7 Reasons Gel Nail Strips Beat Another Bottle of Polish

If your polish chips by day three no matter which brand you buy, the problem is the air-drying. Here's the gel you cure at home.

1. Gel nails without the salon hour

You paint them Sunday night. By Wednesday the index nail has chipped in the same corner it always does.

Salon gel lasts, but it's a paid visit and an hour in the chair every couple of weeks. So you end up somewhere in between: chipped polish and a mental note to book an appointment.

2. Why polish chips no matter which brand

Regular polish dries by evaporating. What's left is a thin film, and the tip of the nail takes every tap on a keyboard and every car door handle.

That's why switching brands doesn't fix it. Gel lasts longer because it's cured hard under a lamp instead of air-dried.

3. Real gel, already shaped

Each strip is real gel, soft enough to press onto your nail and shape. Under a UV/LED nail lamp it hardens in about 60 seconds, like a salon gel coat.

You need a lamp to cure them, and it's not included. If you already own one, you're set.

4. Press, trim, cure at the kitchen table

Match a strip to each nail (size down if you're between sizes), press it on from the cuticle out, and file away the extra at the tip.

Cure about 60 seconds under the lamp. No dry time afterwards. Often up to two weeks of wear, depending on nail growth and how hard you are on your hands.

See the Buy 1, Get 1 Free offer

5. An honest note on lifting and removal

Straight talk: strips lift early on nails with oil or lotion on them, on strips that are too big, or when they're under-cured. Wipe nails with alcohol, size down and cure fully. Some sets will still lift early on some people.

To remove, soak in warm water or remover and lift gently from the edge. Peeling can take layers of your nail with it. Wear sunscreen or fingerless gloves while curing, and patch-test first.

6. Three designs to pick from

Choose nude French tip, classic red or glitter on the product page.

Each set has enough strips in multiple sizes for at least one full manicure.

7. Buy 1, Get 1 Free, with 30 days to decide

Every order is Buy 1, Get 1 Free: two nail sets for $20, which is $10 a set. Want a few designs? 4 sets are $40 and 6 are $60. The UV/LED lamp is not included.

If they aren't right for you, contact us within 30 days of your order for a full refund.