How long do color street nails last? And how do they compare to regular nail polish? In this article, we will explore how long color street nails actually last, as well as ways to make them last longer. We will also look at some of the colors that are best for long-lasting nails, and tips on how to keep your manicure looking great for as long as possible.
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?
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
