Which Manicure Should You Book? A Guide to Every Labella Manicure

Not sure which manicure to book? The short answer: choose your treatment by how you want your hands to feel, then choose your finish by how long you want the colour to last. Most people do it the other way around, picking a colour first and hoping the rest works out. This guide walks through every manicure on our Merivale menu, what is actually included in each one, and who it suits best.

Treatment First, Finish Second

Every manicure has two parts: the treatment, which is the care your hands and nails receive, and the finish, which is what goes on the nail at the end. They are separate choices, so you can pair our quickest treatment with our longest-wearing finish, or our most indulgent treatment with a simple polish.

Short on Time? The Express Manicure

The Express is made for the days when time is tight but you still want to leave looking polished. It includes a calming hand soak, expert nail shaping, detailed cuticle care and a nourishing hydration ritual, finished with your preferred non-toxic polish.

Best for: a quick refresh between fuller appointments, or a tidy-up before a meeting or an event.

Want the All-Rounder? The Classic Manicure

If you're unsure, start here. The Classic includes nail filing, shaping and buffing, cuticle care, an exfoliating scrub, a warm towel wrap and a hydrating, relaxing massage.

Best for: your regular, every-few-weeks manicure.

Nails Need a Break? The Japanese Manicure

The Japanese manicure is a natural nail treatment with no colour at all. A two-step keratin and beeswax system is gently buffed into the nail plate, leaving your nails visibly stronger with a soft, pearlescent glow. There is no polish and no UV lamp involved.

Best for: anyone taking a break from gel, recovering from nail damage, or who simply prefers a natural, minimal look.

Dry or Tired Hands? The Elim Manicures

These treatments look after the skin on your hands as seriously as the nails.

• Elim Manicure: the shorter option. An antibacterial and antifungal hand soak, an illuminating nail cleanse, and an SPF 30 hand therapy cream.
• Advance Elim Manicure: the full version, adding a hydro-thermal treatment, a mud mask, a relaxing SPF 30 massage and toxic-free polish.
• Breath of Milk and Honey: a milk and honey bath, an exfoliating scrub, a soothing mud mask and a hydrating cream massage, for hard-working hands.

Best for: hands that feel dry, rough or weathered from frequent washing, gardening, or a Canterbury winter.

Want to Be Looked After? The Luxury Escape Manicure

The one to book when the appointment is as much about switching off as it is about your nails. It includes a warm salt soak, an exfoliating scrub, a paraffin hand mask, and a soothing scalp, neck and shoulder massage, finished with toxic-free polish.

Best for: a proper escape, a special occasion, or a gift.

"The right manicure is the one that suits your hands, not just your colour."

Want Length or Strength? Extensions and Builder Gel

• Builder Gel: a strengthening system applied over your natural nails. We use EVO by Bio Sculpture and Zen Builder Gel, both HEMA-free and TPO-free. It suits soft, thin or brittle nails.
• Nail Extensions: crafted to your chosen length and shape, with a strong, balanced finish.

Both need a rebalance every three to four weeks to stay strong as your nails grow. If you are weighing up your options for longer nails, our guide to gel vs acrylic nails covers the differences.

Then Choose Your Finish

Most of our manicures can be finished in one of four ways:

• Regular polish: non-toxic polish. The easiest to change, with the shortest wear.
• Gel: glossy gel polish that generally lasts two to three weeks.
• SNS: a dipping powder overlay with added calcium and vitamin E. It feels harder than gel and tends to wear longer.
• EVO gel: Bio Sculpture's breathable, HEMA-free gel, for longer wear with a gentler formula.

The Japanese manicure is the exception. It is a finish in itself, so there is no colour to choose.

The Quick Version

• Short on time: Express
• Want the all-rounder: Classic
• A break from gel: Japanese
• Dry or tired hands: Elim, Advance Elim or Milk and Honey
• Want to be looked after: Luxury Escape
• Length or strength: extensions or builder gel

Still unsure? Our team will take a look at your nails at your appointment and recommend what will genuinely suit you. You can see the full list, with current pricing, on our manicure menu.