There’s something about a freshly manicured hand that can lift your mood in a matter of moments, not to mention add the perfect finishing touch to any outfit.
What to expect from a manicure?
A typical manicure starts with your hands being soaked to soften the skin and cuticles, followed by a buff down to even out your nails, and then a file to ensure they are all the same shape and size. There are several add-on’s that can be included, such as a hand and arm massage or a paraffin treatment, though your run-of-the-mill mani usually just consists of the soak, trim and buff, followed by either a lick of colour or cuticle oil and leaving them au naturale. If you're fed up with that unicolour nail polish, then just give the classic French manicure look a go. The nail base is polished in nude or pink and the nail tips are given a crescent white look. If you don't have a steady hand, then a French manicure can be hard to master. Luckily there are nail artists out there who are all too familiar with the know-hows and who can give you those nails that are polished to perfection.
There’s something about a freshly manicured hand that can lift your mood in a matter of moments, not to mention add the perfect finishing touch to any outfit.
Acrylic, gel or gel polish
Today the list of manicures on any treatment menu is endless and picking the right one for you is a matter of personal preference. Do you fancy natural-looking nails, glossy nails or will a longlasting kind of nail polish do just fine?Let's say you're going on holiday and would like to enjoy nail polish that doesn't chip for 2 weeks, then gel polish is the treatment you're looking for. Gel polish is a semi-permanent nail polish that is applied like regular nail polish. The gel is then cured under a UV light and another great thing about it is that it dries instantly, so you can resume your daily activities right away. Your nails can look flashy, natural, trendy or kitsch - whatever your heart desires!
A fan of long and sturdy nails? Then consider getting gel nails or acrylic nails:
- Gel nails are artificial nails that can be used for an overlay or for lengthening the nails. Gel is applied and then cured with under a LED or UV light or by a gel activator. Gel nails are flexible and odourless.
- Acrylic nails are made out of a mix of acrylic liquid and powder. The malleable ball of acrylic is then applied onto your nails. Acrylic nails have a slower curing time as no lamps are used. Acrylic nails are very sturdy, but beware that the chemicals might be a bit smelly! if you decide to elongate your natural nails with some tips, then why not consider getting nail art too?
Nail art is on the rise again. The process is the same as a traditional manicure but your manicurist will embellish your nails with detailed patterns or nail accessories. It's possible to adorn your nails with pretty much anything these days! Gemstones, coloured foil and even 3D nail art are standard practice in most nail salons thanks to the nail art movement which has taken the beauty world by storm. Celebrities the world over are jumping on the colourful bandwagon and turning it into a viral trend. But whatever manicure ticks your box, you’ll certainly never run out of inspiration or ideas when it comes to choosing how to decorate your nails. With new trends and designs popping up everyday, it’s never too late to try something new.
