Curious About How Long Does a Manicure Take? Read On!

23/10/2023

Wondering, "How Long Does a Manicure Take?" From basic polish to acrylics, manicure times differ. This guide breaks down each type's duration, helping you plan your next nail appointment. Dive into the manicure time mystery with us!

How Long Does it Take to Get Nails Done?

Typically, getting a set of nails done takes about 25 minutes to 2 hours. This duration includes all the steps from cutting excess skin, and nail preparation to applying the base coat, color, and top coat.

In reality, there's no fixed time for a nail session. How long it takes can be shorter or longer than the mentioned duration. When pondering how long does it take to get nails done, several factors come into play:

Figure 01. Factors affect the time to get nails done

Type of Manicure

Basic Polish: Typically quicker, this often ranging from 30 minutes to an hour.
Gel Nails: These require curing under a UV or LED light between coats, adding to the time.
Acrylics: Application and sculpting of acrylic nails can be more time-consuming, especially for new sets.

Nail Health:

Healthy Nails: With no issues, the process is straightforward.
Brittle/Damaged Nails: They may require treatments or products to strengthen them, which adds time.

Design Complexity:

Single Shade: Applying one color is faster.
Nail Art: Designs, especially detailed ones, can significantly increase the session length.

Number of Coats:

Light Colors: Might require more coats for opacity, hence taking longer.
Dark Colors: Often need fewer coats, making the process swifter.

Salon Efficiency:

Professional Experience: A seasoned nail technician can be quicker and more efficient.
Equipment & Products: High-quality products and modern equipment can reduce how long does it take to get nails done.

In this blog, we'll provide you with a breakdown of the duration for various manicure types, giving you a clearer idea of what lies ahead.

Standard Polish Manicure Timing

Ever wondered how long does a manicure take? Let's break it down step-by-step for a standard polish manicure.

Figure 02. Standard polish manicure timing

The prep stage (5-10 minutes)

Cleaning: Remove old polish and ensure nails are clean.
Shaping: Craft nails into desired nail shapes like oval or square.
Cuticle Care: Push back and nourish cuticles for nail health.

Base coat application (3-5 minutes)

Significance: It's like priming before painting, ensuring a smooth surface.
Liquid nails dry time: While each layer seems swift, the hidden player is the liquid nails dry time. It's about giving them the time to embrace the color, allowing each layer to solidify with fitness.

Color layers (10-15 minutes)

Single vs. multiple coats: One coat for opaque colors, more for translucent ones.
Drying intervals: Wait between coats to prevent smudges.

Finishing with a top coat (3-5 minutes)

Sealing the masterpiece: It adds shine and prevents chipping.
Liquid nails dry time: Allow proper drying to maintain the manicure's beauty.

So, a simple nails can only take about 25-30 minutes.

Gel Manicure Timeline

Let's decode the two primary gel manicure techniques:

Figure 03. Gel manicure timeline

Gel Polish Nails

Thanks to UV or LED curing processes, each layer dries very quickly compared to air drying in standard manicures.

While the drying process is quick, the actual application of the gel polish might take longer. This is because applying gel polish requires careful precision to ensure it sets correctly under the UV or LED light. This type of nails can include some steps after the basic steps as below:

UV base coat (3-5 minutes): Quick under-the-lamp drying
Gel polish layers (15-20 minutes): Instant curing between layers
UV top coat sealing (3-5 minutes): The final shine and protection step

Yet, overall, gel polish nails can wrap up in a tight 45 minutes to an hour.

Gel Extent Manicure

These leverage builder gels to lengthen one's natural nails. Unlike gel polish manicures, this method is focused on adding length and volume to the nail, making it perfect for those seeking extended nails without using acrylics. As a result, it requires a little bit more time, about 60-90 minutes.

Acrylic Nails Duration

When one ponders, "how long does a manicure take," acrylics certainly extend the clock.

Crafted from a blend of powder and liquid nails, this technique demands finesse and patience. Though the application can be intricate, the payoff is worth every minute.

Typically, from start to finish, and considering the liquid nails dry time, you're looking at an average of 1 to 1.5 hours:

Nail preparation (10-15 minutes)
Acrylic application (30-40 minutes): Molding, setting, and perfecting the acrylics
Polishing the acrylics (15-20 minutes): Standard or gel options and their respective timings

Figure 04. Acrylic nails duration

Dip Powder Manicure Timing

Dip powder manicures have stormed the beauty scene with their durability and vibrant color palette. But, how long does it take to get nails done using this method?

Figure 05. Dip powder manicure timing

Typically, a dip powder session can range from 30 to 45 minutes, contingent on the complexity of the design and the technician's proficiency. It normally includes some steps:

Initial preparations (5-10 minutes): Prepping the nail for optimal powder adhesion
Powder dipping and activation (20-25 minutes): Layering, activating, and setting the nail color
Final sealing and buffing (5-10 minutes): Achieving the perfect, long-lasting shine

Though there's no LED or UV light needed, the waiting time revolves around ensuring each layer bonds well.

Conclusion

When wondering how long does a manicure take, it's important to understand the differences in time for various nail types. But good nail work isn't just about speed. Quality and patience play big roles in achieving the best results. Making an informed choice means valuing both time and quality in nail artistry.

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