Over the years I have tested several types and brands of nail polish strips both on and off the blog, but they all come up short. The biggest issue is always adhesion, where the strips start to peel up at the tips after a few days of wear. I find the concept of semi-cured strips that require a UV light to harden very intriguing. They sound like they stand a better chance of lasting during their normal wear timeframe. I am fully testing out the Dashing Diva Glaze starter kit, which are semi-cured gel nail polish strips. This honest, detailed review also contains a step-by-step tutorial. Together we will find out if this product, and concept, really works and is worth your cash.
Where to Buy the Dashing Diva Glaze Starter Kit
I am going to start out with where you can buy a starter kit. I got mine at Walmart, and it is the shade Powder Pink. Ulta also carries the kit, as well as Dashing Diva on their website. They come in a few different neutral colors. As for buying the Glaze strips only, they are available from several drugstores and Dashing Diva, and come in a variety of colors, patterns, and finishes, which includes options for toenails.
The starter kit contains 34 strips in a variety of sizes, a single-sided nail file, wooden cuticle stick, two prep pads, and an LED lamp. The lamp is USB-powered, and the cord is long enough for my needs. The light has two timer options for 45 or 60 seconds with automatic shutoff. Push the power button once for 45 seconds, or twice for 60 seconds. Do not expose the strips to the LED light during the application process, as this will harden them. Keep them in the provided black box.
How to Apply Dashing Diva Glaze Semi-Cured Gel
I do want to note that this kit contains everything that you need to successfully apply and wear the strips. It is a great value! In the images below, you will see that I add a few items. To customize size the nail strips, I use small scissors. To trim the excess strip, you will need either nail clippers or cuticle scissors. Below is a quick summary video from Dashing Diva on the process:
Dashing Diva Glaze Semi-Cured Gel claims to last up to 14 days with durable wear that is scratch and chip-proof, and with lasting shine. Their formula features a proprietary “Dome Effect,” which means the gel is thicker in the center and thinner at the cuticle to give you a molded effect with plenty of volume. The application process should be fool-proof, and the strips should cure fast.
1) Prepare Nails
Time to start on how to apply Dashing Diva Glaze Semi-Cured Gel! You must prepare your nails to ensure proper adhesion of the strips. First, I urge you to read my nail care routine blog post. Follow all of the steps up until base coat application, as we will not being doing that here. After you follow those steps, use one of the included prep pads to thoroughly wipe your nails down. Getting the undersides of the tips is good as well. I also recommend protecting your work surface. Paper towels, a rag, or newspapers will be fine.
2) Select The Best Size Strip
Second, you need to select the best size strips for your nails. If you are in-between sizes, always size down. Applying a strip that is too big for your natural nail will leave overlap onto your skin, which will ruin the adhesion. The strips are on a clear sheet, so you can hold them over your natural nail to find the best size.
Along the way I have many Dashing Diva Glaze tips and tricks! I am a small woman, and that means that nail products are always too big for me. I do need to custom size some strips, which I carefully do with scissors. To make the process easier, I cut the nail strips off of the clear packaging strip and make them singles. Then, I lay them out in order of finger application on my workspace.
3) Apply Strip & Trim
Third, you are ready to apply the strips to your nails. I start with both of my pinkies, then I work my way up to my thumbs. Do note that the strips have a clear protective film over the top. The included instruction booklet did not mention this, so I removed each film before applying the strip to my nails. Their YouTube video states to place the strip on your nail, them remove. Some kits do not have individual protective strips on each strip, rather, there is one clear sheet per row.
Place the strip on each nail, just above the cuticle. To adhere, press it down onto the nail, and also smooth it out. There is no need to stretch them. Use the slanted edge of the provided wooden cuticle stick to press the edges down. Then, cut the excess strip off. I found that these are a bit thick for cuticle scissors, so nail clippers work better. However, tiny sticky bits of the strip will constantly get clogged in your clippers. I use the cuticle stick to scrape them out.
