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

I went to Tokyo Nails in Chicago for a Japanese gel overlay on short natural nails with a simple design add-on.

The appointment cost me $160 and took about two and a half hours.

The nail tech removed my previous manicure, prepped my nails and cuticles, and applied a gel base coat, color polish, and topcoat — all sourced from Japan — before doing my requested design.

A couple of months later, I went to New York and found Say-It Nails in Midtown Manhattan. I made an appointment for a hard-gel-extension Russian manicure with complex nail art.

The manicure took three hours and cost $300. It included cutting cuticle skin, creating hard-gel extensions focused on building the apex of my nail, shaping the extensions, and then applying a gel coat, color polish, and my requested designs.

Although the Russian manicure took the longest, I was most amazed by the entirely dry process — no water was used — and extreme yet painless cuticle cutting.

Most recently, I went to Chicago-based licensed nail technician Teresa "Tere" Rodriguez for a structured manicure.

This is what I usually get on a monthly basis — and what I've typically been able to find across the country — so I counted it as my American manicure.

It cost $110 and took about two hours, including cuticle and nail prep, thin and thick gel polish, color coats, and nail art.

I'd heard that both Japanese and structured manicures tend to prioritize nail health, even after removal. After trying them both, I think that's true.

Four weeks later, my Japanese manicure was still nearly perfect, with no chips. My nails had clearly grown out, but that's pretty standard.

It also had the easiest and fastest professional removal process of the three. Plus, my nails felt and looked stronger afterward.

Similarly, my structured manicure looked pretty great after four weeks. I lost a few of the added gemstones, and my nails had grown out, but that's about all that changed.

The gemstones made the professional removal process a little longer, but afterward, my nails were stronger than I anticipated. They looked a little thin at first, but they actually weren't flimsy.

To prioritize nail growth, I recommend Japanese gel, but structured manicures may be a better option for a lower-maintenance (and cheaper) alternative that still protects nail health.

After four weeks, my Russian manicure also looked a bit grown out. However, because of the close cuticle cutting and prep, I think it was less noticeable than the other two.

In fact, I could've left them on for five weeks before needing a touch-up.

That said, the Russian manicure was the most challenging one to remove. It took the nail tech about an hour, and my nails looked pretty weak afterward. However, I also think my nails were a little brittle going into the manicure.

Regardless, I definitely needed to let them breathe for at least a week before getting another gel set so as not to risk the health of my natural nails.

Although I enjoyed my American manicure, it placed last in this comparison.

I liked my flashy design, the lower price, and that my nail health seemed to stay intact, but the set didn't hold up to the Japanese and Russian experiences.

Japanese gel takes second place specifically for its nail-health benefits. Although it was a bit pricier, the innovative Japanese polish impressed me, and the set lasted a long time.

Overall, I'm surprised by how much I fell in love with the Russian manicure. As scary as the drastic cuticle cutting looked, I found the three-hour process satisfying to watch and adored the final result.

The manicure didn't exactly prioritize nail health, but its longevity and durability made me feel instructable in nearly every physical task I took on throughout that month.

If I could guiltlessly spend $300 on a Russian manicure every month, I would, no questions asked.