It’s time for a manicure. Maybe you’re getting ready for an event. Or perhaps you just want a little pampering. In any case, a quick search online will show you where to go to get your nails done.
Typing “nail salon near me” will give you a list of places plus a map. Then it’s time to narrow down the results. It’s about more than which salon has the best reviews. Here are some other questions to keep in mind.
Types of services at nail salons
When you choose a salon, look to see if they offer the services you want. For example, what kinds of manicures and pedicures can they do?
- Gels
- Acrylics
- Dip powder
- Repairs and fills
- Nail enhancements like tips, decals, and overlays
Next, what about other treatments for your nails and skin? Those might include microdermabrasion, paraffin dips, and nail conditioning. They may even offer massages.
What’s included in the price at a nail salon?
Once you find a place that offers the services you want, it’s time to look at the prices. Is everything included for a flat rate, or are some things sold a la carte? Is there an extra charge for broken nails? What promotions are running right now?
Customer service and safety
Once you visit a nail salon, you can see firsthand how things are. If you don’t have a good first impression, you might want to look elsewhere. Chances are there are plenty of other places available. It’s not worth paying less if you end up with a nail infection afterward.
Here are essential points to consider:
- Are the staff friendly and knowledgeable?
- Do their workstations look clean?
- Can the technicians tell you how they keep things sanitary?
- Do they have a license to operate?
- Is there a strong odor?
That last question won’t be a problem if the salon only performs dip powder manicures. Dip powder is odorless and healthier for client and manicurist alike. But if the salon does reek of chemicals, it’s best to go elsewhere.
How to choose colors for your nails
If you don’t already have a color in mind, you could go with a French manicure. It enhances the natural beauty of your nail. Otherwise, here are some ideas on how to choose colors for your manicure.
Pinks and blues look good on most people. Pick fuchsia and bright pinks if you have dark skin, peach for medium tones, and baby pink for pale skin. Navy blue is good for light tones, while sky blue accentuates medium tones, and cobalt looks great on dark skin.
The classic red brightens up pale skin while wine looks great on dark complexions.
If you are getting a manicure to wear to a job interview, pick a neutral color. On the other hand, it’s fun to celebrate the holidays with themed nail art.
In conclusion, you may find that the color sample you see at the salon looks a little different once it’s applied to your nails. Ask the nail technician for their opinion because they probably have experience with how the polish looks when dry.
But what if there isn’t a nail salon near me?
It could happen that there isn’t a nail salon close by. Or it could be that the local salon doesn’t offer the service you want. In that case, you still have options.
People all across the world enjoy doing their own manicures and pedicures. It may even cost you less to do your own nails at home.
Moreover, it’s easy to find high-quality nail kits and equipment for sale online. Case in point, dip powder nails are very popular. Try one of the dip powder kits to see what you think.
Nail kits and polishes
Here are some examples of top-selling manicure kits, polishes, and more.
Kiara Sky Dip System Color Starter Kit
Kiara Sky makes it easy to do a manicure at home. This starter kit contains all the liquids plus an assortment of powders. The powders include popular colors like nude, gold, and red. The addition of a translucent clear coat means your nail art will last even longer.
How do you do a dip powder manicure with this kit? Let’s go over the steps.
Begin by preparing the nail surfaces. Remove old polish, push back cuticles, and buff the nails. Make sure your hands are clean and dry.
Now paint the base coat over the lower half of one nail. Dip it into the nude powder while the liquid is still wet. Shake off the excess powder and paint base coat over the bottom three-quarters of the nail. Dip again into the nude powder. After that, paint the entire nail with base coat and dip it into one of the colored powders like gold or red.
Next, paint one more layer of base coat over the entire nail. Dip the nail into the translucent powder, then apply the seal and protect liquid. At that point, wipe off the excess dust with an alcohol pad.
Apply another coat of seal and protect, then put on the top coat. Let that dry for two minutes in the air. Again, dip powder nails don’t require any kind of lamp to dry.
Finally, apply another top coat, then use the Nourish oil on the cuticles. But don’t forget to use the brush saver liquid to clean your brushes.
Revel Nail Dip Powder Starter Kit
Revel’s starter kit has a selection of colored powders plus essential liquids. Each container of powder lasts for about 40 applications. You’ll probably need to replace the liquids before you buy more powder.
Specifically, the non-toxic odorless liquids include the Pro base, activator, finish gel, and brush softener. Revel says that each manicure from this kit should last at least two weeks without chipping. Of course, this depends on whether the nails were properly prepared first.
SNS Gel dipping powder liquids set of 7
SNS Nails offers a variety of kits including this one that only contains liquids. Since liquids tend to run out for the dip powders, this is a convenient way to restock. The package includes the gel base, gel top coat, Gelous base coat, EA bond, Sealer Dry, brush cleaner, and vitamin oil.
SNS NAILS Gelous Color Kits-Designer Series
Try the SNS Nails Designer Series for a pleasing selection of 12 shades. The colors include warm, neutral, and cool tones. In other words, you’ll find orange, pink, brown, and blue powders.
Gelish Fantastic Four Gel Polish Essentials Kit
Gel manicures are also trendy. The Gelish Essentials Kit get you started with four liquids: Foundation, Top it Off, pH Bond, and Nourish. You’ll need an LED drying lamp to cure this type of polish.
Find out how long gel manicure lasts.
Gelish Mini Fearless and Fun Kung Fu Flair
Once you have the essential liquids, you’ll need colored polishes. Make your own beautiful gel manicure with one of these six shades. They’ll last up to three weeks without chipping. But you’ll need an LED lamp to dry them.
Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen Lot of 5 Different Pens
Become an expert at nail art by practicing with these pens. To protect your masterpiece, seal it with a clear top coat.
SALLY HANSEN Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips
If you have a hard time painting on polish, you may love these polish strips. They’re basically stickers that create a gel-like appearance. When applied properly, they can last up to 10 days without chipping.
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure GLITTER DUO Nail Polish Set
Keep it simple with this glitter polish. Paint it on your natural nails, apply it over the top of nail art, or use it as a top coat over nail strips.
Tools for manicures and pedicures at home
In order to do your own nails at home, you’ll need a few tools.
MelodySusie 48W LED UV Nail Lamp
This versatile nail drying lamp from MelodySusie cures both UV and LED nail polishes in as few as 15 seconds. It has three preset timer buttons for different needs. There’s room for one hand at a time, or you can remove the base to fit a foot.
My Manicurist Electric Nail Drill
The nail drill from My Manicurist is one of the easiest for beginners to use. It comes with different attachments to treat natural nails or take off gels and acrylics. It removes calluses, too.
It’s a Vogue Professional lightweight drill with a standard 3/32” chuck. The speeds range from 2000 to 35000rpm for a variety of jobs. Each durable bit is chrome-plated for long life and stores in the accompanying case.
Mountain Falls 100% Acetone Dip-It Nail Polish Remover for Natural Nails
You may have noticed already that Amazon.com is promoting their own brands. Typically, you can find these products at a lower price just like store brands elsewhere. Their Mountain Falls acetone nail polish remover is a salon-quality formula for professional results. The lid even has a built-in brush to help you remove polish with less effort.
MAKARTT Professional Nail Files
MAKARTT saves you money with this 10-pack of double-sided washable nail files. One side is 100 grit and the other is 180. Each emery board serves to shape nails with minimum work. Plus, they are water-resistant for easy disinfection.
Conclusion
As you can see, a quick search online can help you find a nail salon nearby. Salons offer the advantage of trained technicians and a variety of services. Or you may decide to have fun doing your own manicure or pedicure.
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