The process took about an hour and a half in total, and for $51, the manicure was still in tip-top shape after a week of fumbling through my handbag for my keys, typing on my laptop, and washing my hands around the clock. After applying OPI’s Freedom of Peach, Anna sealed each nail with a gel top coat and placed my hands under a fan dryer. To my surprise, the dip powder manicure process was fairly simple: Anna dipped each finger into the clear, finely-milled powder, brushed off the excess powder, set it with a clear protective polish, and repeated these steps until my nail was fully coated and hardened. While there were an array of powder colors to choose from, I kept it simple with nude. Anna brushed on a primer, then swiped on a clear polish.

After cutting and shaping my nail-I opted for an oval shape-and pushing back my cuticles, it was time for the fun to begin. Next, she pulled out her electric buffing machine to smooth out any rugged areas on my nail and create a clean canvas for the powder to stick to. To start, Anna, one of the nail technicians in the salon, removed all the nail polish from my nail using acetone. I went to see what all the hype was about. A quick Google search led me to one of the best salons in New York City, which offers the procedure Snow Fairy Nail Spa. I was riddled with questions, mainly, “Is it safe for my nails?” which were, at that point, in serious recovery mode. According to a fellow co-worker, dip powder nails deserved my attention. As someone who is rarely ever seen without a vibrant gel manicure or intricate art on medium-coffin Gel-X nails, I’m always looking for cool, inventive ways to spruce up my claws. I’ve been loyal to Aprés Gel-X (soft gel nail extensions) for about three years now, but that doesn’t mean my mind won’t occasionally wander. Every month, like clockwork, I march into the salon of my go-to nail technician, ready for us to create magic.

Natural ombre nail overlay