Free guide and calculator

How to price a Russian manicure

Price a Russian manicure from your own time and product cost: add the minutes a full appointment really takes at your target hourly rate, plus your overheads and a margin, and price the version with gel polish separately from the dry manicure alone. It takes longer than a classic manicure, so copying your classic price onto it means working the extra minutes for free.

Updated

What it is, from the salon side

A Russian manicure (also called a dry or e-file manicure) is a manicure done without soaking, where the cuticle area is cleaned with an electric file and fine bits, usually followed by gel polish applied very close to the cuticle. For the salon it is a premium, skill-based service: it takes more time and practice than a classic manicure, and that is the reason to price it higher, not just the name.

How much time to plan

AppointmentPlan for
Russian manicure with gel polish75–90 min
With removal of the previous gelRemoval and cuticle work included90–120 min
Russian manicure only, no polish30–45 min
First visit with overgrown cuticlesExtra time for the first clean-up+10–20 min
Strengthening base under the colour+10–15 min

Starting points for planning, not measured averages. Time your own appointments for two weeks and use your numbers.

What goes into the cost

  • Gel polish, base and top coat used per client
  • E-file bits, which wear out and need replacing
  • Cleaning and sterilising of bits and tools between clients
  • Prep products and disposables: cleanser, cuticle oil, pads, wipes, gloves
  • Your time and the training it took to work precisely and neatly with an e-file
  • A share of rent, power and software for every hour you work

How to set the price

  1. Time three or four real Russian manicures, with and without removal, from greeting to payment, and use the average of your own minutes.
  2. Set a target hourly rate that reflects your skill and training, and add your monthly overheads spread over the hours you can really sell.
  3. Enter each variant (with gel, with removal, without polish) in the calculator below with its own minutes and product cost.
  4. Round to a clean price and check it against two or three salons near you that offer the same service, not a classic manicure.
  5. Write in your price list what is included (cuticle work, gel, removal), so clients compare like with like.

Work out your price

The rows below are examples for this service. Change the minutes and product cost to your own, set your hourly target and overheads, and the calculator gives a price that covers them.

Your numbers

What you want to earn per booked hour, before profit.

Rent, utilities, software, insurance and other costs you pay every month.

Hours you can realistically book, not opening hours.

Share of the final price you keep as profit.

Overhead per hour
$15.00
Cost per booked hour
$40.00

Your services

Example rows. Replace them with your own services, real durations and product cost.

Suggested prices

  • Russian manicure with gel85 min

    Cost: $60.67

    $80

    Profit: $19.33

    Price per hour: $56

  • Russian manicure with removal105 min

    Cost: $74.50

    $95

    Profit: $20.50

    Price per hour: $54

  • Russian manicure, no polish40 min

    Cost: $28.17

    $40

    Profit: $11.83

    Price per hour: $60

  • Strengthening base10 min

    Cost: $7.67

    $10

    Profit: $2.33

    Price per hour: $60

Overhead per hour = monthly fixed costs ÷ sellable hours. Cost = product cost + (minutes ÷ 60) × (hourly pay + overhead per hour). Price = cost ÷ (1 − margin), rounded up.

Your price list

The printed page shows only the price list.

Price list

  • Russian manicure with gel85 min$80
  • Russian manicure with removal105 min$95
  • Russian manicure, no polish40 min$40
  • Strengthening base10 min$10

What to ask before the first appointment

  • Has she had a Russian manicure before, or is this her first e-file manicure?
  • Is she coming with gel polish or another product that needs removing first?
  • Does she want gel polish, or only the cuticle work with a natural finish?
  • Any allergies or reactions to gel products before? If she has a nail or skin condition, refer her to a doctor first.

Add-ons that fit

  • Strengthening base or builder gel under the colour
  • French tip, chrome or nail art
  • Hand treatment or paraffin
  • Repair of a broken nail

In CutieCure Salon

In CutieCure Salon you give each service its own duration, so a Russian manicure with gel, with removal or without polish is each booked for the time it really takes, and clients only see free times that fit. You can add notes to a client's record, for example which gel and shape she had, so the next visit starts faster.

Questions

How much should I charge for a Russian manicure?

There is no single right price: it depends on your time, product cost, overheads and local market. Price each variant from your own numbers, then compare with salons near you that offer the same service.

Why is a Russian manicure priced higher than a classic one?

Because it takes longer and needs more skill and training with an e-file. Price it from those extra minutes and your hourly rate, so the difference is based on your real time.

How long should I book for a Russian manicure?

Plan around an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half with gel polish, and more on a first visit or with removal, then adjust to the times you measure in your own salon.

Book every service at the right length

In CutieCure Salon each service has its own duration, so clients only see times that really fit. 14-day free trial, no card required.

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