# "Getting nails done" vs Manicure

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-nails-done-vs-manicure/613587>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 22, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-nails-done-vs-manicure/613587 "2012-02-22T02:50:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Evil_Prince_Zorte)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-nails-done-vs-manicure/613587/1 "2012-02-22T02:50:03Z")

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Do these mean the same thing, or are they different? If you see a distinction between getting your nails done and getting a manicure, where are you from?

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**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-nails-done-vs-manicure/613587/2 "2012-02-22T03:05:16Z")

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“Getting your nails done”, could mean a manicure, which may or may not, mean polish, as well.

Or, it can mean just getting polish applied.

Or, it can mean having those fake tips attached, sanded and polished.

Or, it can mean having those ‘filled in with acrylic’ nails attached, sanded and polished.

Round these parts, it means she’s going in to have, which ever of the above, she usually has. Usually determined by looking at her nails to see which she prefers.

And I’m in Canada, if that helps.

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**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-nails-done-vs-manicure/613587/3 "2012-02-22T03:06:40Z")

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I think of manicures as getting my natural nails taken care of, such as soaking, hand/arm massage, cuticle care, trimming and buffing, sometimes polish. Men also get manicures.

I think of “getting my nails done” in the sense of gels, gel polish, or acrylics. Men don’t get their nails done.

Example:

I tell a friend I’ll meet her for coffee after my salon appointment. She asks, “Ooh, are you getting your nails done?” I answer, “No, just a manicure.”

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**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-nails-done-vs-manicure/613587/4 "2012-02-22T03:09:08Z")

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I consider “getting my nails done” any of the various services that my salon offers for nails. What I specifically ask for is a manicure because I am keeping my nails natural right now.

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**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-nails-done-vs-manicure/613587/5 "2012-02-22T03:32:09Z")

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> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#):
>
> I think of manicures as getting my natural nails taken care of, such as soaking, hand/arm massage, cuticle care, trimming and buffing, sometimes polish. Men also get manicures.
> 
> I think of “getting my nails done” in the sense of gels, gel polish, or acrylics. Men don’t get their nails done.
> 
> Example:
> 
> I tell a friend I’ll meet her for coffee after my salon appointment. She asks, “Ooh, are you getting your nails done?” I answer, “No, just a manicure.”

Exactly this. Thanks for typing it for me.