Pssst! Wanna know how to save dried out nail polish strips? Look no further! In this post, I’m gonna walk you through how to revive dried-out color street nails.

We’ll look at 5 different ways to revive your color street nail strips, so you can experiment to see which one works best for you. I’ll even give you some great ideas for what to do with your dried-out strips other than putting them on your nails!

Ready to get started?

Let’s do this.

Need a quick fix?

Here’s the short and fast answer to your question:

The best way to revive color street nail strips is to use a hairdryer. Set it on low power and high heat, then blast your nail strip for 15 seconds. Apply right away as normal.

Now, let’s go a bit deeper and see how you can breathe new life into those dried-out nail strips.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

How to revive color street nails with a hairdryer

Ever heard of the color street hairdryer trick?

This first method is a really simple way to save your strips after they dried out.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A hairdryer
• Some tweezers (optional but finger saving!)
• A nail strip you want to save

What to do:

Set your hairdryer to low power and high heat.

Take your tweezers in one hand and pick up the nail strip. (I’m right-handed and I found it easier to hold the tweezers in my left hand).

With your other hand, hold the dryer about 6 inches away from your nail strip and blast it for 15 seconds.

You should be able to see the nail strip softening up.

Normally you’d wait for the color street strips to return to room temp before using, but with dried-out strips you’re going to want to apply them right after heating while they are still warm.

Apply the nail strip to your nails as soon as possible after heating.

You don’t need to do anything special during the application, just apply in the same way you normally would.

Bringing color street nails back to life with a nail wrap heater

This is a handy lil’ device (Click to check the price) that I heard about recently.

It’s an absolute gamechanger for reviving dried-out nail strips!

It’s made by a company called Jamberry.

Jamberry makes nail polish strips that are very similar to color street, and they invented this little gadget to help people get the most out of their nail strips.

It only takes a few seconds to transform dry, brittle nail polish strips, into useable, easy-to-apply strips again.

Magic!

What you’ll need:

• A nail heater
• An orange stick
• Your dried out nail strip

What to do:

Stick your dried-out nail polish strip to the end of an orangewood stick.

Hold it in front of the nail wrap heater for a few seconds until it starts to wobble.

That’s it! It’s so quick and easy and the results are amazing.

Here’s a short video that shows how well this thing works:

Reviving color street nails with a heat gun

If you’re a crafter or you’re into DIY, chances are that you may have a heat gun laying around.

If you do, you can use that to (carefully) heat up your nail strips.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A heat gun
• Tweezers or an orangewood stick

What to do:

First, set the heat gun to medium, these things get really hot and the last thing you want is to melt the strip!

I tried this method with tweezers and it was manageable but they got a little hot, so I switched to an orangewood stick instead.

So, take your orangewood stick and holding the heat gun a safe distance away (at least 6 inches) carefully heat up the nail strip.

It doesn’t take long, just a few seconds.

You’ll see the nail strip start to get soft and pliable.

Then you can just apply it as normal.

How to revive color street nails with the steam method

Heat will make the nails softer and reusable, but it doesn’t add any moisture.

This is my personal favorite way to bring dried-out nail strips back to life.

It’s quick, it’s easy and it doesn’t use any special tools!

What you’ll need:

• Your dried out color street nail strip
• A pan of hot water

What to do:

Boil some water in a pan on the stove.

Hold the nail strip above the pan, and let the steam do its work. 

You’ll soon see the strip start to soften up.

Be careful not to let the strip get too wet, you don’t want it to lose all its sticking power!

Once it’s soft enough to work with, apply as normal.

If you do find that you lost a bit of stickiness, here’s a great trick to fix that.

Take your color street nail prep wipe and gently wipe over the sticky side.

You should now find that it sticks better.

Color street nail polish strips and acetone

Revive color street nails with acetone

If all else fails, you can try using acetone or nail polish remover to revive your dried-out nail strips.

I have to say that I haven’t actually tried this method myself, as acetone is pretty harsh stuff.

But I have seen it done and it does work!

The reason you should use acetone or an acetone-based nail polish remover (rather than Mineral Fusion) for this is that they do not contain oils.

Oils on your nail strip are just going to make it impossible to stick.

You’ll need:

• A bowl or shallow dish
• Acetone (or regular nail polish remover with acetone in it)

What to do:

Pour your acetone into the bowl or dish. You only need a tiny amount, just enough to cover the bottom.

Take the backing off the strip and stick the strip to the backing sideways (so that you have the part that will cover your nail hanging over the edge ready for dipping)

Important! Don’t dip the nail strip into the acetone!

Tip the bowl of acetone to one side so that you have a pool on one side of the bowl.

What you want to do, is to gently place the nail strip – sticky side down – onto the part that has no pool but is still wet from the acetone.

Remove the strip and wait 15 to 30 seconds then apply as normal.

If your nail strips are really dry, you may need to double-dip.

You’ll see the nail strip start to loosen and become more pliable.

Just like with the other methods, you can then apply it as normal.

How to revive color street nails with nail polish remover

Here’s another little trick you can try for how to revive dried-out color street nails.

For this method you’ll need:

• Regular nail polish remover
• A nail art brush or small paintbrush

What to do:

Using the brush, paint a very thin coat over the back of your dried-out nail strip with the nail polish remover.

Be careful not to get any on the front side as this will dissolve the polish!

Leave it to sit for a minute or two then apply as normal.

Other uses for dried out color street nails

If all these methods fail, don’t worry! There are still plenty of things you can do with your dried out color street nails.

Here are a few ideas:

– Make some nail art with them!

The good thing about dried-out stiff nail polish strips is that it’s easier to punch holes in them!

So why not get yourself some mini hole punches and cut out some cute shapes.

You can add some fun little details to your nails this way.

I love mini hole punches for doing nail art! They come in lots of different shapes like hearts, stars, butterflies and even teddy bears!

– Use them to make some fun and colorful jewelry.

Did you know that there are people making earrings and pendants using their old color street strips?

You can do it too!

But make sure anything that you make is only for personal use, as color street doesn’t allow you to use their strips to make commercial products.

So there you have it!  I hope you found this how to revive dried out color street nails post helpful and that it gives you some ideas for reviving your dried-out nail strips.

If you want more tips and tricks for using color street nails, check out my 27 tips post here.

FAQ

Q: What is the best way to revive dried out color street nails?

A: There are a few ways to revive dried out color street nails, including using a hairdryer, acetone, nail polish remover, steam, or a heat gun.

Q: I tried using acetone but it didn’t work, what do I do?

A: If you’re having trouble reviving your dried out color street nails with acetone, try using the steam method or the hairdryer trick instead.

Q: Can I use mineral fusion to revive my dried out color street nails?

A: No, you should only use acetone or an acetone-based nail polish remover to revive your dried-out color street nails.

The post How to revive dried out color street nails appeared first on nailhow.

Looking for some color street nail hacks? I hear ya. It can be a little tricky to get the hang of using these nail strips, but once you know a few tricks, it’s easy breezy.

Here are my top 8 color street nail hacks:

1. Make your own french manicure tips
2. Add cute details with mini punchers
3. Hack for covering regrowth
4. Color street nail hacks; cutting strips in half
5. Hack to get a darker color
6. How to fix chips hack
7. Braided nails hack
8. Cold hands hack

Make your own french manicure tips

This first hack will let you turn any color street nail strip into french manicure tips.

Omg, you can create such cute and unique looks with this hack!

