Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips Review
It’s no secret that I’m not a nail art fan. I’ve always said that I appreciate the artistry, creativity and certainly the skill involved but it’s just not my bag. I do see designs from time to time that wow me but I won’t be jumping on the nail art bandwagon anytime soon.
However for those of you who are into nail art but professional services, including Minx, are out of your budget and DIY’ing isn’t in your skill set, Sally Hansen has a solution for you. The recently launched line, Sally Hansen Salon Effects, are nail appliqués made from real nail polish. These easy to apply nail polish strips come in an array of styles including solid color glitters and neons for those of us looking for a zero dry time, on-the-go manicure solution. I recently gave the strips a go putting the “Lasts Up To 10 Days” claim to the test. Keep reading to see how they fared. |
Formula & Application: Sally Hansen Salon Effects are made with real nail polish and are 4-Free (including Formaldehyde Resin) however because they have a different formula than the regular Sally Hansen nail polish I suggest you read the ingredients in full before purchasing to avoid allergic reactions. Each Salon Effects package includes 16 strips in varying sizes, a cuticle stick and mini file/buffer.
Application instructions are included with each package and are very easy to understand. You select the correct size strip for each nail, peel off the protective film, detach the polish strip from the backing, press on to the nail and file off the excess. What’s great about these strips is that each end has a different shape, one rounded the other squared, so you can find a good fit for your cuticle line.
Application tips:
- Warm the strips with your hands to make them more pliable.
- Bend the strip over your free edge and use the file to remove the excess rather than tearing it off. Tearing can result in an uneven edge.
- Between sizes? Size up and use the enclosed cuticle stick to remove the excess off your skin.
- Don’t submerge in water right after applying. I took a shower shortly after applying and the pinkie strip popped right off and my ring finger pulled up some. I pushed the ring finger back down and it lasted fine but I suggest waiting a couple hours before bathing.
Of all the patterns in the Salon Effects line I was most drawn to Misbehaved. I dug the shimmery champagne background and simple black fishnet design. Throughout the week I received numerous compliments from friends and strangers and I chuckled as the impressed looks on their faces fell when I told them it was an appliqué and not my own handiwork. As if I could create lines that clean on my own. I’d be a professional nail artist if that was the case.
I went above and beyond the promised 10 Days with my Wear Test, keeping Misbehaved on my nails for 12 Days. In that time I went bowling three times (this is my bowling hand) and, with the exception of my middle finger starting to wear after Day 7, the rest of my nails looked pretty fantastic up until Day 10. If it wasn’t for the growth that was SERIOUSLY starting to bug me, I would have left them on.
I don’t know when the cracks in my thumb nail started to occur but I didn’t notice them until I took this pic. I have a feeling the tape I put in my bowling ball thumb hole last Saturday was part of the problem. The tape is pretty rough to help with grip and I bet rubbing up against it plus everyday water exposure caused this strip to weaken and crack.
As much as I like Misbehaved, the glitters in this line are my fave. Blue Ice is a beautiful smoky denim blue glitter and I love that you can get opaque glitter coverage without putting on layer after layer of polish and a thick top coat. The Blue Ice strip is more flexible than the others I tried and it leaves a perfectly smooth finish. Of course because it’s made of glitter nail polish it is more difficult to remove than the others and can leave traces of glitter behind if you aren’t precise in your removal.
If you love the flower pattern Minx that Katy Perry made famous, you can get a similar look from Girl Flower. Maybe it’s just me but the patterns with light backgrounds, including Wicked Bamboo, and solid color neons feel thicker and aren’t as flexible.
Cry Baby is a hot pink neon creme. It doesn’t look neon on camera but in person it’s BRIGHT! As I mentioned above, the neon strips aren’t as flexible as the glitters or Misbehaved. They also show every nail imperfection, like the ridges I didn’t realize were on my thumb nail.
