What Is a Manicure? A Step-by-Step Guide to Your Nail Salon Experience

Freshly manicured hands with blue and yellow oval-shaped nails, featuring plant-like nail art
Freshly manicured hands with blue and yellow oval-shaped nails, featuring plant-like nail art

If you’ve never been for a manicure before, you might not know what to expect. The list of options can seem overwhelming: gel nails, shellac, dipping, and more.

Don’t worry. Manicures are a stress-free (and stress reducing) experience. We want you to feel at home in our salon. That’s why we’ve created this step-by-step guide to the manicure experience. We’ll go over each of the treatments our nail technicians will perform, what to expect when you visit a salon, and more.

What to expect during a manicure

A manicure is much more than a fresh coat of nail polish – it’s a spa day for your hands.

You may have had the chance to visit a spa. The ambiance is relaxing. There may be gentle music playing. Conversation moves at a quiet, unhurried pace. You slowly feel your worries melt away, as you embrace the serenity of your environment.

This is the headspace that we want you to leave your manicure experience in. Above all, a manicure should be soothing and beautifying. We’re in the business of beauty – but we’re also in the business of stress relief. We’ve created a warm, welcoming space for you to enjoy.

Your manicure will take place in several steps – the last of which is applying the polish. During a typical manicure, you’ll benefit from:

  • Nail trimming 
  • Nail filing and shaping
  • Cuticle tidying
  • Nail buffing
  • Hand massage
  • Nail painting

Nail Trimming

Not everyone needs to have their nails trimmed – if you’re already happy with the length of your nails, you can skip this step. Once your nails are trimmed to the perfect length, the next step is to shape and file them – and that’s where the fun really begins.

Nail filing and shaping

Using a nail file, your nail technician will shape the edges of your nails. There are a number of different nail shapes to choose from – the most common are square and rounded. You’ll be able to look at a chart of the different nail shapes. Some other nail shapes include:

  • Coffin
  • Ballerina
  • Oval
  • Stiletto

Not sure which shape to choose? Don’t worry! There’s no wrong choice – it’s all a matter of taste. You can even ask your nail tech which shape they think would best suit you. They’re here to help!

Cuticle tidying

Cuticles are the dry skin you’ll see where your nail and finger meet (the nail bed). By carefully working and tidying the cuticles with a pusher and cuticle bit, your nail technician will beautify your fingers and perfect the overall appearance and shape of your nails. We use Erica’s ATA cuticle bit for tidying. This bit is made from diamond – it’s an incredibly effective, comfortable, and safe way to clean and shape your cuticles. 

Nail buffing

Nail buffing gives your nails a uniform, shiny look – and it makes the perfect surface to apply polish to. The process will be performed by your technician using a nail buffer. This is the last nail treatment for anyone who isn’t getting a coat of polish.

Hand massage

A manicure should be a luxurious experience – and nothing says luxury like a massage. Your nail tech will gently massage your hands, alleviating any stress and tension that may have accumulated.

Nail painting

This is what most people think of when they think of manicures – and what many of us get most excited about. You’ll get to pick the type of polish you want, as well as the colour. Your nail technician can also create stunning designs – nail art is one of the many perks that you can get with a manicure.

Your nails will be painted in a multi-step process. First, your nail tech will apply a clear coat base to help the polish adhere to your nails. From there, they’ll apply the polish. Generally, your nail artist will use two coats of polish in order to achieve a uniform, salon-quality look. They’ll finish everything off with a protective top coat – this coat has the added benefit of creating a glossy look.

There are several different types of nail polish to choose from – gel, shellac, dipping powder, and more. Talk to your nail salon to learn about the types of polish they offer, and the advantages of each. Make sure your salon uses non-toxic, eco-friendly products.

How long does a manicure take?

A typical manicure will take between 30-60 minutes. The length of the manicure varies depending on a number of factors, including how intricate the nail art will be, whether or not you’re getting polish, and the type of polish that’s used.

For a picture perfect manicure, call Camellia!

As you can probably tell, we love manicures – and we’d be more than delighted if you booked your next manicure with us. If you’ve been looking for a nail salon in Winnipeg, book an appointment with us. You’ll enjoy a spa-like experience, and leave feeling rejuvenated, refreshed, and beautiful.