DASHING DIVA NAIL GUARD PROTECTIVE STRIPS REVIEW

DASHING DIVA NAIL GUARD PROTECTIVE STRIPS - REVIEW

9/30/2019

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I love dipping my nails at home, it saves so much money over going to the salon, but I hated using acetone to remove my dipped nails, so I had to find a way to go about removing dip powder nails without acetone. This is how I came across Dashing Diva nail guards. (read more)

HOW TO REMOVE DIP NAILS WITHOUT POLISH REMOVER

I am a long time salon goer. For the last five years or so, I have gone to the salon religiously every three weeks to get my nails dipped. I don't necessarily need to have them painted, but I do have a nail that cracks right down the middle (painfully), so using dip powder as a way to add an extra layer of strength has been a wonderful thing.

However wonderful it is, it's also really expensive. Some quick math told me I was spending around $1500 a year on my nails. Ouch.

When I heard about the "at-home-dipping" trend, I decided to do some research, finally taking the plunge and purchasing a starter kit both from Peppi Gel and from Kiara Sky.

Of course there is a learning curve to both, but that wasn't my biggest issue as I quickly came to loathe the days I needed to soak off my manicure before putting on a new one. It was time consuming, sticky, goopy, and gross. My nail beds were drying out, my fingers were white and patchy, and even though I'd been having it done for me at the salon for 5 years, I didn't like doing it at home, not at all.

I needed a way for removing dip nails without acetone.

BEFORE YOU START DIPPING YOUR NAILS, HERE'S WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND YOURSELF WITH AN ALLERGY

ACETONE ALTERNATIVE FOR NAILS

I did make a video about this, so if you'd like to watch, here it is:

ACETONE ALTERNATIVE FOR NAILS

It was while I was on Facebook looking at one of the dip nail groups I'm in, that I saw one of the ladies talking about nail guard protective strips. Specifically, she was talking about nail guards for dipping powder.

The idea is that you apply a protective layer over your natural nail, leaving a barrier between your nail and whatever product you're applying. This can be gel, polish, powder, acrylic, etc. So if you searched for any of these things:

Nail guards for acrylic nails
Nail guards for false nails
Nail guards for gel polish
Nail guards for press on nails
Acetone alternative for gel nails

Rest assured that you're in the right place.

Nail guards can be used with any sort of nail polish, from regular old paint polish all the way to fake nails, it's a great way to keep your natural nail healthy and eliminate the need for acetone.

I've already made videos on application and removal, and I will post those videos below, but for now I'm going to go through some of my most frequently asked questions.

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WHAT ARE NAIL GUARDS USED FOR?

All nail guards do is protect your natural nail. You apply the guard before you apply any other product. The product then sits on the nail guard barrier instead of on your natural nail.

This not only eliminates the need for acetone soak, but also eliminates the absorption of any polish, dips or gels into your natural nail bed.

Application is easy, takes only a few minutes, and removal is the same. Once you've done it a few times you will be applying and removing these nail guards in less time than it takes you to soak off your nails with acetone.

Here's the video on application and removal. Below the video I will give you some tips on how to apply Dashing Diva nail guards, and how to remove Dashing Diva nail guards in writing, just in case you aren't some place where you can watch the video.

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DASHING DIVA NAIL GUARD APPLICATION AND REMOVAL VIDEO

NAIL GUARDS DASHING DIVA

Application and removal are very easy, but here are some tips:

When applying, if you're between sizes, always size down rather than up. You don't want to have the nail guard touching your cuticles or skin, so apply a smaller guard and apply it a bit above the cuticle, leaving plenty of room to give it a good bond.

Press the nail guard out toward the sides of your nail and up toward the tip of your nail. This will prevent any puckers in the nail guard.

If you do get puckers, it's okay, you will not be able to see them, especially if you're applying a dip or gel. If you're just using a polish, these small puckers could be more visible, so be sure to press out toward the edges very well.

