Undecided between investing in a salon manicure or trying press-on nails? Both options have their advantages depending on your budget, lifestyle, and desired result. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose.
Price: A game-changing difference
This is often the primary deciding factor. A gel or semi-permanent manicure in a salon costs on average between €40 and €80 in France, including application and finishing. Add to that travel time and time spent—generally 1.5 to 2 hours per session.
MB Beauty press-on nails are available starting from €10.90 for a complete kit, with free delivery for 2 sets or more. For the price of a single salon manicure, you can buy 4 to 5 MB Beauty kits and change your look every week for a month.
Wear time
Semi-permanent manicures generally last 2 to 4 weeks depending on the salon's quality and maintenance. This is their main advantage—once applied, you don't have to think about them again.
MB Beauty press-on nails last up to 2 weeks with the included glue, and 3 to 5 days with gel pads. If you want maximum wear comparable to a salon, opt for glue and follow our application guide.
Time and practicality
A salon manicure requires making an appointment, traveling, waiting, and spending 1.5 to 2 hours there. With today's busy schedules, this isn't always feasible.
Press-on nails can be applied in 5 minutes at home, whenever you want, without an appointment. You can apply your nails in the morning before work, in the evening before a night out, or even while on vacation.
Visual result
A salon manicure offers a perfectly smooth and uniform finish, infinitely customizable to your desires. A good manicurist can create complex and bespoke designs.
MB Beauty press-on nails offer a professional and neat result, with pre-designed styles—cat eye, floral, sophisticated nude, limited editions. Correct application yields a result indistinguishable from a salon manicure to most people.
Impact on natural nails
Gel and semi-permanent manicures require filing the natural nail before application, which weakens the nail in the long term. Removal with acetone remover also damages the nail surface if done regularly.
MB Beauty press-on nails require no filing and contain no acetone. Applied and removed correctly, they do not damage the natural nail. This is the gentlest option for your nails in the long term.
Design flexibility
At a salon, changing designs means a new appointment and a new expense. If you like to vary your looks, it quickly becomes costly.
With press-on nails, you can change your design as often as you change your outfit. A gel pads kit allows you to remove and reuse your nails in seconds—ideal for people who like to refresh their look regularly.
Comparative table
| Criteria | Salon | MB Beauty |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €40–€80 / session | €10.90–€17.90 / kit |
| Duration | 2–4 weeks | up to 2 weeks |
| Application time | 1.5–2 hours | 5 minutes |
| Appointment | required | none |
| Nail impact | filing + acetone | none |
| Design change | new appointment | immediate |
| Result | bespoke | ready-to-wear premium designs |
So, which to choose?
The two options are not mutually exclusive. Many of our customers go to the salon for special occasions and use MB Beauty daily to change their look without breaking the bank. It's the ideal combination: salon expertise when you need it, press-on freedom for everything else.
If you've never tried press-on nails, now is the perfect time. With our money-back guarantee and coverage of return shipping costs for your first order in case of a size error, you have nothing to lose.
Ready to try?
Discover our collection of premium press-on nails at mbbeauty.store—delivery within 48-72 hours in France, complete kit included.
Questions? Contact us at contact@mbbeauty.store for a response within 24 hours.