Gel manicure: home or salon.

Worked example

Salon $55 plus a 20% tip = $66.00 a visit, every 3 weeks = 52 / 3 = 17.3 visits, $1,144.00 a year. At home: a $70 kit and $4 of supplies per manicure, at the same pace, costs 70 + 4 x 17.3 = $139.33 in year 1 and $69.33 after that. The saving is $1,004.67 in year 1. Break-even: 70 / (66 - 4) = 1.13, so 2 manicures, about 6 weeks.

How it works

salon per visit = price x (1 + tip); at home per manicure = supplies + minutes / 60 x hourly value. Manicures per year = 52 / weeks. Break-even manicures = kit cost / (salon per visit - home per manicure), rounded up.

Gel polish needs a lamp to cure and takes practice; follow the maker's directions. Skin and nail health is not part of this tool. See the gel manicure cure time planner for cure times.

Salon removal, fills, nail art and travel to the salon are not included unless you add them to the salon price.

Every figure is arithmetic on numbers you type. No prices, sizes or amounts are assumed, and nothing is sent or stored.

Sources: none needed. Salon prices, kit cost and supplies are your own inputs.

FAQ

Is doing gel nails at home cheaper than the salon?

It usually is once the kit is paid for, if supplies per manicure cost less than the salon price. Enter your numbers: the tool shows the saving in year 1 and later years.

How many manicures does the kit take to pay for itself?

Kit cost divided by the difference between a salon visit and an at-home manicure, rounded up. In the example, $70 / $62 = 1.13, so 2 manicures.

Should I count my own time?

Only if you want to. With an hourly value above 0, the time you spend counts as a cost, which can erase the saving.

Does the tool include removal?

No. Add any removal cost to the supplies per manicure, or to the salon price if it is charged separately.

Why is the tip included?

A tip is part of what a salon visit costs you. Set it to 0 if you do not tip.