Manicures and Pedicures. Professional or your own?

[Frugal Nurse]

I just thought I'd share what I do to keep my nails looking good.

First, personally, I feel that having clean, well manicured nails is imperative to good grooming. There are some things I am not willing to sacrifice and that's my grooming needs.

(actually, it was sooooo ingrained in me when I was in Nursing 101 that I'll never let it go- funny how some things leave lasting impressions)

I have a hard time giving myself a real good mani and pedi soooo I go about once every 3-4 months to have it professionally done. Costs $30 for both. That's pretty cheap up here. The rate has NEVER gone up in the 12 years! Crazy!


In between professionals... I am able to manage a "mini" pedi and mani quite fine. It's when the cuticles get unruly that I need help.
That's when I call in the big guns.

This all depends on the season and the growth rate.



I thought about what it costs to keep up nails.

1. Fill $18. For those that have acrylic nails. You HAVE to go every two weeks or else you're nails look funny. Cost $468/year plus a tip. I have NO idea what people tip.

2. Total mani and pedi together: $330/yr

3. A pedicure $20, same thing $170/yr ditto on the tip

4. A manicure $10 (not the acrylic thing). If you were to keep it well maintained, you'd go every 3 weeks- Cost $170/yr. ditto on the tip

5. do it yourself ... probably about $20/yr in supplies. and you can tip yourself if you'd like.

For me, it's $30 at 3-4 times per year = $120-$160/yr.
Plus my own nail care supply, which was pretty much gifted to me by my frugal understanding daughters.

So, I still save quite a bit, even though I spend a little bit more than what a true frugalite would do.

This is just my compromise to meet my frugal self half way.

[PrairieRose]

I absolutely *love* acrylic nails. I absolutely *hate* the upkeep and the money it takes to keep them maintained and looking good. I also contracted a little fungus (yes, there is a fungus among us ) when last I had them on (about a year ago). My fingernails (2 were affected and not by a green, icky gooey fungi but an invisible, fungi that just caused the nail to lift - I think it's called oncholiosys - although that spelling isn't correct) have since grown out and are healthy (thanks to tea tree oil). BUT it spread to a toenail (! DANG IT! oops, sorry didn't mean to yell ). Anyway, to make a long story, just a teensy bit shorter, I do my own. And now you know the 'rest of the story'

[PrairieRose]

Oh and I meant to say as well that I'm just finishing up my weekly mani and pedi as I watch Lost....that dern toenail has been almost a year growing out....I think I still have a couple months left to go Ssooooooo aggravated.

[stinkbug]

I had my first manicure about 2 years ago (I'm almost 50) It was nice, but didn't last long. Polish WILL NOT stay on my nails. When I went back and complained they re-did them. It only lasted a few days. It was ridiculous. So.....trying to be all pretty, I had the acrylics done. First, she would not trim them as short as I wanted....I had to get really nasty to have her get them shorter than claw-like! I hated them!!! They felt awful and I felt so unlike myself. I couldn't wait to get rid of them!!!
I have found one polish (Sally Hanson) that has a clear that stays on me pretty well. I do my toes in pretty colors. That's it.
I will never pay for that again....besides, I really don't like people touching me that much.
So, I guess I spend about 10.00 a year in supplies.

[dianne9106]

When I am prego is the one time that my nails grown strong and healthy. This is also about the only time I sacrifice the money to have my nails professional done - as in gel overlays. I do feel rather unfrugal, but I like them and so does DH, so since I am forgoing Starbucks - I put it towards my nails for fill ins. The gel ones are more spendy, but they are stronger and better on the natural nails and I read safer for pregnant women. I figure, why not? I am not wasting my money at Bux for a decaf and it seems like a month after I give birth, my nails start to break... I go for a pedi occasionally, otherwise I keep my own nails trimmed and painted. I never worry about the rough callouses on my feet - I figure nature intended me to have them to walk around bare footed and pregnant with! LOL

[Mom23boys]

A few years ago, I had acrylic nails and loved them. The thing I hated was the money I felt like I was wasting. So, now I opt to do my own mani and pedi at home. I save money and have even taught myself how to make designs on my toenails that others pay for. A coworker taught me how to make the designs.

