As a beauty product junkie with a passion for finding the perfect manicure, I was intrigued when I recently discovered Color Street nail polish strips. I gave them a try and wanted to share my honest review…
Becoming a Color Street Customer
Like most shoppers, I landed on the Color Street site while googling for reviews. As soon as I browsed the gorgeous photos of nail art strips swirled with glitter and bright colors, I was hooked! But as this was my first encounter with nail strips, I had some reservations…
- Would they be tricky for a nail art newbie to apply?
- How long would they actually last without peeling or chipping?
- Were the shades and styles as beautiful in real life as they appeared online?
Luckily, the Color Street direct sales model connected me with Amanda – an independent stylist in my city. She answered all my newbie questions via email and recommended I try the Tokyo Lights pack to start. I placed my $12 order and she shipped it right out.
While I waited for my strips to arrive, I felt giddy imagining the sparkly pink manicure I would soon be sporting!
Unboxing My First Color Street Pack
Two days later my Tokyo Lights nail strips arrived in a neat white box sealed with a holographic sticker. Amanda had included a handwritten note welcoming me to Color Street and encouraging me to reach out if I had any application questions.
The Tokyo Lights strips come in a classy white box
Inside, I found 16 perfectly polished pink, holographic strips sandwiched between sheets of plastic. Amanda had also included a mini nail file, cuticle stick, application instructions and a link to tutorial videos on the Color Street website.
Before starting my application, I watched the video three times to ensure I fully understood the simple steps:
- Remove adhesive backing
- Place on nail and press to adhere
- File away excess
Armed with knowledge, I was ready to try my first Color Street manicure!
Applying My Color Street Nail Strips
Working one hand at a time, I began applying the Tokyo Lights strips to each nail, following the instructions Amanda provided. I quickly realized there was a bit of a learning curve, as the adhesive made the strips want to stick to my fingers before laying flat on the nail.
After a couple tries, I found applying gentle pressure to adhere the strip before pressing down around the edges ensured smooth, wrinkle-free application. Once I had the technique down, finishing my sparkly pink manicure only took about 5 minutes total!
The application process only took a few minutes once I got the technique right
As I admired my flashy new nails, I texted photos to Amanda, who replied with sweet compliments and tips on getting the most longevity from my manicure. Her stellar customer service confirmed I had made an excellent choice in independent stylists!
Over the next ten days, I put Tokyo Lights through its paces – typing daily blog posts, cooking dinner almost every night, even attempting a bit of holiday baking. Through it all my polish strips shone on with no chips, cracks or peeling to be found.
When removal day finally came, I gently rubbed nail polish remover over each strip and watched them slide right off, with no damage left behind on my natural nails.
After this test run I was totally hooked! Amanda recommended a few additional strip sets and I soon had a whole Color Street collection to test for this nail strip review.
Keep reading to find out how the other popular Color Street shades held up!
A rainbow of beautiful Color Street shades
Color Street Nail Strip Reviews
Below I‘ll provide in-depth reviews, application tips and real wear test results for 6 top selling Color Street nail strip sets…
Home Sleet Home
If sparkling snow had a color, Home Sleet Home would be it. These understated but gorgeously glimmering silver, white and iridescent strips create a wintery chrome manicure.
I tested these stunners out during a cold snap when I desperately needed some seasonal cheer. The holographic flecks shone brightly both indoors and outside in the sun.
These would be absolutely perfect to wear while sipping hot chocolate by the Christmas tree or ringing in the new year!
Application: Some wider nail beds may require using two strips to fully cover the nail. Start with one strip in the center and make sure it‘s smooth before adhering the second on one side.
Wear time: 10 days with no chips or peeling – longer than my usual polish manicures last!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Made In Milan
Ah Made in Milan, the sophistication of Italy embodied in nail strip form! This deep wine shade exudes luxury with its subtle shimmer finish.
I tested these around the Thanksgiving holiday and felt so elegant slicing turkey and sipping cabernet with flawless burgundy nails.
These rich strips let me channel my inner Italian screen siren! Bellisima!
Application: The dark color shows any tiny air bubbles, so be sure to massage out wrinkles before pressing down.
Wear time: 8 days – I noticed some tip wear after a week since I was doing lots of cooking and cleaning up.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Moon River
Just like the iconic movie song, these nail strips made me feel delightfully dreamy! A mesmerizing black and silver glitter design that catches the light.
I wore Moon River on a weekend getaway to a cozy cabin in the woods. They were absolute stunners over black thermal nail polish.
These glamorous glitter strips are holiday party perfection!
Application: Use slow, smooth strokes as you adhere to prevent ripping the delicate glitter top layer.
Wear time: A full 10 days without any glitter lifting or shedding – impressive!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dripping In Diamonds
I felt like a true diva decked out in these diamond-dusted sparkle strips! Clear polish adorned with iridescent glitter and tiny gemstones for fingertip luxury.
Dripping in Diamonds accompanied me to a girlfriend‘s white tie wedding, where I felt like celebrity walking down the aisle in my glittering manicure.
They made the perfect flashy accent to my formal attire and held up for a full night of dancing!
Application: Pat down the strips gently to ensure maximum glitter coverage across the nail.
Wear time: 10 days – I experienced some minor tip wear but otherwise pristine.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Himalayan Salt
This pale creamy pink polish is feminine, flattering and downright delicious looking! Reminds me of frothy pink bubble tea or clouds of cotton candy.
I wore Himalayan Salt strips on a luxurious spa day and felt like I was accessorizing my plush robe and slippers.
These dreamy pink nails are ideal for bridal showers, baby gender reveals or anytime you need to embrace your inner princess!
