Gel manicure timing, with and without removal

What happens in those 45 minutes

Most of the appointment is prep and careful painting. Gel only grips a clean, dry nail, so the early steps can't be hurried. After that, every coat has to cure under the lamp before the next goes on, which on most LED lamps takes a minute or less per coat.

Thin coats are the reason it takes a while. A thick coat can wrinkle under the lamp or stay soft underneath, which leads to peeling a few days later. Sheer and very pale shades sometimes need a third coat to even out, so a light color can run a bit longer than a dark one.

• Shape the nails and tidy the cuticles
• Clean the nail surface to remove oil
• Paint and cure a base coat
• Paint and cure two thin coats of color
• Paint and cure a top coat, then finish with oil

Adding gel removal to your timing

Old gel has to come off before new color can go on. Take-off is a menu add-on, which brings a Gel Manicure with removal to about 60 minutes and a starting price of $55.

Removal usually means filing away the shiny top layer, soaking each nail in acetone until the gel softens, and easing it off gently. Gel that is already half lifted still needs the same care, so mention it even if only a few nails are left.

Harder products use the same add-on but can take longer. Thick dip or acrylic needs more soaking and filing than thin gel polish, so say exactly what is on your nails when you book. Going slowly here protects your natural nail, and a rushed removal is how nails end up thin and sore.

Extras that add minutes

Each extra listed here is about 15 minutes. Pile on a couple and a quick appointment grows into something closer to a long lunch. A Gel Manicure with removal and a simple design, for instance, comes to about 75 minutes. These prices come from the Builder Gel, Gel-X and dip menu, so ask before you book if you want one on a plain Gel Manicure.

• Repair on a broken nail, from $5
• Shape change, from $5
• Design, from $10
• Matte finish, from $10
• Chrome, from $18
• French, from $20
• Cat eye colors, from $20
• Ombre, from $25

How it compares with other manicures

If the clock is tight, the menu gives you options on either side of the gel. A Collagen Mani or Deluxe Manicure is quicker, while dip and builder gel need more room.

Time alone shouldn't decide it. Dip and builder gel tend to wear longer, so a longer visit now can mean fewer visits later.

• Collagen Mani: about 30 minutes, from $39
• Deluxe Manicure: about 40 minutes, from $45
• Emerald Escape Manicure: about 50 minutes, from $55
• Dip Manicure: about 60 minutes, from $65
• Builder Gel Manicure: about 60 minutes, from $70

Getting out on schedule

Arrive with a color in mind, since picking a shade can eat into the clock. Skip hand cream that morning as well, because any oil on the nail has to be cleaned off before the gel goes on. Set your phone, keys and card within easy reach, too, since bumping a coat before it cures means redoing that nail.

Tell your artist at the start if you need to leave by a certain time. Walk-ins are welcome when an artist is free, though appointments are recommended on weekends. You can book online, and if your day is tight, call 954-236-7922 to check how soon someone can start.

Questions guests ask

Can I get my gel removed without a new manicure?

On our menu, take-off is listed as an add-on with another service, so it gets paired with a manicure or similar appointment. Ask when you book if you're not sure what would suit.

Do I have to wait for gel to dry?

No. Each coat is cured by the lamp, so the finish is hard once the last coat is done. You can pick up your keys and phone right away without smudging anything.

Is a regular polish manicure much faster?

In the chair, somewhat. A Manicure with Regular Polish takes about 25 minutes as an add-on to another service. Your nails stay soft for a while afterward, though, while gel is finished when you stand up.