DIY Gel polish-Sensational by Nailene

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#625
I wanted to give an update on the Sensationail nail shields and add some manicures.

I've been using the nail shields for several months now, and I love them. They have the miraculous ability of making my manicures last longer while, at the same time, making my soak-off super fast. My most recent manicure would have been a total fail if not for the nail shields. I bought the Gelish color, Do I Look Buff. For some reason, this color would not cure in my Sensationail lamp. I have numerous Gelish colors, and this is the first time the color just would not completely cure. I even re-did the manicure and cured the coats for 90 sec, and it still failed to completely cure. But because of the nail shields, I was able to get the mani to last about 5-6 days until the following weekend. The next weekend, I still didn't have to soak off everything! I just filed down the soft/half cured Gelish and painted another color over it. This manicure then lasted another week! So basically, I was still able to get my normal 12-13 days out of my mani, all thanks to the nail shields!

Now, it is important to note that the nail shields only stay on when your free-edge is properly capped. Because it is essentially just stuck on, it can be easily lifted off during daily activities if the free-edge is not protected with SOG. Because I get tip wear throughout the week, after 1 week I always go over my existing manicure with 2 coats of top coat, or add another color on top of my existing mani. Also, there is a bit of a learning curve, when using these, so don't give up after the first try! I got wrinkles in my first couple of manicures with the shields. It helps to lay the shield straight down the middle of the nail first. Then smooth the sides down.

I know that the instructions say that the nail shields can be peeled off, but I still use acetone to soak them off. It takes 5-10 minutes to fall off with acetone. I don't peel them because my nails are already prone to peeling, and peeling the shields can remove some nail layers, though minor.

Attached manicures below (all are 3 coats):
1. Sensationail La creme (sheer and streaky), sensationail gold glitter on ring finger
2. Sensationail White lily (1 coat of Gelaze fairy dust on top)
3. Sensationail Macchiato. I love this nude! The picture doesn''t really show it here, but there is an element of pink to this light brown nude. This color is slightly sheer (jelly finish), but applies beautifully and without streaks.
 

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#626
hoosieraussis said:
I wanted to give an update on the Sensationail nail shields and add some manicures.

I've been using the nail shields for several months now, and I love them. They have the miraculous ability of making my manicures last longer while, at the same time, making my soak-off super fast. My most recent manicure would have been a total fail if not for the nail shields. I bought the Gelish color, Do I Look Buff. For some reason, this color would not cure in my Sensationail lamp. I have numerous Gelish colors, and this is the first time the color just would not completely cure. I even re-did the manicure and cured the coats for 90 sec, and it still failed to completely cure. But because of the nail shields, I was able to get the mani to last about 5-6 days until the following weekend. The next weekend, I still didn't have to soak off everything! I just filed down the soft/half cured Gelish and painted another color over it. This manicure then lasted another week! So basically, I was still able to get my normal 12-13 days out of my mani, all thanks to the nail shields!

Now, it is important to note that the nail shields only stay on when your free-edge is properly capped. Because it is essentially just stuck on, it can be easily lifted off during daily activities if the free-edge is not protected with SOG. Because I get tip wear throughout the week, after 1 week I always go over my existing manicure with 2 coats of top coat, or add another color on top of my existing mani. Also, there is a bit of a learning curve, when using these, so don't give up after the first try! I got wrinkles in my first couple of manicures with the shields. It helps to lay the shield straight down the middle of the nail first. Then smooth the sides down.

I know that the instructions say that the nail shields can be peeled off, but I still use acetone to soak them off. It takes 5-10 minutes to fall off with acetone. I don't peel them because my nails are already prone to peeling, and peeling the shields can remove some nail layers, though minor.

Attached manicures below (all are 3 coats):
1. Sensationail La creme (sheer and streaky), sensationail gold glitter on ring finger
2. Sensationail White lily (1 coat of Gelaze fairy dust on top)
3. Sensationail Macchiato. I love this nude! The picture doesn''t really show it here, but there is an element of pink to this light brown nude. This color is slightly sheer (jelly finish), but applies beautifully and without streaks.
Click to expand...
Thanks for responding to my post and directing me to the page . I did buy some and tried them . They went on pretty easily , I realized that if I got them slightly crooked or down to far on the cuticle I could lift them up and try again . Even if they got smudges on them it didn't matter because that was covered with polish. I will see how easily they remove . I will probably take them off in a couple days because we are going on a trip and I want my mani to be fresh without having to worry about chips etc and packing nail stuff.
 
