Disclaimer: These products were sent to me for free in exchange for a review. This blog post is not sponsored. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am beyond grateful to Igloo Spa for sending me two sets of their Volume Gel Nail Strips! Over the years I have tried several brands and types of nail polish strips. The reviews always end the same way, with tips that are peeling and wearing away, plus wrinkled strips that are not too hot looking. As a part of this review I am going to teach you about this brand and how to apply their product with a gel nail polish strips tutorial! Get ready for a true two-in-one blog post!
Nail Care Routine Shop Igloo Spa at Walmart
About the Brand Igloo Spa, Claims
First, I want to provide some background about the Igloo Spa brand, as well as the claims that make their product unique and differentiated from the competition. I know that their strips look similar to other brands, but they are a breed all their own.
Igloo Spa is a brand that aims to bring salon quality designs right into your home, while also promoting self-care. This brand is cruelty free. You find their products on their website, or from Amazon and Walmart.
Their Volume Gel Nail Strips are made of multiple layers of real gel. They are thicker than the competition to give you a voluminous effect that is also glossy. Most notably, they curve to to the natural c-curve of your nails, which means they should stick on well.
No UV light is needed, as they cure in natural light. So, you should keep unused strips inside of the box. With these strips you should experience zero wrinkles, or chips. They should last up to 14 days, and it is your option to use a gel top coat.
They allowed me to pick out two designs, as pictured below. I selected Galaxy Dust and Calm Sage, but they offer a wide range of designs. In each set you get 30 strips, a nail file, and an alcohol wipe.
How to Apply Gel Polish Strips
Before you go through the tutorial steps, be sure to open my nail care routine blog post in a separate tab! You will want to follow all of the prep steps up until nail color. Those steps apply here, and to anything you will do with your nails. This tutorial picks up after those steps.
1. Prepare Your Nails
The first step in applying gel nail polish strips is to clean your nails with the provided alcohol prep pad, even underneath. This will remove any oils from your nails, which promotes adhesion. Do not wet your hands for at least one hour after applying the strips.
2. Select the Best Size Strip For Your Nails
Second, select the best size gel nail stickers for your nails. If you are a small person like me, you may need to cut some to custom fit your nails. In my Dashing Diva tutorial, I show and explain this process.
To make life easier, I like to cut out the 10 strips that I am going to use, and I lay them out in order of which finger they will be applied to.
3. Apply Strips to Each Nail
Third, you are ready to peel the gel polish strips from the clear film. You need to be careful to avoid touching the back as much as possible, as this will weaken the adhesion. I recommend using tweezers.
When I apply strips, I like to start with my pinkies, then work up to my thumbs. This is another way to make your life easier. Simply place the strip on top of the nail.
Then, firmly press down and smooth the strip over your nail with pressure. Do not pull on the strip or try to stretch it.
4. File the Excess
Fourth, you need to remove the excess overhanging gel polish stickers. When creating this tutorial, I did my usual process of cutting off about half of the overhang, then filed the rest away. I noticed this was leaving the end looking scuffed up. For the first time ever, I thought of a new way that worked amazing!
Pro tip: use scissors to cut off the entire excess overhang, literally cutting it down right to your natural nail. From here, use the provided file to smooth the tips. I find that the side with the logo works best.
When you file, you can use a downward motion or go side-to-side. I find that the side-to-side method works the best.
Here you can see the “scuffed” look when I was not cutting the entire excess strip off.
Below you can see the difference between filing off the excess vs. cutting off the excess.
Now, you are ready to repeat this process for all of your nails!
5. (Optional) Apply a Clear Gel Top Coat and UV Cure
An optional step with these stick on gel polish strips is to use a clear gel top coat. If you go this route, feel free to use your favorite top coat and UV lamp, and follow the manufacturer directions. You can see this in action with my Sally Hansen tutorial.
Igloo Spa does provide some additional directions. You should apply one to two coats of top coat, then cure about 3 times under the UV lamp, about 45 seconds each. Keep in mind that if you over cure, you can cause the strips to chip and crack.
How to Remove Gel Nail Polish Strips
The removal steps for the gel nail polish strips from Igloo Spa are super simple! All you have to do is carefully peel them off. You may apply a drop of cuticle oil to your nails to make this process easier.
