I was so excited to see this gel manicure hack all over Pinterest and had to try it! There are so many pins for this method and some have over a thousand repins. I figured, “this has to be good!” If you’re like me, then a manicure lasts about 2 days of normal living before the polish starts chipping off. Gel and shellac manicures are fabulous, but they’re also about $30, and no matter what anyone tells you, your nails WILL get brittle by the second or third time. Trust me.
I ran out to get the Sally Hansen Hard As Wraps and the Sally Hansen No Chip Acrylic Top Coat.
First, you apply a coat of the Hard as Wraps (blue bottle). Allow to dry, then apply two coats of your nail polish. Once the polish is dry, add a coat of the No Chip Acrylic Top Coat. My advice when using a top coat is to wait until your polish is dry. If you add too many thick coats, your polish will bubble. Better to be patient, especially when you’re doing your own nails. It will save you the extra time needed to redo them!
So I tried this the first time awhile back and here is my result:
It didn’t work. My nails looked great for about 1 day. I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. No scrubbing pots, harsh chemicals or anything else. All I did was shower, wash my hair, load the dishwasher, wash my hands. I was sure that I did something wrong or perhaps I didn’t start with a clean, oil free surface, so I removed my polish and decided to try again at a later time. Thing is, I haven’t even polished my finger nails for a few months, until 3 days ago. I was heading to a conference and decided it was time clean up my nails and put on a little polish. I carefully applied the Hard as Wraps, my polish, then the No Chip Acrylic Top Coat. My nails looked pretty! I went to the conference and by day 2 my polish started to chip on one nail.
Day 3 came and instead of a quick shower, I took a bath. Big Mistake!
Look how awful!
I have not used the Hard as Wraps alone, but we have all used the No Chip Acrylic Top Coat on its own and we like it. I’ve been using it on my pedicures and they last about a month. No chipping! I’m not sure why when used with the Hard as Wraps and polish, it chips so easily???
So in the end, I tried this method twice and both times I had the same opinion: PINTEREST FAIL! Have you tried this? Was there a better result? And if not, do you know of a better way to keep a longer lasting manicure? All tips appreciated!
I have yet to find over-the-counter products that work as well as a real gel manicure. I’m still looking though.
I have not tried this . . but after reading your post, I will not. Thank you for the info and for sharing on the Brag About It link party!
I’ve tried this too, along with another gel manicure hack I saw on Pinterest… both were fails :/ I must be super hard on my nails, because polish doesn’t last on me… at all.
I usually am too, but I this time I wasn’t and after one bath, all that just chipped off. With just polish alone, I’ve had better luck.
Awesome post. Pinned and tweeted. We love to party with you, so I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm.. Have an amazing day! Lou Lou Girls
I use Essie gel-like nail polishes. did you try them? I try to avoid UV lamps that is why I use Gel-like nail polishes. they last about 10-13 days and no UV is needed. I really recommend you to try them. I’m sure that the outcome will be great.
No I have not seen the Essie gel polish. I will have to check them out. Thanks.
I too keep looking for a great solution. I file my nail bed and wipe with white vinegar. I then apply 1 coat of hard as nails. Then Polish/French. I applied 2 coats. I then applied 1 coat of hard as nails as a top coat. I did have a couple small chips a day or so so I fixed it and reapplied hard as nails again. That lasted me a good week, and I am super rough on my hands/nails. I am in the process of doing my nails again following the same method only I will apply 2 coats as a top coat this time.