Here’s what you need:

• A circle hole punch in size 5/8ths of an inch
• A nail strip in a color you want to use for your tips.

The perfect size hole punch for this hack is 5/8. You can get a hole punch in this size from Amazon.

Take your chosen nail strip and place it into the hole punch. Leave the plastic on and hold the hole punch upside down when you do this.

The reason you want to hold the hole punch upside down is that there is a clear window underneath which means you can see exactly how much you are cutting off.

This allows you to get the exact size and shape you want.

Place the tip where you want it and punch.

Then remove the plastic from the front and back and apply as normal.

I love this hack because it’s cheap and easy and it gets me tons of compliments every time!

Add cute details with mini punchers

This next hack uses mini punchers to add super cute little details to your color street nails.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 color street nail sets (so you can create contrast)
• A mini hole punch in the shape of your choice

This hack is amazing because the possibilities are endless.

I tried it with a tiny star hole punch and it turned out great!

But you can use hearts, butterflies, flowers, leaves, umbrellas, teddy bears, bows…did I mention the endless possibilities?

Here’s how to do it.

• Apply one set of color street strips as a base
• Take your second set of nail strips and your mini hole punch
• Cut out some shapes from the second set of strips (however many you want)
• Remove the plastic – this is a little tricky but you can do it!
• Apply the cute shapes over the first set
• add topcoat to seal everything in

Color street nail hack for covering regrowth

This is a great hack for changing your nails up a bit and/or making your color street manicures last a bit longer.

What you’ll need

• Nail strips in either the same or a different color to the set your wearing
• A circle hole punch in size 5/8ths of an inch

When your regrowth is showing you can use the 5/8 circular hole punch to make reverse french tips!

Just cut out the french tips as I explained for hack number 1, but this time cut twice so that you end up with little half-moon shapes.

You’ll have to play around to get the sizing right, but believe me, it’s totally worth it!

Once you have all your tips cut out, remove the plastic and apply over the regrowth at the cuticle and voila – no visible regrowth.

You could also use a complimentary set to the one you have on to create a gorgeous half-moon mani!

And no need to get the nail polish out for another week!

Don’t forget to file down any wear at the tips and throw on some topcoat for extra protection.

Color street nail hacks – cutting strips in half

This next hack is for those of you with wide nails.

You can also use this hack if you only have narrow strips left.

What you’ll need:

• A nail strip that’s too narrow for your nail and a second one in the same color
• Some good scissors (straight ones not curved nail scissors)

Basically, if the nail strip is too narrow for your nail, take it and cut it with scissors straight down the middle.

Then apply one half to the left edge of your nail and the other half to the right edge.

This may be enough to cover the whole nail. But if you still have a gap in the center, take another whole nail strip and place it right down the middle covering the gap.

That’s it!

Hack to get a darker color

This is one of my favorite color street nail hacks.

Color too light? Or just want to change things up a bit?

Here’s a great little hack to make your color street nails a darker shade.

What you’ll need:

• All you need is 1 full set of color street nail strips.

What to do:

Simply double up the strips – it’s that easy!

Adding 2 strips to each nail will give you an overall result that is a shade or two darker.

It’s so simple but so effective.

How to fix chips hack

Chipped a nail? Not to worry!

Here’s a quick and easy way to fix that pesky chip.

What you’ll need:

• A nail file
• A color street nail strip in the same color you have on
• Scissors

What to do:

The first step is to take your nail file and very, very gently try to smooth out the chip as best as possible.

This will help the repair look seamless.

Next, cut a small piece off your color street nail strip.

Make sure that the piece you cut is big enough to cover the chip and that you cut it out while the plastic is still on.

Remove the plastic and apply the chunk of nail strip over the chip and a little bit over the surrounding area.

Seal with topcoat.

Braided nails hack

Bored with your color street nails? Why not add a cute accent nail with a patterned design?

Here’s how you can create your own braided nail design using color street strips.

Take a nail strip in a base color you like and apply as normal.

Take a second nail strip in a complimentary color or nail art design and cut it into small rectangular strips. Think striping tape sized or a little thicker.

Then stick the small strips you made in an overlapping pattern, laid diagonally.

Cold hands hack

Color street nails and cold hands don’t mix well.

Of course, you can easily warm up your hands under warm water.

But if you use hot water to warm up your hands, your nails will expand. This can lead to cracked nails, so it’s not ideal.

To avoid your nails from getting all brittle and icky, here’s a quick hack to keep your hands warm.

What you’ll need:

• A heating pad

What to do:

Put your heating pad on a low to medium setting.

Place your hands on it for 5 minutes.

Apply color street as normal.

Final thoughts:

Color Street nail hacks are easy to learn and can be executed with limited time, effort or money. These hacks may seem minor but they have the power to make your nails look polished without sucking up too much of your precious time. If you’re looking for new ways to jazz up your color street manicure, try these awesome hacks and let me know how you get on!

FAQ’s

How do I cover regrowth?

If you have regrowth showing, you can either cut a small piece of nail strip to cover it or use a mini hole puncher to add a small design over the regrowth.

How do I make a darker color?

To make a darker color, simply double up the nail strips. This will add an extra layer of color and result in a shade or two darker.

What do I do if my nails are too wide/narrow?

If your nails are too wide, you can cut the strips in half and then apply them to each side of the nail. If your nails are too narrow, you can remove the excess using an orangewood stick or cuticle pusher.

Can I use these hacks if I have short nails?

Yes! These hacks are perfect for short nails – they’ll work just as well for you as for your long-nailed friends!

amazon associates disclaimer

As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases

The post Color street nail hacks: 8 amazing tricks for stunning nails appeared first on nailhow.

Before we dive in let me tell you that this is NOT a sales pitch – I don’t sell color street. I’m not in cahoots with them and I don’t make any money from them whatsoever.

That being said, let’s get started!

We’re about to answer all of your questions about storing color street nails.

In a hurry?

Here’s the fast answer in case your strips are drying out right now!

The best way to store opened color street nails is to put them back into the original plastic packet. Remove the air and seal the package shut using a flat iron. Then pop them in the freezer and they should last for 2 to 3 months.

Now you have the short answer, let’s go into a bit more detail and get some storage and organization tips!

Here’s what we’ll cover:

How long do color street nails last after opening?

How to store color street nail strips

Should I store my color Street nails in the freezer?

Can you store color street nails in a ziploc bag?

How do you organize street color strips?

How do I store my color street inventory?

Final thoughts

FAQ’s

Color Street is meant to be a 1-time use product. So although there are lots of tips, tricks, and hacks online on how to store color street nails, the official line is that you can only use them once.

So according to color street, there are no guarantees that any of these storage methods will work.

But they do!

How long do color street nails last after opening?

If left open, color street polish strips will dry out and become useless.

The clock starts ticking as soon as you open the packet!

Color street nails are 95% dry inside the packaging. It doesn’t take long for that last 5% to dry.

The official curing time is 30 minutes, so if you want to save the leftover strips, seal them up as soon as possible after opening.

But what’s the best way to keep them from drying out?

Well, there are a few different methods you can try.

How to store color street nail strips

The best way to store your unused color street nails is to put them back in the original packaging.

This plastic packet has been designed to keep color street fresh, so it makes sense to re-use it.

Your first challenge is to get the strips back into the packaging.

It’s not that easy!

Here are some useful time and stress-saving tips.

