Did you get your nails done lately? If not, it is mani-pedi time! By mani, we mean manicure, and by pedi, we mean pedicure. It is a spa for your fingernails and toenails.
Nails are the most overlooked part of your body, but their significance is crucial. That overlooked part contributes to a person's overall appearance and hygiene. You may have seen people getting into a salon and coming out with shiny nails (sometimes coated with beautiful nail polish).
That’s nail care, and you should consider doing it occasionally. But before you get into the process of nail care, know the difference between a manicure and a pedicure.
Both manicures and pedicures are beauty treatments for your nails.
While a manicure is a beauty treatment that involves cleaning and shaping the nails and removing the dead skin cells of your hands, a pedicure is the same treatment for your toenails.
This blog will demystify manicures and pedicures and provide in-depth insights into the benefits of well-groomed nails from these beauty treatments.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the world of nail care with regular manicures and pedicures.
What is a Manicure, and How Does it Work?
A manicure is a form of nail care for your hands. It is a beauty treatment that involves nail cutting, filing, and shaping. The manicurist will then push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher and tidy them up. The process of manicure ends with a polish application.
If you think a manicure is just a beauty treatment for women, let us correct you. Both men and women can enjoy a nice manicure session.
Sometimes, people can’t maintain their nails on their own. So, they go to a manicurist who cares for the nail health, cuticles, and skin.
The hands are the most noticeable part of the body. Most people see how others keep their hands and nails clean. The slight dirt in the corner of your nails can create an impression. Consider getting this interesting cosmetic treatment to ensure your nails and hands sparkle.
How Does Manicure Work?
Though this cosmetic treatment seems very easy, a manicure is quite a detailed process. The initial stage starts with prepping the nails.
- Nail polish removal: If you have nail polish on your nails, the manicurist will first remove the nail polish with a remover.
- Nail treatment: After removing the nail polish, the nail expert will clean your nails. This process involves cutting, filing, and shaping the nails. If you have a specific nail shape in mind, the manicurist will trim your nails accordingly.
- Cuticle care: The nail expert will use a cuticle pusher to push down and soften cuticles. After that, the professional may apply some cuticle oil. The purpose of using a cuticle pusher is to make your nails look attractive.
- Hand massage: When the initial stages are over, the massage part will follow. It is usually the massage part that most people like. This stage aims to relax your hands. Soaked in warm water, the manicurist will add your scent and essential oils and gently massage your hands. It is good for muscle flexion and blood circulation.
- Nail Polish Application: Now that’s optional. If you like to add nail polish after the massage part, the manicurist will apply a fresh coat of nail paint of your choice.
What is Pedicure? How does it Work?
Many people think manicures and pedicures are the same thing. However, they are not. There are certain points of difference between manicures and pedicures, which we will discuss later.
First, let's understand the pedicure and its treatment process.
A pedicure is a beauty treatment for overall foot health. It involves cutting nails, trimming nails, shaping them, and massaging them. By getting a pedicure, you're treating your toenails and feet to a wholesome experience.
Apart from grooming your toenails, pedicures include foot spas, foot massages, and foot scrubs.
How Does Pedicure Work?
A pedicure involves various stages. Here’s a breakdown of how this process works:
- Foot spa: The pedicurist will soak your feet in warm water in a small Jacuzzi. The professional will add water, scents, and oils to the jacuzzi, put your feet inside, and soften your cuticles and nails.
- Scrubbing and exfoliation: After the foot spa, the professional will scrub your feet with special minerals and salts to remove dead skin cells.
- Foot massage: The aesthetician in this part of the pedicure will massage you. This can be either acupressure-based or a relaxed massage. The pedicurist may use scented oils or creams to perform a foot massage.
- Nail Polish: If you request the pedicurist, they might remove your cuticles and shape your nails the way you desire. After your nails are trimmed, nail shaping/buffing will be done. Following this, you can ask the aesthetician to put some nail polish.
Types of Manicure and Pedicure Treatments
A person who doesn't know the difference between a pedicure and a manicure may assume all manicures are the same. Well, they're not. There are different types of manicures for different needs. People choose from these options and make informed decisions.
There are various types of manicures and pedicures available in the market.
The following are the manicure types:
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Regular or Classic Manicure
This is the approach to consider when a person is in a hurry and needs to make their nails look pretty.
Your hands will be soaked in warm water for a few minutes to soften the weak nails, cuticles, and dead skin. Next, the manicurist will cut/trim and shape your nails. After your nails are shaped, the manicurist will push down your cuticles to clean them.
The final stages of a basic manicure involve massaging your hand and applying nail polish (optional).
