For many, a manicure & pedicure is a rare treat that only happens a few times a year. For others, it is part of their regular beauty routine or part of a scheduled visit to the salon. Keep in mind that even if you do get a professional manicure & pedicure, you can extend the life of both by giving yourself a manicure or a pedicure at home.

In general, a pedicure lasts longer than a manicure for obvious reasons -- you don't do a lot of work directly with your feet! The amount of time between manicures depends on a few factors. You need to consider how quickly your nails grow, how long you want to keep them, and the nature of your work and your hobbies. This means that if your nails grow relatively slowly, your nails are not treated roughly and you want to keep them fairly short, you will probably be able to get a manicure every two to three weeks.

If, on the other hand, your nails grow quickly, they take a lot of abuse or you want to keep them at a medium to long length, you may need to get a manicure once a week or every ten days. If you want to extend your professional manicure, applying a clear protective topcoat every few days can make a big difference. If you have the same nail polish color at home, you can brush a thin coat of polish over the nails to disguise any chips or cracks, or to cover the place where the polish will begin to separate from the cuticle as the nail grows. A nail polish pen is another handy tool to have with you, for quick manicure touch-ups.

If you want to regularly go to the salon to get a manicure & pedicure at the same time, it is a good idea to keep your nails fairly short so you can increase the time between manicures. Pedicures do last longer, and you can go for three weeks to one month between professional pedicures. Applying a clear topcoat to painted toenails can also help the polish last longer, as well as touching up with the same shade of nail polish.

Finally, remember that it is not difficult to give yourself a manicure & pedicure at home. Even if you give yourself at-home manicures and pedicures in between visits to the salon, you will save money and still take some time to pamper yourself. Well-manicured nails look clean and professional, and you should make it a point to take care of your hands and feet even if you do not visit the salon once or twice a month.