Tear or fold the strips first

You want to make sure that the nails themselves are at the bottom of the packet so that you have enough space to heat seal the packet back up.

Here’s what you need to do.

Don’t try to put the entire strip back in. It’s much easier to either tear the nail strips up into pairs or fold them down the center.

Remove the air

Once you have them back in the packet, you’ll need to get the air out.

To do this, place the pack on a flat surface and run your fingers or your hand from the bottom (closed-end) to the top (open end).

Use heat to seal

You don’t have to heat seal (more on that later) but Color street do store best if they are heat-sealed.

If you are using heat, make sure you keep the heat away from the nail strips themselves – because they are made from nail polish and are flammable!

To heat seal the packet, you’ll need either a flat iron or an iron for clothes.

Flat iron method:

Remove the air from the packet and then press the packet together using your flat iron.

Hold the straighteners shut for 2 or 3 seconds, then remove. Check if the seal is tight. If not repeat the process, but don’t hold for too long because you’ll melt the plastic!

In fact, I’d recommend purchasing a mini flat iron for this – just in case. Especially if you use color street a lot.

The last thing you want is to ruin your hair straighteners!

Clothes iron method:

If you have a flat iron, or you don’t want to use yours, then you can use a clothes iron to heat seal your nail strips.

Put the iron on medium heat and make sure you remove the air from your packet first.

Keeping the iron well away from the strips themselves, hold it for a few seconds over the open end of the packet.

check the seal is tight and repeat or turn the iron up slightly if needed.

Tape over the top place the tape and fold it over the top, make sure no air

How to store color street without using heat

If you don’t want to use heat, you can also try using tape to secure the packet.

Simply remove the air, then tape over the opening as tight as you can.

One piece of tape laid across the top and then folded over the seal should do the trick.

Should I store my color Street nails in the freezer?

Yes! this is a great idea.

You can store opened color street packets that you have heat-sealed in the freezer for up to 6 months.

But remember, color street do not guarantee that they will still work as well.

If you are going to throw your strips in the deep freeze, make sure that you allow enough time for them to defrost before you try to use them.

Color street nails are best applied at normal room temperature – so be patient!

Can you store color street nails in a ziploc bag?

Yes, you can store color street nails in a Ziploc bag.

If you have a lot of sets that you have already sealed in their original packaging then you can absolutely go ahead and throw them all in a ziplock bag in the freezer together.

If your individual packages are not heat sealed you can still store them in the freezer. But try to remove as much air as you can before you seal up the Ziploc bag.

How do you organize street color strips?

When it comes to organizing your color street nail collection, clear storage containers and display stands are your friends!

A 5 x 7 photo box is the ideal size for storing color street packages.

It’s a good idea to have one box for solids, one for glitters, and one for nail art designs.

The color street envelope measures 2.75″ x 6.25″. 

You could take organization one step further and put your strips into alphabetical order. This may take more time but is well worth doing if you want to be able to find the design you’re looking for in a hurry.

Some other great ideas for storing color street include:

• A photo album
• A storage bin
• A cosmetic bag
• Jewelry display boxes
• Clear plastic drawers
• Sewing box
• Lever arch file filled with plastic card-protectors (like for trading cards).

How do I store my color street inventory?

If you are a color street rep, you’re going to need somewhere to store all of those pretty nails!

The best way is to store them is inside clear airtight containers. That way you can keep the packets in pristine condition.

You can also see exactly what you have and find the ones you’re looking for much more easily.

If you can find clear storage boxes with dividers – even better!

Once you’re organized, you can put all of the containers into a large travel bag or trolley for easy transportation.

Final thoughts

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to store your color street nails.

It’s really up to you, so have a think about what works best for you and your lifestyle.

Just make sure that you keep the packets sealed and in a cool, dry place – and you should be good to go!

I hope that you enjoyed this post on how to store color street nails.

Happy stripping!

FAQ’s

How long can I store my color street nails for?

If you heat seal the packets, your color street nails should last 1 to 2 months.

If you’re storing them in the freezer, they should last for up to 6 months.

How do I organize my color street nails?

Alphabetically, by design, or into type (solid, glitter, nail art).

How do I store my color street nails if I’m a rep?

Inside clear airtight containers with dividers and/or labels.

Can I use a different sealant than the one that comes with color street nails?

Yes, you can use a different sealant but it is not guaranteed to work.

It’s always better to stick to the original packet. Or a Ziploc bag.

What are some other ways to store my color street nails?

In a photo album, storage bin, cosmetic bag, jewelry display box, clear plastic drawer, or lever arch file.

Where is the best place to store my color street nails?

In a cool, dry place. Preferably in their original packaging or in a Ziploc bag in the freezer.

Should I store my color street nails in the freezer or at room temperature?

To make them last longer, you should store them in the freezer and allow them to return to room temperature before using.

The post Color Street Nail Care: How to Store Them. appeared first on nailhow.

No time to read the whole post?

Here’s the short answer:

The website says that Color Street nails can last up to 10 days. Most customers and reviewers get at least 1 week before they need to remove the strips. With a few tricks, you can get 12 days of wear. The most anyone has had is 14 days of wear.

Now that you have the basic answer, let’s dig a bit deeper.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

How long do color street nails last officially?

How long does color street actually last?

Do solid colors or glitters last longer?

Does color street last longer than regular nail polish?

How to make color street nails last longer

Longest lasting color street polish colors.

How do you keep color street from chipping?

Final thoughts

FAQ’s

Let me start by saying that I am not affiliated with Color Street in any way.

I don’t sell for them, I don’t make any money if you buy from them and they didn’t give me anything for free.

That being said, let’s do this.

How long do color street nails last officially?

According to the Color Street website, officially, Color Street nails can last up to 10 days.

They do admit that everyone’s nails and lifestyles are different.

So how long you get from Color Street nails strips can vary quite a bit depending on how fast your nails grow, the condition they are in, and what activities you do while wearing them.

Because toenails grow much more slowly, and you don’t use your toes as tools, Color Street will last way longer on your toes than they do on your fingernails.

I used color street on my toes and it lasted a month. Great for summertime!

Color street polish strips are more durable and more chip-resistant than regular liquid nail polish, which is why they last longer.

How long does color street actually last?

On average, Color street customers get around 1 week from their nails before they feel they need to remove them or touch them up.

After 1 week, you will have wear on the edges. You can really see the wear with the solid colors, but it won’t be that noticeable with a glitter polish.

It still looks great after a week (without a super close inspection) but they do wear away at the ends.

They may also start to peel off or chip at the base. When your nails start to grow out, they get rough around the edges.

I found this really annoying because my nails kept getting caught in my hair.

But I did find a great tip for stopping this from happening which I’ll share with you later.

After a week or so, you may also have one or 2 snags, like little pieces at the bottom next to the cuticle or at the edges that come off.

You’ll also have a little bit of regrowth depending on how fast your nails grow and how close you managed to get to your cuticles when you applied the strip.

Some people claim that their color street nails lasted 2 weeks, but since this data comes from the mouths of the sellers, we’ll remain skeptical.

Do solid colors or glitters last longer?

The color street glitters last a lot longer than the solid colors for 2 reasons.

First, the glitter strips are thicker and more durable.

Second, when the ends wear away or you chip your nails it’s nowhere near as noticeable if you’re wearing glitter polish.

I would highly recommend buying the glitters over the solids.

Mainly because the solids are really thin, so thin that you need 2 strips on each nail for them to last as long as the glitters.