[forHISglory]

I've never had a pro mani and pedi. And I have no idea what a fill-in is. Can someone, ahem.... uh.... fill me in?

My nails grow super fast. I have to cut them about 3 times a week. Don't know it would even be practical to have pro work.

I keep nails short, and the fingers are clear polished and I put color on the toes for summer. That's about it.

[Iansmommy]

A fill is when you go in and have the part next to your cuticle that has grown out filled in with acrylic.

[Moor]

i can do my own acrylics and pedi's. so my expense is buying the supplies to keep them up. now that dd is a cosmetologist, she is doing them for me. that helps! plus she gets the supplies at a discount so that helps also.
one of her friends come over and we have a day of doing nails and such. she does the artwork, we do each other's hair, and facial's, pedi's, and such.

[Frugal Nurse]

Stinkbug said: Polish WILL NOT stay on my nails.

I asked about that (happened to me all the time). It's because you use hand lotion and the polish can't adhere. After the lotion .. wipe the nail with a bit of rubbing alcohol before putting on the polish. The first layer is a primer layer (I forget what it's called), so that the shiny coat can adhere. (It's usually a clear coat- hardly know it's there.)

Diane said: I never worry about the rough callouses on my feet - I figure nature intended me to have them to walk around bare footed and pregnant with! LOL

That is tooo funny!
to help with the callouses- after giving a stone scrubbing- I plaster my feet with petroleum jelly. The cheapy kind.

I only do that as I am going to bed at night.

I do NOT recommend this if you're the type that bolts out of bed at night..like when the baby is screeching and you're confused since you don't know how long the baby was screeching... and why didn't you wake up at first sign of stirring? and what day is it? is is night time? where am I? You know the feeling of utter exhaustion.

I use the vaseline all winter long and my feet stay soft and supple.

To give credit where credit is due... I learned this from an African American friend of mine who plasters the whole body of her child before heading out into the cold New England winter. I guess when dark skin gets dry, it's more noticable and almost grayish looking. I had no idea.

[Suzy]

My sister-in-law was a cosmetologist. She is now studying Early Education. To keep up with her license she has to put in so many hours a year and still go to class. Because of that I am her practice model. She does my pedi and mani. Also, she does my hair and waxing. She charges me absolutely nothing but I do pay her something. It's her time and her supplies.

[perSue]

i've never worn faux nail, nor do I ever plan to.

i'm a naturalist at heart, and that goes against it.
however, i do see lots of VERY pretty designs and such in artificial nails and if that's what you like, right on!

I, however, have been to a prof. mani/pedi-curist once in my life and that wasn't MY choice. It wasnt bad it wasnt great. Just not MY type of experience.

HOWEVER...
I do my own.
I love painting my toes and making 'em look pretty to wear sandles (ok so not totally naturalist...).
DH likes it when I paint my nails too.

And as for maintenance w/cuticles and other such things... I've got the tools, and know how to use 'em myself.
(that sounds almost threatening! LOL)

So I do mine once a week I'll reapply or recolour or whatever, and about once a month i do a full once over... cleaning, polishing, cutting cuticles, moisturizing (ok that's done daily!) LoL.

[momishem]

I usually go for a pro pedicure in the beginning of the summer, but this year I had not gone because hubby is on lay off (13 weeks now). But, since the last day of school was on Wednesday, my teachers gave me a gift card for a pedi and mani! I was so excited! What a great bunch of co-workers! ( I am the aide for 9 teachers K-1, so I take care of all of them all school year)

So now I have the gift card, but haven't had time to go yet.

The rest of the year, I use Aquaphor and a foot file in the shower. Seems to work for me.

[Jayne]

I ve only had a professional manicure once, and I was not impressed..I do my own manicures and dh does my Pedicures!!

[C@rol]

I use to go and get all of that done professionally but now I do my own at home and save tons of money, gas and time.