Choose soak-off gel nails instead of acrylic nails. While gel nails can cause nail brittleness, peeling, and cracking, they're more flexible than acrylic nails. This means your own nails are less likely to crack. You'll want to ask for gel nails that soak off rather than ones that must be filed off.

A 10% to 20% gratuity is standard at nail salons, but it's acceptable to leave more or less depending on factors like your budget and the service you receive.

The extra cost is well worth the quality of services provided. On the other hand, there are times when you just need your nails done quickly and don't need the add-on services and extra down time that a spa environment provides. In this case, you don't need to splurge on the spa nail service.