I decided to put our Livi’s Manicures to the ultimate test: I did one hand with Livi and the other with a salon gel mani. Here’s what happened!
Time: 10 mins vs. 20+ mins
As a busy mom of two, I’m a firm believer that if something can save me time, it’s worth trying. I timed both manicures to see how they stacked up.
- Salon Manicure: The actual manicure took 20 minutes. But between getting to the salon, waiting for the process to start, and curing nine times under the UV light, the total minutes added up to closer to 40. And let’s not forget, there’s often waiting before or after your appointment (I was seen right away, which was nice!).
- Livi Manicure: 11 minutes from start to finish. That means from picking the perfect gel size to curing twice (yes, only twice!), the entire process took less than half the time of the salon. Plus, I was already home, sipping coffee and catching up on Nobody Wants This (SO GOOD).
Winner: Livi, clearly.
Cost: ♫ It's all about the money ♫
Let’s talk dollars. We all know salon gel manicures can add up, especially if you’re consistent with your nail appointments.
- Salon Manicure: $30, including the tip- for one hand (ha!). Not exactly budget-friendly, especially if you're getting them done every couple of weeks. For two hands, it would have been $35 + tax and tip (~$45 total)
- Livi Manicure: $10 for half a manicure (Livi packs cover both hands, so you’re looking at $20 total for two hands). With Livi, I’m saving over half the cost of a salon trip—no tipping required.
Winner: Livi, hands down. Half the cost and no awkward tipping situation? Yes, please!
Experience: Cozy at Home vs. Noisy Salon
The experience is another huge factor for me. While salons can have a certain charm, they also come with a bit of chaos.
- Salon Manicure: Let’s just say the salon vibe wasn’t quite my cup of tea this time. It was noisy, a woman was getting a massage and moaning through it (oh, NY...), and I had to cure each nail multiple times under the UV lamp, which felt never-ending. Plus, I had to leave my home for this!
- Livi Manicure: Ahhh, home sweet home. No noise, no distractions—just me, my nails, and my favorite show. I only needed to cure my nails twice (and both hands would have taken only 4 cures total) and that was it! I could multitask, and didn’t have to deal with the back-and-forth of getting to the salon.
Winner: Livi takes the crown. Comfort, convenience, and control? I’ll take that over a salon any day.
Durability: Let’s Talk Longevity
The biggest question—how long do these manis actually last?
- Salon Manicure: On day 1, it was looking pretty good. But, I was disappointed to see the first chip appear on day 5. I tried to salvage it, but by the end of the week, it was looking rough. I couldn't help myself and peeled the whole thing off on day 7, leaving quite a gash on my thumb nail.
- Livi Manicure: Still going strong on day 8—no chips, no fading, just flawless nails that seem to get better every day. I’m thoroughly impressed with how well it’s held up, especially compared to the salon mani that didn’t even make it a full week.
Winner: Livi, with impressive staying power that outlasted the salon gel by days.
Day 1, Livi on the left and salon on the right - both pretty good!
My pinky chipped on day 5 (and you can see the wear and tear happening on my middle finger)
Peeled off the gel bit by bit, leaving some damage :(
Day 8 - Livi still going strong! No chips! Given I had peeled off my right hand at this point, I used my original box from last week to put Livi on my right hand too. Problem solved!
Comments
These nails actually protect my dry and ridged old lady nails. I work in the yard every day of my life (or so it seems) and this is the first time I’ve had “painted” nails for an entire week. I’m a huge fan.