In this type of manicure, two elements are infused: long-wear gel polish and nail polish. This can be a great option if you have issues with ingrown nails or weak nails.
After the regular manicure, the professional applies a coat of shellac nail polish. An LED or UV lamp cures the nails, which takes an hour or so.
French manicures are popular and known for their elegance. First, an individual is given a basic manicure following the French style.
The French manicure style involves cutting the nails in oval or square shapes of your choice. The manicurist will form a base using clear, pink, ivory, or beige nail paint. The next part is painting the tips of the nails with white paint.
Depending on the polish used, the manicure can last one week to two or three weeks.
This type of manicure is a perfect choice for people with short nails. It adds additional coverage to your original nails while giving the impression of longer nails.
The manicurist forms a hard layer on your actual nails using a powder polymer or a liquid monomer. These are nail extensions that can be of any size and shape.
The nail expert will buff your nails to roughen the cuticles so the acrylic mixture can sit on them. The mixture, which has a gum-like texture, is applied to your nails using a brush and molded into the desired shape.
Once the mixture is dried, nail polish is applied to the extensions. If gel polish is used, the nails are cured under YV light.
A paraffin manicure is the right treatment for rough and dry hands. When paraffin wax is applied to the hands, moisture is locked in, making the manicure work like a spa treatment.
To do this manicure, the professional will first massage your hand with oil or cream. Then, paraffin wax will be melted at a given temperature, and the manicurist will dip your hand inside. After dipping for a few seconds, the manicurist will take your hand out when the wax is completely dried.
This dipping and lifting hand in and out of melted wax is done almost 7 times. You have to rest your wax-covered hands for about 30 minutes, and after the 7th time, the manicurist will peel the wax off and follow a basic manicure.
Like manicures, pedicures have a wide range of options. We will discuss the common ones that most people generally opt for.
- Basic or Classic Pedicure: This is the common pedicure that involves nail trimming, shaping, cuticle cleaning and clipping, foot scrubbing, and foot and calf massage. The process ends with the application of nail paints.
- Athletic Pedicure: If you have an active lifestyle, an athletic pedicure is for you. This includes normal pedicures with extra attention given to the foot area, which is stress-prone. For the foot massage, cooling aromatics like eucalyptus and peppermint are used.
- French Pedicure: To perform this kind of pedicure, the pedicurist applies white nail polish on the tip of the toenails. For the base, the professional may use pink or beige nail paint.
- Gel Pedicure: The process of a gel pedicure is similar to a regular pedicure. However, instead of using regular nail polish at the final stage, the professional applies one or two coats of gel polish.
- Fish Pedicure: This pedicure is quite trending in the nail wellness market. The pedicurist will dip your feet in a tub full of carp fish, and they will nibble the dead skins from your feet. When the dead skin is removed, your feet feel smooth and rejuvenated.
Benefits of Manicure and Pedicure
Manicures and pedicures are beauty treatments for fingernails and toenails. They also involve scrubbing and massaging your hands and feet with scented creams and oils. But are manicures and pedicures good?
Well, they do have a bunch of health benefits. Let’s explore them one by one:
Benefits of Manicure
- Getting a manicure on often will strengthen your weak nails and reduce the chances of fungal infections.
- Taking care of your nails will enhance the overall appearance of your hands.
The relaxing massage that follows in the manicure offers relaxation and reduces stress.
Benefits of Pedicure
- Daily pedicures can prevent ingrown toenails, fungal infections, and foot odor.
- When you wear sandals or open-toed shoes, your toenails are the first thing a person notices. With regular pedicures, you can elevate the appearance of your toenails, and your feet will feel soft.
- The feet soaking, scrubbing, and massaging reduce stress, and you feel energized and rejuvenated.
Key Differences in Process
Manicures and pedicures are widely known beauty treatments. However, what do manicures and pedicures do? Are they the same?
No, they are not the same. Manicure is the nail care treatment for hands, and pedicure is the nail care treatment for feet.
Apart from the difference in terminology, there is a point of difference between a manicure and a pedicure. It is the process.
The process of manicure involves cutting, shaping, and buffing fingernails. Regarding pedicure, the aesthetician will exfoliate your feet and remove the dead skin cells before soaking your feet in warm water.
Key Difference Between Manicure and Pedicure
Though both are beauty treatments, many key manicure or pedicure differences exist. There are key differences between the two treatments based on the nail issues, time & frequency, focus area, and tools used.
Nail Issues
Manicure deals with trimming, shaping, and buffing fingernails. It also involves cleaning and clipping the cuticles.
