Bridal nails: gel, BIAB or Gel-X, and what actually lasts to the honeymoon

If you want nails that hold up from the ceremony through to the honeymoon, BIAB is the one to ask us about first. It is builder gel from The Gel Bottle, it is HEMA-free and TPO-free, and it lasts 2 to 6 weeks. On natural nails it is $80 and takes 50 minutes. With extensions it is $95 and an hour and 15 minutes. It is the only one of our three main options we put a lasting range on, and that is the honest reason it gets suggested for a wedding followed by two weeks away.

The short version of the other two. Gel-X is what to choose if you want real length, from $75 for short up to $90 for XL. Gel polish is the simplest and quickest, $55 for a new set in 35 minutes, or $75 for a gel polish manicure using The Gel Bottle. All three are done at Verdo Nails & More, 245 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland, seven days a week, by appointment or walk-in.

What is BIAB and why do brides ask for it?

BIAB stands for builder in a bottle. It is a gel applied over your own nail to give it a little more structure than gel polish does, and it can be shaped and infilled rather than fully redone each time. The Gel Bottle formula we use is HEMA-free and TPO-free, which matters to people who prefer to avoid those ingredients.

The prices, so you can plan: $80 on natural nails for 50 minutes, $85 for removal and re-application over an hour, $80 for an infill on short to medium nails, $90 for an infill on long or extra long, and $95 with extensions.

Because it holds for 2 to 6 weeks, you do not have to squeeze the appointment into the last few days before the wedding. That is the practical advantage. How long it holds for any one person varies with how fast your nails grow and what your hands do all day, so treat the range as a range.

Should I get Gel-X instead?

Gel-X is a soft gel tip applied over the natural nail, and it is the option to pick when you want length or a shape your own nails will not reach. Short is $75, medium $80, long $85 and XL $90. Infills are $75 for short and $85 for long.

Our honest advice on length for a wedding: go shorter than you think. Long nails photograph beautifully on their own, but you will be doing up buttons, holding a bouquet, signing a register and eating dinner in them. If you have never worn XL, the week of your wedding is not the week to find out how they feel.

Is plain gel polish still a good bridal choice?

Yes, and it is a perfectly good choice. A new set of gel polish is $55 and takes 35 minutes. Removal and re-application is $65 over 40 minutes. A gel polish manicure using The Gel Bottle is $75 in 30 minutes. We also use CND Shellac.

Gel polish sits thinner than BIAB, so it suits someone who wants their own nail shape, a clean colour and no added structure. We do not quote a set number of weeks for it the way we do for BIAB, because it depends too much on the person.

What shape and length photograph best with a ring?

Rings are photographed close up, often from above, with your hand resting on something. A shape with a soft point, like almond, draws the eye down the finger. A squarer shape reads more graphic. Neither is more correct than the other.

Two things worth knowing. A very long nail can crowd the ring in a close-up, because the eye has more nail to look at than jewellery. And a pale or sheer colour keeps attention on the ring, while a strong colour competes with it. Bring a photo of your ring and your therapist will talk it through with you.

French, ombre or chrome, and what do they cost?

French tip, ombre and chrome are each a $20 add-on. French is a classic bridal finish because it looks the same in every light and does not date in a photo album. Ombre is softer at the tip and hides regrowth a little more forgivingly over a longer trip. Chrome is the most reflective of the three, which is worth thinking about if your photographer is using flash.

Nail art beyond that runs in three levels: Level 1 is $20, Level 2 is $30 and Level 3 is $45. Level 1 is safe bridal territory, a few accent nails or something small. If you want anything detailed, tell us when you book so we can leave enough time in the chair.

When should I book so my nails are fresh but not raw?

We suggest two to four days before the wedding rather than the day before. Cuticle work can leave hands looking a bit worked-on for a day, and you want that settled before anyone photographs your hands. Two to four days is also enough of a gap that if you catch a nail, we can fix it before the day.

If you are having a spray tan as well, tell us when you book so the appointments are sequenced properly in one visit. A spray tan on its own is $50 for 30 minutes.

Do not forget your feet if you are in open shoes. Our Spa Pedicure is $85 for 45 minutes and is our most popular. A gel polish pedicure is $55 for 30 minutes, or $75 with The Gel Bottle.

How do they come off afterwards?

Come back to us rather than picking at them on the plane home. Gel or Shellac removal on its own is $25. If you want a fresh set at the same time, removal and re-application of gel polish is $65 for 40 minutes, and for BIAB it is $85 for an hour. Gel-X is usually kept going with infills at $75 for short and $85 for long. There is no standalone Gel-X removal price on our list, so ask when you book.

Can my bridal party come too?

In the depths of bridal season we tend to between 8 and 15 brides a week, so we are used to this. Our salon is suitable for bridal parties of all sizes, and you more than likely will have the salon to yourselves. We also take hens parties, birthdays and girls nights.

There is a Bridal Glow package at $720 for 4 people, sold for the bride and up to three others. It covers a manicure and pedicure each, gel or classic, brow shaping and tint, and a custom airbrush spray tan.

How to book

Book online at verdonails.co.nz, phone 027 559 0837, email [email protected], or come in to 245 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland. We are open seven days and take both appointments and walk-ins. If your wedding is in peak season, book earlier than feels necessary.

Photograph by Ziph on Unsplash.