I recommend trimming the strips ever so slightly longer than your natural nail. In some cases, I cut too much off trying to be 100% precise to my real nail length. The slight overhang is easy to remove and smooth out later.
4) Cure
Fourth in this Dashing Diva Glaze tutorial is curing! For each hand, you can cure four fingers together, then do the thumbs separate. They do state that the 45 second option is enough. I ended up doing two rounds of 45 seconds on all nails because I wanted to be fully sure they were cured. DO NOT wipe the nails down with rubbing alcohol. There is no residue on the strips to remove, and that will damage the shiny finish.
5) File
The final step is filing the tips. You make use the provided file, moving in one direction, to ensure the edges are smooth. That is it! Enjoy your finished product!
How to Remove Dashing Diva Glaze Semi-Cured Gel
When it comes to Dashing Diva Glaze removal, the included instruction manual states to slowly peel the strips off to avoid damaging your real nail. You may use a drop of cuticle oil on each nail to make the process easier. They state that nail polish removers are not needed. Please note that I am not responsible if you damage your nails, I am only informing you on what the instruction manual states on how to remove.
Dashing Diva Glaze Review
Now it is time for my Dashing Diva Glaze review. I have a lot to say! For starters, I like the included size options. I normally have to custom size every strip in a kit, but I only had to do two per nail! The only other kind that I have tried that were sized good (and worked well) is in my Igloo Spa Volume Gel review.
I find that these do not fully harden like a painted on nail polish. Yes, they do cure and “harden,” but they still have some flexibility, but no tackiness. I also love the order of operations. The process of curing THEN filing makes the filing process SO much easier. With standard strips, I find that I can never get the edges smooth. There is always tiny, sticky jagged pieces that grab onto fuzzies. I can get a smooth edge with these!
I do not get hair stuck in the strips, or fuzzies attached to the tips! Maybe there is an occasional fuzzy here or there after drying off post showering, but this is manageable. These strips are not able to crack or chip. They are SUPER shiny and honestly look like press-ons or acrylics. You might recall that I have tested the original Dashing Diva Gloss strips, and I cannot make them work for anything. I always have the issues with hair, fuzzies, and lifting/peeling. So far, Glaze is a million times better!
In terms of negatives, this entire process took a long time, much longer than simply painting my nails. The reason for this is that I am careful in picking sizes, trimming, applying, pressing, cutting, and so on. I want to ensure I am doing each step to the T for best results. I would reserve this manicure for special occasions.
For final thoughts, I want to cover how these held up after 14 days of wear. For the first time ever, these are strips that stayed fully adhered with no peeling! The shine and color lasts. I was able to easily peel them off to remove with minimal to no damage. These make me want to try other brands of semi-cured strips, as the LED light from this kit will work with other brands. I will definitely buy more strips, especially ones with designs.
Dashing Diva Glaze Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs:
I will end with some frequently asked questions concerning Dashing Diva Glaze:
How long does Dashing Diva Glaze last?
Dashing Diva Glaze is designed to last up to 14 days. It is recommended to remove them after that time period to avoid bacteria growing under the strips.
How do I remove Dashing Diva Glaze?
Dashing Diva Glaze is to be removed by slowly peeling the strips off. This will avoid damaging your nails. A drop of cuticle oil may be applied on each nail to make the process easier. Otherwise, no products or tools are needed.
Can I polish over Dashing Diva Glaze?
Yes, you can polish over Dashing Diva Glaze. The strips are made from real gel nail polish, meaning you can layer polishes without them peeling off of the strip.
Shop Dashing Diva Glaze Semi-Cured Gel
Conclusion
In summary of this review and tutorial covering Dashing Diva Glaze, this is finally a nail polish strip that actually works and is worth your cash! The typical problems that arise with strips are eliminated with these semi-cured real gel strips, which include peeling/lifting, and getting fuzzies and hair attached to and stuck under the strips. The shine and color last for 14 days and stay adhered. This is a great alternative to the nail salon to save you money, and you will love these for special occasions. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.
How often do you wear semi-cured, or any nail strips?
One Response
Useful article, thank you. Top article, very helpful.