For pedicure, the aesthetician exfoliates the feet to remove dead skin cells and trim hard toenails and cuticles. This will leave your feet looking beautiful and happy.
Time & Frequency
A manicure takes less time. However, since fingernails are more visible, a person needs to do it frequently.
The pedicure process might take longer if you take extra care of your feet. But the good thing is that since you can wear covered shoes, you might not have to do it so frequently.
Focus Area
A major difference between manicures and pedicures is the focus area. Manicures focus on the hands and fingernails, while pedicures focus on the toenails and feet.
Tools Used
Another difference between manicure and pedicure is the tools used in both processes. The tools used in manicures are designed for fingernails. These include cuticle pushers, nail files, and nail clippers.
Pedicures use more specialized tools, such as pumice stones and foot files, which are beneficial for removing calluses and thicker toenails.
Pre-tips for getting Manicure and Pedicure
Before you head to a salon for a manicure or pedicure, you need to follow certain preparation tips.
- Regarding pedicures, consider wearing flip-flops or sandals instead of covered shoes.
- If you have toe rings and accessories, remove them before the pedicure starts.
- Before starting the process, you can let the aesthetician know about your pedicure preferences.
- You can indulge in a sports pedicure treatment if you engage in daily fieldwork or athletic activities.
- Take the rings out of your fingers before the manicure process.
- Though the salon or spa will offer nail polish, you can carry your favorite shade to elevate the appearance of your nails.
- Since massage is involved in manicures, try to avoid wearing full-sleeved clothes.
Aftercare of Manicure and Pedicure
After a salon manicure and pedicure, you should consider aftercare. The following are some useful aftercare tips for manicures and pedicures:
- Refrain from contact with harsh chemicals or soap after getting a manicure done.
- Ensure your nails are trimmed to a suitable length, not too long or short.
- Use hand creams frequently to keep your hands soft and moisturized.
- Dry your hands thoroughly after taking a bath or washing dishes.
- After a pedicure session, wear open-toed shoes instead of covered shoes.
- Don’t cut the toenails too short or down the edges; that can develop ingrown nails.
- Refrain from using acetone-based nail removers as they are harmful to nails.
- Dry your toenails after washing them.
How Long Do Manicure and Pedicure Last?
In general, a pedicure lasts longer than a manicure. This is mainly because fingernails are more visible than toenails, and hands are used more for activities than feet.
To keep healthy nails, consider getting a manicure done once every 1 to 2 weeks. After the second week, the nail polish may start coming off, and you know it's time for your next manicure appointment.
A typical pedicure with nail polish can last up to a month. However, it also depends on the person’s nails and skin conditions. If your toenails tend to break frequently, you may require a pedicure once every three weeks.
Treat Your Fingernails and Toenails with a Manicure and Pedicure Session
Understanding the difference between a manicure and a pedicure is important for getting unique benefits for your nails.
Both treatments improve nail care and reduce stress on the muscle groups of your hands and feet. If you want to pamper your hands or feet or both with regular or occasional manicure and pedicure sessions, you should get to the right place.
At On The Side Day Spa, your nails will be pampered like never before! We’ve thoughtfully designed various nail care treatments featuring the manicure and pedicure options. Our manicure and pedicure treatment plans cater to all kinds of individuals.
There are various options, from the classic manicure/pedicure to deep moisturizing for hands and feet. In addition to these nail care options, you can also look for body treatments, massages, and other services.
Find the pedicure and manicure cost from our myriad nail care treatment options!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, a manicure or pedicure?
There is no correct answer. A manicure is a beauty treatment for your fingernails and hands, and a pedicure is for your feet and toenails. You can select a service based on the condition of your hands and feet.
Should my pedicure match my manicure?
There is no rule about matching manicures and pedicures. You can make separate choices for your manicure and pedicure treatments. However, if you consider matching your manicure and pedicure, it will look chic and aesthetic.
Are frequent manicures and pedicures safe?
While a standard manicure lasts two weeks, a typical pedicure can last a month. If you have issues with nail breakage and dry and rough hands, you can consider a classic manicure and pedicure.
Is it safe during pregnancy?
Getting a manicure and pedicure during pregnancy is safe. The massage that follows both treatments relaxes the mom-to-be. The oils and nail remover used in the treatment process generally don't have any side effects. However, to ensure the good health of both the would-be mother and child, you should consider a mani-pedi service that uses gentle products.
How much does it cost?
If you get a basic manicure done, it will cost somewhere around $25. For a basic pedicure, the cost will be $65 (approx). If you want to give all your nails proper care, you can indulge in a full mani-pedi session that will cost around $80.
