While a nail appointment is a key part of most beauty routines, the sheer volume of choice these days means knowing which type of manicure to plump for when you visit the salon isn’t always straightforward. You could opt for something simple, like a glossy manicure done using traditional polish, or something more adventurous, like an acrylic or nail art manicure. Below, a rundown of eight of the chicest manicure types, to help simplify the decision-making process.

Velvet Nails Are Autumn’s Most Touchable Manicure Trend

• What’s involved: Think of a classic manicure as your foundational step for everything else, a bit like a facial for your hands. A classic manicure will help keep your cuticles in check as well as your overall nail health.
• When to choose it: If you don’t want to or can’t wear polish, or if your nails are in poor health.
• Maintenance tips: Just as you would carry on the good work of a facial in your at-home skincare routine, nails need a little maintenance too. Keeping a cuticle oil or serum by your bed to apply every night is a great habit to get into.
• Low maintenance | low commitment | undetectable.
• You might start craving the chance to have a little more fun with your nails.
• Trend tip: If don’t want bare nails and you want to play around with texture, a strengthening base coat that lends nails a healthy sheen is a nice addition, while also encouraging growth.

The longevity manicure

• What’s involved: Building on a classic manicure’s nail prep, the longevity manicure adds a vitamin-infused nail buff and red light therapy into the mix. It’s the ultimate treat for natural nail lovers looking to boost their hand and nail health – the glistening finish is just an added bonus.
• When to choose it: If you’re looking for a little extra TLC in your manicure, and a long-lasting shine on your nails – the damage that can be caused by traditional buffing.
• Maintenance tips: While you can see some immediate results from red light therapy – which boosts the skin’s collagen production and reduces inflammation – the best way to reap long term benefits is to use an at-home device between sessions.
• Healthy | low maintenance | your-nails-but-better effect.
• Much like with a classic mani, you eventually might start itching to shake things up.
• Trend tip: The longevity manicure’s restoring effects will allow you to experiment with nail length and shape in the long run.

The polish manicure

• What’s involved: Regular polish manicures involve traditional varnishes that are air-dried. While you can, of course, opt for nail art as an add-on to your polish manicure, it will typically cover the basics of nail care, plus a colour sandwiched between a base coat and a topcoat.
• When to choose it: If you like switching up your nail colours or designs frequently, or you need to be able to remove it quickly.
• Maintenance tips: Always ensure you finish your manicure with a top coat to lock the colour and shine in and promote optimum durability.
• 5-10 days.
• Quick to apply | easy to remove | plenty of choice.
• Not usually as durable as other manicure options.
• Trend tip: Anything goes!

• What’s involved: According to Bio Sculpture nail technician Julia Diogo, a gel manicure involves a system of base, optional builder, colour and topcoat, all cured under a UV lamp. “It’s perfect for the high-maintenance-to-be-low-maintenance types, who love fresh nails without constant upkeep, and it only takes around one hour to complete. To remove, gently file away the topcoat, wrap the nails in remover-soaked cotton pads for 15 minutes, then softly lift away the melted gel,” she adds.
• When to choose it: If you like your nails to always look neat and chic.
• Maintenance tips: Application of regular cuticle oil or serum will ensure your manicure stays looking fresh, while proper removal (no picking) is essential for good nail health.
• 2-3 weeks.
• Doesn’t take long | cured quickly with UV | can help strengthen nails by providing a protective layer.
• Prolonged acetone removal soaks can cause damage over time.
• Trend tip: Take advantage of the quick cure time to play around with designs and colour.

• What’s involved: “BIAB or Builder in a Bottle gel is applied to strengthen or rebuild the nail and it can be worn nude or with colour on top” says Daisy Kalnina, founder of The Gel Bottle. While this mani option is great for durability, lasting shine and strength, the self-levelling formula also ensures a smooth, professional finish with less filing, which is better for nail health long-term.
• When to choose it: “If you have weak, brittle, or damaged nails or just want that extra strength, protection, growth potential and longevity,” says Kalnina.
• Maintenance tips: Always keep your nails hydrated with cuticle oil, and wear gloves if doing work that involves water or chemical exposure.
• 3-4 weeks.
• Strength | durability | shine.
• Proper removal has to be factored in, which will add time onto your appointment.

• What’s involved: “This can be done with polish or gel,” says Diogo, who loves Bio Sculpture’s French Rose as a base for perfect soft nude. “Once dry, just paint a fine white line along the tip. It usually takes about an hour and 15 minutes and gives such a timeless, elegant finish.”
• When to choose it: Anytime.
• Maintenance tips: A great French manicure is a glossy one, so apply a fresh layer of topcoat every 2-3 days to keep it shiny and gloss-free.
• Depends on product used (regular polish: 5-7 days, gel: 2-3 weeks).
• Versatile | simple technique that any good nail tech should know how to create.
• Tricky (but not impossible) to do on very short nails.
• Trend tip: Play around with different colour tips, as well as the width and shape of your tip.

• What’s involved: Like a regular manicure, either with polish or gel, a nail art mani involves adding creative designs to nails for a completely customised look. Kalnina suggests experimenting with various techniques and products, like hand-painting, stamping and embellishments.
• When to choose it: If you want to create a unique and personalised nail look.
• Maintenance tips: The beauty of a nail art manicure is that it can be totally unique, but if you are looking for a style with longevity, opt for something on a nude base. That way regrowth will be less noticeable.
• Depends on the product used (regular polish: 5-7 days, gel: 2-3 weeks).
• Unique to you | creative.
• Depending on what you choose, it can be time consuming.
• Trend tip: If you don’t want to commit to nail art on every nail, an accent design on one or two nails can be striking.

• What’s involved: An acrylic manicure involves creating a hard layer that’s bonded to your natural nails by combining two elements, a liquid monomer and a powder polymer. Mixed to a paste-like consistency, the product is applied to your nails (often using a tip or a form as a guide) before it hardens naturally. Once it’s dry, the acrylic is filed and shaped according to preference and can be painted.
• When to choose it: If you’re looking for a long-lasting alternative to gel or BIAB.
• Maintenance tips: Ask your technician about in-fills rather than redoing the whole nail, which can be a time-saving option.
• Anywhere between 2-6 weeks, depending on in-fills.
• Length enhancing | often cheaper than gels | durable | easy to repair.
• Less flexible so more prone to breakage | time-consuming to remove.
• Trend tip: Because of their strength and durability, acrylic manicures lend themselves well to more intricate nail art, like 3D work and encapsulations.

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