Real Red. A bit brighter than I usually do. My daughter wanted me to have red toes. The pedicurist did a crappy job, though, and I can hardly wait to take it off! I should go in and complain to the owner but doubt I'll bother. I'll just choose a different girl next time. He has many, this one was new.

Professional Nail technician here: There are several different types of "Gel Nails" THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME! ***ASK YOUR SALON WHAT BRAND THEY'RE USING ON YOU!!! The GENUINE CND SHELLAC BRAND does NOT -EVER- need to be filed off ever! The other brands such as Gelish, Axxium, etc are TOTALLY DIFFERENT! They are true Gels, so with this product, the entire natural nail bed needs to be filed on top of the nail and the surface etched (taken off) = nail damage for the product to attach properly. The new nail growth at the cuticle also needs to be filed for adhesion EACH TIME A NEW MANICURE IS PERFORMED WITH THOSE TRUE GEL PRODUCTS. Also, with each new manicure, the top coat seal needs to be filed off (yet again) -off the top of the nails to allow the acetone to penetrate and take the gel off. Remember, every time you file off a layer of the top of your nails, you're making them thinner and thinner. PEOPLE WONDER WHY THEIR NAILS ARE BEING DAMAGED? True Gels are just as damaging as Acrylic Nails. Many nail technicians/salons call anything "Shellac". KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING! ONLY THE CND SHELLAC BRAND is a true non-nail damage soak off gel-hybrid.(Hybrid means: Not a true gel, not a polish). Your nail technician should use nothing stronger than a WOOD (not metal) cuticle stick to scrape off any remaining soft gel during the removal process -after the 10 min Acetone removal process. NO FILING!!! NO FILING!!! If any filing is necessary, it is NOT the Shellac brand! I also would like to make another BIG caution as well... I myself am very cautious regarding products unregulated and coming from China. I only buy CND BRAND SHELLAC, & CND lamps and bulbs from an authorized Creative Nail Design (CND) distributor. If a salon buys a knock-off or other manufactured nail lamp from China, with no regulation, health importation checks, or company quality control, how do you know how much UV strength is actually being emitted from those bulbs? How do you know what is in that polish? How about the ingredients? How do you know if ingredients in a non-CND product are coming from Japan (radiation)? I personally would NEVER fool around with my own health or the health of my clients by buying knock-off products for this item. It's not worth the few dollars per item to save. I am not against buying knock-off's in some situations, but I do not buy knock-off's from the internet etc. for anything I put on my body or face that can be absorbed, or ingested. You just don't know what's in them.

Glad you brought this up again...I have been doing it for the past month and it is actually working for me...nail hardeners have always made my nails peel...I am 81 years old and this is the longest my nails have ever been...smell goes away after washing hands a couple times...Mary

I save in many other ways, but my one personal splurge is having my nails done every 3 weeks. No pics, but I've stayed with French manicures for the past 10 or more years. I'm very tough on my nails, and French works best for me. Pedicures are more infrequent splurges but oh how I love them (and am getting both tomorrow)! I always go with a pale pink or medium rose color polish on my toes. I'm very conservative when it comes to my nails. No designs painted on. No colors other than clear (French), pinks and very occasionally a red.