I had been spending $60+ every two weeks at the nail salon getting gel manicures and pedicures. My nails looked great, but the expense wasn't so great. I found this kit on Amazon and figured I would give it a try. It was less than the cost of one mani/pedi at the salon, so I figured it was worth a shot.
I tried it on my fingers first. The "Shell We Dance" color is a nice, delicate pink. I do agree with another review that says after a few days it develops a beigey tone, but it wasn't that noticeable for me, or that bothersome. The week after I did my nails I: spent a lot of time in my garden, processed and canned vegetables, washed several sinkfuls of dishes, went swimming, cleaned my house, and did many other things that are generally hard on nails. The color lasted a good week and then I had some lifting on some of the polish, so I took it off. I generally use clear polish on my nails in the summertime because I am so busy, so since that first manicure I've just been using the basecoat and the topcoat, and it lasts a good two weeks.
I then tried this on my toes. There are no instructions in the kit for doing this, but figured I'd try it. Oh. Mah. Gah. JUST like the salon, lasts two weeks no problem. Stays hard and shiny the whole time. I got three additional colors and have tried two of them so far and LOVE the effect. I also love A. not having the salon expense and 2. not having to redo my toenails all the time.
Here are my tips for making this kit work:
- As some others have mentioned, the color coats need two cycles of the light to truly "set." I put on the first color coat, two light cycles, then the second color coat, two light cycles, then the top coat, one light cycle. After that, I use the alcohol wipes and my nails are dry and ready to go.
- The included final wipes in the kit are, as others have said, just alcohol wipes. You probably have some in your prepackaged first aid kit in your bathroom. So don't feel the need to rebuy the Sally Hansen ones when you run out.
- I have had no trouble getting the polish to come off following the included directions in the kit.
- As some others have said, be careful about overlapping polish onto cuticles or skin. That will cause the polish to lift pretty quickly. I have had to redo a couple of nails after I wasn't careful enough about getting polish on my cuticle.
- The instructions tell you to rough up your nail surface before applying the polish, but be careful about doing this. You just need a few swipes of the buffer. The polish does hold better if you do like they do at the salon, and wipe off your nails thoroughly with remover RIGHT BEFORE you apply the basecoat.
- It seems like a few people have had trouble with allergic reactions. This is a shame and having had reactions to other products in the past, I am very sympathetic, but allergies are a risk with any product people put on their skin. Might be good to be on the safe side and try the polish (from base to topcoat) on ONE nail (like a small toenail, or your pinky nail) and see if you have a reaction. I also hope folks are reporting reactions to Sally Hansen and not just reviewing on Amazon, as who knows if Sally Hansen is reading these reviews? And they should know about allergic reactions to the product.
Just like at the salon, the greatest thing about gel polish is that there's no drying time after you're done with the final light cycle. Spending 20 minutes immobile, waiting at the salon for traditional polish to dry? "Ain't nobody got time for that!" I love being able to paint my nails and go. The other night, my husband saw me painting right before we were going out and groaned, because in the past that would mean a significant delay in leaving the house. I said "WAIT FOR IT" and when the top coat had set, I put on my shoes and we were ready to go. I LOVE having this convenience in my own home. Thanks to Sally Hansen for making the kit. My only request - more fun colors please! The existing colors are nice but a little too conservative. Would love to see bright blue, glitter, metallic, etc. Color choices not withstanding, I LOVE this product!
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Color TherapySally Hansen Color Therapy cares while you wear. The patented Argan Oil formula fuses intensive nourishment and instant moisture for healthy looking nails. Fade-proof, chip resistant polish available in 40+ stunning shades. |
Miracle GelMaintain that perfect, polished look no matter what life throws at you. Miracle Gel comes in a wide range of colors suitable for any mood or occasion. Finish your look with Matte or Shiny Miracle Gel Top Coat. |
Salon Gel Nail Polish7 Benefits of a Salon Manicure in 1 Bottle!With a Keratin Complex for up to 64% Stronger Nails. 7 Benefits. 1 Bottle. Flawless Finish |
Xtreme Wear Nail PolishSally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear offers extreme strength and shine. Now with a new look & feel! Match your manicure to your mood with fun, trendy shades. Collect them all and change your nail color as often as you like. Available in the hottest, most wanted shades. Long-lasting color is chip-resistant, fade-resistant and waterproof. |
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Honest Review - Does this make nail polish last longer?