If any excess adhesive remains on your nails, you can wipe it away with nail polish remover. They do not recommend wear over 14 days to avoid damage to the nail.
Igloo Spa Volume Gel Nail Strips Review
It is time for my Igloo Spa Volume Gel Nail Strips review! I am an incredibly small woman, which means my nails are smaller than the average woman. Whether I am doing strips, press on nails, etc. they never fit me right. I always have to custom fit my own manicures. This is the first and only time that the strips fit me! Even when other brands give a generous quantity of strips in the box, I always have to spend extra time cutting and fitting. These fit amazing.
Second, I have zero wrinkles or air bubbles! Another first! Other brands always have that issue for me, no matter how hard I try.
You can see in the pictures how shiny these strips are! Also, they really do cure in natural light and harden. You can clearly see the thickness and the c-curve when you look closely at the tips. Funny enough, these adhere to press on nails! That is not a true part of this test and review, but I had to glue on some nails due to several breaks that I have going on. It is very inconvenient timing having to test a nail product with broken nails!
After five days of wear, I do have several nails peeling up at the corners, and I can tell there is a loss of adhesion. At the seven day mark, the tips are fully lifting, not just the corners. The adhesive is actually coming off of the strips. Some nails are getting what looks like air bubbles around the edges. But, everything is staying on, and the tips are not wearing that bad, despite the lifting.
Having 30 strips in the box means I can probably do two full manicures per set. For $17, especially considering how well they fit and adhere, this is worth it to me. I can see myself buying more sets for special occasions.
I am curious in the future to try a gel top coat and UV lamp, which I did not do here to give them a real wear test. With some brands, the top coat does not “sink in” so to speak, and it ends up peeling off after a few days. If you would like me to do another test with a gel top coat, please let me know in the comments! I can also use a good top coat recommendation.
Ultimately, if you go the no UV gel topcoat route, the average person will get about five to seven days of good wear with these strips, not so much 14 days. Of course, that depends on how rough you are on your hands and nails. There is a possibility that a gel top coat will extend you longer, up to the 14 day claim.
But, I am happy with these! The application and results have been better than any other strips that I have tried. Plus, I get bored of my nail designs and like to switch them up every seven days, so not hitting the 14 day claim sans gel top coat does not make me too mad. These have renewed my faith in strips!
Below you can see my nails right after application:
Gel Polish Stickers Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs:
I am ending with some frequently asked questions about gel nail polish strips:
What is the best brand of nail polish strips?
The best brand of nail polish strips is Igloo Spa. The reason is that they actually meet their claims of no wrinkles and fitting your nails for proper adhesion for up to 14 days.
Can you put gel top coat over nail polish strips?
You can put top coat over nail polish strips, but this will not work with all brands. Some formulas will cause the top coat to not stick or sink in, thus it will peel off in a few days.
How long do gel nail strips last?
Nail polish strips typically last anywhere from seven to 10 days, where as most manufactures claim 14 days. It does come down to your application technique, and if you will be using a gel top coat.
How do you remove gel nail polish strips at home?
You remove gel nail polish strips at home following manufacturer directions. The most common directions are to slowly peel them off with the aid of cuticle oil. Others may require removal with acetone.
Are gel nail strips safe?
Gel nail strips are usually safe. You should read up on the brand and ingredients before making a purchase to ensure no harmful chemicals are used.
Do gel nail strips ruin nails?
Gel nails strips typically do not ruin nails. When they are removed carefully, few people experience issues. But, sometimes damage does occur.
Do gel nail strips need UV light?
Some brands of gel nail strips do require a UV light to cure. In the case of Igloo Spa, they cure and harden in natural light, so no UV light is needed. Always follow manufacturer directions.
Shop Igloo Spa Volume Gel
Conclusion
In conclusion of this double trouble gel nail strips tutorial and Igloo Spa Volume Gel Nail Strips review, the process is beyond easy. While it does take more time (at least for me) than simply painting your nails, strips are a great way to get nail art designs that are hard to make at home. Igloo Spa strips are the best that I have ever used, and believe me, I have been around the block. Thank you again to Igloo Spa for sending these over and allowing me to raise awareness for your brand! Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.
Do you ever use nail strips?
One Response
They look amazing!
Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk