What Type of Manicure Lasts the Longest?

No matter if this is your first manicure experience or frequent service provider, choosing the appropriate option for yourself and your lifestyle is vital to its longevity. Your manicure could last much longer depending on which style and materials are chosen as well as other activities in which it will be utilized during its duration.

Gel manicures, acrylics and dip powder nails all offer long-lasting wearability; but which one outlives them all? We consulted nail experts to find out.

Gel Manicures

Gel manicures have become an indispensable beauty staple due to their highly glossy, practically indestructible finish and effortless removal. Available at most nail salons, their benefits include no risk of chipping your polish immediately when digging through your bag for your phone and up to three weeks of wear time.

Maintaining a long-lasting gel manicure requires using the appropriate products and practicing proper maintenance, such as buffing your nail surface and applying cuticle oil prior to receiving an in-salon gel manicure, then periodically applying these same products after the polish has set.

When purchasing gel polish, make sure it contains photo-initiated polymers, which work with UV or LED lights to harden and set its color on nails, according to cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson. “This makes the color extremely durable,” says Ron.

Your choice of brand is also critical as certain may contain potentially hazardous ingredients, including dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and toluene – check its label before purchasing to be sure. Also take care when applying product as overwork can result in air bubbles forming; additionally expose to light for recommended amount of time so as to fully cure polish.

Acrylic Manicures

Acrylic nails are one of the oldest and most classic forms of manicures, often combined with gel polish for an ultra-strong finish. Your manicurist will apply a clear base coat before choosing from their array of color choices to coat each natural nail in color of your choosing.

Your manicurist will apply an adhesive to each nail before dipping them in powder that matches the shade you chose, creating multiple layers and finishing off with a protective top coat.

Bui’s nails typically last four to six weeks with proper application by an experienced nail technician; however, she advises protecting them from harsh chemicals and excess moisture while wearing gloves when cleaning your hands.

If opting for this route, make sure your salon is certified to use the brand of acrylic you desire (using CND’s salon finder is an ideal way to do this). MMA-based acrylics tend to be less toxic than EMA-based ones but do not soak off with acetone, leaving your nail plate vulnerable and damaging it further. Using thicker quality polish like Vinylux may extend their wear time as it forms a stronger bond with natural nails while providing built-in top coat protection against chipping.

Dip Powder Manicures

Dip powder manicures have seen an explosion of popularity thanks to their durable yet IG-worthy look. To create a dip powder manicure, clear base coat is dipped into finely milled powder several times for an ultra strong manicure that lasts up to one month (though you should still expect longer-lasting effects if your hands are used less for heavy duty tasks). Keep these considerations in mind when getting this type of mani: They may be more costly compared to gel manicures and take more time as nails must dry fully between dips; additionally improper removal could damage natural nails;

Dipping powder manicures offer many colors to choose from, unlike gel manicures that require UV/LED curing. Plus, there are numerous brands that provide endless variety.

Just like with gel manicures, dip powder needs to be professionally removed every four weeks in order to remain healthy. Soaking nails in pure acetone for 10 minutes should help dissolve it, though picking or peeling at them could lead to separation between adhesive and natural nail leading to brittleness or thinned digits.