How to Choose a Manicure for Your Wedding

Mani-Curriculum: How to Choose What Type of Manicure to Get for Your Wedding

Nail expert and salon owner Tee Hundley gives us the 101 on manicure options.

BASIC

What is consists of: Your basic manicure includes shaping, buffing and polishing.

Pros: With hundreds of colors to choose from, either in-store for DIY or at a salon, basic is great if you have a very specific hue in mind. You can also remove it yourself at home with polish remover from any drugstore.

Cons: It takes time to dry, and can easily chip.

Great for: If you’d like to change your color quickly from wedding to honeymoon.

Pro Tip: Have a bottle of quick-drying topcoat at home and re-top coat your nails every two days to extend and protect your manicure.

GEL

What it consists of: A gel polish manicure is finished with a polish that cures in a UV light, so no dry time is needed.

Pros: Gel manis have quick dry time, and they are strengthening and long-lasting (up to 14 days!).

Cons: Gel polish has to be soaked off, which takes time and is very drying on nails.

Great for: You can get your manicure a few days before the wedding and still have it last through your honeymoon. “If you're like me and love the pool and ocean, you'll definitely want to have a gel polish for your honeymoon,” says Hundley. “This way you won't worry about chipping or discoloration.”

Pro Tip: While wearing gel polish, be sure to apply cuticle oil on your nails a few times per day to avoid drying.

LONGWEAR

What is consists of: Think of longwear polishes as a hybrid between gel and basic—they do not require UV light, yet still dry quickly, last from 7-14 days, and do not need to be soaked off.

Pros: These polishes come in a variety of colors and can also easily be purchased and applied at home.

Cons: The downside of a longwear polish is that since it is not cured, depending on how adventurous your honeymoon is, you may see slight discoloration or chipping early on. 

Great for: They are great options for a wedding or honeymoon for their ability to be changed or touched up at home or on-the-go.

Pro Tip: Since the colors dry fast, have a longwear polish with you for quick reapplication or touch ups!

ACRYLIC

What is consists of: Acrylic nails are a liquid-and-powder combo that self-cure to create a strong barrier on the nail.

Pros: They allow you to extend the nail length, particularly useful if you have shorter natural nails.

Cons: Acrylics have a heavy scent when being applied, so be prepared to sit through up to two hours of chemical fumes during application. Additionally, you must have acrylic nails professionally removed.

Great for: If you want a luxurious-looking set for your wedding or want nail art that will last, acrylic is a great option for you.

Pro Tip: Be sure to consider your lifestyle when deciding on the length of your nails. Long and blingy nails look fun and beautiful, but may be a hindrance after the wedding day!

DIP POWDER

What is consists of: An alternative to the acrylic mani, the very popular “dip” is a fine acrylic powder applied with a resin glue instead of a liquid monomer.

Pros: All of the benefits of the classic acrylic set without the harsh scent.

Cons: A little less strength than what you get with acrylic.

Great for: Dip powder manis are great for an option to wear from wedding through your honeymoon.

Pro Tip: Dip manicures are an alternative to acrylic NOT gel polish.

APRES NAILS

What is consists of: Apres nails are becoming very popular because they cut down on the sculpting time of acrylic and hard gels. Apres nails are a full nail created from soft gel that is applied to the nail bed using the same soft gel and cured to adhere.

Pros: You can have a full set of beautiful nails of any length and shape fairly quickly. If applied professionally you can have a one color set done in an hour or use the extra time to get some fun nail art!

Cons: These nails also have to be professionally removed and everyone isn't a perfect candidate.

Great for: If you merely want to add length for the special occasion, as it is simply a full gel extension that is less damaging upon removal.

Pro Tip: “If your honeymoon includes anything that has you and the Earth ‘as one,’ I would skip them in fear of losing a nail,” notes Hundley.

PRESS ONS

What is consists of: Since the pandemic hit, the press-on nail industry has boomed and the options today are a far cry from press-ons of past.

Pros: They come in a variety of colors, shapes and lengths. They also come with basic to extraordinary nail art.

Cons: If you lose one or two, you have to replace the entire set.

Great for: Press-ons are perfect if you're just looking to have something pretty for your wedding and will remove after, or if you are going to pull a Beyonce and do outfit and nail changes throughout your big day!” says Hundley.

Pro Tip: Do not glue press-ons onto your natural nails, as you will ruin your nails if you try to pull them off.