It’s true confession time. Although they are insanely popular, I’ve never had gel nails. I’ve been tempted, oh so tempted. But I’ve never caved because I’ve been afraid of the removal process, which I’ve heard horror stories about. Then Sally Hansen came out with an at-home Salon GelPolish™ Starter Kit and I knew I didn’t have to be afraid any more. Read on…
Believe me, there’s nothing that appeals to me more than having a beautiful, maintenance-free manicure. But I had heard that the removal process could be a beast, leaving nails damaged and brittle. I wanted no part of that! Recently there have been several at-home gel nail systems released and when I had the opportunity to try the Sally Hansen system, I was interested. I’ve always had good luck with Sally Hansen products.
The Salon GelPolish™ Kit includes a UV-lamp, cleanser pads, a bottle of base, color and top coat, nail file/buffer, acetone remove and complete instructions which I read several times before starting. I was a little apprehensive, but once I got going, the process went smoothly. Although I was provided the kit in Shell White, I went out and purchased Commander in Chic gel nail color; I could commit to that for two weeks.
In terms of the application process, I was advised by another beauty blogger that I should cure a little longer than the recommended 30 seconds as advised in the instructions. I did that, curing each step for 1 minute (or 2 times under the light). I think it was great advice, because my manicure literally lasted the entire two weeks of the holidays with no chips or lifting up. I probably could have gone longer, but honestly, I had other polishes to swatch!
The removal–something I was so apprehensive about–couldn’t have been easier. I followed the instructions, soaking my nails with the remover. My hairdresser also suggested lifting the ‘seal’ a bit on the side of the nail, which I also did. The polish lifted off completely and with absolutely no damage. I made sure to condition my nails well after the removal and was good to go.
In addition to the Salon GelPolish™ system, Sally Hansen has introduced a Salon InstaGel Strips™ Starter Kit. I have this one in the queue, so stay tuned for an update on that.
The Sally Hansen Salon GelPolish™ Starter Kit ($69.99) and Refill Kit ($19.99) are available in drug and discount stores. Also available for sale separately: Base Coat, Top Coat & Nail Color ($12.99 each); Alcohol Wipes & Remover ($4.99 each). Have you tried an at-home gel nail system yet? Let me know in the comments!
Disclosure: Press samples have been provided by the brand/PR for editorial consideration, product testing and review. Affiliate links may have been used in the post; see Disclosure Policy for additional information.
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I love that sally hansen came out with a gel nail kit. I started doing my own gel nails a while back. But since they didn’t sell kits then, I had to buy everything separate. I bought the Uv lamp and gel polish online. I ended up having a bad allergic reaction to the gel polish, so I looked for a different one, but found a lot of brands didn’t sell them separately.Glad to hear sally hansen does, I’ll have to give it a try.
SO glad this worked for you! I tried the gel strip version from Sally Hansen and it was a BIG fail. I wondered how this kit would compare. It’s great to hear this one is a win.
I have the gel strips but haven’t tried them yet. Had too many other nail polishes to be swatching. I’ll get to it eventually! Surprised to hear that they were a fail–I’ve had great luck with the regular Salon Effect Strips.