Nail techs, nail experts, need some advice on nail wraps

[JohnDaleswife]

So I just love going to get my nails done every two weeks at the local veitnamese nail salons. Getting my toes done too about once a month. Very affordable prices and you just walk in, no appointment needed. But I am really starting to have a problem with my nails, not my toesnails, they always stay perfect.

My problem is even after I stay and let my nails dry for 15-25 minutes I still always have at least 2 or 3 of them smudge, smear, ect. This is getting to me. Yesterday I even got them not to apply but 2 coats on my nails, but it still did it a little later. Ugggghhhh.

So I have been looking at nail wraps. Any good? Anyone use them? Any advice? Easy? Hard? Not worth it? Totally love em? Best brands? You get my drift.

Right now I pay $15 for a fill in and then tip $2-$3. So I don't want to have to go out and pay a lot for some wraps to go on them when I get home, really upping the price of my nail budget. If I could find some cheap I might consider doing it. Any advice?

 

[BaxterSaysMeoww]

I use Sally Hansen nail wraps and I love them! I've tried other brands and they never seem to work as good as Sally Hansen, plus they have a lot of nice designs or just plain colors to choose from.

I'm wearing some right now and tonight will be one week since I've put them on and not a chip or anything.

They take me about 20 minutes to apply and come with some extra pieces in case you mess one up while applying, I think their great.

 

[ekatiel]

I just recently starting using Jamberry wraps. LOVE them!! I also just hosted an online only party and ended up getting a lot of wraps for free. The Jamberry wraps are $15 a sheet, and a sheet will do 2 manicures and 2 pedicures, so that's definitely cheaper than your salon. Manicures can last up to 2 weeks, pedicures up to 4, I think. They definitely last longer than polish. I love that there's no dry time needed. So, I can get up and do other things while I'm in the middle of applying them. Anyhow, I'm totally sold on them, and the online party was so easy to "host"-- all I had to do was invite people and participate in the games that the consultant started. The consultant did all the "real" work. I ended up with a free sheet of nail wraps of my choice, plus $80 in merchandise credit (I'm getting 4 sheets of wraps and a mini heater), plus 3 "hostess exclusive" wraps, half off 5 items, then 30% off anything over that, plus three months of free shipping. I'm a happy camper right now .

 

[runsandjumps]

I haven't had much success with nail wraps. Although I really like the idea. My nail beds just don't seem long enough to make then work well. If I grow my nails super long they look great. But they only last a few days for me before one starts to peel up or something. Plus my nails seem to become more brittle after removal.

Love the look of the wraps though!

 

[nicolita3]

So I just love going to get my nails done every two weeks at the local veitnamese nail salons. Getting my toes done too about once a month. Very affordable prices and you just walk in, no appointment needed. But I am really starting to have a problem with my nails, not my toesnails, they always stay perfect.

My problem is even after I stay and let my nails dry for 15-25 minutes I still always have at least 2 or 3 of them smudge, smear, ect. This is getting to me. Yesterday I even got them not to apply but 2 coats on my nails, but it still did it a little later. Ugggghhhh.

So I have been looking at nail wraps. Any good? Anyone use them? Any advice? Easy? Hard? Not worth it? Totally love em? Best brands? You get my drift.

Right now I pay $15 for a fill in and then tip $2-$3. So I don't want to have to go out and pay a lot for some wraps to go on them when I get home, really upping the price of my nail budget. If I could find some cheap I might consider doing it. Any advice?

Have you considered doing gel instead of regular polish?

 

[KristenCarll]

I use the Sally Hansen 2 step miracle gel. No light required. It's about 8 for the color and 8 for the top coat but you only have to buy the top coat once until you run out. And I figure for the color it's what I would spend on Essie anyway. I LOVE it. stays on for 2 weeks.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I just recently starting using Jamberry wraps. LOVE them!! I also just hosted an online only party and ended up getting a lot of wraps for free. The Jamberry wraps are $15 a sheet, and a sheet will do 2 manicures and 2 pedicures, so that's definitely cheaper than your salon. Manicures can last up to 2 weeks, pedicures up to 4, I think. They definitely last longer than polish. I love that there's no dry time needed. So, I can get up and do other things while I'm in the middle of applying them. Anyhow, I'm totally sold on them, and the online party was so easy to "host"-- all I had to do was invite people and participate in the games that the consultant started. The consultant did all the "real" work. I ended up with a free sheet of nail wraps of my choice, plus $80 in merchandise credit (I'm getting 4 sheets of wraps and a mini heater), plus 3 "hostess exclusive" wraps, half off 5 items, then 30% off anything over that, plus three months of free shipping. I'm a happy camper right now .