Does color street last longer than regular nail polish?

Color street nails are a great alternative to traditional nail polish.

They last much longer, and are less likely to chip or peel.

I usually get 2 to 4 days from regular (non-gel) polish before my nails are covered in chips.

With color street, I get about 6 to 9 days.

However, the length of time that they last varies depending on the individual.

How to make color street nails last longer

Here are the best tips for how to make color street nails last longer:

Wash your hands with dish soap before you apply.

This helps remove oils from your nails and prevent peeling.

Always use the prep wipe.

Again, this is designed to remove oil and help create a good clean surface so the strips stick well.

Push your cuticles back first.

This will allow you to place the nail strip as close to the bottom of your nail as possible.

Buff your nails before you use the strips.

Creating a smooth surface will allow the strip to adhere better. A smooth surface means less chance of lifting and peeling.

Apply a basecoat.

You don’t technically need a base coat with color street, but I tried it and it worked so I’m going to keep doing it!

Use 2 layers of the solid colors.

The solid colors tend to chip and wear more quickly. It’s not as cost effective, but using 2 strips on each nail does work. You get much longer when you do this.

Use a topcoat.

You don’t technically need to use a top coat because there’s already one built in but it does add an extra layer of protection.

Smooth out rough edges with a cue tip.

After 5 days to a week, you’ll notice the bottom edges get rough as your nails grow.

It’s easy for these rough edges to get caught in your hair or anything else and cause chips near the cuticle.

Soak a cue tip in remover to smooth out the rough edges.

Use gloves for washing dishes and cleaning.

This minimises exposure to hot water and chemicals which can make your nails wear faster.

File them down.

Once you start to see wear at the tips, file down the edges of your nails gently and add topcoat. This will buy you another 4 to 5 days!

So potentially your nails could last up to 12 days.

After 12 days anyone’s regrowth will be very noticable, though, so don’t expect to get any more than 12 days.

These are just a few tips for making your color street nails last.

For a full list of color street tips, see my 27 color street tips and tricks for perfect nails post.

Longest lasting Color street polish colors

Here are my recommendations for the color street strips that will last the longest.

These are light colors with glitter that won’t show up chips and wear as easily.

• Chelsea ya later
• Road to recovery
• Home sleet home
• Pop the bubbly
• Glittersweet

If you want your nails to last as long as possible, these colors are great!

How do you keep color street from chipping?

Here are my best 2 tips for keeping those chips away:

• Go for the glitters.

The glitters last longer because they are thicker and tougher. You also don’t notice minor chips as much with glitters.

• Use the cue tip trick.

When the regrowth gets a little rough, take a cue tip and soak it in nail polish remover.

Gently smooth out the rough edges and your nails will be less likely to chip at the base.

Let’s wrap this up.

Your color street nails will last 7 days on average, but there are many ways to make them last longer.

The best way is by reading the instructions carefully and following these tips: Wash your hands with dish soap before applying nail polish strips; use a prep wipe first to remove oils from nails and create a clean surface for better adherence; buff your nails before applying the strips for a smooth surface; use 2 layers of the solid color nail polish strips for longer wear; apply a top coat to seal in the strip and protect your nails from chipping; file down rough edges every few days with a gentle file.

With a little bit of extra care, your color street nails can last up to 12 days!

FAQ’s

Why are my nails lifting from the strip at the cuticle?

If your color street strips are lifting at the cuticle it could be because you didn’t clean your nails well enough with the prep wipe or you had some dust from filing under there.

Try cleaning your cuticle area more thoroughly next time and see if that helps.

You could also try using a basecoat.

Can I use a topcoat with color street?

There is already a topcoat built-in, but yes, you can use a topcoat. In fact, I’d highly recommend it to make your nails last longer!

Will these work for me if I have acrylic or gel nails?

Yes, you can use color street on both acrylic and hard gel nails. You can even use acetone to remove the polish from acrylic nails!

you also might be interested in why won’t my gel polish stay on

The post The Durability of Color Street Nails: A Closer Look appeared first on nailhow.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

My color street nails are soft and gummy

My color street strips are not flexible enough

Why are my color street nails lifting?

Why are my color street nails not sticking?

How do you stop tip wear on Color Street?

Why are my color street nails cracking?

Why are my natural nails peeling after using color street?

My color street nails are not smooth

The strip is too narrow for my nail

The strip is too wide for my nail

The strips ripped at the tip during application

If you have a problem with your color street nails, you should be able to troubleshoot it right here.

Let’s dive right in with problem number one.

My color street nails are soft and gummy

Color street nails do not like heat. If they are left in a hot car (or a hot mailbox) they will go soft and gummy.

This makes them really hard to work with.

Even warm hands or a warm room can soften them up too much.

The fix – If your color street strips are too soft, try popping them in the freezer for a few minutes (make sure that the package is sealed when you do this).

If you have already opened the package, tear the strips up into pairs then put them back into the little plastic packet they came in.

Seal the packet up with your flat iron then put it in the deep freeze.

Once they are out of the freezer, let them get back to room temperature before you apply them.

My color street strips are not flexible enough

If your strips are not bendy enough to work with, it could be that they are too cold.

If your hands or the room you are applying the nails in are too cold, the strips won’t stretch easily and may even break.

The fix – You can warm up your strips by placing them underneath your armpit for a minute or just warm up the room and wait for them to get to normal room temperature.

Why are my color street nails lifting?

There are 3 reasons why you might be experiencing lifting with color street.

Reason 1.

Are you having problems with color street nails lifting at the bottom around the cuticle area soon after application?

Then it could be because you still have a very thin layer of cuticle stuck to your nail.

Sometimes, even if you push your cuticles back, there can still be a super-thin, almost invisible layer of cuticle there.

If there is a thin layer of cuticle at the bottom of the nail when you apply the nail strips, this can cause lifting.

The fix – Apply a liquid cuticle remover and let it sit on the nail for a minute or 2.

Then, gently push back the cuticles with an orangewood stick or a cuticle pusher.

Here’s a great video that shows you exactly how to do this:

Reason 2.

Are you seeing lifting after 3 or four days of wearing color street?

If so, it could be because your nails have grown out a bit and the regrowth is a little rough around the edges.

You’ll know if this is happening because your nails will constantly get snagged on your hair.

The fix – Take a cue tip and soak it in a little bit of nail polish remover.

Gently and carefully trace around the cuticle areas where the regrowth is. This will smooth out the edges and prevent snagging.

Reason 3.

The third reason you might see lifting is that you accidentally applied the sticker over or too close to your cuticle.

The fix – To get as close to your cuticle as possible without touching it, hold the strip in the center because that way you have more control.

You can also try pushing your cuticle back right before you place the strip, that way when it bounces back, you’ll have a nice close fit.

Why are my color street nails not sticking?

If your color street nails are not sticking properly, the problem is usually that your nail plate is too oily.

This is one of the reasons why color street packs include a prep wipe, which you should definitely use if you want tour nails to stick better!

There are some other things you can try to ensure that your nails are properly prepped and oil-free.

The fix (es) – Wash your hands with dish soap before applying the strips. Normal soaps contain oils to moisturize the skin (and nails).

Dish soap is designed to remove oil and grease so it will strip away oils instead of adding them.

Another thing you can try to make sure your color street nails stick is to wipe your natural nails with acetone before you apply. Acetone does dry out the nails a lot though so do this with caution!

