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I can always tell when someone has a gel manicure because their nails always look so shiny and thick. I’ve been wanting to try Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish since discovering it was an at-home option for a gel-like manicure without needing any special lights or crazy removal techniques that could harm your nails.
The first thing that I noticed was that the nail brush is a little thicker than other nail polish brushes that I’ve used in the past. The plus is that it deposits the nail polish a little quicker, but when it comes to smaller nails, it is a little difficult to apply without getting the nail polish on your fingers.
How to Apply Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish
The directions are to apply two coats of the base coat and one coat of the top coat. I found the lighter colors to be sheerer than the darker colors and the consistency even seemed a little thinner. The first time I used the nail polish, I waited about 5 minutes, per the instructions, between coats.
It felt like I should have waited longer for the first coat to dry, so the second time I waited a full 30 minutes between coats. It seemed like the nail polish was stronger and harder after waiting longer between coats and smudges and streaks were minimized.
While the nail polish will seem dry on the top layer after a few minutes, it will easily dent if it is not fully dry. So after applying two base coats and one top coat, I would suggest being careful with your nails for at least a couple of hours.
Related: Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Vegan Nail Polish Collection Review
Matte or Shine
I tested both the Miracle Gel Matte Top Coat and the Miracle Gel Shiny Top Coat. The shiny top coat was nice but I was really interested in trying the matte look. I really loved the matte top coat for the first few days. After about day 3, the matte wore off and the polish started to gather some shine. It did not make the manicure look bad, but it was not the matte look that I was after.
By the end of the first week, I noticed some thin hairline cracks horizontally across my nails. Soon after I noticed small chips on the edge of my nails. I cut my nails and tried the polish on shorter nails and noticed that the chipping held off a little longer.
My favorite colors were Birthday Suit and Sheer Happiness, but I was surprised how much I liked the gray shades. I’ve ended up wearing Birthday Suit more than the other colors since the color is so universally flattering.
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I really liked this polish kit. While it doesn’t provide a salon gel nail experience, I love that there are both matte and shine options. While the polish didn’t withstand an entire two weeks, it was really nice for the first week. I loved the initial matte look.
The nail polish was easily removed with regular nail polish remover, minimizing damage to my nails in the process. As the seasons are changing from spring to summer, I know I will be enjoying these lighter colors for not only the next few months but all year round.
Thanks for reading!
Sarah Roberts is the founder, writer, and photographer behind A Beauty Edit. With over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry, Sarah is an avid skincare and beauty enthusiast who shares the best beauty finds to help you save time and money!