Staying at home means avoiding the nail salon, and as someone who always smudges regular nail polish (seriously, how is it possible that they can still be ready to smear by the time I go to bed?), I have a newfound appreciation for the variety of modern manicure solutions available. I previously reviewed Ohora's at-home gel strips , which are a great option for hassle-free designs. Another option that I really like, even though I am far from a pro, is dip powder. Dip powder is essentially an acrylic powder that contains pigments or glitters. You purchase a set of liquids that can be used with the powders of your choice for a quick and clean manicure that requires very little dry time. Dip powder is easily accessible, and if you're new to dip nails in general, I'd suggest a reasonably priced option for practice. I started with the Lavender Violets brand on Amazon, which comes with a set of powders + all the liquids you need for a beginner. I did find that the l...
Affiliate links may be included below. This review is purely my opinion, and I am in no way associated with the product or compensated for it.
Again, falling prey to social media marketing, I purchased a set-- okay, several sets-- of Ohora gel nail kits.
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| We had enough strips leftover so that we could match! |
I am not a professional, but I'm certainly no stranger to different manicure trends. I remember about ten years ago when Sally Beauty came out with nail polish strips in fun designs. I've recently been reintroduced to press on nails, and I'm experienced with doing my own dip powder manicures, too.
So I was intrigued by the idea of semi-cured nail strips, and after having worn several sets, I'm comfortable sharing my experience in case you have been eyeing these up, as well.
What You Get
Each nail kit comes with a set of nail strips on little plastic sheets, a file, a stick, and two prep pads to clean your nails beforehand. I also used a discount code for a free gel lamp, but if you already have one, you may not need to do this. The Ohora version is very compact, though, and I like that you can stand it up or hold it one hand while curing the other.
I also used Ohora's gel topcoat, which I also received with a discount code on my second order.
What You Do
The premise is simple: clean your nails with the prep pad, clip and file your natural nail to the desired length and shape, and push back any cuticles as needed.
Next, you peel the desired sized nail from the plastic sheet. Ohora makes this really easy:
- The gel strips are on clear backing, so you can easily hold them up to your natural nails and gauge the best size before peeling them off of the plastic.
- Each nail has its own protective plastic cover over the top, so it's easy to expose only the nail that you want, without accidentally removing the others.
Note that the nails are a slightly stretchy, jelly consistency. You can stretch them a bit to make any slightly-too-small sizes work. I try to avoid this because I don't like touching the sticky side (just in case it affects the adhesive) but it does work in a pinch. I have also successfully removed a misplaced nail and replaced it without noticing any issues with longevity.
Clip off the excess with a nail trimmer (not included), and file the edges. Each kit does come with a cardboard file, but I notice this goes much quicker with a glass file that I have on hand.
I also think that the topcoat makes the nails look a little less like press-on nails. They are really cute and come in so many fun designs, but adding some gel over the top is my preference-- even if it's all in my head!
What You Should Not Do
Ohora touts a damage-free manicure solution, and that's likely true. However, be sure to follow proper instructions. I was not able to read the instructions on the box, and initially, I (*cringe*) just peeled them off. Note that my nails are a bit damaged from that.
The proper way to do this is to soak the angled edge of the orange/wood stick in acetone/nail polish remover, and press along the edges of the nail. Continue dipping the stick into the acetone and pressing to loosen up the nail. This is surprisingly easier and faster than it sounds-- plus, your nails will thank you.
Should You Try It?
In summary, I really like this system for the following reasons:
- It's very simple to use
- No dry time
- Really cute designs
- You can usually get everything you need with a promo code
The only thing I don't like about it is the price, especially with shipping. It's not expensive per se, especially if you are used to professional manicures, and most kits I have seen for ~$14-16 USD. However, the shipping is a bit expensive, so I'd recommend trying a few sets at once so that you get more for your money in that regard.
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