Jamberry Challenge

{ Day 1 // Day 5 }

So several of my friends have been raving about Jamberry. If you haven't heard of it, it's essentially a nail decal that covers your whole nail and used instead of polish to provide a manicure. I have several friends who are Jamberry consultants now, and they always post the cutest pictures. Personally, I've always been really attached to my Essie nail polish (I have a giant box full), but when my friend Britta offered to send me a sample of Jamberry to try I was like, I mean why not? I am SUPER hard on my nails, so I put it to the test.

Here's what is on each nail:

Thumb: Revlon Gel Envy
Pointer: Jamberry
Middle: Revlon Gel Envy
Ring: Essie
Pinky: Revlon Gel Envy

I've always loved the idea of industrial strength nail polish, so I thought I'd give a gel polish a try. I thought about trying the salon quality gel polish (I looked at Gelish) but WHOOOOOO do those smell toxic when you open the bottle. It's like walking into a can of fumes. I might try it after our baby comes out, but I was no way no how going to use those while pregnant. I know, I am paranoid. So instead I testing Revlon Gel Envy (which does NOT smell like an industrial manufacturing plant) in addition to my tried and true Essie and the new Jamberry.

So here are the results....

The first photo is Day 1. You may be able to tell, but in case not, my Essie polish chipped RIGHT AWAY. As in like an hour later. FAIL. I'm actually wearing Essie again today, which I painted yesterday, and half of my pointer finger nail polish is GONE. Ugh.

The Gel Envy held up okay I suppose. I started to chip eventually, but more like three days in. My nails tend to chip more the longer they are, and this is with them a wee big longer than normal, so I am sure that didn't help much. So the wear I can expect out of the Gel Envy was around three days for me. This is with the Gel Envy base + color product and the Gel Envy top coat.

The Jamberry nail actually held up quite well. I was really surprised. The only thing I noticed was so lifting of the decal at the end of my finger nails. Now, I do tend to be hard on my nails. I like to scratch Precious Baby Wilbur while he naps next to me, do dishes, peel stickers, and all kinds of other things I am sure are not good on my nails. I had a problem with the ends lifting an hour after application, but then I went back and noticed that it wasn't flush with my nail end (it was overhanging). I trimmed it down and that took care of it for a few days. About three or four days in I started to have some fraying at the end of my Jamberry nail. I tried to file it down (which kind of worked), and is what resulted in the ends looking "chipped" even though it isn't. Its showing nail because I filed it at an angle. I talked to a few friends of mine and they recommended that when you apply them, you wait to trim your nails until AFTER the decal is on. That way when you trim it the nail and decal end at the same point. I trimmed mine right before adding the decal, because I always trim before painting, but this makes some sense. They also said you can zap them with heat in the morning to re-bond them to your nails or touch up and lifting you have to prolong the wear.

So what's the skinny?

Pro Jamberry:

1. They wear really well, as in they don't chip and your nails still look perfect several days in.
2. They take NO time to dry because you apply and are done. I think it took me like 10 seconds to do a nail and then I was off folding laundry.
3. Preset patterns. As in you don't have to get at tooth pick out and try and paint a reindeer. It's already covered.

Con Jamberry:
1. You only get one wear out of them. So a typical bottle of nail polish costs me around $10. I get multiple uses out of this one bottle. A set of Jamberry is $15, and I only get one use. However, it lasts longer. So pick your battle.
2. Lifting of the ends. It's a bit annoying. But then again, so is walking around with half a nail worth of polish chipped off... so...?
3. Limited patterns. Guys, I can't wear some of those patterns to work. I work in a corporate office. My managers would look at my nails and be like.. dude.. whats going on with your nails? So I pretty much have to rock the solids. I WISH I COULD WEAR LEOPARD NAILS!!! (add that to the "to do list" for maternity leave)

So whats my verdict? I like them! I don't think I will use them every time on all my nails, but I have a list started of the ones I'd like to use as accents!! And maybe as a special treat??

Here are the ones I've picked out...




(okay - so maybe I could pull off one leopard nail at the office??)

Have you tried Jamberry before? What do you think??