Only P299, and I look like I win at life: How these new local stick-on nail wraps gave me an instant mani
Since lockdown started, I can proudly say that I was able to put in a lot more effort into skincare. When restrictions eased up, I was even able to gradually go back to wearing makeup. But a manicure - self-applied, of course - only happened exactly once in the last eight months. The housework scattered throughout the day and all the frequent hand-washing didn’t exactly leave me with a lot of downtime to painstakingly wait for each layer to set and dry. But Luxx Lash is giving my used and abused nails some hope.
The local company, whose star product is its lush false lashes, has just launched their line of nail wraps this month called STYX. They kindly sent over several designs for me to try, and I’m sharing my experience as a complete and total nail wrap virgin.
Each STYX kit contains a total of 16 nail waps in various sizes, as well as a mini nail file and a small, dual-ended pusher/stick. The regular, single-colored nail wraps go for P299 a set, while the printed designs are at P399. I like that the wraps are sealed in tamper-proof packs and the tools are also in a separate plastic wrapper. The nail stickers are also reasonably long to accommodate a variety of nail lengths.
Now, that kit alone is already enough to achieve a stick-and-go manicure. You just have to select the wrap that fits right. Then peel off the clear, shiny cover from the surface and the white paper behind it. Stick on and smooth out over clean, dry nails with the pusher. File off the excess. Voila! You’re done. A layer of top coat or clear polish is optional.
At first, it took me a little longer to position and press down the wraps for fear that it might end up looking messy and crumpled if the adhesive was too sticky. But it turns out that it can accommodate some gentle lifting and repositioning without losing adhesion. And when I started to get the hang of it, I got confident enough that I even started trimming the wraps before sticking them on. The leftovers are honestly long enough that they could still fit my nails when cut shorter.
In the look above, I combined wraps from both Robin’s Egg and Tropical Punch
In the photo above, I combined Biscotti and Santa’s Reindeer.
I have five designs with me:
Robin’s Egg - a pastel seafoam
Biscotti - a pale warm beige
Tropical Punch - colorful printed abstract art with an 80’s feel
Santa’s Reindeer - part of the Holiday limited edition collection, designed by partner artist, Nicole Ty
Candy Cane - part of the Holiday limited edition collection, designed by partner artist, Diobelle Cerna
There were only two beginner’s challenges I encountered while learning to work with these mani stickers. First, I noticed that trapped air bubbles are most obvious with the plain/block colored ones and the clear, colorless parts of the Tropical Punch design. The second thing I still need to learn to get the hang of is in not stretching the stickers too far over the sides of my nails. I ended up pulling too hard on my ring finger, and one part got so thin that the nail polish brush punctured it as I was applying my top coat.
What I find most impressive is the longevity of these stick-on manicures. As of writing, I am at Day 4 and the adhesive is holding fast. Factor in twice-a-day dishwashing, baths, and some light garment/mask laundering. A regular nail polish usually only makes it to 3 days on me. I have noticed some slight lifting of the sticker edges where it meets the proximal nail folds, but it’s not even enough that it’s causing the whole thing to peel off. I have also experienced the beginnings of chipping on Day 4. But my guess is that this will still look presentable up to the end of the week.
So if you’re looking for a quick nail art pick-me-up or just want a speedy manicure, it’ll be fun to give STYX’s cruelty-free and chemical-free nail wraps a try. More colors and designs are available on the Luxx Lash website!
