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Somebody once said, “Every girl should have two things: Beautiful nails and fabulous toes.” That somebody was Tammy Taylor. Her words couldn’t have been farfetched as every girl is inherently wired to make herself look beautiful.
Color street nails have become every woman’s essential hack, especially when they can’t dash to a beauty parlor for holistic pedicure and manicure. It has become the miracle answer for every busy woman who still has to look fabulous.
But even with all the generous praises showered on these stickers, women will always find a reason to make them look better. They are 100% nail polish. They already have the top, color, and base coat in them, and adding one more coat will make them too thick.
Ideally, they are intended to be peel, stick, and go. But if you should add that one more layer, at least use their Clear as Day set. Even though they are not necessary, below are some of the reasons you should apply topcoat to your Color Street nails.
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What are the Reasons Why You Should Put a Topcoat on Your Nail Strips?
As I mentioned earlier, it is not necessary to add an extra layer to your Color Street nails. It will make them unnecessarily too thick but if you must, use their recommended quick-drying topcoat set. On the other hand, it is always good to try out different things to see for yourself the outcome!
1. To Give a Glossy/Matte Look
I have already mentioned that Color Street nails already have a topcoat in them. However, if you still feel like they are not glossy enough for your liking, add a thin layer of the topcoat for that extra glossy or matte look.
2. For Protection
Perhaps adding one more layer to your nail strips isn’t that hurtful. It would be a good gentle way to protect the strips from quickly chipping out or cracking. Consider applying a quick-drying coat for the best results.
3. To Make Them Last Longer
Applying a topcoat can act as a protective layer for your Color Street nails. Instead of the original layer peeling off, the added layer will be the one to go, thus preserving the original protective layer.
4. To Liven Up the Strip
You will realize that after a few days of wearing them, your strip will appear dull and faded. This would be the right time to apply a top coat to give it some glossy or matte look to liven them up.
5. To Seal And Save the Color
Most people believe that by adding that extra coat on top of the Color Street nails, they will save the original color from fading away. This is true to some degree because the more the strips come in contact with water, the more they are prone to fade. Adding that extra thin layer will preserve its vibrant gloss.
8 Popular Steps to Make Your Color Street Nails Last Longer
Your nails will crack a lot under these strips. They will still crack under any other nail applications, so the problem is not in your Color Street nails. This is a normal occurrence when your good nails simultaneously expand and contract. Now that I have gotten that fact out of the way, let’s get back to some serious tips for long-lasting Color Street nails.
1. Put Them at Room Temperature
Your Color Street nails must be at room temperature before you apply them to your nails. Cold temperatures harden but you can easily get around this by rubbing them between your hands. On the other hand, the strips will typically become sticky under hot temperatures. Since they are made of the usual nail polish, consider keeping them at room temperature.
2. Cleanse Your Hands
Always ensure that your hands are squeaky clean before handling the Color Street nail strips as dirty nails can transfer bacteria causing infections. Consider using antibacterial soaps like Palmolive or DAWN. They are the best degreasers and they will thoroughly cleanse, remove oil while killing all the germs.
3. Remove or Push Your Cuticles
Putting your nail strips on top of your cuticles will make them overgrown and may cause your nails to crack. Instead, push your cuticles far back into the skin or completely remove them. Either use a cuticle pusher to push the cuticles away from the nails or completely remove them with a cuticle remover.
4. Prepare Your Nails
Prepare the top of your nails by filing and buffing using the 4-in-one file. This step is very important as it helps your Color Street strips adhere to your nails. Unprepared nails can be a hotspot for bacteria to thrive.
5. Use the Alcohol Prep Pads
Color Street nails come with alcohol prep pads. Never overlook them. They play a very important role in killing the germs and keeping your fingers squeaky clean by removing any excess oil. Whenever you buy something, always know that everything that comes with the package has a vital role to play.
6. Double Layer Your Nails
One of the most popular hacks most people use is layering two nail strips on one nail. Apparently, this makes the strips last longer and elevates the look. This works best with the solid colors but there are overlay nail strips that you can use. Most of the available overlays come in Polka, Dotcom, Rose Gold among many more.
7. Consider When to Put them On
I would recommend putting these strips on just before bed. This way, you will not have to worry about smudging and creating a mess when going about other things. The strips can still be applied at any time of the day. Just be careful not to touch anything that can interfere with the drying process for at least 30 mins.
8. Don’t Get Wet Soon
At least give your hands some minutes before submerging or getting them in contact with water. 30 minutes would suffice but you can give yourself the benefit of more if you don’t feel satisfied. This means that if you want your stick-on strips to last longer, you have to forget doing the dishes, showering, laundry, or swimming for a minute. Perhaps you should do some quick Netflix to distract yourself from the wait.
Best Ways to Make Your Color Street Stick
Some people complain about their Color Street nails not sticking. It is not only you! It mostly happens if there is a misstep during the application process. Try these tricks to see if things change for you.
· Use antibacterial dishwashing soap-This will help degrease your nails. Using the Alcohol pads alone might not be enough, especially if you have oily skin.
· Use Alcohol prep pad-This will remove excess oil from your nails. Yes, I know what you are saying right now. You did not apply any oil to your hands. Human skin is constantly hydrated by natural oils and that includes your nails.
· Use a base Coat-If your nail beds are still oily even after degreasing and using the alcohol pads, your strips might not stick. Color Street nails are known to hold better with a base coat.
Conclusion
It is not absolutely a must to put a layering top coat on your newly applied nail strips. However, if you must for some of the reasons, be very economical with the topcoat as too thick might end up spoiling the whole strip. Consider also use the recommended Color Street topcoat, which doubles up as a strengthened.
If you want to learn about nail art you can read about it here.
Sources:
- 8 Tips – Your Go To Guide for Long Lasting Color Street Nails?
- 4 thoughts on “5 Common Color Street Problems (And How to Fix Them)”
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