Manicure

This article is about a beauty treatment for fingernails. For the song by Lady Gaga, see Artpop.
"Nail care" redirects here. For cosmetic care of the human foot, see pedicure.
"French nails" redirects here. For the carpentry product, see wire nails.
A woman giving another woman a manicure. Belleville, Ontario, 1930s.
Manicure closeup – clear nail polish being applied
Nail polish being applied as part of a manicure

A manicure is a mostly cosmetic beauty treatment for the fingernails and hands performed at home or in a nail salon. A manicure usually consists of filing and shaping the free edge of nails, pushing and clipping (with a cuticle pusher and cuticle nippers) any nonliving tissue (but limited to the cuticle and hangnails), treatments with various liquids, massage of the hand, and the application of fingernail polish.[1] When the same is applied to the toenails and feet, the treatment is referred to as a pedicure. Together, the treatments may be known as a mani-pedi. Most nail polish can stay on nails for 2–3 days before another manicure is required for maintenance, if there is no damage done to it.

Some manicures include painting pictures or designs on the nails, applying small decals, or imitation jewels (from 2 dimension to 3 dimension). Other nail treatments may include the application of artificial gel nails, tips, or acrylics, which may be referred to as French manicures.[2]

Nail technicians, such as manicurists and pedicurists, must be licensed in certain states and countries, and must follow government regulations.[3] Since skin is manipulated and often times trimmed, there is a risk of spreading infection when tools are used across many people. Therefore, having improper sanitation can pose serious issues.[4]

  1. ^ Almond, Elaine (1992). Manicure, pedicure and advanced nail techniques. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 0333563131.
  2. ^ "What is a French Manicure?". Wisegeek.com. December 2023.
  3. ^ "Nails Around the World". www.nailsmag.com. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  4. ^ Spalding, Robert (2008). The science of pedicures : countering the crisis in nail salons. Robert Spalding (2nd ed.). Signal Mt., TN: Spalding Pub. ISBN 978-0-9711068-3-3. OCLC 678881345.