I know, I know. It’s about time that OPI released a signature brand of nail polish application strips in their product lineup! These are entirely separate from the Sephora by OPI Trend Tips you’ll see at Sephora—these are from the nail polish MOTHERLODE themselves—just good ol’ OPI. These are brand spankin’ new, and they’re called OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps.
Truth be told, I’ve only had these in my possession for a few days, so I’m not quite ready to give a full review with total performance details yet. But I wanted to offer you a ‘first impressions’ review, because let’s face it; I’m an OPI fan as much as the day is long. (Have been for ages and ages, and will probably still be rocking Lincoln Park After Dark when I’m in my nineties.)
There are 14 styles, broken into two categories—creams and shimmers:
See more photos, how-to instructions, and details…
The application instructions are incredibly easy, and the details are similar to most other instructions on the market. One thing OPI stresses is NOT to use a top coat with them. These literally are made from nail polish—and have your base, color, and top coat embedded in the strip. They’re not patterned stickers like some out there. They’re real polish, and they totally smell like it too. Each pack comes with 16 pre-cut strips in varied sizes, and can be used on your fingers or toes.
To start yourself off with a successful application session, I recommend lightly cleansing your bare nails with acetone first to remove anything that could get in the way of the nail app from sticking. Make sure your nails are totally clean and dry!
You’ll want to leave these in the plastic/foil package until you’re ready to apply, otherwise they’ll dry out. They won’t dry out in the few minutes it will take you to apply them, but let’s say—if you left them out all day—you’d be pretty sad about it.
Once out of the foil package, there’s a clear film over the strips. You’ll want to remove that. After deciding which size you’ll need for your nail, go ahead and gently remove that single strip by lifting by the silver edge and placing it with the round side, close to your cuticle. I found that there was a strip that fit each one of my nails without any problem.
Smooth the strip (I use my opposite thumb) down the length of the nail to help it fully adhere to your nail. Lightly press down and out, until it starts to fold/curve over the end of your nail. OPI recommends lightly filing the excess in a downward motion, but I didn’t need a file at all. I was able to smooth it over so easily that it just separated itself, exactly where it needed to be.
It probably took me less that 10 minutes to do both of my hands, and wah-lah! Here’s what the peacock pattern looks like:
Easy, right? I truthfully had zero issues with application; no creases, no bubbles, and no tearing. I’ll have to give these a few days of wear before I can decide if they earn a five-star rating, but so far, so good! OPI says these can last up to two weeks, and I won’t know for sure because I’ll likely need to swatch new polish collections before then. But one of the things I LOVE about polish strips is that they rarely chip! Therefore, I won’t pick or get frustrated. These also feel really thin on my nails. There are some out there that feel so thick that I can’t help but want to peel them long before their removal time is due.
Price & Availability…
Pure Lacquer Nail Apps are available at professional salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for the suggested retail price of $11.95.