The Full Sally Hansen Salon Effects Line
Cut It Out, Girl Flower, Booty Camp, Collide-O-Scope
Frock Star, Blue Ice, Bling It On, Glitz Blitz
Skinny Jeans, Check It Out, Misbehaved, Laced Up
Wild Child, Kitty Kitty, Fly With Me
Raise A Glass, Wicked Bamboo
Cry Baby, It Girl, Violet Night, Red-y For Trouble
Squeezed, Electric Shock, Groove, Teal With It
Bottom Line: Overall I was impressed with the diversity of colors and patterns, the ease of application and the wear. Compared to the other nail appliqués I’ve tried, I definitely like Sally Hansen’s the best. I’ve never been able to get the Incoco ones to stick to my nails (frustrates me to no end) and the Sephora by OPI version of Minx are thick and don’t last as long. I personally haven’t tried any others but given the accessibility of Sally Hansen, the Salon Effects line gets my stamp of approval.
Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips are in stores now and retail for $9.99/ea. You can find Sally Hansen products at drugstores and mass market retails nationwide.
How do you feel about nail polish appliques? Is this something you would wear? What do you think are the benefits of this type of product? Which designs, colors or patterns are your faves?
Disclosure: Product samples were furnished by Sally Hansen. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
I hated these! It is soooo hard to get them on and actually look right! then, when I tried to take them off, a layer of “Goo” stuck to my nails and i cant get it off!Do NOT buy these, they are a ripoff!
I couldn’t disagree with you more!! I found them not only easy to apply on other people but I found them to be really easy to do on myself. I’ve had different sets from this line (5 total) and I’ve NEVER HAD A PROBLEM removing them and certainly didn’t have any so called residue. THESE ARE NOT NOT NOT A RIP OFF!
I love them! My friend brough over a cpl pkgs she found on sale for $6. I used them for the 1st time with much success. You can definitly get 2 full nail sets done with one pkg(depending on the length of your nails)I just used one ‘sticker’ and did 2 nails at a time. I’m sure the larger ones could even be used on toes and that you caould probly cut the others to fit all ur wee piggies. They NEED to be applied on warm hands for best reults. Its -20c where i am right now and they actually seem to crack in the cold, which sucks, but thats Canadian winters for ya, EH? lol. Being a mother of two my manicures hardly ever last a week, usually 2-3 GOOD days…Ive had these on for a week and they still look pretty good by my standards. I love them, i went back and bought the gold glitter and leopard print packs yesterday while they were still on sale. Definitly awesome for a mamas night out
I highly disagree. They were a breeze to put on, easier than real nail polish. And with nail polish remover they came off very nicely.
They are not a rip off what so ever. >:)
I totally agree. The ones I had would not stick to my nails even though I followed the directions to the letter. After about 20 minutes I finally got the ring finger strip to stick. It took so long, I stopped to take care of an errand. Within an hour, the strip had already chipped at the top and peeled and chipped near the cuticle. What a terrible product. Total rip off and I am writing to Sally Hansen about it too.
I disagree as well…a little quiet time and patience…took this OLD lady less than 20 minutes and i LOVE them
Stumbled on them by accident, loked great in the box- purchased FOUR
When I change styles, I may have a different experience
BTW: would NOT buy just for a flat color: maybe though
I just bought the “laced up” design today! They really look awesome!!! I do recommend taking your time when applying them and in some cases, they needed a little stretch to fit right on the nail. However, overall I think they are amazing! I can’t wait to see how they’ll hold up…if it really is 10 days, I may do this instead of nail polish from now on!!!
Love these! I use them on my toes and dont have to change them for over a month or until they are really growing out. I get lots of compliments. The first time using is the hardest, but now I am a pro and can apply to my toes and fingers while watching my fav TV show at night. Other websites recommend a top coat. I put a clear top coat on my fingers only and they do last for over a week. My nails are short and I can get one packet for both my fingers and toes. I highly recommend them!
