On the surface, I have textbook perfect nails. I have received a gel manicure every ten days, like clockwork, for the past eleven years. I try not to think about how much money I’ve spent (chances are, enough for a downpayment on a car) and take comfort in knowing my nails are cuticle-free and a perfect bubble bath pink.
But, beneath my three layers of gel polish lies a scary situation. My nails are, candidly, destroyed. They’re brittle and flaking in a way that no nail strengthener can salvage. It's my fault; I have a bad habit of picking off my gel. My nails are reaching the point of no return, so for the first time in a long time, I'm willing to try something new to save them: Olive & June’s Gel Mani System.
The aesthetically pleasing DIY kit—available today, October 24—is the definition of an all-in-one. It comes equipped with 14 pieces, ranging from polish and an LED lamp to a cuticle serum and the brand’s viral Poppy, which makes painting with your non-dominant hand so much easier. I was most excited to try the Peel Off Base Coat, which promises “drama-free gel removal” and “zero damage.” It stays adhered to your nail until you give it a little nudge. Then, it supposedly peels right off.
The kit retails for $85 and the polish is good for over 40 uses, so you’re only looking at $2 per manicure.
Skeptical but intrigued, I brought my kit and polish picks to my go-to nail salon. (I’m highly uncoordinated and was not born to DIY—sue me.) The process started as per usual: shaping with the file, pushing back my cuticles, buffing my nails, and applying a little oil. The base coat went on, and I popped my hand into the lamp. One coat needs to cure for just around 30 seconds.
Then, it was time for the polish color. There are 28 hues to choose from, each retailing for $10. I’m a fan of custom colors, so I did one coat of Dusty Rose, followed by a coat of Crisp White, curing between layers. I sealed the deal with the Olive & June Top Coat and a double cure that lasted around a minute.
My manicure looked great and, frankly, a bit plumper than average. The polish was shiny and opaque with just two coats, and I liked the color combo even better than my usual CND Unlocked and Studio White blend. But the question remained: How would it hold up?
Olive & June touts 21 days of wear, but I have fairly oily nail beds (sexy, I know), so my gel typically doesn’t last as long. I’m currently on day 12, and while I don’t have any chipping or fading, the bottom and sides of a few nails have started to lift.
As I sit here pulling off polish chunks, I can confirm the most important detail: no nail damage. That alone is a big win.