Another great tip is to use a base coat. Any base coat should help and you can even use a strengthening one if you like. Orly does a great one Called Orly Bonder.

How do you stop tip wear on Color Street?

Tip wear after a week or so with color street is normal.

But if the tips of your nails are wearing too quickly then it could be an issue with the application.

Basically, you need to master the filing technique to correct this.

The fix – First, cut the strip with scissors or perforate the strip with your thumbnail and remove any excess.

File your color strips with the file angled towards the pads of your fingers.

File in a downward motion and never side to side.

If you are filing your actual tips, you are doing it wrong!

Why are my color street nails cracking?

Cracking is caused when the natural nail expands and shrinks.

It’s perfectly normal for natural nails to expand and shrink when they absorb water.

Sometimes extreme heat and cold can cause nails to expand and shrink too.

They don’t expand a lot, but it’s certainly enough to cause a crack in your polish!

The fix – Wait at least 30 minutes after washing your hands before applying the strips and make sure that your hands are at a normal temperature (not too hot or too cold).

Why are my natural nails peeling after using color street?

Color street strips contain much of the same stuff as you find in regular liquid nail polish.

There’s nothing in them that will cause your nails to peel.

If your natural nails are peeling after using color street, that could be because your nails need a break.

The fix – Don’t paint your nails for a while and use a nail strengthening product for 3 weeks or so.

Then once your nails are in good condition, try again and make sure you use a base coat for an extra layer of protection.

My color street nails are not smooth

If your nails feel a bit bumpy it could be that you have ridges that need to be either filled in or buffed out.

You could also have little bits of dust from filing trapped under there.

The fix – Use a ridge filler base coat or buff the nails until they are smooth. Make sure that you wipe the nails over with the prep wipe after filing and before you apply the strips.

The strip is too narrow for my nail

If you have wide nails and the strips don’t quite cover them don’t panic!

Here’s what you can do to widen the strips so that they fit flush to the sidewalls.

The fix – The color street website recommends that you stretch the strips a little to get a perfect fit.

For wide nails, gently stretch the strips horizontally until they are wide enough and then apply as normal.

The strip is too wide for my nail

If your nails are narrow and the strips are hanging over the sides of your nails then there are 2 ways to fix this.

The fix – First, try stretching the strips vertically by holding the top and the bottom and gently pulling. This should help to narrow down the strip a little.

If you still have extra material at the sides, apply the strip so that it fits against one side of your nail perfectly, and then remove the excess from the other side.

You can use an orangewood stick or your thumbnail to help get rid of any excess.

The strips ripped at the tip during application

This can sometimes happen. It’s way more common with the chunky glitters.

The main reasons for tearing at the tip are back and forth filing or a piece of glitter getting caught at the tip and causing a tear.

The fix – Make sure that you are filing in a downward motion leaning towards the back of the nail and not side to side right on the top edge.

If you spot a chunky glitter piece at the tip, stop filing and grab some nail scissors or nail clippers and snip it off. Then go back to filing as normal.

Let’s wrap this up.

Color street nails are a popular trend that is easy to get addicted to. However, they can be difficult and frustrating if you don’t know what you’re doing. The common problems with color street include lifting, cracking, not sticking well, peeling or bubbling up at the edges of the nail during application, tips getting worn down too quickly or the strips being too wide or narrow.

Hopefully, this color street problems and how to fix them article has helped you troubleshoot any of the aforementioned issues. And be sure to check out our other blog posts for more color street tips and tricks!

FAQ

What are the common problems with color street nails?

The most common problems with color street nails are lifting, cracking, and not sticking well. Less common problems include tips getting worn down too quickly or the strips being too wide or narrow.

How can I prevent my nails from lifting?

Using a liquid cuticle remover before applying color street can help prevent lifting. Proper placement, and smoothing out regrowth with a cue-tip soaked in remover after a few days can help too.

How can I fix my nails if they’re not smooth?

You could try using a ridge-filling base coat or buffing the surface of your nail with a four-sided nail buffer.

My color street nails are peeling/lifting/not sticking. What do I do?

Scroll up to the right section above for your specific problem, then follow the tips.

The strip is too wide/narrow for my nail. What do I do?

If it’s too wide, apply to fit one side and remove excess from the other. If too narrow, gently stretch the nail polish strip to fit your nail and apply as normal.

My strip ripped at the tip during the application. What do I do?

Remove the strip with regular nail polish remover taking care not to get any on your other nails and begin again.

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The post Color Street Problems and How to Fix Them appeared first on nailhow.

“Color street ruined my nails!” This was the (slightly dramatic) text I received from my friend Bronwyn the other day.

She’d just taken off her color street nails (which she adored, btw) and her natural nails were dry, brittle, and peeling.

She loves wearing color street so much and she wanted to know what went wrong.

So I did a little digging and this post was born.

Whether you’ve had a bad experience with color street or you just wanna know if they are safe and healthy to use, this post is for you.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Can color street ruin your nails?

Can color street damage your nails?

Is color street hard on your nails?

Do color street nails cause peeling?

How toxic is color street?

How to protect your nails when using color street

The pros of using color street nail strips

The cons of using color street nail strips

Let’s dive right in.

Can color street ruin your nails?

Color street ruined my nails. Hmmm, ruin is a strong word. With the question worded this way, the answer is pretty simple.

No, color street nail polish strips won’t ruin your nails.

Color street stickers are made from 100% nail polish.

The risk is pretty much the same as painting your nails with regular nail polish.

That being said, some people have found that their nails are weaker and their cuticles are dry after using color street.

This is most likely due to the chemicals in the remover that they are using and not the strips themselves.

Can color street damage your nails?

No more than regular nail polish.

Like any nail polish that contains a bunch of chemicals, color street can damage your natural nails.

The actual nail polish strips themselves do contain chemicals that can weaken your nails.

So, if you use color street, or any other nail polish too much, then your nails will suffer.

To avoid causing too much damage to your natural nails, use your own judgment.

Monitor your nails and if they start to get weak, dry, or brittle, give them a break.

Most damage happens during removal, as we’ll see.

The best tip I can give you is to use Mineral Fusion acetone-free nail polish remover.

Is color street hard on your nails?

No. Color street is completely safe to use and won’t be any harder on your natural nails than regular (non-gel) nail polish.

If your nails have gotten damaged after using color street, here are the 2 most likely reasons:

You used a nail polish remover that contains acetone.

Acetone dehydrates the nail plate and can irritate the cuticles and the skin around the nail.

I recommend switching to an acetone-free nail remover like Mineral Fusion (check price on amazon). It’s much kinder to the nails and works great with color street strips.

You tried to peel the polish off.

Peeling off color street nails is a really bad idea. You will rip off the top layers of your nail plate and cause a lot of damage.

Do color street nails cause peeling?

Color street nails should not cause natural nails to peel.

If you have unhealthy nails that are prone to peeling to begin with, color street is not going to help them.

But if your healthy nails start peeling after using color street then it’s probably because you used a remover with acetone in it.

It is the acetone in the remover and not the polish strips that make nails dry out, split and peel.

Switch to an acetone-free remover and you should start to see an improvement.

Also, never, ever peel off the strips or you’ll peel half your nails off too!

How toxic is color street?

Color Street is free from many of the toxic ingredients found in some nail polishes.

Nail strips from color street do not contain formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor, xylene, or ethyl tosylamide. They are also paraben-free.

You can check out the full ingredients list here.

