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Try it Out: Gel Mani/Pedi

June 30, 2011

I’m a summer pedi kinda girl.

I’m not sure why, because I love a pedicure, and they feel spectacular – maybe I should consider giving them a try all year ’round, no?

Anyway.

When my brother got married at the end of Spring, I went for a pedi {my first of the season} and decided on the classic french. The problem I have with the french is that it chips SSSOOOOO easily. I wasn’t terribly concerned because I was only 2 days out from the wedding, but I asked the lovely gal who was “working” on me if it was possible to throw on an extra top coat {or three} in order to prolong the life of my pedi.

Then she said: “Why don’t you try our gel?”

In a nutshell Gel manis/pedis are the shiz. What they do is layer a gel-like substance {in the color of your choice – even french!} onto your nails, heating with this special heat-lamp between each coat. When it’s finished, you have a great color that’s sort of a cross between regular polish and acrylic. But it doesn’t chip easily like polish does and it doesn’t do the damage to your nails that acrylic does.

The best part is that it lasts forever without chipping. FOR. EV. ER. As in, I walked into the nail salon over a month later to get a new pedi, and it looked like I had just gotten one the day before.

It runs about $10 more than your run-of-the-mill mani/pedi, but for the length of wear, I’d say it’s well worth it.

Have you tried out a gel mani/pedi? Did you like it?

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Filed Under: Beauty, Fragrance
About Jo-Lynne

Written by Jo-Lynne Shane, a professional lifestyle blogger, brand advocate and community manager. Named one of Nielsen’s 50 Most Influential Women in Social Media, Jo-Lynne is best known for her award-winning lifestyle blog, Musings of a Housewife, where she dishes up an assortment of food, fashion, fitness and family travel. She has been featured on Mothering.com, Southern Living Magazine, CNN.com and in Cosmopolitan Magazine. In the local sphere, Jo-Lynne facilitates the vibrant networking group Philly Social Media Moms, providing community, support and education for 200 area bloggers. Jo-Lynne lives and works from home in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband of 17 years, three lively children and one extremely spoiled shih tzu named Savannah.

Comments

  1. Donna says:
    July 1, 2011 at 10:11 AM

    But did you do the gel manicure? I got one while waiting for my daughter to have her hair done for her prom – 2 weeks ago, today – and aside from the growth at the cuticle area, it still looks really good. Just a little wear on the edges from typing and household chores. Oh, I should mention that I’ve applied a clear top coat to help protect the color at least 2 times.

    I don’t know yet what’s involved with the removal (that’s another trip to the salon), but the young lady who did my gel color said she does her own and can go 3 weeks before needing to take it off and re-apply. As for cost, I live in the Northern Virginia area, and I paid $30 for this service.

  2. laura says:
    July 1, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    no – i just did a pedicure – although in looking back, I’m wondering why i didn’t do the manicure too! what was I thinking????

  3. Melissa says:
    July 1, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    i love gel manicures!!! i take it off myself with acetone nail polish remover. It takes some elbow grease, but works!!

  4. Jackie W - Kansas says:
    July 4, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    Here it is 15$ for nails & 18$ for toes. That is just the color. Tried to take mine off, but still left some pink. I really like the clear for nails. Go bolder on toes.