I was looking at these yesterday at the store and didn’t buy them because I wasn’t sure what they would look like on, if they were easy to apply and if they were worth it. After reading this, I am going back to buy some!
I think they are well worth the price. Mine have lasted 12days already with no chips just the little bit of fading on the tips. But one box 9 dollars is good considering i only use 1pack for both hands. I.tear the sticker in half and use on my other hand. Its cheaper than getting them done in a salon every week and a half. I only reccoxmend to apply a.clear coat every 3 days so they last extra long. The only reason im changing mine is because the growth. Other than that they look great and definitely worth a try!oh and don’t forget to wear.gloves when you clean
I on the other hand, hate these! they look amazing and because of the pattern u cannot not, but i put them on just a few hours ago and they keep breaking off, piece by piece. luckily, if they start to come off your nail, you usually can press it back to your nail.
I absolutely love how these look when I put them on my nails! I have gotten so many compliments. The glitter shades are my favorite but it takes me about half an hour to remove them using nail polish remover and I still have residue left behind. I’ve used bottled remover and the felt pads. Any suggestions of a stronger nail polish remover that would make this easier? Thank you!
There really isn’t anything stronger then acetone. The longer you can let the pad sit on the nail, to break down the polish, the better. I usually hold the pad on my nail for a minute before I attempt removal. Also, I find that adding a layer of wet polish or base coat will help soften the layers before you apply the acetone. I usually use a traditional, slow drying top coat.
These are amazing! I bought a set of the leopard print ones, and like people have said, I was able to cut the strips in half and get two manicures out of one kit. The first time I used them, it was a little bit difficult to place the strips straight on my nails but I got the hang of it. I ran along the edges with a cotton swap dipped in non-acetone nail polish remover to seal them and used clear top coat. After a few days I started to get surface cracks, but I think it was from using cheapy top coat. I got a few chips along the cuticle edge, but nowhere near as noticeable as with regular nail polish which lasts barely two days before it chips on my brittle nails. It took about ten days before the first set looked ratty enough to take them off. I found them pretty difficult to remove, but I only had non-acetone remover, it would probably be easier with regular. I ended up having to pour a little remover into the cap and soak each finger in it for thirty seconds before they would wipe off. The second time I tried the strips, I found them a lot easier to put on correctly. I skipped the top coat, but I really didn’t need it. I haven’t had any surface cracks, and just one or two tiny chips. Even the nail growth at my cuticles isn’t very noticeable. Ten days after applying, they still looked pretty enough that I wore them for a wedding last night, and got compliments from the whole bridal party! These strips have definitely replaced traditional nail polish for me.
I tried these and they look really cool but they started coming off the first day, my friend has done them twice with no problem so i think i did something wrong! I really like the look off them though
Buff your nail lightly to roughen the surface – the strips will def stay on. Apply a couple of clear topcoats too.
i try this producted this weekend. of the 16 strips they give you only 8 worked. i report it to the company and the have done nothing. 8 nails does not work with 10 fingers. i would not recommend this product
Why dont yu just make it look good and just put a cool nail polish on the fingers that wont have it to make it look like you meant to do that. Ive seen that on pitures, it looks really good.(:
I really liked them for an accent nail and wore them for a bit over a week and had no wear. i top coated it so im not sure if that had anything to do with it… but i had no issues at all for removal either. to be honest i think i peeled it off.
I put the Laced up pattern on, a week ago on my toes! loved loved them, lost one went to try and fix it with one of my extra strips and none of them would stick again! really bugs me cuz all my others toes have stayed on just fine! has anyone else has this problem? Really irks me if I have to take all 9 off cuz one fell off!
If you don’t store the extra strips in an airtight bag, they will dry out.
just read this on Sally Hansen’s Website!:
Application Tips
Because Salon Effects is made from real nail polish, be sure to use all strips immediately upon opening otherwise they will dry out.
i was thinking next time put the extra in a ziploc, or a jar using a food saver and suck out all the air!
