only get pedis occasionally and take a break from gel mani and do my own every few months to build them back up. The gel process is horrible on my nails.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Gel manicures - maybe twice a year -usually for vacations. They do last a long time but I think I'm done with them. It also takes my nails a few months to recover.
Manicure - Very rarely. For a party/wedding/vacation. I try to wear gloves so it can last a few days/barely a week. I also take the single nail polish remover wipes with me when I go away. I remove it once it does not look good/chips. For certain times, I just do my own.

So you can get a gel manicure just once and not right again? I've always wanted to try one-never had any manicure-but from what I've heard from people, once you have a gel manicure with nail polish, you have to keep doing it. And getting it off is VERY difficult, I was told. So I'm hesitant to "dip my toe" into the manicure water.

 

[AnnaS]

So you can get a gel manicure just once and not right again? I've always wanted to try one-never had any manicure-but from what I've heard from people, once you have a gel manicure with nail polish, you have to keep doing it. And getting it off is VERY difficult, I was told. So I'm hesitant to "dip my toe" into the manicure water.

I have gotten a gel manicure about twice a year. Usually for our long vacations. You do not have to keep getting them.

 

[LoveToDisney]

I would love to have manicures but my nails just don’t cooperate. To make up for having to do my own nails, I get a WDW AP with my savings.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I have gotten a gel manicure about twice a year. Usually for our long vacations. You do not have to keep getting them.

I hope you don't mind another question-once the gel manicure looks such that you want to remove it, how do you remove what's left? Just plain ole' nail polish remover?
Although with some of the prices people have reported, I'm rethinking my desire to try it.

 

[robinb]

Do any of you follow Dremel on social media? I guess a lot of people were posting about using Dremel tools for their mani/pedis. Dremel responded "our tools are not intended to be used for that purpose". People kept posting so finally Dremel said "please stop telling us that you're using our tools like that". So I would guess that dremel's really aren't good for the mani/pedis!

Dremel tools in the generic sense for “electric nail drills” like Kleenex is the generic for “facial tissue”. I can understand that Dremel doesn’t want people to use Dremel (tm) drills on their nails because that’s not what they are meant for.

 

[robinb]

I hope you don't mind another question-once the gel manicure looks such that you want to remove it, how do you remove what's left? Just plain ole' nail polish remover?
Although with some of the prices people have reported, I'm rethinking my desire to try it.

You need to use a coarse nail file to take the glossy layer off the gel polish. My nail techs then take a bit of cotton balls (like 1/3rd), soak them in nail polish remover and then wraps them in aluminum foil to make sure the remover is in contact with the polish. Leave on for about 10 minutes and try to wipe off the gel polish. If it doesn’t come off, rewrap until it does.