Manicure - French vs Basic

It was Sunday, and I decided to get a manicure. Well, actually, it's Witch's birthday next week and since she's gonna to be back at home during the long Raya holiday, I decided to give her an early birthday present. Well, it was the cheapest thing that she had on her wish list and I didn't know what else to get her on her birthday so I chose to give her a French manicure.

And since she's have French manicure, you wouldn't expect me to just sit down beside her and watch her getting her nails done, would you? So, I get my nails manicured as well (is this the correct way to use this word?). A few months ago, I got pedicure and so, I wanted to see what's the difference between pedicure and manicure as well (besides the fact that one is for feet and another is for hands, I mean). Sure enough, while looking at the price list, glaring back at me is this extreme form of sexism. The price of manicure for female is RM35 and for male is RM45! Sure, a guy's hand is generally larger than women's but for manicure, women would get gloss on their fingernails while guys would not... doesn't  this sort of offset the extra work needed to be done on a guy's hand? And the price of French manicure is RM45 only. So, I get my nails trimmed for the same price as Witch's with the difference that she can get her nails painted nicely. 

The Witch having her servant polishing her long claws :P

This time, I was fully prepared. This is the picture of Witch's fingers before she get her French manicure.

Witch's French manicured nails.

I think they look quite nice. It looked fake, but in a nice way. A better version would be if the Witch's fingernails were longer. Then those French tips could be painted on the whites of her nails and that would look more elegant. However, thanks to Witch's finger biting :P habit, my nails were actually longer than hers!

My fingers... I know, I know, they are so perfect that it is a pure waste of money to get it manicured :P

Another close-ups at my fingers. Actually, I did need a manicure. Look closely at my pinky. It has two layers of nails. It's an imperfection... and being a Virgo, imperfection to us are a poison weed that need to be stamp out.

My fingernails after the manicure. Double layer nails gone! Although the attempt to remove the extra layer of nails had my pinky looking really weird, but at least now it should look better when the nails grow back. See that shine on my fingernails? It's not gloss. My nails were inherently shiny and healthy. It was just covered with impurities and the manicurist (is there such a word?) uncovered it for me. Just like a diamond that is embedded in the rock. It needs someone to take it out from the rock and shape it into a dazzling precious stone.

In conclusion, I was quite satisfied with the results... but if you ask me if it's worth it, I would have to say no. RM45 to get your fingernails cut? Are you insane? It wasn't really that pampering. Only it is the only way to get some things removed that one would never be able to do by his or her own self. However, although this shop is smaller and less advanced compared to the one I had my pedicure, I find their staff to be friendlier than the ones in mid-valley. Even though it was obviously cutthroat, I did walk out as a happy customer. So, who's better? The French or the basic?