{Review}: Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Nail Strips in Walk the Catwalk

Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Nail Strips in Walk the Catwalk

I'm so excited to share this review with y'all - I LOVE these!  If you are not familiar with gel nails, I'll give you the rundown:  They are similar to acrylic nails, as they harden and last longer than regular polish.  These specific gels are light-cured.  This is generally done with the help of a UV/LED Lamp.  Sally Hansen has followed suit by offering starter kits which include lamps along with the gel polish strips.  {NOTE: I used my Sensationail lamp (review to come on Sensationail products) when applying these strips, as I did not want to spend extra money on something I already had.  I will give details below}

Product Details:
There are several options for these Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Strips:

Mini lamp starter kit ($29.99) - includes 1 Mini LED Lamp, 16 Gel Polish Strips, 1 Gel Top Coat, 2 Nail Cleanser Pads, Cuticle Stick, File & Buffer, and Instruction sheet

Full size lamp starter kit ($69.99) - includes 1 LED Lamp, 1 Gel Base Coat, 1 Gel Nail Color, 1 Gel Top Coat, 10 Nail Cleanser Pads, Acetone Remover, Cuticle Stick, File & Buffer, and Instruction sheet

Insta-Gel Strips ($14.99) - includes 16 Gel Polish Strips, 1 Gel Top Coat, 2 Nail Cleanser Pads, Cuticle Stick, File & Buffer, and Instruction sheet  
{This is what I purchased because I already have a lamp}

Application:
The directions on the Insta-Gel Strips box suggest curing the patterned nail strips one nail at a time.  If you are planning to use these strips for fun patterns only, I would suggest getting the mini lamp for the cheaper price, as it is not suggested you do all of your nails at once.  If you plan to use these gel strips in a wide range of colors and patterns, I would go ahead and spend the extra money on the full size starter kit so you get the full size lamp. 

As I mentioned earlier, I used my Sensationail lamp.  I am unsure if this is suggested, as I was just trying it out, but I got perfect results using it.  I will also say that I cured each nail for 60 seconds under my Sensational lamp rather than the suggested 30 seconds, just to ensure ample exposure and curing.

All you do is clean your nails, apply the strips and contour/shape them, apply the top coat, cure under the lamp, and wipe clean - that's it. {Be sure to follow the included instructions}

Removal:
Because these are gel nails, they "should" be soaked off using Pure Acetone Polish Remover.  I will admit, I peeled them off.  I know this is not healthy or good for the nails, as it removes the top layer of the nail, but once I get going it becomes a nervous habit to peel them off.  I have successfully removed gel nails in the past by soaking cotton ball halves in acetone and applying them to each fingertip and securing them with aluminum foil so the cotton can penetrate the polish.  I found this to be a lot less messy and tedious than soaking. There are also gel polish remover strips available in stores.

My results:

These only lasted a week for me rather than the two that "Sally" suggests, but I feel that it was because it was my first time using strips and my intermediate application techniques.  I also put some furniture together the day after doing my nails which contributed to extra wear and tear.  I will also say that I am OCD when it comes to chipped nails and once one nail chips, I'm ready to change them all.  I could have left these on for at least another three or four days.  I had minimal peeling on some of the edges on just a few nails which could have been fine, but I picked at them and made them worse.  I plan to redo these again soon to see if my first try's practice round proves that the second time is a charm. 

*All prices given in this post are based on pricing in my specific area.  Please be advised the prices could be lower or higher depending on your own location*