I tried Japanese, Russian, and American gel manicures. The best cost $300, but it lasted a really long time.

• I tried a $110 American, $160 Japanese, and $300 Russian manicure to find the best one.
• The Russian manicure took the longest to complete in the salon but was well worth the wait.
• I would gladly get any of these manicures again — for different reasons.

I get professional manicures once a month, so I’m always looking for the best value.

In that vein, I got a structured “American” gel manicure, a Japanese gel manicure, and a $300 Russian gel manicure. They all use different techniques and, therefore, impacted my nails in different ways.

I compared the sets based on the application processes, aesthetics, longevity, and nail health upon removal.

After months of testing, here’s how they stacked up.