Wow, that sounds great. But I will still have to visit my salon every two weeks for the acrylic to be applied to my nails.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I use the Sally Hansen 2 step miracle gel. No light required. It's about 8 for the color and 8 for the top coat but you only have to buy the top coat once until you run out. And I figure for the color it's what I would spend on Essie anyway. I LOVE it. stays on for 2 weeks.

Is the gel real hard once dried? Does it smear easily?

 

[nicolita3]

Is the gel real hard once dried? Does it smear easily?

Gel at the salon dries like in less than a minute and is hard I have never had it smear and it lasts like two weeks with no chips.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Wow, that sounds great. But I will still have to visit my salon every two weeks for the acrylic to be applied to my nails.

You should complain about the color smudging. It shouldn't do that. Gel is a good option too. Pretty much same price, same strength, less dry time.

 

[Arielle22]

I have gel over acrylics. Cost $30 every 2 weeks but is fabulous. I had the same smudging issues for years until I tried this.

 

[nhmommy]

Gel at the salon dries like in less than a minute and is hard I have never had it smear and it lasts like two weeks with no chips.

Gel is uv cured and is completely dry in minutes we wipe it with alcohol after it comes out of the light so there isn't any real chance of smudges

You should complain about the color smudging. It shouldn't do that. Gel is a good option too. Pretty much same price, same strength, less dry time.

You should definitely complain if you are going to the same place every 2 weeks they are going to want to keep you as a customer and if there is an up charge they are likely to eat it.

 

[disfanforlife]

I bought the at home gel kit last year and found it easy to use, long lasting and looks great. The only thing I didn't like was how 'y nails felt after taking the polish off. I imagine it would feel similar after removing a salons job too. I had an online Jamberry party and bought a bunch of he wraps. They look nice, but I don't like the "feeling" of them. Bottom line, I guess I prefer traditional polish.

 

[NYEmomma]

I just recently starting using Jamberry wraps. LOVE them!! I also just hosted an online only party and ended up getting a lot of wraps for free. The Jamberry wraps are $15 a sheet, and a sheet will do 2 manicures and 2 pedicures, so that's definitely cheaper than your salon. Manicures can last up to 2 weeks, pedicures up to 4, I think. They definitely last longer than polish. I love that there's no dry time needed. So, I can get up and do other things while I'm in the middle of applying them. Anyhow, I'm totally sold on them, and the online party was so easy to "host"-- all I had to do was invite people and participate in the games that the consultant started. The consultant did all the "real" work. I ended up with a free sheet of nail wraps of my choice, plus $80 in merchandise credit (I'm getting 4 sheets of wraps and a mini heater), plus 3 "hostess exclusive" wraps, half off 5 items, then 30% off anything over that, plus three months of free shipping. I'm a happy camper right now .

I sell Jamberry nail wraps and can attest to everything she said. They're AWESOME and so much cheaper than trips to the nail salon. 2 weeks in fingers up to 6 on toes (if you can last that long with one design... I usually only get 3-4 weeks out of mine because I want to change them up to something new).

They go on over top of gels and acrylics and are removed by soaking in either nail polish remover or olive oil (I use olive oil because it's good for my cuticles).

They last longer than the drug store brands and are easy to apply, IMO, but the process is definitely a "practice makes perfect thing". It's easy to do but personally, it was a bit nerve-wracking the first couple of times because I was afraid I'd screw it up big time. Now it's a piece of cake.

As a PP mentioned, you do have to get used to the feel of them on your nails. When I first started using them, it felt awkward?? to have a vinyl wrap on my nails but now I don't notice them at all.

Let me know if you have any questions! I'd be happy to help.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

See if your salon (or a nearby one) does the gel powder dip. It's amazing! Great colors, doesn't chip (I can wear mine for 2-3 weeks easily with no chipping), AND it puts vitamins into your nails. I don't even have to do acrylics anymore - just my own nails with the gel powder. And if the powder can last that long on my nails (I spend a lot of time typing on a computer AND I work in theatre so there's a lot of tools, taping, etc) it will last on yours. Best stuff ever!!!

 

[aprilchem]

I do gels at home; my DH got me the Red Carpet kit for Christmas last year. I can easily make them last for two weeks, I could probably keep them on longer than that but my nails start to grow and I don't like the spaces near the nail bed.

I've found that light colors of polish work better than dark, and you do have to follow the directions (VERY thin coats work the best). But I can do gels in about 30 minutes at home. I don't find taking them off damages my nails, but I'm pretty careful when I remove them. When I first started I wasn't so careful and I do think I did some damage.