Gel or regular polish for your next manicure

Why one dries and the other cures

Regular polish is color dissolved in solvents. As those solvents evaporate the film hardens, which takes minutes on the surface and several hours underneath. That's why a manicure that felt dry in the car can pick up a pillow crease at midnight.

Gel polish stays wet until a UV or LED lamp hardens it, one coat at a time. You can dig through your purse the second you leave. Curing also creates a tougher, more flexible film, and that accounts for most of the difference in wear.

Wear and shine in real life

Regular polish tends to last three to seven days on fingers before the tips wear down or a corner chips. Gel usually keeps its shine for two to three weeks, and what ends the manicure is often the growth line at the cuticle instead of a chip.

Toes change the comparison. They grow slowly and see far less abrasion, so regular polish can look fine for a couple of weeks there. Sandals all year do mean your toes stay on show, and gel holds up better against sand and pool decks.

On looks, gel is glossier and a bit thicker. Regular polish can look just as pretty on day one, and you can touch up a small chip yourself. A fresh top coat every two or three days adds real life to it, and so does brushing the color over the very tip of each nail, where wear starts.

What each costs at Element

A Classic Manicure starts at $27 and takes about 30 minutes. Both it and the Manicure with Regular Polish are listed as add-ons to another service, so they pair naturally with a pedicure, while the Gel Manicure can be booked on its own.

Spread over time, the gap narrows. A $45 gel manicure that lasts three weeks, plus $10 and up to take it off with your next service, works out to about $18 a week. A $32 regular polish manicure redone weekly costs $32 a week. If a few small chips don't bother you and you stretch it longer, regular polish stays the cheaper choice.

Pedicures work differently. Regular polish is included with every spa pedicure, and gel polish adds $15 and about 15 minutes.

Removal and what it means for your nails

Regular polish wipes off in under a minute with any remover, which is its great advantage. Gel needs the top coat broken and then ten minutes or more in contact with acetone. You can do it at home with patience, but peeling gel off lifts the top layers of your nail along with it.

Back-to-back gel can leave nails feeling dry if removal is rushed or they are filed too much. Cuticle oil helps, and so does a short break now and then. If you have ever had a skin reaction to gel products, ask your doctor before booking another gel service.

When to choose each

Match the polish to the next few weeks of your life. Someone with a trip coming up has different needs than someone who wants a new shade every Friday.

Color alone won't fix nails that bend and snap, whichever polish you use. The Builder Gel Manicure, from $70 for about 60 minutes, adds the structure polish can't.

• Two or three weeks of chip-free color: gel
• A new color every week: regular polish
• A look for one weekend: regular polish
• A trip or a busy month ahead: gel

Questions guests ask

Can I paint regular polish over gel?

Yes. Cured gel makes a smooth base, and you can change the top color as often as you like. Use a non-acetone remover to take the regular polish off so the gel underneath stays intact.

Is gel polish bad for your nails?

Gel itself doesn't usually harm a healthy nail. Trouble tends to come from peeling, heavy filing or rushed removal. If you have questions about UV lamps or notice redness around the nail, your doctor can advise you.

Can I get gel on my toes?

Yes. On any pedicure, gel polish is an add-on. It's worth considering if you want the color to hold through weeks of sandals and salt water.