7 Ways to Save Money on Your Manicure, According to Experts

7 Ways to Save Money on Your Manicure, According to Experts

I come from a family of couponers and Groupon subscribers. I consider myself frugal to the point of being stingy. But like many people (if you’re reading this, that’s probably you), I love getting my manicure done. Outsourcing is getting more expensive in today’s economy. To save money, I’ll continue to support the nail industry — small salons and nail technicians — and just hope to rely less. Here, I talked to professional manicurists and salon owners (who know how to make quality nail polish) to learn the best cost-cutting strategies. Because I know I don’t need to spend $85 a month to keep my nails in great shape.

Explain Your Budget

The first step is the least sexy: Create a workable manicure budget and discuss it with your manicurist. This is a good idea if you and your manicurist already have a good relationship, such as frequenting the same manicurist. Don’t write them off because you can’t afford the pre-set price.

Manicurist and salon owner Jin Soon Choi says this communication style is popular at her chain of New York salons, JINsoon. “You can discuss how to simplify the service so you can save some costs,” Choi explains. “Let’s say you’re getting a gel manicure and need to remove the old gel, so the manicurist can suggest that you remove the gel at home and come in with bare nails to save some costs.” Or, Choi says, you can get a regular manicure instead of a gel manicure. “You can look up the steps of the manicurist’s manicure and learn them so you can do it at home.”

Time is money

There are different camps in the debate over gel vs. regular nail polish. On the surface, traditional nail polish is the cheapest option. But experienced manicurist Julie K believes that long-lasting gel nail polish or even acrylic nail polish is a more affordable option in the long run. “If you do a manicure with regular nail polish—which will most likely peel off within a week—you’re spending $25 a week,” Julie explains. “Using an enhancer like a gel overlay or acrylic nail polish might cost $100, but it can last up to four weeks.”

What you really save is time. "You only have to go to the salon once and come back," Julie adds, "but if you get a regular manicure, you have to go back and forth four times a month. So even if it costs $100 or more, getting a manicure at a good place is actually saving money because you save on travel expenses and time to arrange that and come back."

Request a polish-only change

If you'd rather stick with the lower-cost, regular polish, Choi offers another option: Request a polish change instead of a full manicure that includes shaping, buffing, and filing. "Do a full manicure one week and change the polish the next," she explains. "You can save more than 25% on your manicure by alternating this way." If you keep your nails in good shape between appointments, this is an easy way to do it.

Build a capsule nail polish collection

The biggest money saver is to ditch the salon altogether and do your manicure at home. "Once you get over the initial expense of nail clippers, nail files, nail pushers, polish, and your favorite nail polish, you're really saving money," Choi says. For tools, you can buy a handy set like the ones from Tweezerman (affordable) or Tenoverten (super chic). The fun part, of course, is getting the polish colors. Personally, my favorite polish is from the brand DazzleDry; the colors are classic, the pigment dries quickly, and it lasts two weeks without lighting. But it’s a system, and you also need a base coat and a top coat. For a single-color polish, Julie recommends Lights Lacquer. “They have great, long-lasting pigments, and I love the brush, which is one of the best in the industry,” she says, adding, “I love that they’re a minority-owned, women-owned small business.” Julie also recommends Zoya and CND Vinylux polishes.

Choi, who endorses her eponymous nail polish brand JINsoon, advises: “Pay attention to which brands have formulas that are long-lasting, rich in color, and free of harsh chemicals, and then you can narrow down your choices. If you buy a bottle of JINsoon nail polish and a base and top coat, you’ll be able to use it for a long time.” (If you’re only buying one color, we recommend Fire Clay.)

If you’re at CVS or Target, stick with brands you’re already familiar with, like Essie and OPI, both of which celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik says are great affordable brands that he recommends to friends and clients, like J.Lo and Selena Gomez.

Include a box of press-ons

One of the biggest nail trends last year was the rise of press-on nails. A box of reusable press-ons is a great option to have on hand, especially if you’re trying to cut back on professional manicures. “Manicures can be expensive and time-consuming,” says Bachik. "Press-on manicures are affordable and already designed, which can save you a ton of money in the long run." According to R29 editors, the top three press-on manicures are: Kiss Nails (OG), Static Nails, and Chill Tips.

Take Care of Removal on Your Own

As Choi says, removing your gel polish at home can save you a little money every time you get a manicure. It also helps you get out of the dreaded cycle of booking a new manicure appointment just because you need to remove the old polish. Recently, I tested out the BASK LA Steam Pro (you may have seen the Instagram ads). In short: It removes hard gel in minutes, and it's much cleaner than wrapping your fingers in foil.

Start Applying Nail Polish

According to every nail expert I spoke to for this article, cuticle oil is the best investment you can make in your nails. "Apply oil to your cuticles and nails every night," says Bask. “Not only does this help keep your cuticles healthy, but it also helps keep the polish pliable longer, which helps prolong the life of your manicure.”

You don’t need a special cuticle oil, either. Bachik says he often uses facial oil on his nails. Rachel Apfel Glass, founder of GLOSSLAB, says her manicure secret is coconut oil. “I recommend applying coconut oil to your nails and hands to keep them hydrated. Plus, it helps the polish last longer.” And it’s pretty foolproof, says Julie: “Just put on some cuticle oil and you’ll look like you just had a manicure.”