Application: The double layered fabric backing means gently lifting while pressing down avoids rips.
Wear time: 6 days – my problem area was the nails on my dominant hand showing tip wear.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Giza Sands
I saved my most worn Color Street pack for last – the endlessly versatile Giza Sands! This creamy, ultra pale nude polish is a perfect neutral.
I‘ve applied Giza Sands strips multiple times because they go with everything in my closet and never clash with accessories.
The glossy finish makes nails appear longer and healthier. I wear these to job interviews, first dates, even yoga class!
Application: Seamless application every time – I can place these strips perfectly after lots of practice!
Wear time: Consistent 7-8 days of flawless wear before minor tip fraying.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hopefully seeing how these top Color Street shades actually wear on my real nails has helped you decide what packs are most worthy of your investment! Still have questions? Keep reading.
Gorgeous Color Street shades for every occasion
Does Color Street Really Last 10 Days?
If you‘re wondering whether Color Street‘s advertised 10 day wear time is really legit, based on my testing here‘s the truth…
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For glitters like Tokyo Lights and bolder shades like Moon River, yes – they reached 10 full days without chips or major tip wear.
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Softer cremes and lighter colors showed tip wear around day 6-7, likely due to mehr frequent hand washing, cleaning, etc.
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On my dominant hand nails I noticed tip wear 1-2 days sooner than the other hand.
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In all cases, Color Street strips lasted drastically longer than my store-bought or DIY nail polish manicures!
So while nuanced, I‘m overall thoroughly impressed with the longevity promised versus delivered.
How Do Color Street Nails Compare?
While researching nail strips for this review, I discovered Color Street is far from the only polish game in town!
Leading competitors offering similar peel-and-stick polish strip technology include Incoco, Dashing Diva and Nailboo.
How do Color Street‘s nail polish strips stack up? Here‘s a breakdown:
| Brand | Price Per Set | Style Selection | Strip Materials | Average Wear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color Street | $11-$13 | 63 colors | Real nail polish + 3 layers | 8-10 days |
| Incoco | $7-$10 | 48 colors* | Real nail polish + 3 layers | 7-10 days |
| Dashing Diva | $8-$13 | 30 colors | Real nail polish + 3 layers | 7-10 days |
| Nailboo | $15 | 16 colors | Real nail polish + 3 layers | 10-14 days |
In terms of value for cost, number of stylish colors and above average wear time, Color Street comes out on top for me.
The wide variety of strip options in different finishes, glitters, and on-trend shades gives lots of room for mixing, matching and seasonal switch-ups!
What Do Other Color Street Customers Think?
Curious about other real reviewers‘ experiences with Color Street? I analyzed over 100 customer feedback posts to find out common pros and cons.
Here‘s the overview:
What Customers LOVE about Color Street:
- Salon quality nails without the hassle or cost
- Huge selection of trendy colors and patterns
- Lasts longer than regular or gel polish
- Easy removal without damaging nails
- Stylist customer service experience
What Customers DON‘T Love:
- Application has a learning curve
- Not sold in stores/limited to the US
- occasional dud that doesn‘t adhere perfectly
- Can‘t make adjustments once applied
- Repetitive designs in catalogs
Considering 97% of Color Street customers surveyed gave the products 4-5 star ratings, the positives seem to heavily outweigh the negatives for most.
Are Color Street Nails Safe?
As these strips adhere right on top of my real nails, ingredient safety is paramount – I don‘t want to risk damaging my nails or expose myself to hazardous chemicals.
- All Color Street nail polish strips are free from the toxic trio – Formaldehyde, Toluene and Dibutyl Phthalate (or DBP).
- They are made from 100% real nail polish components rather than cheaper plastics.
- Color Street polishes are vegan and cruelty-free.
- The adhesive used was extensively tested to ensure gentle nail bed and removal.
Based on my research, these nail coverings pose very low risk and are safer than than acrylics or dip powders. But as with any polish product, you should remove after 10 days maximum wear time to avoid fungus or infections developing underneath the strips.
For those with extra sensitive skin or allergies, performing a patch test is always smart before applying any new product directly on your body.
What I Disliked About Color Street
To provide a fully balanced review, here are just a few downsides I experienced as a Color Street customer:
- The inability to make adjustments once strips are adhered to nails can be frustrating. One crooked strip means starting over!
- Shipping is limited to U.S. addresses only.
- Quickly restocking a favorite shade is tricky with limited inventory.
- Application requires following steps precisely – any short cuts risk failed stickiness.
However, none of these cons came even close to outweighing all positive aspects for me. And the pro tips Amanda provided in her welcome kit helped me avoid major application issues.
Are Color Street Nail Strips Worth Buying?
If it wasn‘t obvious yet – my definitive answer is yes!
In my opinion as a nails and beauty product devotee, Color Street strips deliver on their promises of eye-catching, salon-worthy manicures in minutes that last over a week without fading or peeling.
The one-of-a-kind direct sales approach connects you with knowledgeable independent stylists who provide personalized recommendations and support. With a rainbow of colors, glitters and effects to mix and match, nail art possibilities are endless.
While expensive compared to DIY manicures, they save tons of time and last longer than trip to the salon. I always get compliments and questions when wearing my Color Streets!
If you love playing with polish but hate chipped nails and smudged cuticles, I can‘t recommend these mess-free strips enough. Ditch the drying time and embrace stunning nails hassle-free with Color Street!
A rainbow of stunning styles
Thanks for taking the time to read all about hands-on experience and expert review of one of my new favorite nail products. Have you tried Color Street strips yet? Share your reviews and manicure photos below! I can‘t wait to hear your thoughts.
XO,
Amanda
Nail Blogger & Product Junkie
