TOUGH GIRLS20 Exquisite Gel Nail Polish Strips w/Application Accessories - No UV/LED Lamp Required (Black & Sparkles)

So I’ve tried the CS brand the middle-aged moms are selling (I’m a middle-aged mom and mean no offense—that’s just whose primarily selling it in my area). Those stickers are easier to apply but not as durable. Let me qualify that. You’re supposed to use the file to essentially scrape the remnant off your nail. I can do that with the popular brand being sold on the streets and still use the other part of the sticker for another nail. I don’t like waste, so I like this option. With the tough girls stickers, they’re so tough that you have to destroy the other part of the sticker to file it off your nail. Instead, I use scissors to get it close then file to shape the end to the tip of my nail. This way, I’m able to use the other half of the sticker on another nail. My nails are on the short side. If you have longer nails, you won’t be able to do this as these are shorter than the CS brand. Speaking of stretching the value, there are more nail stickers with these, too, but again, they’re shorter. I use the widest for my big toenail and the smallest for my pinkie fingernail, so I’m really able to use all the sizes. Sometimes I have to trim a sticker or have just a bit of nail edge not covered when I go back to a color for round 2. I do seal my packages with a chip heat sealer (purchased on Amazon for about $10) between use so they don’t dry out.These hold up pretty great. I’m not easy on my nails, and these look really good for a week. I’ve used several sets and did have two nail stickers fall off, but I believe this was because I do use both ends of the sticker and probably handled the second end too much before applying. I do try to apply nail stickers in the evening so they can cure overnight. But I garden, wash dishes, scrub laundry, and am generally unforgiving to my hands almost all without gloves. The tips might wear down a bit, but other than that, they truly do hold up well through the week. I sometimes leave them on for two weeks, though that second week, I look like a 7-year-old (again no offense meant, but 7-yr-olds are more often in a state of half-worn nail polish or just a few specs here and there than they are in a state of fully-painted nails, and I thoroughly approve of this). My husband is super weird and likes the look of worn nail polish because it shows that the person is out living life and not worrying about the neatness of his/her nails. So I often leave them if we have a low-key week, just to make him smile. I don’t love that look, so if it’s a work week, I generally replace these after a week on my fingernails. Toenails are a different story! I’ve had these last more than a month easy on my toes. In summer, with swimming, sometimes not quite that long, but they really do withstand a lot. I’ve had the CS brand last that long in winter on my toes but haven’t tried that brand in summer, when I’m barefoot or in sandals, swimming, biking, etc. The tough girls can handle the wear and tear on summer feet.I did want to mention that the CS stickers are a bit more comfortable, as in you don’t really feel them on your nails. These are heavier. I didn’t love the feel at first but got used to it and don’t really notice it, now several sets in. The way more reasonable cost, easier access (the moms never seem to have the CS colors I want or forget to bring them over and over again), and durability of these make them a better choice for me.I wanted to review this color specifically because I was thinking it was going to be more orange. At first it looked pink-ish on my nails. I don’t really like pink, so I wasn’t super happy. As I kept assessing, it’s really more of a pastel orange. It’s growing on me. It’s a subtle color, and the more I look at it, the more I like it. I will replace this color when I have used all the stickers up.Happy sticker painting!

I've only been wearing these for a day, so I can't speak to longevity. What I can say:They definitely darken under uv light. (I used a little blacklight to demonstrate.) But the base color, which I expected to be a bright red, is instead neon pink.The material feels fairly thick, but is sheer enough that I can see 'bubbles' in the adhesive layer. The adhesive, also, cures VERY quickly - if a corner of the sticker lifts during application, you're pretty much going to have to redo the whole nail.Overall: Not great, not terrible. I look forward to trying other designs, but I won't be getting this particular one again.

☆☆☆Update. March, 2022☆☆☆I wore them for 3 weeks and tried to use polish remover to take them off as stated in the instructions but that did not work. It got some off maybe 10% if that, the rest I had to just hand peel which they do say not to do but dang, these things do not come off or dissolve in solvent. It has now been two months since I removed them and I am still trying to get my nails back in shape. Brittle, cracking, splitting. You name it, I have had it happen since removing these strips. Sadly, I wont be able to purchase them again. ☆☆End Update☆☆☆This was my first time getting any nail strips. I chose this brand because I loved their name and the design of their packaging. Upon receiving them and opening it up, it comes with all you need to get the job done. The emery board included is great quality, better than some I have paid good money for. Strips were easy to apply, though I did the first couple backwards but they still worked just fine, lol. Maybe for dummies like me an arrow or something showing which end is which, though it did make for a hilarious moment when I realized what I had done. The strips didnt perfectly fit our nails and I didnt expect them too but they did turn out way better than I ever expected and it was a fun new years eve girls night in treat and we had such a blast doing it. No strip will ever fit perfectly because of how nails are but these were great and great fun! I love their statement on the back of their packaging and I am very glad I chose this brand! I like polishes with the stuff in it so I dont know how often I will buy again just because there was just this one with specks in it but I so love them and will be a nails guinea pig any day!Its been over a week now and still going strong, cant say how easy to remove because I havent tried yet.Thank you Tough Girls!