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 really like what u wrote about these, everything was accurate and i got a really good idea of what to do before i bought these. thanks again!
My new favorite product and I’m glad I found your review as I got some helpful tips. I didn’t quite care for the color after applying them so I put a coat of Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure nail polish over them and they are fantastic! The polish went on neat and smooth and way better than if I had applied it on my naked nail, which I am horrible at. The wooden stick works great for pressing down around the nail bed and the excess just comes right off, perfect fit.
I agree with the ease of application; additionally..I have had “creepy” ridges in my nails for years, and nail polish usually accentuated this: these app hide and even protect my tips. Usually, the polished tips wear off quickly,- these are staying VERY nice.
Fun
Attractive
I am TERRIBLE at applying nail polish…get it all over: THIS is THE answer
THANK YOU!!!!!
I got to have them. They’re gorgeous. Thanks for posting this.
hi.. i would like to know if this product is available in mauritius…it is so awesome!!
lol i’m wearing the houndstooth one (check it out… still don’t get the name…) right now and my frieds will be wowed
Houndstooth is considered a tartan which is basically a checker pattern
I looooooooooooooooooove these strips. However, I had some remaing because I do all kind of designs to my nails and they dried out. I never took the protective strip off the back so im not sure why this happened. Any ideas?!?!?!?!
Once the strips are exposed to air, they start to dry out because they are made of real nail polish. Once you open the package I suggest putting them in an airtight zip top bag to try and keep them pliable.
I have so many that either dried out or just came out of the package without much stickiness, so I tried a sticky base beforehand and had sooo much luck with it. Now I use it before every one of the Sally Hansen salon effects – I just recommend using it one nail at a time so it is still sticky when you go to put it on your nail. I use Orly bonder for it – works like a charm!
I love these strips. So easy to apply and much less hassle than polishing nails. I wish they made them large enough for my toes.
I have Raise A Glass, and it is more of a metallic gold than it looks before peeled off the strip.
I will use this again.
I just tried the love letter stick ons and it took me 3 hours to put them on. They don’t really look great either.
I’m disapointed after spending all that time and money!
That’s weird, I put on the love letters today. It took me about 15 minutes to do it and they look perfect. Maybe you just need practice getting used to the way they work?
I tried these, and found them to be extremely sheer so I was wondering how you got them to show up so solid?
Thanks!
I love using these and Misbehaved stayed on the longest and looked the best, but I notice that they last longer on short nails and after wearing different styles contantly, I’ve noticed they’ve weakened my nails a bit. I’ve decided to give my nails a few weeks to strengthen back up.
“They also show every nail imperfection, like the ridges I didn’t realize were on my thumb nail.”
If you read instuction carefully, it says that you should polish your nailes before using strips. And if you do there win’t be any imperfections. ;>
[...] Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips Review – Lacquered Up 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 . on Jan 01, 2001 Filed in [...]
The stickers are either too big or too small for your nails.
Did you cut them wrong or did they comes like this?
I have used these a few times and they are great for when you don’t have a lot of dry time on your hands.
I agree that the solid colors and the patterns with light backgrounds are thicker and harder to use and remove than the metallic-based patterns.
I also find if you wear them too long they will dry out your nails and make them brittle and cracked.
So I think these are great for a week or two and then remove them and go back to your normal nail routine.
Oh, and I find adding a topcoat will help extend the life of the nail strip.
I love these things,wish they had more choices.Ive used them about 5 times and they do last.But do not think putting clear polish on them will help….it doesnt.
I super love the nail colors and the nail art. So like the glitters silver. I hope that I can have all the colors and have a chance to wear it all.
They held up a lot longer than I thought. Most reviews I have read on Salon Effects usually begin chipping at the tips after 4-6 days. Did you use anything to prep your nails before hand or a top coat? Im curious to see how the new gel nail strips will work.