One emerging trend in the world of nails is the picture-perfect Russian manicure, which has seemingly ended the reign of regular manicure services as the crowd favorite. But what's the difference between a regular manicure and a Russian one?

Manicure, often termed as "mani," is a service that entails maintaining fingernails and cuticles. This service that contributes to good hand hygiene and aesthetics has become a staple in women's grooming routines all over the world.

Nowadays, there are countless variants of manicure services; one is known as the Russian manicure. This new beauty trend was once shunned in the industry for the risks that come with it.

Pusher and Nail Drill

In a regular manicure, cuticles are pushed back using a tool called "pusher," and any nail polish or gel color left on the nail will be soaked in acetone for removal. 

On the other hand, the Russian manicure calls for a dry treatment where previous nail colors are removed using a nail drill or electronic file. The same nail drill -- perhaps with a different head, depending on the skill and preferences of the nail technician -- is used to cut away any excess skin around the nail bed.

Drying Time

Applying color in a regular mani service can take up to 45 minutes, including drying time, if layered with a base and top coat.

Russian mani colors can take up to two hours to dry in total, as the drying time of each coat or layer is longer than that of ordinary nail polish. This is because this new trend in manicures uses a specialized base coat and a hard gel overlay for the color.

New Training

While doing a regular manicure is considered "base knowledge" among nail technicians, its Russian mani calls for additional training. Experts warn that technicians lacking proper training might damage the nails instead of encouraging better growth. Removing excess skin around the nail bed is an entirely different skill from simply pushing it back. Untrained drilling might cause nails to become thin and brittle. On the contrary, skillfully drilled nails will stay healthy and strong underneath the newly placed overlay.

Manicure Longevity

Regular mani uses regular nail polish, which could last for two to three days before it starts to chip away. When gel polish came into the scene and was used in place of regular nail polish, manicures lasted about two weeks.

The Russian mani, however, remains picture-perfect for three to five weeks. Celebrities have been showing off their perfect nails on social media, with some refusing to go back to regular manicures.

Many Russian manicure lovers say that its price of about $80 is worth it, considering how long it lasts, compared to the cost of a regular manicure, which is about $25.

So, which one would you choose?