Houston · Pricing · Updated July 2026
How much do nails cost in Houston?
Typical Houston ranges — the strongest value floor of any city we cover, with a Galleria-area ceiling that prices like the coasts. We refine these against published menus as our salon reviews complete.
The 2026 price table
Typical ranges across Montrose, the Heights, EaDo, Bellaire and the suburbs. River Oaks and Galleria-area studios trend toward the top of each range; Bellaire and the strip-center belt toward the bottom.
| Service | Typical Houston price | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Classic manicure | $18–35 | Polish brand, massage length |
| Gel manicure | $30–50 | Brand of gel, French/chrome add-ons |
| Russian (dry) manicure + gel | $60–100 | Tech's training, appointment length |
| Gel-X extensions (full set) | $60–115 | Length, shape, art |
| Acrylic full set | $45–95 | Length, sculpted vs. tips; fills $30–50 |
| Builder gel / BIAB overlay | $45–75 | Overlay vs. short extension |
| Classic pedicure | $28–45 | Massage time, callus work |
| Spa / deluxe pedicure | $45–75 | Scrubs, masks, extended massage |
| Nail art | $5–20 per nail | Hand-painting time, 3D details |
| Gel removal (with service) | $5–15 | Often waived with a new set |
Houston’s price logic
- The value floor is real. Salon density plus the deepest bench of career techs in the country keeps everyday services 20–30% under coastal prices — without the quality drop that usually implies.
- Acrylic is home turf. Houston does more skilled acrylic work than anywhere we cover — sculpted sets, not tip-and-dip — which keeps full-set prices honest across the whole metro.
- The Galleria is its own market. River Oaks–adjacent studios price like Beverly Grove. Sometimes the calm and consistency are worth it; the work in Bellaire is often just as good for half the bill.
Cost-per-week: the honest way to compare
A $40 gel manicure that lasts 12 days costs about $23 a week. An $85 Russian manicure worn 4 weeks costs about $21 a week — with cleaner grow-out the whole time. Long-wear services usually win the math; our Russian manicure guide explains why they last.
Tipping in Houston
18–20% is standard, cash preferred by most techs. For multi-hour sculpted sets, tip on the full value of the time.
The curated Houston salon directory is in active research — nominate a favorite and we'll add it to the review sweep.