The 3 Types of Manicure Pedicure Services in Thailand Explained

After operating a nail salon in the city of Bangkok for 15 years in Thailand, I know there’s some confusion regarding the terminology for manicure and pedicure. Particularly coming from our foreign customers that sat at our tables from all over the world.

So in this post, you’re going to learn what the differences are. And you get the exact service you want from our nail salon. Or perhaps from the Thai nail salon nearest you.

Bear in mind, I am explaining the service steps from our perspective. You may or may not get the same service steps at a different salon. That’s how confusing it gets here in Thailand.

So I’ll do my best to clarify the different nail salon services at a typical nail salon in Thailand.

Let’s start with the most common nail salon service in Thailand shall we?

1. Gel Manicure and Gel Pedicure

In Thailand gel manicure เจลมือ “gel meu” and gel pedicure เจลเท้า “gel tâo” are the top requested service from Thais. This service is often referred to as basic gel polish or express gel polish.

Service steps:

1. Removal of old gel polish (if any)
2. Nail trim, shape and buff
3. Light cuticle care (also referred to as dry cuticle care)
   • Without soaking skin in water it is more difficult to cut excess skin
4. Gel base coat
5. Gel polish application – 2 to 4 coats depending on color of gel polish
   • UV gel machine for sealing and hardening gel polish
6. Top coat
7. Buff and quality check
8. Nail nourish oil for cuticles
9. Service last approximately 45 minutes (not including old gel polish removal)

Special cat eye gel polish and chrome metallic powders could take approx. 1 hour. Not including time to remove old gel polish.

I would say 90% of our customers choose this service. It is the quickest and economical.

The prices for gel manicure and gel pedicure at our salon starts from B250. Specialized gel polish like cat eye and high quality glitter gel polishes cost B500 at our salon.

2. Manicure and Pedicure

Manicure and pedicure service in Thailand is exactly the same in Western or Eastern nail salons.

Service steps:

1. Nail trim, shape and buff
2. Soak in warm water
   • With skin softened it will be easier to clear excess skin thoroughly
3. Nail nourish oil for cuticles
4. Service last approximately 45 minute to 1 hour depending on amount of excess skin cleaning.

Our manicure and pedicure service cost 250B and 350B respectively.

This is the main reason why most Thais or at least our local customers select our gel manicure and gel pedicure services. It saves time and additional cost.

Though Thais will choose this service when they know they need additional cuticle removal or care.

3. Spa Manicure and Spa Pedicure

Strictly speaking from our nail salon service standpoint, this service has the same steps has manicure and pedicure. Except bath salts and light lotion massage is added. And for those with excess skin on the soles of your feet our foot scrub will help rid of that.

Service steps:

1. Nail trim, shape and buff
2. Soak in warm water with spa salts for hand and feet
   • With skin softened it is easier for nail technician to clear excess skin
   • Exfoliating skin scrub for foot
3. Light lotion massage for hand and leg
4. Nail nourish oil for cuticles
5. Service last approximately 45 minute to 1 hour depending on amount of excess skin cleaning.

Spa manicure at our salon cost B450 and spa pedicure cost B650. Though if you select spa mani and spa pedi together price is B1050.

Most of our nail clients choose this service as an extra added treat. Who doesn’t need some loving pampering once in awhile?

Side Note: What About Classic Manicure and Classic Pedicures?

Classic mani and classic pedi is an antiquated term in Thailand. This is a manicure and pedicure service with the addition of traditional regular nail polish applied at the end.

Today gel polish is widely used because it is stronger and longer lasting. And less nail salons in Thailand are stocking good quality regular nail polishes.

And the price between regular polish and gel polish is not much different. So locals opt for gel polish instead.

Conclusion:

If you’re visiting Thailand and would like to have your cuticles thoroughly cleaned on your hands and feet followed by gel polish coating, I recommend asking for those services specifically.

Otherwise you just might get a little bit of cuticle cleaning then gel polish. Don’t be afraid to ask for more information. Thai nail salons are more than happy to explain their services to you.

Thai women love to have their nails painted beautifully. But they don’t want to spend too much money. Or have the time to sit and have their cuticles cleaned spotless. And that is the major reason why Thai style gel manicures and pedicures are so popular with the locals.