I wish it would have said that on the instructions. My nails were perfect the 1st time around and I got so many compliments. When I went to do them the second time they were all dried out
I only could use them once becausse they dried up after I took them out the pack.
Love these!! I have cut it out, glitz blitz, and laced up, I need more!! I get compliments on them all the time. Easy to put on, and easy to remove(just with nail polish remover). They stay on my nails without a bunch of chips(just a little nail grow out)for over 2 weeks! I cut the strips in half to get more uses out of them! they will dry out if you open the packs and don’t use the left overs. I wish they would come out with strips for a french manicure look or just more patterns!
Jamie, you said you got the cut it out pattern… just curious, is the background actually white or is it clear? I want to put a color underneath of it but I can’t figure this out anywhere! It would be great if you let me know!
Thanks!
I agree with the first reviewer. It is too difficult to peel the backing off the sticky side. It would be better if it was serrated somehow to be able to get it started.
Tip: try bending the backing and use the silver thing as a peel, works great for me
[...] you want even more scoop on these polish strips, my friend Michelle at AllLacqueredUp.com did a super comprehensive [...]
I was not too happy with these and i can say that i have years of experience with doing my own nails and others so i am no dummy. They were very time consuming and several ripped when trying to peel the backing off. I followed the directions EXACTLY and they started lifting and peeling a hour later so i put a little clear coat under where it was peeling to stick it down and also some on top and that helped some but i also noticed some shrinkage of the design a day later. Overall NOT worth the $10 they cost. I will be removing these after only 2 days.
Hmmm… How long did you have the strips for until you decided to put them on? If you don’t put them on in a certain time period, they start to dry out and tend to not stick.
Sorry about your troubles!
these are awesome! I’m wearing misbehaved right now and had raise a glass a few months ago. Warm hands and strips are key in making them flexible. I used my blow dryer on low to warm them and it worked great !!
Wow. I just finished putting these on for the first time and it was SOOOOOO much easier than regular polish! It took about 10 minutes and I didn’t have to clean up after. I was very skeptical about these at first but I saw the skull and crossbone design and couldn’t resist giving them a try I brushed on a top coat to be safe hope they last the 10 days at least. I will post a follow up comment in a few days.
I am back with a better review. I decided to try them again because I had a great coupon. This time they came out beautifully and took me a lot less time. I think the first time I did not follow the directions as closely. I was able to use both ends of the strips and saved the second package to do more, probably going to try the toenails this time. My poor review was because I really didn’t know how to do it the first time. I really like them now.
I am very curious to try these, but does anybody know if the “Cut it out” pattern has a white background or is it clear? I want to put a color behind them and was curious if it would show through or not before I bought them.
Also has anyone tried a base coat before applying to assure the nail surface to be smooth? Is that recommended?
Hi Teresa, I used the cut it out pattern earlier this week. It is a white background, not clear so you cant do a different colour underneath. I do love it but it is really busy and many people have mistaken it for a crackle finish. I think I will pick something a little calmer next time like the lace one. I dont know about the base coat. Enjoy.
hola, soy de rosario Argentina,me gustan muchos los tips que presento sally hansen,quisiera saber como puedo conseguirlos aqui, muchas gracias.
My friend had the zebra pattern on her toes. They looked fantastic so I tried them on my toes. Only one toe was too large so I cut a piece off of a strip and stuck it on. You couldn’t tell. They look GREAT on your toes. I also put a topcoat on and they’re still going strong after 2 weeks. Yes, for me they were kind of a pain to put on, but I believe the second time will be easier. What fun they are!
I have had them on for almost two weeks now and they still look great. I put two coats of top coat on them and it looks like they are going to last for at least two weeks, if my nails would just stop growing they might last longer.