#627
VonniRnc said:
Thanks for responding to my post and directing me to the page . I did buy some and tried them . They went on pretty easily , I realized that if I got them slightly crooked or down to far on the cuticle I could lift them up and try again . Even if they got smudges on them it didn't matter because that was covered with polish. I will see how easily they remove . I will probably take them off in a couple days because we are going on a trip and I want my mani to be fresh without having to worry about chips etc and packing nail stuff.
Click to expand...
No problem! I'm glad that they went on easily. These nail shields sound like they will save you a lot of time, since you want to take off your gel after just a couple of days. Sounds like the perfect scenario to try out the shields. I'd be interested to hear how they last.
 
#628
hoosieraussis said:
No problem! I'm glad that they went on easily. These nail shields sound like they will save you a lot of time, since you want to take off your gel after just a couple of days. Sounds like the perfect scenario to try out the shields. I'd be interested to hear how they last.
Click to expand...
I had these on about a week before removing to do a fresh mani before traveling . I did have to reinforce some tips on my right hand at about 5 days. They still looked great when I took them off. I didn't use acetone but soaked for 6-7 minutes in warm water and they peeled right off easily. I liked the fact that I didn't have to use acetone to remove them because it is so drying. I did feel that my nails seemed more dry and weak after removing these and they came off pretty easily. I wondered if maybe this was because the nails could not breathe well with the shields on. I had not used my regular cuticle oil twice a day as normal because I thought they might loosen up and come off due to that, but used my burts bees cuticle cream every day. I will probably give them another try and use my oil next tine because it did take a little pulling at the cuticle area to get them to start coming off. One thing I did like was that there was a smoother surface if you had any uneven spots or ridges on your nails . I was wondering if you found more weakness or drying of your nails after using them for a long period ?
 
#629
VonniRnc said:
I had these on about a week before removing to do a fresh mani before traveling . I did have to reinforce some tips on my right hand at about 5 days. They still looked great when I took them off. I didn't use acetone but soaked for 6-7 minutes in warm water and they peeled right off easily. I liked the fact that I didn't have to use acetone to remove them because it is so drying. I did feel that my nails seemed more dry and weak after removing these and they came off pretty easily. I wondered if maybe this was because the nails could not breathe well with the shields on. I had not used my regular cuticle oil twice a day as normal because I thought they might loosen up and come off due to that, but used my burts bees cuticle cream every day. I will probably give them another try and use my oil next tine because it did take a little pulling at the cuticle area to get them to start coming off. One thing I did like was that there was a smoother surface if you had any uneven spots or ridges on your nails . I was wondering if you found more weakness or drying of your nails after using them for a long period ?
Click to expand...

I naturally have thin, peely nails. But no, I have not noticed any worsening in the condition of my nails. I've used then for every manicure since about february. My fingers and cuticles are in better condition because my soak off is shorter. Try to go back to your usual oiling routine, and see if that makes a difference. Hopefully the nail shields will hold up. I don't use cuticle oil, but I apply lotion several times a day, and I haven't noticed any difference compared to without the nail shields.
 
#630
VonniRnc said:
I had these on about a week before removing to do a fresh mani before traveling . I did have to reinforce some tips on my right hand at about 5 days. They still looked great when I took them off. I didn't use acetone but soaked for 6-7 minutes in warm water and they peeled right off easily. I liked the fact that I didn't have to use acetone to remove them because it is so drying. I did feel that my nails seemed more dry and weak after removing these and they came off pretty easily. I wondered if maybe this was because the nails could not breathe well with the shields on. I had not used my regular cuticle oil twice a day as normal because I thought they might loosen up and come off due to that, but used my burts bees cuticle cream every day. I will probably give them another try and use my oil next tine because it did take a little pulling at the cuticle area to get them to start coming off. One thing I did like was that there was a smoother surface if you had any uneven spots or ridges on your nails . I was wondering if you found more weakness or drying of your nails after using them for a long period ?
Click to expand...

I suspect that the peeling removal (vs soaking off with acetone) may bey why you're experiencing more weakness & dryness. Peeling off the gel also removes the top layer of your nail. I know the shields *say* you can peel them off, but it makes sense to me it would also remove a layer of nail at the same time, since they're attaching with adhesive, and especially if you're having to pick at it to get it off.

I don't use the shields, but what I do is soak mine off with the foil-wrap method, then I massage in a heavy-duty hand & nail cream. Sometimes I'll even dab a good-sized "blob" of it onto my nail beds & cuticles, and let it sit & soak in for 10-15 minutes before I work it in. I then wait & redo my next manicure the following day. You might try adding some extra moisture between manis.
 
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