How to protect your nails when using color street

Even though color street nails have a built-in base coat, I always recommend using a base coat underneath the strips.

I’ve found that my nails are in better condition when I do this, and they seem to last longer, too.

A good base coat only takes a few seconds to dry, and it will help to protect your nails from the chemicals in the color street polish.

The pros of using color street nail strips

Here are the main pros of wearing color street nails:

• The strips are quick and easy to apply
• They last longer than regular polish
• You don’t need to wait for them to dry
• They don’t smell
• They don’t chip in the same way as regular polish
• You don’t need a base or topcoat (though I recommend using both!)
• The colors are really pretty
• You can get 2 sets out of 1 packet (if your nails are shorter)
• You can use them on your toes

The cons of using color street nail strips

Here are the main cons of wearing color street nails:

• Application method takes some getting used to at first
• They can weaken your nails over time
• The remover can dry out your nails and cuticles
• They are expensive
• You have to be careful not to peel them off
• They can grow out rough and get stuck in your hair
• They dry out quickly once opened

That’s about it for this color street ruined my nails article.

Time for a few final thoughts.

Color street nails may not be as harmful to your natural nails as other nail polishes, but they can still damage them if you’re not careful. Mineral Fusion acetone-free nail polish remover is a great alternative to harsh acetone removers that won’t damage your nails. Always use a base coat before applying color street strips and never try to peel them off – this will only cause damage to your nails. And finally, don’t forget to moisturize your hands and nails regularly!

I hope that you have found my color street ruined my nails post helpful and that I’ve answered any questions you may have had.

My main key takeaway if you’re having trouble with color street causing damage would be to switch to an acetone-free remover and see if that fixes it.

It worked for my friend!

FAQ’S

What are color street nails?

Color street nails are strips of nail polish that you can attach to your nail like a sticker.

They come in a range of colors and finishes, and they last longer than regular nail polish.

How long do color street nails last?

The website says 10 days, but in reality, you would be lucky to get a week.

How many sets of color street nails can you get out of one packet?

You get 16 individual strips in different sizes. If your nails are short, you should be able to get 2 full sets from 1 packet.

Other useful posts:

What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Full Guide.

14 nail polish colors that go with any outfit!

Best acrylic nail brands: the most popular brands for acrylic nails.

How to match nail polish colors to your skin tone perfectly.

What Color Nail Polish Should A Bride Wear? Complete Guide.

What’s the best acrylic nail brush? My top 8 recommendations.

What color nail polish goes with a green dress? Ultimate guide.

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As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases

The post Color Street Ruined My Nails! What You Need to Know appeared first on nailhow.

One of the best things about color street nail strips is how easy they are to remove.

You don’t need anything special to get those suckers off, but there are a few ways you could go about it.

I’ll walk you through 7 easy ways for removing color street nails with a simple step-by-step guide for each method.

But first, here’s the quick answer (in case you’re in a hurry):

The best way to remove color street nails is to use nail polish remover and a cotton ball. You can also use acetone or an acetone-free remover like Mineral Fusion. To speed things up, use foil strips, nail clips, or a ziplock bag and warm water.

Let’s get started, here’s what we’ll cover:

1. How to remove color street nails with nail polish remover
2. The clip method
3. Removing color street using tin foil strips
4. How to remove color street nails without acetone
5. The twist and scrub tub
6. The best way to remove color street glitter
7. Bag in a glass method

How to remove color street nails with nail polish remover.

The simplest way to remove color street nails is to use normal nail polish remover.

Color street strips are made from nail polish, so any regular nail polish remover will work.

The problem with most nail polish removers is that they contain acetone, which can dry out your nails.

If you’re worried about damaging your natural nails, switch to a non-acetone remover.

Mineral Fusion (check price on amazon) is the best non-acetone remover – color street lovers swear by this stuff! 

What you’ll need:

• Some nail polish remover (acetone or acetone-free will work fine)
• Cotton balls or pads

What to do:

• Soak a cotton ball or pad in the remover and apply to the nail.
• Press down gently for 2 to 3 minutes then swipe upwards.
• Repeat on all nails

That’s it!

Does nail polish removal get any easier than this? I don’t think so!

You could stop reading right now and just go get the job done!

But there are some fun hacks you might also wanna try, so let’s move right on to the next method.

The clip method

If you haven’t tried nail clips yet, I highly recommend that you do! They are amazing!

They are super cheap and they make your nail life so much easier.

You can use pure acetone, nail polish remover, or an acetone-free product to do this method.

What you’ll need:

• Nail polish remover of your choice
• Cotton balls
• A set of nail clips

What to do:

• Soak cotton balls in the remover
• Place directly on the nail
• Secure with the nail clip
• Leave for 3 to 5 minutes then remove the clip and wipe the polish off

I love nail clips because they hold the cotton ball in place so you can do other things while you wait.

I usually clip them on and then go watch TV or listen to a podcast.

Removing color street using tin foil strips

If you don’t have nail clips, you can try out the foil method instead.

You’ll need to cut some kitchen foil into strips. Each strip should be big enough to wrap around your finger with a little space to spare so you can fold the ends.

I don’t usually have the patience for this method nowadays, but before I got my nail clips I used to use foil strips a lot to speed things up.

What you’ll need:

• 10 strips of foil
• Cotton balls or pads
• Nail polish remover of your choice

What to do:

• Soak a cotton ball or pad in the remover
• Place over the nail
• Wrap tin foil around your finger and the cotton ball to secure
• After 3 to 5 minutes, remove the foil and wipe

How to remove color street nails without acetone

Acetone is the fastest and most effective way of removing nail polish, but it does come with a price.

If you use it too much, acetone can weaken your nails, causing damage to the plate and the cuticles. This can make your nails dry, flaky, and brittle.

It’s always a good idea, even if your nails don’t seem irritated by acetone, to alternate between an acetone and non-acetone remover.

Non-acetone removers are kinder to nails, but they do take a little bit longer to do their thing.

Acetone dries out your nails and skin, so if you want to remove color street without using it, you’ll need a nail polish remover that is acetone-free.

There are many acetone-free nail polish removers on the market, but the one that everyone’s talking about is Mineral Fusion.

You can use any of the first 3 methods above to take off color street without acetone.

What you’ll need:

• An acetone-free nail polish remover
• Cotton balls or pads
• Clips or foil strips (optional)

What to do:

• Soak cotton balls or pads in acetone-free remover
• Place on the nail
• Either hold in place or secure with a nail clip or foil strip
• After 3 to 5 minutes, wipe the nails clean

The twist and scrub tub

Try saying that 3 times fast!

The name of this next method comes from Cutex.

They invented a jar that has sponges inside soaked with nail polish remover.

It’s a really quick, easy, and hassle-free way to get your nail polish off, and it works great with color street!

If you want, you can just buy the Cutex twist and scrub tub (check price on Amazon)

But you can also make your own with sponges and a mason jar.

What you’ll need:

• A Cutex twist and scrub jar or your homemade one (see the link above for how to make one).

What to do:

• Dunk your finger into the jar
• Swirl it around until all the polish is gone!

The best way to remove color street glitter

Glitter nail polish can be tough to remove.

But with the right tools, it can be done!

Here’s a great trick to get rid of every last piece. Even chunky glitters!

My secret weapon? Gauze.

