I love expressing myself with manicures. For getting artsy, I like to use Color Street 100% Real Nail Polish Strips. It gives me nail art without any artistic ability!
Instructions for Color Street nail polish strips
- File your nails, remove polish, and clean your hands. My tip: I use a glass file to file my nails while still polished. After shaping, lightly file the tip of the nail at a 45-degree angle from the top to thin out the nail tip.
- The envelope has illustrated detailed directions, a cute file, and a nail prep pad. You may want to also use an orange stick and a small pair of scissors.
- The nail strips come in different sizes. (16 strips are included.) Take some time to figure out which strips fit the nail bed of each nail. I placed a piece of tape on each nail and traced inside the cuticle with a sharpie. Then I used a long piece of tape to make a little template, which I save. I think because my nails have a lot of curve, I find this flat template much easier to use to select my nail strip size. If your nails are very slender, you may want to cut a tiny strip off the edge of the strip you’ve selected.
- You can take care of extra length or width at the top during the process with stretching. Depending on the length of your nails, you may be able to get 2 nails from some strips. I find that the Glitter Designs and Nail Art Designs are not too hard to cut in half and use for two nails. Some of the other types are slightly thinner and harder to maneuver.
- The strips are made from real nail polish and have a clear protection on top that needs to be peeled. Next, the white backing has to be peeled. You can hold the sticky strip with your finger, but I like using my orange stick.
- Then, carefully lay the strip on your nail trying to line up with the nail bed. The strip can be slightly stretched to curve and fit. Start with your pinky and do your thumbs last.
- Use your finger to rub the sticker from the center of the nail out to the edges to flatten all bumps. You can gently use the orange stick to flatten bumps and cover the very tip of the nail. The sticker should kind of stretch off the end of the nail and if you are lucky, salvage the rest of the sticker for another nail. I save the peel off parts to help save the stickers.
- Use the file to finish off the end of the nail. Stroke it at a right angle to your nail. You may have to use the pointed end of the orange stick to remove excess around the cuticle.
Tip: I choose a nail polish that goes with the stickers to fix any little chips that may happen during the week. When you are ready to remove, just use your normal nail polish remover.
Tip: If there is a lot of glitter in the design, you may want to use the foil method. Cut foil strips about 3 inches by 3 inches. Soak a cotton pad in polish remover and place it on your nail. Wrap the pad and your finger in foil. Do all the nails on one hand. Wait five minutes, then twist as you pull the foil and cotton off your finger. You may need to go back in with another cotton pad, but this will soften up the glitter.
Why try Color Street?
Color Street nail strips can be applied quickly and are dry when you are finished (base coat and top coat are built in!) Applying the strips takes about 30 minutes to be completely bonded to your nail, but I’ve typed, done laundry, and other things as soon as I was done with no chipping. The price is similar to high quality nail polish, but you will get one or two applications out of a set.
Color Street comes in solid colors, glitters, glitter design, and nail art design. They have a very clever way of doing different color French tips, too. Also, you should check out the pedicure designs! I’m adding Color Street to my nail polish collection because it’s a simple, fast way to get really cute nail art on my nails!
Resource links for Color Street 100% real nail polish strips
- https://www.mycolorstreet.com/midnightnails
- Color Street shop from stylist Renia Miller
- https://www.mycolorstreet.com/midnightnails/application#videos
- Videos showing how to apply Color Street nail polish strips
- https://www.vampyvarnish.com/
- Vampy Varnish beauty blog
- http://www.manicuredandmarvelous.com/
- Manicured and Marvelous blog
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Thank you for sharing at #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Pinned and shared.
Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared.
These are amazing. One of my coworkers uses them. Such pretty colors and designs. TFS and have a wonderful day.
Hey Clearissa, I’m not replacing my nail polish collection, but these strips are definitely the way to go for artistic nails!