Pedicure appointment times, from quick to full spa

All eight pedicures by appointment time

Each time below is the full appointment, and the massage is counted inside it.

• Classic Pedicure: about 25 minutes, with a 5-minute massage, $35
• Deluxe Pedicure: about 40 minutes, with an 8-minute massage, $49
• Organic Spa Pedicure: about 50 minutes, with a 12-minute massage, $65
• Pearl Spa Pedicure: about 60 minutes, with a 12-minute massage, $75
• Róse Berry Pedicure: about 65 minutes, with a 20-minute massage, $85
• Jelly Spa Pedicure: about 70 minutes, with a 20-minute massage, $90
• Emerald Escape Pedicure: about 75 minutes, with a 25-minute massage, $105
• Gold Enchantment Pedicure: about 85 minutes, with a 30-minute massage, $120

Where the time goes

Even a short pedicure generally covers the essentials: a soak, trimming and shaping, cuticle care, a quick massage and polish. Longer services add more layers of care for the skin, and each layer needs time to do its work.

Massage explains part of the gap. From the Classic to the Gold Enchantment, massage time grows from 5 minutes to 30, which accounts for 25 of the 60 extra minutes. The rest goes to added treatment steps, so two services with the same massage can still differ. The Organic Spa and the Pearl Spa each include 12 minutes of massage, yet the Pearl Spa runs about 10 minutes longer.

Your feet can change the clock too. Thick calluses soften slowly, and nails with old polish need clearing before anything new goes on. Tell your tech at the start what you'd like to focus on, so the time goes where you want it.

How many minutes add-ons put on

Add-ons stack onto the base time, so choose them with the clock in mind. An Organic Spa Pedicure with gel polish and callus removal, for example, runs about 80 minutes in total.

• Gel polish: $15, about 15 minutes
• French: $15, about 15 minutes
• Callus removal: $10, about 15 minutes
• Sugar scrub: $10, about 15 minutes
• Paraffin hot wax: $15, about 15 minutes
• Hot stone massage: $15, about 5 minutes
• Extra massage: $8 for 5 minutes or $16 for 10 minutes

Leaving room for polish to set

Regular polish comes with every spa pedicure, so it's the default unless you ask for gel.

Regular polish keeps needing time after the appointment ends. Even when it feels dry it can dent for a good while, so wear open sandals and stay out of closed shoes for the rest of the day.

Gel cures under a lamp and is hard as soon as it's done. If you have to go straight to work in closed shoes, the extra 15 minutes can spare you a smudged big toe.

Fitting a pedicure into your day

A lunch break suits the Classic or, with a little more room, the Deluxe. With about an hour free, the Organic Spa, Pearl Spa and Róse Berry all fit. The Jelly Spa, Emerald Escape and Gold Enchantment need 70 minutes or more, which makes a free morning or weekend afternoon a better match. Allow a little buffer on either side for choosing a color and paying at the counter.

Walk-ins are welcome when an artist is free, and appointments are recommended for longer services and weekends. Element is at 8151 W Sunrise Blvd in Plantation, open Monday to Saturday 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM and Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM. For an 85-minute service, book online and pick a start time comfortably before closing.

Questions guests ask

How long do a manicure and pedicure take together?

Add the two times if one artist does them in turn. A Deluxe Pedicure and a Gel Manicure come to about 85 minutes, for example. Mention that you want both when you book so enough time is set aside.

Is a kids' pedicure shorter?

The Princess Pedicure takes about 25 minutes and starts at $28, a good match for a child's attention span.

What can make my pedicure run long?

Extra callus work, old gel on your toes and last-minute color changes are the usual reasons. Taking off old gel with a service adds about 15 minutes, so let us know ahead of time if your toes already have it.