[...] I just want all the designs now, I can take or leave the solid colours, I have enough colours. But the designs? Yes please. All of them. Sally Hansen, if you’re listening, please start selling these in the UK somewhere other than dodgy internet retailers importing them and probably costing me £10 million in customs charges. If I could just have one more it’d be either Fly with Me (butterflies) or Misbehaved, of which you can see a review and some closeup photos here. [...]
i absoulutely love these
i love this product. sure it takes a little extra effort and time to make sure they look neat on ur nails, but its so worth it. I just used Check it out, and i must say my nails look really pretty.
To get the best out of this product, stick to whats on the instructions, most imp part is making sure ur nails dont have any cream and r clean, using nailpolish remover beforehand works to let the stickers adhere to the nail.
and for removal, using one for artificial nails removal works best.
Love em! Takes a little time to apply. Make sure you buff your nails and use a de-greasing soap(like dawn), also you can use finger nail polish remover then apply. If your nails are shorter you can use same one packet of the 8 on your toes too.Toes will last lots longer than the fingers. I used a hairdryer on mine after I applied a no chip top coat of SH as well.
I am 100% happy with these nail strips from sally hansen ; they are easy to put on ; & they look fabulous. They lasted me 3 weeks until i decided to switch it up but definitly recommend to buy. With just one ; i did my manicure and pedicure. Trust me guys you wont regret it .
I have some strips and haven’t used yet because my nails are always to long. will sally hansen ever make long strips?
I honestly don’t know. I would contact Sally Hansen
These rock and I’ve had them on for 11 days.
If you want…
1)Compliments…
2)To look fashionably cute…
3)Spend no time making something look REALLY cute
Then…these are your things. They are really adorable.
I Love these!!!! Wow. I used one pack on my toes and fingers. I am the mother of a 3 year old and I am a seamstress… Let’s just say I use my hands A LOT!!! These really kept up with my every move. I put them on my mother’s fingernails too and they look great! I will say, I bought 4 packs and one was defective (Not sticky enough) so I just returned it. But it was a fluke because all the other packs were fine. I waited for awhile to buy these because I was skeptical But, it’s so worth it!!! I will never get a mani/pedi again. These save you money and they look amazing!!!! A regular manicure would never last me for nearly as long. I really hope they don’t stop making this product EVER!
Hi Teresa, You really can’t use a base coat. The directions are pretty clear about applying to a clean nail. I used nail polish remover before application on every nail. It seems pretty important, at least the directions say so. Good luck!!! These are so fun!
I would like to know if i should apply a top coat, i have acyrlic nails right now and i cant wait till i get them off and get Wild Child on! Reply back and tell me how that one lookks and with an answer to my question, thanks(:
I HATED these! I got the “Fly With Me” (the one with butterflies) on Easter of this year. My Easter dress had butterflies on it, so I put these on on Easter, and they fell off after about 10 minutes! I applied them correctly, I even read all the instructions. You would be better just painting your nails.
I love love LOVE these things, Im horrible with nail polish either I chip it off or i end up redoing my nails everyday because of imperfections. But with these sticker nails the last for 2 weeks look perfect and are so fun and flirty. and when you get good at applying them you can use one stick on for two nails saving you then other pack for the next time you want to use that color or design. LOVE THIS PRODUCT
I just think they it is a must to read instruction and it would be much easier to use this nail polish strips. I have not buy it yet but i may buy this for Christmas for my Christmas look.
this was my first time putting on these nails, such a rip off. i bought the frock star one, i only put on fake nails, not any of these before. i tried so hard making sure they would stick and i tried to keep them on but they just annoyed me, it was hard trying to make them the right size for my nail too. i’m 13 and honestly, i tore them right off so easily because parts on the side were coming off. this was stupid, i paid 8 dollars for nothing, waste of money and i did indeed read the instructions. never buying these again.
