1 It gives your nails a break

From gel and acrylic. Like taking your makeup off at the end of the day. Strip it back to basics, with a slick of polish and nothing more. It’s good to give your nails a breather from gels as, sadly, it can dehydrate the plate a little. Plus, the removal process is tough (always head to a professional). A classic manicure is a little kinder to your fingertips. Leave them bare (birthday suit nails), or get going with colour.

2 You can change up the colour

Alright, the hard bit. It’s so darn tricky to choose your gel mani colour – that baby is staying on your fingertips for up to four weeks. Not this one. Traditional polish will remove with ease, so you can head for more regular manis (without the damage), and indulge in all the ~~nude~~ bright shades you wish. If you’re a nails-to-match-my-outfit kind of soul (you organised thing, you), this is the manicure for you.

3 Your appointment will be quicker

As much as we love chilling out in the nail bar and turning our mental out of office on, if you are looking for a speedy salon trip, classic cuts the mustard. An appointment will have you in and out in under thirty minutes – everybody’s got time for that. No waiting for the UV lamp to ‘cure’, just you, your nail technician, and fresh looking fingertips. You can even take this mani off at home: a little rub of nail-varnish remover on a cotton pad, and you’re ready (for your next appointment).

4 It's one for the budgeters

We’re more than happy to splash out on our mani (and, we know there’s a salon to suit every budget), but if you are counting the pennies, a classic manicure is seriously budget-friendly – I’m talking under £20. Nails looking buff, preened and polish, you’ll save time and dollar with a basic mani. Or you could spend that saved cash elsewhere… matching pedicure?

With Treatwell, you can book beauty online at all your favourite salons – simple, hassle-free, and you can do it on the go. Discover amazing spas in your area.

Will this manicure save your dry, damaged nails?

05/06/2018 / Editor's picks

Pub on a Sunday. 99 with a flake. Westlife. The classics. Sticking to the good stuff extends to our beauty treatments too, because sometimes, there’s nothing better than an old school manicure. No UV lamps, no tin foil removal, just a traditional freshening-up of the fingertips. Gel nails can have a bad reputation (FYI, here’s the truth), but the classic mani really is a nail saver. So aside from the normal cleaning service – cuticles pushed back, tips trimmed, nails buffed – why is this the darkhorse favourite? Here’s why the classic manicure is a good idea.

By Rachel Spedding

Image credits: Shutterstock, @als_studio, @bare_minds, @cnd.shellac.srbija, @malvabelle

Editor's picks

Six nail shapes you need to know before your next nail appointment 02/10/2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-epsTD5A9D8 Round The simple, low maintenance shape Short and sweet, round nails are smoothed into perfectly round semi-circles. They’re the most durable - and therefore low maintenance - shape. No need for nail extensions, an express gel mani is all you need for this one. Square Good for short nails. Exactly what it says on the tin, nails are filed flat on top with squared-off corners. If you have slender fingers and narrow nail beds, this shape will be extremely flattering. If not, it can make fingers appear shorter. Almond Born in the 90s and still going strong …

Beauty board

We saw ‘orbit nails’ at NYFW – this is why we’re still thinking about them 27/09/2018

Jeremy Scott showcased a new nail trend at New York Fashion Week that we’re still thinking about two weeks later. Much like justifying the purchase of *another* winter coat, if it’s still on our mind, it’s time we tried it. These – are orbit nails. The trend plays with negative space on the nail bed, circling the edge with bold colours. You may know ‘em as ‘outline nails’ – a look that straddles a conventional manicure with nail art. If you’ve never considered nail art your ‘thing’, this could be your entree. Scott opted for cobalt blues and neon pinks…

View the board

Beauty board

How to nail a glossy (not gothy) black manicure 03/08/2016

It's set to be the nail trend of next season but we say why wait until then to start wearing it. Black, glossy and polished to within an inch of its life, we think this moody manicure could be the answer to the inevitable onset of summer nail fatigue (#nomorecoralplease!) True, at this time of year we should we be embracing the slim chance we have to do full on summer-dressing, but there's something quite exciting about fast-tracking to the season to come. Biker jackets, slouchy cashmere jumpers - sounds good doesn't it? The same applies to looking down and seeing your post-holiday hands…

View the board