Splurge vs Save
Salon or sofa?
Some looks are worth the salon. Some you can do on the sofa. For each trend we compare a typical salon visit with doing it yourself, so you can decide where your money goes. Prices are typical Canadian ranges and vary by city and salon.
Velvet cat-eye
Splurge
Salon gel with magnetic cat-eye polish
$60–90
Save
Magnetic gel polish, a nail magnet and an LED lamp
$40–70 to start, then pennies per set
Our verdict: Save. The magnet does the hard work, and it's one of the easiest trends to get right at home.
Chrome powder
Splurge
Salon gel with chrome powder
$65–95
Save
No-wipe gel top coat, chrome powder and a silicone applicator
$35–55 to start
Our verdict: Split. Easy on short nails, but a salon finish lasts longer on long shapes.
Micro French
Splurge
Salon gel French
$55–80
Save
Sheer base, white liner polish and a thin striping brush
$20–30
Our verdict: Splurge if your hands aren't steady. A crisp line is what makes it look expensive.
Glazed donut
Splurge
Salon gel with pearl chrome
$60–85
Save
Milky sheer polish and a pearl chrome or shimmer top coat
$20–35
Our verdict: Save. Regular polish with a shimmer top coat gets you 90% of the way.
Almond extensions
Splurge
Salon gel-X or builder gel extensions
$75–120
Save
Press-on almond nails with nail glue
$12–25 per set
Our verdict: Save for a weekend, splurge for a month. Good press-ons last 5–10 days.
Hand-painted nail art
Splurge
Salon art (priced per nail)
$5–15 per nail on top of the base
Save
Dotting tools, a fine liner brush and stickers
$15–25
Our verdict: Splurge on one accent nail, DIY the simple dots and hearts.