What you’ll need:

• Gauze pads
• Scissors
• Nail polish remover of your choice

What to do:

• Cut the gauze pads into halves or quarters
• Soak the gauze in remover
• Hold against the nail for a few seconds to let the remover soak in
• Gently rub off all the color street polish

Gauze has a little more abrasion to it than cotton balls or pads which can really help when it comes to removing stubborn glitter.

If you’re using an acetone-free nail polish remover, then it will take a little longer.

Bag in a glass method

This next method had been all over TikTok.

This simple method works so well because it uses heat to speed up the removal process.

You can do it with a couple of household items that everyone has in their kitchen.

What you’ll need:

• A heavy-duty plastic bag (a food bag or ziplock is great!)
• A jar or glass big enough to fit your hand in

What to do:

• Fill a glass jar with warm water
• Put 3 tablespoons of nail polish remover into a ziplock bag
• Place the ziplock bag with the remover inside into the glass or jar
• Put your fingers into the ziplock bag
• Swirl them around until all polish is gone

Here’s a great video, it’s less than a minute long and it shows you how quick and easy this method really is!

Does color street come off with nail polish remover?

How do you remove color street nails from toes?

That’s it!

All of the methods mentioned above can be used to remove color street nails quickly and easily. You don’t need to get anything special or fancy to take off color street nail strips, but Mineral Fusion is a great non-acetone remover that can be used with any of the methods listed. The Cutex twist and scrub tub is an easy and quick way to remove polish, and you can also make your own with sponges and a mason jar.

I hope that you enjoyed this article and that it helped answer some of your questions about removing color street nails.

Happy polishing!

– What to use to remove color street nails?

You can use normal nail polish remover, acetone-free remover, or pure acetone to remove color street nails.

– How to remove color street glitter nails?

The best way to remove color street glitter nails is to use a gauze pad dipped in nail polish remover.

Gauze pads are more abrasive than cotton balls and can shift chunky glitters.

What is the best way to remove color street polish?

The best way to remove color street polish is to use the bag in a glass method. This simple method uses heat to speed up the removal process. You need a heavy-duty plastic bag and a jar or glass filled with warm water.

How do you remove color street nails without acetone?

Mineral Fusion is a great non-acetone remover that works great with color street and can be used with any of the removal methods listed.

How to remove color street nails with acetone?

Soak a cotton ball in acetone and apply it to the nail. Leave for 3 minutes then wipe the color street polish off.

Can you remove color street polish with regular nail polish remover?

Yes. You can use regular nail polish remover to remove color street nails, but it may dry out your nails if it contains acetone. Acetone-free nail polish removers are best.

How do you remove color street nails from toes?

You can use any of the removal methods listed in this article to remove color street nails from toes.

You can use regular nail polish remover, acetone-free nail polish remover, or pure acetone to get color street off your toes.

Other useful posts:

What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Full Guide.

14 nail polish colors that go with any outfit!

Best acrylic nail brands: the most popular brands for acrylic nails.

How to match nail polish colors to your skin tone perfectly.

What Color Nail Polish Should A Bride Wear? Complete Guide.

What’s the best acrylic nail brush? My top 8 recommendations.

What color nail polish goes with a green dress? Ultimate guide.

amazon associates disclaimer

As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases

The post How to remove color street nails: everything you need to know appeared first on nailhow.

Got your hands on some shiny new nail strips? Wanna know all the best color street tips and tricks?

If you want to get the most out of your color street nail strips and make those gorgeous nails last longer, this post is for you!

We’ve got a ton of useful info to get through, so let’s jump right in.

We’re going to go into each tip in more detail further down, but here’s the list of 27 awesome color street tips and tricks we’ll cover:

1. Get the temperature right
2. Don’t open them too early
3. Wash your hands and use the prep wipe before touching the strips
4. Buff, file, and push cuticles back before applying
5. Use a base coat
6. Start with your pinkies and do thumbs last
7. One strip can do 2 fingers
8. Take the clear film off before you start
9. Hold the strip in the center
10. Don’t touch the cuticles
11. Don’t be afraid to stretch them a bit
12. Use your thumbnails as tools
13. File downwards
14. Use the prep wipe again after you file
15. Snip chunky glitter pieces
16. Use topcoat!
17. Give them time to cure
18. Use 2 strips per nail for solid colors
19. A cue tip soaked in remover smooths rough edges
20. You can save unused strips
21. Tear strips into 2’s to get them back in the packet
22. Seal unused strips with a flat iron
23. Store unused strips in the freezer
24. Nail polisher remover works!
25. Never peel
26. Keep them away from the heat, the sun and LED’s
27. Be extra careful with solids

Ok great, you have the basic tips. But why are these tips so important?

Looks like we got some more explainin’ to do.

Ready to become a color street pro?

Let’s do this.

I wanna start by saying that I am not affiliated with color street in any way.

I don’t sell for them or make any money from them whatsoever.

Here’s the first of our color street tips and tricks:

Get the temperature right

Like Goldilocks, color street strips don’t do well with extremes.

They like the temperature to be “just right”.

Room temperature is ideal.

Heat will make the strips sticky, gloopy, and impossible to work with.

So keep your packaged strips away from hot rooms, direct sunlight, and LED lights.

Weirdly, even though they turn brittle and stiff in the cold, you can actually store your nail strips in the freezer.

But you must make sure that the strips have returned to room temperature before you apply them!

Make sure that your hands and your room are not too cold and that strips are at room temperature before you begin.

Don’t open them too early

Once opened, color street nail strips dry out pretty quickly.

I know you’re going to want to open them right away and have a play with them but be patient!

Unless you are ready to do your nails right then, resist that temptation to open up the packet and keep those nails nice and fresh.

Buff, file, and push cuticles back before applying

Preparation before applying any kind of polish is super important.

If you take the proper steps before you apply the strips, you’re going to have a much easier time and your nails will last longer.

Buff and file your nails, then push back your cuticles gently with an orangewood stick or a cuticle pusher before applying the color street strip.

If you don’t have a tool handy, another great tip is to use the edge of the nail file that comes with your strips.

Wash your hands and use the prep wipe before touching the strips

Your hands and nails need to be clean and oil-free for the strips to stick.

Dishwashing liquid is better than soap because it’s designed to remove oil, unlike some hand soaps which have moisturizing agents in them.

After you wash your hands, wipe over each nail with the prep wipe to remove any residue.

If you wash your hands with dish soap, you may be able to skip the prep wipe step.

Why would you want to do this?

Because the prep wipe is alcohol and it can dry out your nails.

Use a base coat

Don’t get me wrong – you don’t officially need a base coat.

Color street strips already have a base coat built-in.

But some people still find that they are damaging their natural nails, causing them to weaken and peel.

Plenty of people use nail strips, stickers, and wraps with a base coat underneath.

They will still stick just as well and the basecoat will add an extra layer to protect your nails from drying out and peeling.

Start with your pinkies and do thumbs last

This has got to be one of the best color street tips and tricks.

You’ll probably find that you are using your thumbnails as tools throughout the application process.

So it’s a good idea to do them last.

Start with your pinkies, then the ring finger, and work your way towards the thumbs.

You can thank me later!

One strip can do 2 fingers

No list of color street tips and tricks would be complete without this one.

If you have long nails, then this tip may not work for you.

But if you’re nails are short like mine, then this is a great little trick.

One color street strip can do 2 fingers!

Once you have the right size picked out for that pinky, go ahead and cut that trip down the center.

Then you can apply it to both pinkies!

