How much does a gel manicure cost?

Gel manicures have become the go-to of many beauty-lovers because they are longer-lasting than regular manicures. They can last 2 weeks or even longer, if carefully applied in the correct way. They also provide a lovely glossy finish that's hard to achieve with regular polish. So what's not to love? Well, maybe the hefty price tag will make one hesitate a bit.

How much does it cost to get a gel manicure? We looked into the prices of gel manicures around the U.S., and found that a gel manicure typically costs $5–$10 more than a regular manicure, with a starting price of $30 and average price of $35. 

But that's not the end of the story. What if you want to do a gel full-set, aka a full set of extensions with gel? That can bring the price up quickly to $40–$60.

And then, after 2 weeks, when your nails grow long and your manicure starts to wear off, it's time to go back to the salon to get it removed. After all, it's not easy to take it off by yourself at home, since gel removal usually requires extensive filing and special removers. Removal price typically ranges from $5–$20, depending on your location, the salon, and the service they provide alongside removal.

If you decide to maintain your gel manicure, it may be smarter to get a gel refill at the same salon, which usually includes free removal and is cheaper than getting a brand new gel manicure. This typically costs around $20 and above.

Sometimes, you may want to take it up a notch and add some nail art to your manicure, which can cost $3 at the minimum. There's really no limit as to how costly nail art can become as they become more elaborate.

Finally, tipping your nail tech is always appreciated and will typically add another 20% to your brill, which would at least be $7 at most places.  

So what's the verdict? If you maintain a basic gel manicure at a location where the price is average and go to the salon on a 2-week basis, you're looking at approximately $1008 and above annually. 

However, thanks to the advance of technologies, you can now do your own gel nails at home easily with products like semi-cured gel nail stickers at only a fraction of the cost. These are soft gel stickers that can adapt to any nail shape. You just need to apply the gel stickers to your nails and cure them with a UV light. The UV light usually comes with the products so there's no additional cost there.

Each set costs $16 dollars and can typically be used for two manicures. Like traditional gel nails, they usually last 2 weeks. Removal simply requires peeling off the stickers, so you can easily do it at home. No removal fees and tips any more. No additional cost for nail art either, because they already come in various trendy nail art styles. In this case, your annual cost of maintaining a gel manicure can go down to only $192.