Nail report: Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips by Sally Hansen
Last week was my first attempt to use nail stickers. These are my findings.
THE SWAG:
- The Sally Hansen kit ($10.49) came with a tri-surface file and a mini orange stick. Both tools proved necessary and helpful.
- There are two sets of 11 individually cut, oval shaped stickers per kit
THE TOOLS:
- Using a base coat didn’t hurt. It might be psychosomatic, but I’m convinced that it protects the top layer of my nail beds from peeling off with the stickers (a la, when I manually remove a gel manicure).
- The orange stick had one flat end and one pointy end. The flat end is slanted at an angle that reminds me of how to properly cut salami. Commence pavlovian charcuterie cravings.
- The flat bit works to smooth the nail sticker down. After I filed the excess sticker off of the nail tip.
- I used the pointy piece to perforate the sticker around my cuticle. Sure, you’re stabbing a sharp object underneath your skin, but all in the price of nail beauty. This made it easier to remove the rest of the stickers. Nail polish remover on a q-tip would probably work just as well.
THE STICKY:
- This is not like a lisa frank sticker for fingers. The sticker material is soft and fragile. I was never able to get it off the paper backing without tearing it.
- Handling the sticker was similar to those tattoo band aids from the ‘90’s. The good stuff lies between paper, plastic and has a silver tip that slightly aids in getting a grip on the sticker. When you bend it back, it burps a thin line to begin peeling the sticker off the backing.
- The pack of finger bling comes with a gradient of sizes. Apparently, I have mondo fingernails because the tiniest sticker covered about 1/2 of my pinky nail.
- The directions advised users to align the sticker with the bottom of the cuticle, ideally only leaving excess at the top. That would only work in a world where everyone has homogeneously shaped fingers. Said fingers probably release magical fairy dust every time they point and make a wish, too.
- I blanketed my finger tips with the strips. That way I had more control over the sticker.
- Instead of keeping the pattern uniform, I mixed it up by placing the sticker over my finger at different angles. My chosen nail art had a geometric pink and purple disco ball look. The abstract print looked cooler with the asymmetrical placement. I’m not certain the same tactic would work for a more distinct pattern, like zebra print.
- The smooth texture feels just like a traditional manicure. I added a top coat to ensure the stickers stay put longer. I still find myself clinking my nails against each other like a tweak.
CONCLUSION:
- Nail stickers are easy to apply.
- They last as long as a regular manicure with nail polish. The kit claims they stay one for 10 days. I’m in chip city after five.
- They don’t kill your nails like gel manicures.
- Choose the right pattern and you’ll average at least one comment per day on how cool your nails look. You may even bond with the checkout girl at Home Depot, a stranger on the subway and many awesome ladies. Findings prove, dudes rarely compliment nails - but who does their nails for guys anyways?
