How Much Does It Cost To Get One Nail Fixed?
If you’ve ever broken a nail or had one start to lift from the nail bed, you know how unsightly and sometimes painful it can be. Rather than clipping it down and waiting for it to grow out, you may be wondering what it costs to get just one nail professionally fixed at a salon.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Getting one nail fixed at a salon typically costs between $5 and $15. The price depends on the salon, the type of service, and any extras like polish or designs.
What Impacts the Cost to Fix One Nail
There are several key factors that influence the cost to repair a single fingernail or toenail in need of restoration. From the complexity and extent of services to the pricing of the salon itself, many elements come into play when establishing pricing for nail mending procedures.
Type of Service
The type of restorative service impacts pricing significantly. A basic nail file and buff to smooth cracks or chips is less expensive, typically costing $5-$10. More complex acrylic or gel services to patch a nail or replace a natural nail can range from $15-$50+ depending on the salon.
Here is an overview of standard service pricing:
- Nail file and buff: $5-$10
- Acrylic patch fill or replacement on natural nail: $15-$30
- Pink and white acrylic replacement over entire nail: $30-$50+
- Gel overlay patch fill or replacement on natural nail: $20-$40
Salon Prices and Location
Manicure and nail salon prices understandably differ by geographic region. Customers can expect to pay higher rates for nail services in major metro areas compared to suburban and rural locations. For example, a nail patch-fill in NYC may be $30 while the same service is $15 in a small Midwest town.
Beyond region, rates also differ based on the brand and reputation of the nail salon itself. An exclusive salon in Los Angeles providing luxury nail services will bill a higher rate compared to no-frills nail shops.
Customers pay for expertise, quality, and prestige in addition to the hard costs of acrylics, gel, and tools used during nail procedures.
Average Costs for Common Nail Fixes
Acrylics
A standard acrylic manicure application typically costs $25-$65 depending on your location and the salon’s rates. Acrylics involve applying a liquid and powder polymer mix to the nails and shaping them to the desired length and shape.
Fills needed every 2-3 weeks cost around $30-$45 to replace grown-out acrylic and prevent lifting or cracking. Generally you can expect to pay between $100-$150 per month for routine acrylic manicure upkeep.
Gel Manicure
A gel manicure costs on average $35-$50 initially with gel polish options extra. Gel manicures use a thin gel base coat cured under UV or LED lamps followed by regular or gel polish layers. They last longer than regular polish with less chipping and fading.
Most salons recommend gel fill touch-ups every 2-3 weeks at $30-$45 to prevent lifting or damage as the nails grow out. Overall plan on investing around $80-$120 monthly to maintain a gel manicure.
Dip Powder Manicure
Dip powder manicures range from $45-$85+ for a full set depending on extras like glitter or prints. The process bonds layers of colored powder to the nails for a durable, long-lasting manicure. Salon fill rates average $35-$55 every 2-4 weeks as needed to replace grown out sections.
Thus you can estimate spending about $100-$150 each month for routine dip powder nail care from a technician.
Silk or Fiberglass Wraps
Silk or fiberglass wraps cost $60-$100+ per nail for a full set and involve applying thin fabric strips coated with resin or glue to extend, strengthen or repair natural nails prone to splitting or breaking.
Touch ups average $45-$65 per nail as the fabric grows out and needs replaced every 4-6 weeks. So budget roughly $350+ per month for silk/fiberglass wrap maintenance on a full set of 10 nails.
Tips for Saving Money
Avoid Salons in Premium Locations
The location of a nail salon can greatly impact the prices they charge. Salons in premium real estate areas like downtowns or upscale shopping centers often pay higher rents and property taxes. To maintain their profit margins, these salons charge clients more for services.
Consider visiting nail salons in less expensive areas like suburbs or strip malls to save 10-15% on manicures. Search online for the best-reviewed salons with reasonable prices near your home or office.
Ask About Weekday or First-Time Customer Discounts
Many nail salons offer special discounts during slower business days or times. Getting your nails done midweek on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday can save you 10-20% compared to popular weekends. Salons may also give first-time customer discounts of 10-15% off to attract new business.
