Going to get a mani/pedi for the first time ever (color, wax)

[dawren]

Received a gift certificate at a spa & decided to get a manicure & a pedicure. I have never had this done before. I am not really in to it & am a bit of a tomboy. Receptionist asked if I wanted a classic or a shellac & I said I didn't know as I'm a first timer. So help me out. What to get? What to expect?

[christiner81]

i am a relative newbie as well. if it were me i'd just get a classic one, it lasts long enough, IMO. the shellac stuff is supposed to be tougher, chip free, etc.

when you get there you pick what color(s) you want. depending on the place, sometimes they will try to upsell things to you during the service, like massage add-ons, etc. it's a good idea to look at the menu just to know what's available and how much it is so there are no surprises.

[MsAnnThrope]

I love them.

Shellac is the new type of nail. I like the look.

You don't have to get fake nails in a manicure though. You can have your natural ones properly done and they look amazing.

A pedi - they stick you in a massage chair and your feet in a spa, scrub it all up, clip and file your nails, paint a pretty colour.

You will be hooked, I guarantee. You simply cannot replicate a professional manicure at home.

[GoldyViolet]

I used to paint my own toes for YEARS and shunned pedis. Then I took my daughter (who is also a tomboy but loves pedis!) after she had one with a friend and told me how much she liked them. Now I am totally hooked, there's nothing like it, it looks WAY better than anything you could do yourself. And I've learned most every woman out there wants a pretty-painted toe, even if no other makeup or fancy clothes are worn.

I agree with MsAnnThrope, you will become HOOKED!

I would do shellac and also the parafin wax treatment. It's just such a nice pampered feeling.

[Pear Martini]

Mani- waste of money

Pedis- so relaxing a worth it. The soak your feet, scrub them, and usually massage them. They try to remove dead skin as well.

Shellac is a pain in the butt to remove and has to be done in the salon. I prefer natural. A natural pedi will last a month while the mani will probably last a week.


Just pic a color when you are there...or French manicures are really cute too.

Don't forget to tip.

[MsAnnThrope]

Just to add - removal does not have to be done in a salon.

It's probaby easier to get done, but if you get a bottle of acetone you can do it yourself.

Be warned...no matter what sort of false nails you get, your own nail will be ruined in the process.

I only get fake nails about once a year for this reason.

[tickyul]

Get the one where the little fishes eat the dead skin off your feet.....does the coupon cover that one?????

[strawberrykiki]

If I was rich I'd get them every week! Sadly I only can go for a treat now. I LOVE the Shellac. It will seriously last forever. It's more expensive, but it sucks to shell out money for a mani and a few days later all the polish is chipping off. If you soak your nails in acetone you'll be able to scrape the polish off by yourself, or eventually it'll just grow off. I have Shellac on now, it's amazing!

[Rudy53420]

Congrats! Hopefully now you're a regular at the local nail salon.

A cute mani/pedi is a must IMO.

[Ashley868]

You should probably start out with the classic first. Shellac is a little harder to remove. I love getting mani/pedi's but with my job, manicures are a waste of money. They just chip the next day. So I just paint my nails at home. When I am on vacation though, I treat myself. I did that for my birthday too last year. I booked myself a spa day and had everything done, massage, facial, mani/pedi, a wrap and a soak in a whirlpool. I plan to do it every year. My nails chip the next day, but I find it worth it when it's a whole spa day. And this year I have a week off for my birthday so I can leave. We work six days a week and shift work, so it's worth it once and a while.