Semi-permanent vs traditional pedicure: which to choose?

The fundamental difference

The main difference between semi-permanent and traditional pedicure is the polish. A traditional pedicure uses air-dry polish which, although it comes in beautiful finishes, can chip within days from rubbing against footwear. A semi-permanent pedicure uses gel cured with an LED lamp that can last between 3 and 6 weeks without chipping.

Why does a semi-permanent pedicure last so long?

Feet are less exposed to water and friction than hands, so semi-permanent polish on the feet lasts considerably longer than on the hands. In addition, toenails grow more slowly, so the root becomes visible sooner on the hands.

When to choose semi-permanent

• Before a trip or beach holiday.
• If you'll be wearing sandals for weeks and don't want touch-ups.
• If you have little time to visit the salon often.

When to choose traditional

• If you change colour often (removing semi-permanent requires acetone).
• If you have very thin or damaged nails and prefer a break from gel.
• If you want a more "natural" finish or a very specific nail art.

The pedicure process at Prettify

In both the traditional and the semi-permanent version, our pedicure includes: soaking and heel exfoliation, nail trimming and filing, callus removal, deep hydration and application of the chosen polish. The session lasts approximately 60 minutes.