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Reviews with images
Very red
The polish is great, but the color is not what it looks like in the picture. I thought it was a deep purple, but it’s really a deep red.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2013
Color: Shell We Dance?Size: 1 Count (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2020
Color: Shell We Dance?Size: 1 Count (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase
Having my nails look pristine is a staple in my overall aesthetic, but I am HARD on my nails, i.e. I frequently wash my hands, I foster dogs that like to nibble and play, etc. Painting my nails several times a week is too time consuming, and I refuse to pay for expensive salon trips. Therefore, I reviewed at-home gel kits for months before finally deciding to purchase Sally Hansen. reviewed is I made my decision because (a) the majority of the reviews from several websites were positive, (b) I can get the colors from CVS and Ulta which are both close by, and (c) to be honest, I got a gift card from Amazon and this kit was on sale!
I am 100% satisfied with this kit, especially for the price I paid. After reading the reviews from several sources, I amended the process in four important ways:
1. After I prepped my nails (e.g. filing, shaping, cleaning, etc.), I cleaned each nail with alcohol to get rid of any oil.
2. I cured my nails under the UV light TWICE rather than for the 30 seconds it recommended.
3. The "Shell We Dance" was a bit light for me, so I used three coats. I have since purchased a different color that only needed two coats.
4. I used a bottle of alcohol to clean the tacky mess off my nails when I was done (rather than the alcohol wipes the kit includes). I read the ingredients in the wipes; it is just alcohol. So, I found using my own alcohol with a cotton ball was more effective.
I have completed two sets of nails so far, and they have lasted with out chipping for about 9-14 days.
PROS:
A. Budget friendly
B. Colors, Top-Coat, Base-Coat, etc. can be purchased at local chains such as CVS, Ulta, and Walmart
C. The gel shellac is strong and (for me, and I am HARD on my nails) didn't peel or chip
*If I did have ONE nail that chipped, I could have fixed it at home instead of making an appointment at a salon!
D. Super easy to use
CONS:
A. Lamp is a bit small, so I had to do my thumbs separately
B. Time consuming because of the size of the lamp and the need to press the UV light for a second curing. The entire process (cleaning and prepping nails, painting, curing, etc.) took me about 45 minutes both times.
C. Quantity: the nail polish allowance is much smaller than normal polish. Just keep this in mind. You get longer wear with gel polish, but it still seems like the colors run out rather quickly, especially if you use more than one coat.
OVERALL. . . I will be using this kit for a long time to come. I have received copious comments on how gorgeous my nails look. I've been asked numerous times, "Where do you get your nails done?" It's wonderful to be able to do them at home while watching my favorite show or listening to music. LOVE THIS KIT!
I am 100% satisfied with this kit, especially for the price I paid. After reading the reviews from several sources, I amended the process in four important ways:
1. After I prepped my nails (e.g. filing, shaping, cleaning, etc.), I cleaned each nail with alcohol to get rid of any oil.
2. I cured my nails under the UV light TWICE rather than for the 30 seconds it recommended.
3. The "Shell We Dance" was a bit light for me, so I used three coats. I have since purchased a different color that only needed two coats.
4. I used a bottle of alcohol to clean the tacky mess off my nails when I was done (rather than the alcohol wipes the kit includes). I read the ingredients in the wipes; it is just alcohol. So, I found using my own alcohol with a cotton ball was more effective.
I have completed two sets of nails so far, and they have lasted with out chipping for about 9-14 days.
PROS:
A. Budget friendly
B. Colors, Top-Coat, Base-Coat, etc. can be purchased at local chains such as CVS, Ulta, and Walmart
C. The gel shellac is strong and (for me, and I am HARD on my nails) didn't peel or chip
*If I did have ONE nail that chipped, I could have fixed it at home instead of making an appointment at a salon!
D. Super easy to use
CONS:
A. Lamp is a bit small, so I had to do my thumbs separately
B. Time consuming because of the size of the lamp and the need to press the UV light for a second curing. The entire process (cleaning and prepping nails, painting, curing, etc.) took me about 45 minutes both times.
C. Quantity: the nail polish allowance is much smaller than normal polish. Just keep this in mind. You get longer wear with gel polish, but it still seems like the colors run out rather quickly, especially if you use more than one coat.
OVERALL. . . I will be using this kit for a long time to come. I have received copious comments on how gorgeous my nails look. I've been asked numerous times, "Where do you get your nails done?" It's wonderful to be able to do them at home while watching my favorite show or listening to music. LOVE THIS KIT!
Images in this review
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