When booking appointments, always ask if any current discounts or coupons apply. Sign up for email lists to receive periodic discount codes and offers. Loyalty programs can also reward frequent clients with free services like polish changes.
Get Add-Ons Only If Necessary
Upselling clients on add-on services like gel polish, nail art, paraffin dips and hand massages is how many nail salons boost profits. While these add-ons provide an enhanced experience, they aren’t essential and quickly increase the cost of a basic manicure or pedicure. For example:
- Gel polish or acrylics can add $10-15
- Nail art starts at $5 per nail
- Paraffin wax treatments are $10-15
- Hand or foot massages range from $10-20
Carefully consider if these extras fit into your beauty budget. Avoid the temptation at the register by specifying you only want the basic service when you book appointments.
Getting your nails professionally done doesn’t have to break the bank. Take advantage of weekday and new client discounts, choose affordable locations and skip unnecessary add-ons. With some savvy scheduling and restraint, you can maintain beautiful nails on a budget.
When One Broken Nail Means a Full Set
We’ve all been there – you break a nail and now your beautifully manicured hands look a little worse for wear. But when one nail breaks, it often means you need to get a full new set put on. Here’s why:
The nails won’t match
When you lose a nail, the new one growing in will be a different length and shape than your other nails. This can look very uneven and unbalanced. Getting a fresh fill or new set allows the technician to shape and size all your nails to match again.
It throws off the shape
Our nails grow in different shapes and curves naturally. When a professional sets your nails, they are shaped uniformly to flatter your hands. Losing one nail means that uniform shape is lost, and the odd nail out won’t conform back to the intended shape as it grows out.
The color won’t be consistent
A fresh manicure has even, consistent polish across all nails. But when one breaks and a new one starts growing, it will have no polish at all. This can look strange next to your still perfectly painted nails. Getting a new set means fresh, flawless color all around.
It can lead to more breakage
When you lose one nail, it puts more stress and pressure on the nails surrounding it while they try to pick up the slack. This can lead them to bend, crack, and break more easily too. A new set helps reinforce and strengthen all nails at once.
So while one broken nail may seem like a quick fix, it often signals a need for an entire new set. But don’t worry – your technician can work their magic and have your nails looking fabulous again in no time! Just be patient as that bare nail grows out enough for a fill.
FAQs: Getting One Nail Fixed
Does insurance ever cover fixing a broken nail?
Unfortunately, standard health insurance plans do not cover cosmetic services like fixing a broken nail. Health insurance typically only covers medically necessary care and treatment. However, if you injured your nail severely enough that it required medical attention, the initial emergency room visit and treatment may be covered.
Is it better to remove acrylics completely or just fix one nail?
It is generally better to remove acrylics completely instead of just fixing one nail. Attempting to replace a single acrylic nail can weaken or damage neighboring natural nails. Removing the full set allows you to give your natural nails some time to recover and breath before applying a fresh, uniform set.
Partial acrylic nail fixes also rarely blend seamlessly with the rest of the set.
How long does a nail fix last?
The longevity of a nail fix depends on the repair method:
- Nail glue repairs last 1-2 weeks
- Acrylic overlay on natural nail lasts 2-3 weeks
- Silk or fiberglass wrap can last up to 4 weeks
- UV gel applied by a professional can last 4+ weeks
No matter the fix type, lasting durability requires properly filing, buffing and shaping the nail to ensure adhesion. Avoiding water exposure for 24 hours and using cuticle oil help maximize longevity too. However, nail fixes should always be considered temporary repairs.
For more permanent solutions, full sets or extensions applied by professionals tend to last 6-8 weeks on average.
Conclusion
Damaging a single nail can happen easily, but doesn’t mean you have to live with an uneven or broken nail until it grows out. Getting one nail fixed professionally ranges from about $5-$15 on average. With some research into salon prices and services in your area, you can likely find an affordable option to restore your nail to likenew condition.