Do the same for each nail, so 1 strip for both middle fingers, ring fingers, pointer fingers, and thumbs.

You don’t need to cut each one down the middle.

If you prefer, you can just apply to one nail, tear off the rest and apply to the same finger on the other hand.

Take the clear film off before you start

Haha, I learned this one is from personal experience!

Don’t be a ditz like me and forget to take the clear film off first.

You can still manage but it’s way easier to remove all of the clear film pieces before you have the strips stuck to your fingers!

Hold the strip in the center

You get a more precise placement when you do this.

Holding the strip right in the middle gives you more control, so you’re less likely to mess up.

Don’t touch the cuticles

It’s easy to accidentally touch your cuticles when you’re trying to place the strip.

Just be careful and avoid touching them as much as possible!

You don’t want the sticker to touch any part of your cuticle because it will cause lifting and your nails won’t last as long.

Don’t be afraid to stretch them a bit

These things have some decent stretch to them!

I’m not saying to go at them like they’re a stretch Armstrong or anything, but as color street themselves have said, feel free to “stretch horizontally to make the strip wider, or stretch vertically to make the strip narrower.”

Use your thumbnails as tools

Thumbnails are very useful tools when applying color street nails.

Use them to help you pick up the strip, push down the edges, and to help you line up the cuticle properly.

Once you have the strip in place, use your finger or thumb to smooth out any bubbles.

Once in place, use your thumbnail to perforate across the tip before removing the excess sticker.

Since you’ll be using your thumbs so much, it makes sense to start with the pinkies and leave them until last.

File downwards

This is an important tip.

You can’t file your nails the way you normally would with color street.

If you file side to side, you’ll end up with chipped, messy-looking tips.

File downwards instead.

Start from the back of your nail and file down towards the pads of your fingers.

Use the prep wipe again after you file

Don’t throw that prep wipe away! You’ll need it again.

After you are done filing, the prep wipe is the best way to get rid of all that dust from the surface of the nails.

Snip chunky glitter pieces

With the glitter strips, you might find that sometimes you end up with a big piece of glitter hanging off the end of your nail.

You’re going to be tempted to just file that right off.

But you risk it chipping if you do!

In my experience, it’s much better to snip it with nail scissors or nail clippers.

Use topcoat!

You’d be surprised at how many people don’t bother to add a topcoat to their color street nails.

These are the same people who complain that their nails only last a couple of days.

Do yourself a favor and add a good coat of topcoat to your nails!

It will help protect them from chipping and keep them looking fresh for longer.

Give them time to cure

Just because they are dry, doesn’t mean that they are fully cured.

Color street nails need at least 30 minutes to fully cure after you apply them.

It’s important that you don’t wash your hands or apply cuticle oil or hand cream for at least half an hour.

Use 2 strips per nail for solid colors

With glitter strips, one is usually enough. But a lot of people have noticed that the strips with solid colors don’t last as long.

This is because they are a little thinner generally speaking.

You can make your plain manicures last longer by doubling up on the layers.

So apply 2 strips to each nail instead of just one and you’ll be good to go.

Obviously, this uses up more stickers, so it’s not quite as economical.

A cue tip soaked in remover smooths rough edges

After a day or 2, you may notice that the edges of your nails are a little rough.

This can be so annoying because they get caught in your hair and it just feels bad.

You can smooth out the edges of your nails to stop them from getting caught by using this great trick.

Take a cue tip and dip it in nail polish remover.

Then, very gently and slowly, run it around the rough edges of each nail.

Voila! no more annoying hair pulls!

You can save unused strips

One of the worst things about color street nails is that they dry out so fast.

They are meant to be one-time use, so I guess we can’t complain.

But we can figure out sneaky ways to save the spares!

You can actually save your surplus color street strips so that you can re-use them again later – yay!

Tear strips into 2’s to get them back in the packet

If you want to save your unused stickers, the best way to do it is to put them back into the original packaging.

This can be a real problem though because it’s super fiddly.

Save yourself some stress and tear the strip into 2’s.

That way you can easily fit them back into the packet.

Trust me, you’ll be there for hours trying to fit the whole strip back in!

Seal unused strips with a flat iron

This is one of my favorite tips.

Once you have the nails back in their original plastic package, you can seal them right up to keep them fresh as a daisy!

Here’s how:

Take a flat iron and gently close it over the top part. That’s it! Great idea huh?

If you don’t have a flat iron, you can try an iron that you’d use for clothes or even a lighter (if you’re very careful!).

Store unused strips in the freezer

This is another great way to keep your stickers fresh for later.

Just pop them in a sealable bag and put them in the freezer.

It stops them from drying out.

When you’re ready to use them, take them out and let them defrost for about 30 minutes before using.

Nail polisher remover works!

One thing I love about color street nails is that you only need regular nail polish remover to get them off.

Acetone works best, but it does dry out your nails.

So I’d recommend using Mineral Fusion. It’s a non-acetone nail polish remover that’s effective but not damaging.

For best results removing color street nails, use a cotton ball soaked in Mineral Fusion and attach it to each nail with a nail clip.

You should be good after 3 minutes.

Never peel!

Don’t be tempted to peel off your nail stickers!

It causes unnecessary damage and it’s really bad for your natural nails.

It’s so quick easy to get them off using regular nail polish remover, there’s really no excuse for peeling!

Keep them away from the heat, the sun, and LED’s

Heat will warp your nail strips, making them impossible to use.

Don’t store them anywhere hot, because even after they cool down, they won’t work as well.

Be extra careful with solids

Our last item on the color street tips and tricks list is to be careful with the solid colors.

As you already know, the solid colors are a little thinner than their glitter counterparts.

This means that they are more delicate and you should treat them as such.

If you are used to the glitter ones and you’re trying out solids for the first time, go a little easier at first until you get used to the slightly different feel.

And as I mentioned previously, use 2 strips per nail so they last longer.

That’s it! You are now a certified color street expert!

I hope that you found this post on color street tips and tricks helpful.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments!

I’d love to hear from you.

FAQ’S

– How do I remove color street nails?

Regular nail polish remover will do the trick. Acetone works best, but it can be drying. Mineral Fusion is a non-acetone remover that’s effective and not damaging.

– What should I do if my color street nails start to peel?

Don’t peel them! Peeling causes unnecessary damage and it’s bad for your natural nails. Use regular nail polish remover to take them off.

Then do a new set.

– How do I store my unused color street nails?

You can store them in the freezer or in a sealable bag. Just make sure they’re away from heat so they don’t get ruined. You can store them in the original packaging if you heat seal it with a flat iron.

– Do I need a special remover?

Nope. Any ordinary nail polish remover will work. Acetone-based ones can be drying though, so you may want to switch to a non-acetone one like Mineral Fusion.

– What should I use to prep my nails before applying color street?

A good basecoat is key for keeping your color street nails looking fresh. You can either use a regular basecoat or a ridge-filling one. You should also buff, file, and push cuticles back.

– Can I use color street on top of my real nails?

Absolutely! That’s what they are designed for! Color street is just like nail polish.

– My nails are really dry, will color street make them worse?

If your nails are dry, you may want to use a base coat before applying color street. This will help the polish adhere better and keep your nails healthy.

The solid colors are a little thinner than the glitters, so you need to go a little easier at first until you get

– What’s the difference between the solid colors and the glittery ones?

The solid colors are thinner and more delicate. You may need 2 layers for the solid colors to last longer.

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