Some helpful hints I have learned over the last 2 years:
1. I always buff my nails before applying them to get rid of any ridges and help them adhere better.
2. I always try to use a tip that is wider than my actual nail so that I can file the excess on the side and allow more wiggle room to get the tip on without leaving a blank space on the edge.
3. I use a metal nail file to remove the excess after I make sure they are secure. Usually I apply all of one hand and wait a couple minutes before filing. I found that filing side to side with the file can tear the strip and makes the edges ragged, so I file perpindicular to the edge of my nail from front to back.
4. Apply a clear topcoat to give them the shine of a salon manicure. I still haven't found the perfect top coat, but I keep looking.
5. After about a week or when the edges start to look a little ragged, I trim my nails and file. Voila! A brand new manicure that lasts another week. In order to do this, I do have to apply the tips a little lower on my nail initially.
I wish they still sold these in stores because they were priced even better and it was more convenient, but these are definitely worth ordering. I don't even mind paying for shipping.
**UPDATE** I finally found a great basecoat / topcoat Salon Sciences Bonding Basecoat. It gives a nice shine to your nails and stays on for the entire two weeks that the manicure lasts. I put one coat on before the tips, let them adhere for a little while and go over with one coat. Any other basecoat or topcoat that I had used previously would chip or peel at least once during the two week wear.
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SUCCESS.....FINALLY!I wish someone had told me how to do this. It would have saved me A LOT of time and money. This is how to do a French manicure using the gelish system.....that will last at least 2 weeks, if not longer. If you do this exactly how I have instructed, the French tips will be almost as strong as acrylics from the salon. Trust me, it works and at a fraction of the cost. I do this AT NIGHT so I can sleep all night without my nails being vulnerable to anything that could damage them. When I wake in the morning, my nails are super strong.
You will need:
*Gelish products: cleanse solution, PH Bond, Structure gel, princess pink polish, foundation gel, top coat gel
*"Out the door" top coat. I get this at Sally's. It's a fast drying top coat and I haven't found anything even close to how it protects your nails!
*UV Lamp
1.Buff and clean nails using cleanse solution
2.Apply PH Bond
3.Apply French tips to clean nails. I cut the ends off close to where I will ultimately shape my nails.......not until entire process is finished.
4.Apply one coat of foundation gel over entire nail, including french tips.... cure 2 minutes
5.Apply 1 layer of gelish structure over entire nail, including french tips ......cure 2 minutes
6.Apply princess pink polish (I only use 1 coat) over entire nail, including french tips ........cure 2 minutes
7.Apply top coat over entire nail, including french tips ......cure 2 minutes
8.Apply "out the door" top coat.........I do this last step right before I am getting into bed.
I don't shape my nails until the next morning because by then my nails are super hard and can be shaped much easier.
I hope this helps get you the French manicure you've been looking for
Best Deals for Incoco Nail Polish Strips, French Manicure, White Cloud (tips only)
I recently purchased the gelish gel nails set to do my nails at home. I have also purchased the french manicure gelish kit and it is so hard to do on yourself. I have been looking for an easy alternative to doing french manicures under the gel nails. I ordered these hoping they would look great and they look like my nails were professionally done! I placed these on first, then did my gelish base and top coat and they look so SOOOO good!!! I have only had them on for 2 days and have gotten so many compliments and people simply cannot believe these are my own nails and I did them myself! The gelish lasts about 2 weeks so I know these are well protected and will last the same. I work in the medical field and wash my hands about 40 times a day as well and they still last that long! I recommend for anyone wanted to keep their nails nice and manicured these strips in combination with the gelish look fabulous!!!Honest reviews on Incoco Nail Polish Strips, French Manicure, White Cloud (tips only)
**UPDATED REVIEW**After applying these tips I'm pretty pleased with the outcome. This definitely beats trying to apply white nail polish or manicure pens to the tips of your nails with (or without) nail tip guards. I'm use my hands extensively, so I didn't expect these to last the two weeks maximum, but they did last longer than painting the tips. I followed the directions, buffed my nails, cleaned them, and applied the tips according to the directions, and applied the Sally Hansen Hard as Nails topcoat. After 5 days, I have VERY small cracks running in the tips, and one of the tips has started to chip. I'm guessing if I didn't use my hands for everything, like a guy (lol) they would last longer. Either way, these are easy to apply and look awesome! I'll have to try clipping off the ends as mentioned in the second review to see if they look new again and don't chip when I clip them.
Some tips: I have to agree with the second review-I used a metal nail file and creased down, not side to side, to remove the excess tip. I used a topcoat-a must.
(INITIAL REVIEW)
I haven't applied these tips yet, but just wanted to mention that there is only one set of 16 strips (8 sizes) per package. Many of them look like they will be too big for my nails. I was expecting more strips and more sizes due to looking at Incoco's other products and viewing their website.) They should definitely state this in their product description. For this reason, for now, I'm rating these 4 stars. I'll update after I've actually applied the nail tips.