Remember to "cap your nail" with your product, applying bonder to the tip of your nail before dipping in powder, and running your shine coat along the tip as well. This way, if you do have any puckers in the guard, they will be sealed up.

When removing your nail guard simply pry up a small amount of the nail near your cuticle, put in a drop of Unisolve, then press the nail back down to disperse the solvent a bit. Wait a minute or two, then use a flat tool (a cuticle pusher works great) to separate the nail guard from your natural nail. It'll peel right off like a press on nail.

Now, let's talk cost.

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HOW MUCH DO NAIL GUARDS COST?

I like to point people toward this Dashing Diva pack on Amazon. It comes with 720 covers, which I'm estimating will give you around 52-60 manicures. Right now the cost is around $65, so let's estimate that each manicure will cost you about $1.00 to use nail guards.

If you can't find this pack on Amazon, I recommend heading over to Dashing Diva and ordering from there. You can find the single packs for as low as $4.00 sometimes, and they offer free shipping over a certain price point, so if you order like $25 at once, the shipping is free. Just don't buy the single packs from Amazon. I have seen people offer them for $25 per single pack, and that is a terrible price.

Well worth it, believe me.

You can use all of the nail guards by cutting down larger ones that don't fit, and layering smaller ones on larger nails. If you are dipping your nail or using acrylics you will not see the overlap at all. It might be more visible with gel or regular polish, so keep that in mind.

What are some other uses for nail guards?

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NAIL COVERS FOR HUMANS
OTHER USES

I've seen quite a few posts where ladies use these nail guards for a couple of things other than dip/gel/acrylic nails. Some of these uses are downright brilliant, some seem like more hassle than they're worth.

Nail covers for nail biters - As a former nail biter, I think this is a great idea. Adding a nail guard to your nails is a great way to remind yourself that this isn't something you ought to be chewing on. Not only that, but the added strength will make it harder to break or snag your nails, giving you less of a reason to put them in your mouth

Nail covers for tanning/Nail covers for spray tanning - This one seems like it would be a lot of work for not much return. If you want to cover your nails so they don't get spray tan solution on them, this would certainly do the trick, but it seems like it might be easier to simply bring a small container of vaseline or thick lotion with you, rub it on your nails, then wipe it off once you're done with your tan. That said, nail guards would work, for sure.

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DASHING DIVA NAIL GUARDS REVIEW

I hope this post has helped you decide whether or not nail guards are right for you. As with any at home beauty routine, there will be a learning curve, but hopefully the tips I've provided will make it that much easier when you get started.

I love my nail guards, I can't say enough good about them, and I'm so glad I found them. Had I not, I think I'd have ended up back in the salon, which is not time or money I wanted to continue spending.

Ever since the COVID outbreak I have not been able to get my nails done at all (closed salons and a broken arm from snowboarding in February). In that time I have soaked off my dip and let my natural nails grow. I'm recommending Hard As Hoof if you're like me and want your natural nails to be strong. You can apply it as part of your normal routine, even if you dip your nails, but I would recommend waiting an hour or so before applying the nail guards if you do use Hard As Hoof.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm always happy to help, if i can. If you'd like to see everything I use to dip my nails at home, you can click the button below and see my Amazon List.

Ty

SEE TY'S AT HOME NAILS LIST

2 Comments

Katherine Gay

12/10/2021 09:19:25 am

Do you apply glue on directly to the guard? Any prep necessary for the guard itself? I'm used to lightly buffing, but I can see where that would affect the integrity of the guard. Do you still get good adhesion of the false nail?

Sheila (Ty The Hunter)

12/10/2021 01:30:10 pm

Hi Katherine. All the prep needs to be done to your nail, cleaning, buffing, alcohol pad, etc. Apply the nail guard on top of that and it'll adhere really well as long as your nail prep is good. You don't do anything to the nail guard at all other than firmly pressing it all over the nail and especially the edges and tip. I hope that helps! I would get good adhesion for at least two weeks. :)