If your manicure tends to ghost you after day five, allow us to introduce its more committed cousin: the Brazilian manicure. This is not a fling, nor a disappointing Hinge match, but a long-haul relationship with your nail beds.
"A Brazilian manicure is a technique focused on longevity and precision," explains professional manicurist Julia Diogo. "It's a manicure where deep cuticle work is done, and nail polish is intentionally applied over the cuticles and skin surrounding the nail. It is then cleaned off with acetone-soaked tools for a seamless finish." In other words, it colours outside the lines and then tidies them up immaculately.
The magic is in that deliberate over-application. "The Brazilian manicure tends to last a lot longer as the polish is applied just under the cuticle edge, which allows the grow-out process to be a little longer," Diogo says. By pushing polish right up to (and technically beyond) the cuticle, you buy yourself extra time before that tell-tale crescent of regrowth appears. It's essentially a visual illusion... Like contouring, but for keratin!
And before you confuse it with its Slavic sister: "Russian manicures are performed using an efile machine, whereas the Brazilian manicure uses your standard cuticle tools," Diogo notes. "The Russian manicure is also generally finished using gel polish, whereas the Brazilian manicure is finished using your regular nail polish."
So think high-gloss, high-precision, low-drama. A manicure that behaves like gel, but commits like lacquer. A situationship that lasts... finally!
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
