A Very Detailed Guide to Every Type of Manicure

Adulting is all about making tough choices. If you frequent a nail salon monthly or bi-weekly for fresh claws, you understand how important it is to know the different types of manicures a salon offers (not all businesses are well-versed in the world of nails) or how one wrong shade of nude can make you an unhappy camper.

What I love most about a trip to the nail salon is it’s basically an oasis of endless possibilities. Most trips to the salon still begin with me staring down the “services” menu trying to figure out if I’ll stick to a regular manicure or treat myself to something more creative like a shellac manicure or french manicure. Then, I factor in how much time I have to spare, consider extra add-ons like massages and hot oil treatments, and ponder designs, all before I even sit down to begin the treatment. Who said a trip to the nail salon was stress-free?

If you struggle with indecisiveness, I turned to Vivian Cardenas of NYC-based nail salon Vanity Projects and Miki Higuchi of NYC’s Aikiko Nails to break down every type of manicure, so you are well-educated the next time you hit the salon.