Manicures plentiful in State College, but beware of dread fungus

By NIKKI PETROWICZ
Collegian Staff Writer

Healthy cuticles don't come cheap.

In fact, the cost of regular manicures likely would send most Penn State females into a nail-biting frenzy.

"For me to get them done regularly, they'd have to be $5. If I had a big formal, I might pay as much as $18," Kate Shaughnessy (junior-broadcast journalism) said. "I'm not really into those things."

Shaughnessy is far from alone in her nail care reasoning. Regular manicures are an expense few students are willing to pay.

Even many former diehards -- those who went to the manicurist as a part of their regimen in pre-college years -- have discarded regular visits, claiming they are too costly.

"I'll have them done when I'm home, but it's too hard to do it up here," Autumn Marisa (freshman-communications) said.

Marisa added she was accustomed to paying $30 for acrylics and is reluctant to shell out the $40 or $50 required for an average appointment locally.

Nevertheless, the town offers the option at 16 State College locations -- most of them combination hair/nail salons -- with manicures by appointment.

To begin, manicurists cleanse and soak hands, and then soften and push back the cuticles. Next, the hands are moisturized and massaged, then exfoliated and massaged again. Finally, nails are cleansed, clipped, shaped, moisturized, painted and repainted -- done.

Thirty to 45 minutes later, a customer can point with finesse.

Basic manicure prices range from $10 to $20 depending on the level of treatment. On average, the more costly the job, the more soaking, massaging and coddling one can expect.

But bargain-hunters should beware. Cheap jobs can sometimes bring far more headaches than their worth warrants.

Erin Ridenour (freshman-business) has learned to be a wary customer.

"If they don't use the right stuff (and properly sanitized equipment), you can end up with nail fungus underneath," she said. "Prices for a healthy job may be high, but it's worth it to go to a more expensive place."

When making an appointment, customers are faced with the choice to go regular or go French. French manicures -- distinguished by a white tip and an overlay of light pink or beige polish, depending on skin tone -- cost a few more bucks.

The French manicure is a popular choice because it provides a clean, simple look and avoids the aggravation of conflicting colors.

Of course, there are many who prefer color. Bold hues are particularly popular these days, downtown manicurists said.

Those few willing to ignore the high costs and indulge in a manicure invariably offer the same assessment: it's very therapeutic.

"It definitely gives you time to relax," Eileen Pena (junior-political science) said with outstretched fingers as a manicurist from Downtown Nails, 113 E. Beaver Ave., gave her nails a buff job. "It's like pampering yourself. I really enjoy it."