I love it when my nails are done. Like, it brings me so much joy in such a small, simple way.

Why I made the switch from gel manicures:

I used to *love* getting dip nails. I loved how they made your nails feel thicker and I would get zero chips for weeks! Plus, it just looked good. I religiously got dip powder for several years until one day I started getting this crazy skin reaction back in 2018. If you were following, you might have seen me share about it, but basically the skin surrounding my cuticle and nail area on my fingers got really, really dry. And eventually, with time, my skin got really itchy and started bleeding – I even got some blisters too. It was gross and hurt too! It then spread to dry, irritated skin on my face and eye lids.

I went to see a dermatologist who said it might be an allergy to the acrylics or something in the dip powder I was using. She suggested I switch to gel and see if the rashes went away. I’m not sure if it was specifically because of “acrylic” but I do know that switching to gel helped. Over the course of 2 months, the rashes and skin irritation slowly dissipated!

I then got gel on my nails for 3 years and it worked well for me. The only part I didn’t love was the UV rays necessary to harden the polish – my hands already look old. And then I hated that I couldn’t take it off myself at home. Well, I’m sure *technically* I could. But it was still a hassle to soak and do all that jazz at home.

All this to say, when I first found out about dazzle dry and that you could take it off like normal polish AND (!) it claimed to stay on as long as gel, I had to give it a try! And I will now never go back to gel or dip. I LOVE Dazzle Dry!!

What is Dazzle Dry?

Dazzle dry is a unique 4 step nail system that is built to last. The system includes nail prep, base coat, color and top coat. It is non-toxic (which was particularly appealing to me while I was pregnant!), vegan, long-lasting and quick drying. Also, no UV light necessary to set or dry. The quick-drying part is AMAZING – I can put my shoes back on after getting a pedicure, which is just so nice when you’ve got something after your appointment!

It goes on like regular nail polish but unlike regular polish it dries super quick. I can leave the salon with my shoes on (even closed toed shoes!) and not have to worry about it smudging or chipping. The company is also committed to being socially and economically responsible by eco-conscious materials, such as biodegradable packing peanuts. You can read more about their efforts here.

How long does it last?

For me it lasts ~ 2 weeks – sometimes a little longer but my nails are usually pretty grown out by then. Sometimes I can stretch it out to 3 weeks. I love that I can just use regular nail polish remover to take it off at home if I’m not able to get to the salon to get them redone.

Does it chip?

I do admit I was a bit skeptical about the chipping factor. Since it does go on like regular nail polish, I was worried it was going to chip like any old nail polish. That is NOT the case and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. That being said…I might have had one or two instances where it did slightly chip but other than that it usually stays in tact until I take it off or get it refreshed.

Color?

Touch Of Love! I tried a couple different colors like At First Blush (very similar) but this one is hands down my favorite. It’s the color I have on in the picture above.

Where do you go in Dallas?

On their website they have a store locator  that will help you find salons that carry it! That’s how I found Bellacures Dallas which is the salon I go to every time I need a new mani. You can also buy the system/nail lacquer online and do it yourself at home! I’ve done that a couple times if I need a quick fix or don’t have time to go to the salon.

Let me know your thoughts and if you guys have tried or are going to try!