These Sally Hansen nail polish strips have been around for a while now, but I received a special request for review from a friend in Adelaide who is looking at purchasing :)
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Price
At retail these go for $14.95, which personally I think is a bit pricey. For an extra $5.00 you could go to a salon and get a manicure, without the trouble of having to prep your nails yourself.
That said, I've never actually purchased this product at retail price. At sale price, you can pick these up for as little as $10.99 (Chemist Warehouse), or even $7.00 if you're lucky enough to come across a 50% off sale. You just have to know where to look.
Range
There are quite a few different colours and designs available for this range, but I've actually found that different stores stock slightly different variations. Because I do only get them on sale, I tend to purchase more of the original designs and not so much the limited edition/newer lines. I always check out what's new though, so I know what to look for during a sale (ooooh top tip).
There's glitter, florals, prints, patterns. More recently they've come out with a French tip manicure type design, with different coloured tips. You can check out the original collection here.
This product is available from most stores that stock cosmetics (Target, Kmart, Big W etc), pharmacies, and supermarkets.
Packaging
This comes in a cute little rectangular box, with a little viewing window that shows the actual colour/design of the polish. This is great, as it gives you the chance to check it out before you buy with an accurate idea of what it will look like.
Inside looks something like this:
16 nail polish strips, a nail file and buff, a cuticle stick, and an instruction sheet.
The nail strips themselves come in plastic and foil sealed packets. This fulfills the purpose of ensuring the nail polish doesn't dry out until ready for use. I kind of wish this was a re-sealable packaging of some sort, as I don't always use up all 16 polish strips and would like to use them again another time. But alas, it's a one use only type of product.
Again, the nail file and cuticle stick aren't intended for use after the initial application, but I've actually kept a couple in my makeup bag for emergencies.
I won't go too far into instructions, as the sheet outlines everything really clearly. If you do decide to purchase this, it would be really easy to follow and complete with the given instructions.
Product
The nail polish strips come adhered to a plastic backing, which you peel off ready to stick to your prepped nail. You know these are definitely real nail polish strips from the smell and feel of them, which is quite easily recognisable. So its great to know you're not just using a temporary sticker or decal.
The texture is quite pliable, but delicate. They come in a few different widths and lengths, so you're free to choose what's best for you.
Application &Wear
As mentioned, you can find all instructions on how to apply these inside the packaging. It's quite simple:
Firstly, you are instructed to prep your nails (file, buff, remove cuticle, etc.)
Peel polish strip off the backing, Apply to your prepped nail, and File off the excess polish strip.
If you can't fully reach the edge of your nail with the polish strip, the strip can be stretched slightly with the warmth of your fingers. This has come in handy for me in the past, but you need to work quickly as the polish starts to set onto your nail.
I've also found that using the nail file doesn't always get all of the excess off, so using the cuticle stick provided can also help.
I've also found that using the nail file doesn't always get all of the excess off, so using the cuticle stick provided can also help.
Once the polish strips have been applied to all your nails, you're done! It's a pretty quick and easy process and you get the hang of it. Personally, I apply a base coat before I apply the polish strips, and afterwards I apply a top coat to seal it all in. This is, of course, optional and does add drying time to your manicure, but I feel that it makes the mani last a lot longer.
On its own, I've found the polish strips do last at least 1-1.5 weeks, depending on amount of activity you do involving your nails. I suppose this is the same for traditional liquid nail polish as well (eg. it lasts so long as you're not scratching rough surfaces all day long), so I'd confidently say that these nail polish strips are "just like using nail polish" but with zero dry time.
If you use base and top coat as well, I'd give it 1.5-2 weeks of staying power.
Pros
- convenience
- simple application
- cute designs & time saved from doing nail art yourself
- no dry time (if you're not using base and top coat)
- very close to using liquid nail polish, with good quality and similar finish and longevity
Cons
- pricey if not purchased on sale (though keep in mind you're paying for the convenience factor)
- still need base and top coat for extended staying power
Overall
I do enjoy this product and I will continue to purchase it. I think that they're great for those days when you don't have a great deal of time, or you're too lazy to wait for nails to dry.
I also think that there are some cute patterns available that could save you time from painting nail art designs on yourself. Nail art is a hugely time consuming process, so having the luxury of having them pre-made is efficient and, in this case, effective in execution.
I also think that there are some cute patterns available that could save you time from painting nail art designs on yourself. Nail art is a hugely time consuming process, so having the luxury of having them pre-made is efficient and, in this case, effective in execution.
I hope that was helpful to you Jassy!
If any of you have any other requests or questions, feel free to Email, Instagram, or Tweet me your ideas!
J xx
