Best 100% Cured Strips: DASHING DIVA GLOSS- Gel Nail Strips

Let’s talk gel nail strips!

If you love the look of a gel manicure, you probably aren’t wild about the process: it takes a while to put your tips under a UV lamp several times during the process. And getting a gel manicure from a salon can be rather pricey.

Gel nail strips offer the look of a gel manicure without all those negatives.

Gel nail strips are just like regular strips or wraps that you stick on your nails with adhesive then cut or file down to size.

These strips come in two varieties: strips that are 100% cured. And those that are semi-cured.

One hundred percent cured gel nail strips don’t require any time under a UV lamp. Semi-cured gel nail strips require between 10 and 60 seconds under a UV light to finish the curing process.

Here’s a quick rundown of how to apply gel nail strips: 

• Choose the closest size for your nail and place the gel strip up to the cuticle, pressing down from the center

• Next press down on both side and smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles

• Using the white side of the nail file (included), file off excess gel strip starting at the middle and finishing with the sides

• Use the gray side of the file to smooth and finish edges

• Avoid water or oil for 1 hour

• If you’re adding jewels, finish with a topcoat or gel topcoat.

For the best 100% cured nail strips, we tried out several brands before deciding Dashing Diva Gloss is the best bet for most folks. This set has two colors and is super easy to apply.

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Looks professional.

• No UV light needed for cuing.

• Long lasting.

• Easy to apply.

• Nice variety of colors.

What Needs Work

• Bubbled at the sides if not properly adhered. You have to press on these strips carefully and smooth out any bubbles.

Best Budget Friendly: Kalolary 20 PCS Semi Cured Gel Mail Polish Strips

These gel nail strips looked amazing . . . yet are very easy on the wallet. Yes, they need to be cured with a UV light for a minimum of 60 seconds. But the results were impressive in our tests.

What We Liked

• No peeling or chipping.

• Long lasting!

• Easy to apply.

What Needs Work

• Need to use a UV light for curing process. That’s an extra expense, of course. As an alternative, they can be cured in sunlight for 1-2 hours.

Best Tried and True Brand: Ohora Semi-Cured Nail Strips

When we asked our parent readers for their favorite gel nail strips, one brand came up time and time again: Ohora.

So when we tried these strips for ourselves, we had high expectations. Good news: these strips lived up to their reputation—high quality and very durable!

What We Liked

• Covers nails perfectly, thanks to stretchable design.

• Only needs 10 seconds under UV light to cure.

• Lasts for LONG time.

• Durable finish.

• High quality strips.

• No odor.

• Loved the color palette.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

Best Patterned Strips: Bellaxixi Semi Cured Gel Nail Strips

And now for something different—most gel nail strips are solid colors. That’s nice, but we liked these patterned strips from Bellaxixi for a different, impressive look. And the price doesn’t break the bank.

What We Liked

• Cute prints.

• Easy to use.

• Quick to apply.

What Needs Work

• Not as durable as others we tested.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability. When we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!