day 6
This is all about nail polish.
I love having nail polish on, I love color, and I love having nice looking hands/nails. I have always had a lot of polish. Then kids came into my life and I stopped painting my nails. I little to chemically and impossible to find the time. Then I started again as they got older, but was so put off by the long dry time and the chipping, I lost interest. After a renewed polish interest a few years ago (so many low chemical options!) I stopped, again. I used nail skins for a bit (no dry time!) but they were a novelty and hard to take off. Then I got a few gel manicures (expensive!) so I bought a home lamp and kit and did gels myself, with mixed success. There was still the creepy light, and horrific removal which destroyed my nails, the chemicals, and the fact that could not use all my old polishes, they weren't compatible. BUT, it had everything else I desired, no dry time and long wear. Ultimately, it wasn't worth it, so I stopped again.
Then, on my way back to from Santa Fe, in the Seattle airport, I was told about butter London Patent-Gel Top & Tails
day 7
This is base and top coat set that dries instantly. I mean it. I don't mean sort-of dry, I mean, after 5 minutes, completely dry. Just like a gel. I followed the directions and it worked like a flippin' miracle. I was nervous at first, so I was not moving until 10 minutes after my top coat was on, but then on time I waited 5 minutes, and then washed my hair—not a single ding or smudge. I do recommend giving it about 3 min. before you use the top coat, to have the color set.
So, for dry time, I give it a 10. For durability, on me, no chipping at all. It slightly wears off the tips after day 6 or so, but it's not noticeable. I have kept it on as long as 12 days and it still looks great, except for some grow out. So, a 10 for durability. The removal? I swear it's easier then normal polish, you can use a normal remover. I use low chemical polish and remover (Zoya) and this has worked great. This also means my back stash of polish I have been keeping, and sadly not using, can now be used again. It's like christmas and my birthday! I have had a fellow nail polish addict/guru try product this as well and she also is very happy with it. I waited for 3 complete color changes to blog about this, because I kept thinking it was too good to be true.
Things I want to mention:
This set is expensive ($40) but worth it to me in every way. If anyone has tried a similar gel-like top coat that dries instantly and wears like this, I'd love to know about it. It's not as shiny as a gel manicure. Also, the reviews are pretty all over the place. It's a miracle product for me, but other people have said the exact opposite, which makes me think that the polish you use might matter, and that people have different natural oils on their nails, and I know most nail products just don't work for all people across the board. I'd buy this where you can return it after trying. I know Nordstrom sells it and accepts returns, (I think Sephora does, too?) and at this price, it's important to be able to return it if it's doesn't change your life.