These Aplique products by Sally Hansen is not only costly and wasteful, they are very hard to apply, use them once and gone. I recommend the KONAD Stamping Nail Art. It is an image plate with unlimited use and any designs you could think of.You just have to brave it out and try, once you get to know how to use it properly, you will love it. It takes 30 secs. to do 1 nail. Go on you tube, search stamping nail art, to see tutorials and testimonials.
I just tried these the leopard print design. You should take your time applying these. I found that they weren’t wide enough to fit my entire nail… maybe I bought the wrong size, but I only saw one size. I doubled up on some nails and it looks “ok”. It’s been 5 days and so far so good. I don’t know if I will buy them again because they don’t fit my nails and I would rather by the polish and have it cover my entire nail.
Sally Hansen Salon Effects are fabulous! Too bad they are a bit on the expensive side. However, there’s a super easy trick to making them last even longer.
I found if I put a strong, clear base coat AND a top coat on top of the nail strips, they last much longer than 10 days. I had mine on for roughly 3 weeks before I wanted to put on one of the limited edition Holiday prints.
I bought the Limited Edition “Peppermint Twist” print from my local CVS. I also used Rimmel’s Base/Top Coat Polish so they last through the Holidays.
Here’s a picture of them on my nails! http://twinkletaters.tumblr.com/post/13988113227
I saw a commercial for this product and decided to do a search and I found your posting. I really appreciate you taking the time and providing a very detailed account of this product and for providing pictures as well.
I’ll check back when I try to product.
Thanks again.
I’m wearing my first pair right now (Misbehaved).
I have been doing nail art as a hobby for 3 years now. I normally paint my nails once or twice a week. I love these strips. I’ve already bought my next pack for when my current ones grow out.
Because they are subject to drying out. Anyone who has strips that won’t stick should give this product another chance because when they work properly they are amazing. You will never get lines this clean painting by hand. The first application can be tedious so I layed out all of my tools and washed my hands with dish soap ( degreases ). I also made sure I had a bit of free time so I could pay attention and take my time if I needed to. They turned out awesome and I’m on day 3 with zero signs of wear.
Another problem is cold hands. I have bad circulation so my fingers are always like ice. I kept a blow dryer close to warm my fingers as I went.
These are amazing! They last extra long, and they remove good (for me) They glitters are my favorite. (:
I just put these on today and I must admit that they look really good! I got the frock star one. My mom and I kept looking at them but we kept walking passed them for several months because they are not cheap. One day curiousness got us to buy one of the double packs (because my mom wanted the pink glittery one and it didn’t come in a single….or at least it didn’t when we went to Walmart because I have actually seen it separate). This did not work from my mom at all! They were not sticky enough. However mine were
So, if u get a pack that doesn’t stick well, it is probably just that one, try again! Personally, I like that pattern ones best because I cannot do that with nail polish on a nail pen. They are great for special events! I am going to a church dance tomorrow for new years eve with my boy friend and I am wearing all black. Black dress, black tights, black boots, black fedora. BUT! My nails are this shimmery, sparkly , multicolored-ness so it makes my outfit that much more awesome! Yay for Sally Hansen!
These work so great just got the prep’s cool pattern on sale at target amazing!!!!
I have used several different ones in the range and they are FANTASTIC!!!! I will not go back to standard nail polish again…! I took them off with Nail Polish remover and it was a simple and easy procedure. Putting them on was a breeze!!! I ride horses and am hard on my hands….they never lifted or split. They last about 11 days or so and the only reason i take them off then is due to the nail growth!! LOVE THEM!!!
OMG!! i love these things! they are so cute and i get a lot of compliments;) they are so fun and easy to apply. im wearing check it out right now, and i just bought misbehaved! but if u kno any way to keep them preserved for a few days pllllzzzz give me some advice! thanks
Once the seal has been broken it’s hard to keep them fresh and flexible. The best advice I have is to get them in an airtight container asap. Like a sandwich bag or a vacuum sealed pouch, if you have a vacuum sealer.