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Manicure

A manicure is the cosmetic care of the nails and the skin of the hands: shaping the free edge, working the nail fold area, conditioning the surface and, if wanted, applying colour. It is a category rather than a single technique, and its variants differ mainly in how they prepare the edge.

If you notice any discomfort or change in a nail, see a dermatologist or a podiatrist.

What does a full manicure include?

A standard appointment moves through four stages. Hygiene comes first: both the client’s hands and the technician’s are washed and sanitised. Shaping follows, done with a file on the dry nail, and it sets the profile of the free edge. Edge work comes third, where the thin film attached to the base of the plate is removed so the surface is clear. The finish is last: conditioning the surface and oiling the fold if the nail is staying bare, or dehydrating and applying colour if it is not.

What are the main variants?

A classic or European manicure softens the skin in a warm bath and trims what is loose. A dry manicure skips the soak and works the skin as it is. An e-file manicure uses a rotary handpiece with interchangeable bits to abrade rather than cut. A combined manicure mixes the last two: the machine for most of the edge and a hand tool for the final millimetre. Which one suits a given nail depends on how the fold sits, what condition the plate is in, and how the technician was trained.

Does a manicure have to include colour?

No. Finishing with a bare nail, lightly buffed and with oil worked into the fold, is a complete service in itself. Colour is an addition that lengthens the appointment and changes the upkeep: traditional polish comes off at home with remover, while gel polish needs either a salon visit or a specific removal routine.

How long does an appointment take?

Without colour, 30 to 45 minutes. With gel polish, 60 to 90. With builder gel or extensions, it can run past two hours. Condition on arrival matters more than technique: nails arriving with old product need a removal stage before anything else begins.

How often should it be repeated?

Every 3 to 4 weeks is typical, and nail growth sets that interval. Fingernails advance roughly 3 millimetres a month, so as the plate moves the line of colour pulls away from the fold and a visible band opens at the base. That is the natural moment to return, before the edge of the product starts to lift.

What is worth looking at before sitting down?

Three things are visible without asking anything technical. The first is whether metal tools come out of a sealed pouch that is opened in front of you. The second is whether single-use items are genuinely single-use: files, wooden sticks, towels. The third is whether the station is cleaned between clients. None of this is a matter of trust; it can simply be seen.

What upkeep does it ask for?

If the appointment ends bare, nothing beyond oil at the fold. If it ends with colour, the calendar becomes part of the care: renew or remove within the product’s window, and do not wait if something lifts. A loose layer leaves a gap where water and dirt get in, and a covered nail cannot be checked. Removal always follows its own method, never a peel.

Sources: Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (EUR-Lex) · AEMPS · Cosmetic products (Spanish Medicines Agency)

Published: 12 October 2026 · Last reviewed: 12 October 2026