I paid $35 for a Brazilian manicure. The messy application process was wild, but I loved the results.

My typical structured gel manicures take two or more hours to complete, so it was kind of nice to see my appointment at Maria Benito was only scheduled to take one hour.

When I arrived for my 10 a.m. appointment, the salon had just opened, so it was pretty empty inside.

I checked in on an iPad at the front desk before a nail tech approached me and asked if I spoke Portuguese. After letting her know I didn’t, she offered me water and coffee and told me to choose my nail-polish color.

The nail tech, Le Lopes, started the manicure by filing my nails. I then soaked them in a small bowl of water before she moved on to cuticle care.

Lopes was incredibly precise while cutting my cuticles, which felt reminiscent of the Russian manicure I got in Midtown just months prior.

Lopes and I made light conversation during the manicure, which eventually led to discussing my nail health. I knew this was coming — I got a bad set removal the week before that drilled my nails to bits.

I internally cringed when I showed her the state of my nails.

Lopes smiled kindly and said that because they seemed to lack keratin, I should only use regular polish (instead of gel) for the next three months so they could grow out.

She also consoled me a little by telling me that my natural nail shape was beautiful, so I didn’t even need the extensions I usually seek out.

The tech applied a layer of nail hardener to solidify my nail plate for a better canvas before going on with the manicure.

After the nail prep, Lopes layered two coats of red Essie polish without concern for the boundaries of my nails.

She seemed to embrace the messiness and even joked about how American women are often surprised by the technique.

Although I knew what to expect, I was still delighted by the chaotic application process. The polish covering my skin almost felt freeing — it didn’t need to be perfect right away.

Lopes topped the color off with a clear coat using the same loose style.

To clean up the extra polish on my fingers, Lopes used a wooden cuticle stick topped with a small puff of cotton covered in polish remover.

She carefully dragged the stick across my skin, dismissing any evidence that this manicure was once a bit of a mess.

After perfecting the polish, Lopes had me place my hands under a cooling fan for 10 minutes so it could properly dry.

My manicure was done at exactly 11 a.m., and I went to the front desk to pay. The service came out to $35, but I added a 20% tip.

That’s a significant departure from my standard sets, which usually cost at least $100.

Between the welcoming environment, nail-health tips, and great application technique, I found the manicure well worth the price.

I also loved the final result. It reminded me how fun and easy regular nail polish can be to work with and inspired me to break back into my collection of drugstore polishes.

In terms of longevity, a Brazilian manicure never really stood a chance against gel varieties that are cured to the nail for long-lasting results.

Unsurprisingly, my nail polish started chipping within the week. By the 10th day, I decided to remove it entirely because of the significant wear and tear.

However, value-wise, the appointment was also much shorter and cheaper than my usual sets. Plus, skipping the damage that comes with applying and removing gel extensions was probably better for my nails.

I was just visiting New York, so I can’t book myself in for biweekly visits at Maria Bonita. However, I’m excited to try the Brazilian technique myself at home while my nails gain back their strength.