Nails. What’s the Cost for the Claws?
Image of one of many shapes you can choose from. Image from this website
By: Sadie Howell
I have a piqued interest in colorful, extravagant, and chic nails. I look endlessly through pinterest boards of my favorite nail styles, imagining myself with the set. I get my nails done on the first of every month, and let me tell you; top 10 most exhilarating feelings. I have my nail ideas planned out for the rest of 2025. How exciting? But, when I come to really think about nails, and other people’s special sets, I wonder “Those are so cute- where could they be from?” Or, “Those are really cutting- edge, I wonder how much they paid for them.” So, rather than sitting around wondering about peoples amazing acrylics- I can go and find out!
My generation, (gen z), loves a crazy nail. From nail art to 6 inch long nails, we love them. Can’t get enough. Occasionally the millennials hop on the nail art trend, but they’re probably getting a design of winnie the pooh, or a butterfly. French tip on a special day. But each nail addition to a nail has a cost.
Nail design example. Image from this website
With each addition to a nail one person makes, like a french tip, or even just tips, (an extension to the length of your nail,) or a design. Each of these stylish accessories add to the final price of your nail. Unless you do them yourself, we’re all jealous of you.
According to a free-response survey I created and posted on the Jenks Trojan Torch Instagram page, asking various questions about the prices of nails other people pay, and how it differs in where they go. I accumulated about 20 responses, yet the average price for nails that I have received so far comes to 50 dollars. With the highest price at $80, and the cheapest at $20.
Image from the ARC nails website
According to this website, a local nail salon here in Tulsa- for a basic set of dip nails, the price comes to $40. With additions of french tips, it brings the total up to $45. Ombre is a $10 addition, and tips is a $5 addition. Depending on how advanced or challenging the nail set you’re asking for, it could bring your price up by a bit.
Other salons like Infinity nails, or luxe nail bar, the price differs. At Odette nail bar, if you wanted to just get nail polish, your price would come to $30. But at Magic nail salon, it’d be $12.
I get my nails done at a place called ARC nails, and I really want to start getting into nail art, but I’ve been skeptical on if my nail place was suited enough for the designs I wanted, and debating on if I should move to a nail tech with more training. I asked Merritt Bilby, a close friend of mine who has learned to do nails on her own.
“I wanted to find a way to do my nails for a better price, and I wanted to experiment on my own designs. I also love to craft, and this was one of many crafts that I knew I could take on.” Bilby claims.
Image from this website
She says ever since she’s started to do her own nails at home, she’s saved at least a good $100. Realistically thinking, she’s only paying around $80 dollars for all the supplies at once, for a year long supply, whereas if she was at the salon, she’d be spending $80 for them to do her nails for her, only for a 3 week long time frame.
Bilby has been doing her own nails for about 2 years now, and is taking into consideration doing other people’s nails for them and charging them. She enjoys the hobby well, alongside with the benefits it comes with- like saving so. Much. money.
In all, nails are something that makes people feel special, chic, and cool. Even boys like them. Dogs too. (Have you seen the grown women painting their chihuahua’s claws?) No matter if you’re doing them at home, in a salon, or even buying a pair of press-ons, there’s a cost for all of it. There’s no judgment in how you spend your money on your nails, but just know, there’s always a cheaper option.
