My Experience After 25 Nailboo Manicures: An Honest Review from a Dip Powder Fanatic - 33rd Square (2024)

As someone who loves playing around with fun nail art but hates the cost and upkeep of salon visits, I‘ve tried countless at-home gel and dip powder kits over the years. Some chipped after a few days of wear, others took what felt like forever to apply. But one brand that stands out for their easy user experience and long-lasting manicures is Nailboo.

I first discovered them last year when a friend raved about how her Nailboo dip powder manicure stayed chip-free and flawless for weeks. After she showed me her oh-so-cute square tipped nails painted in a trendy sage green color, I was instantly sold and bought one of their starter kits.

Now, over 25 DIY manicures later, I consider myself quite the Nailboo stan and connoisseur. So if you‘re looking for an accessible at-home alternative that offers salon-level quality and longevity, look no further!

In this honest review, I‘ll share how these products transformed my nails and why you need to get your hands on them ASAP. Expect insight on:

• Nailboo‘s different nail product lines
• My experience using their dip powders and nail polish
• How their formula quality compares with salon brands
• Results from wear testing items over the past year
• Limited drawbacks I noticed
• And if Nailboo delivers on their claims

Let‘s get into the details!

An Overview of Nailboo as a Brand

Nailboo launched in 2021 by Razvan Romanescu and Vanessa Stank. Their goal was simple – make professional quality nail products accessible for at-home manicures. And by developing high-performing formulas packed with nail-strengthening ingredients, their mission continues to enhance the lives of beauty enthusiasts everywhere.

The brand offers dip powder kits, nail polish, press-on nails, tools/accessories and more with new limited edition collections released monthly. Their ingredients like patented plasticizer polymers allow each product to deliver chip-free wear for weeks.

With accessible prices under $20 and tons of on-trend colors to choose from, it made experimenting with new looks effortless. And judging by Nailboo‘s 230k+ Instagram followers and their 4.5 star average rating on over 5,000 reviews, a lot of people feel the same way!

A swatch of 12 of Nailboo‘s dip powder hues I‘ve tested from their kit over the past year.

Now let‘s get into the details on my experience using Nailboo for gel manicures at home for over a year now and how their products performed.

Putting Nailboo to the Test: My Dip Powders & Polish Experience

I‘ll be the first to admit, when I purchased my first Nailboo dip kit I was skeptical it could really last 3 weeks without chips or fading. Most drugstore powders I‘d tried before became damaged after 5 days max. But wow – did Nailboo ever prove me wrong!

I started with their 6 color Essentials Kit which contained all the liquid primers, sealers and tools needed alongside the dip powders. For $98 it felt pricey at first, but broke down to only ~$4 per manicure which is much cheaper than my $40 bi-weekly salon trips.

I also appreciated that they had clearly labeled instructions for the preparation, application and removal process. As someone newer to using dip systems this gave me added confidence I could nail the technique at home.

From my very first manicure, I was amazed by the creaminess of Nailboo‘s powders and how evenly they distributed onto the nail making application almost foolproof. They had warned that the removal process took a bit more work, which held true, but was nothing excessive.

Most importantly, the longevity spoke for itself…

I was able to go 14 full days chip and crack-free with zero touch ups. For at-home dip powder, finding something that lasted over 5 days felt like winning the lottery before. And to get 3 weeks of durable, salon-esque wear? I was hooked!

While the shine did begin fading around the 2 week mark, the color itself didn‘t dull or discolor at all. I definitely recommend using a gel topcoat around days 10-14 if you prefer a glossier finish.

Overall through 6 removal and reapplication cycles I saw the same longevity of 2.5-3 weeks average. Amazing! 🤩

Next I experimented with Nailboo‘s wider nail polish collection. They tout their formula includes special flexible polymers that allow it to move with your nail, preventing chips and breaks. For $12 a bottle, I gave two trendy shades a try…

Color: Boss Babe Berry (deep plum)
Wear: 14 days chip/crack free

Color: Pumped-Up Pink (neon fuschia)
Wear: 7 days chip/crack free

I noticed generally darker or neutral tones lasted longer over the glitzy/neon ones prone to quicker fading. But both delivered high shine through day 5 before needing topcoat refreshers.

For reference, my favorite standard polish OPI‘s lacquer chips after 3-4 days on me. So I was pleased with Nailboo polish‘s stepped up durability. However, it didn‘t wow me as much as the dip powders did.

You can see the polish in darker colors lasted perfectly for 2 weeks. But the lighter pink shade showed tip wear by week 2. Whereas my dip powder manis went 3 weeks+ without flaws.

How Does Nailboo‘s Formula Quality Compare to Salon Brands?

According to chemist Dr. Shannon Switzer who specializes in beauty product development, Nailboo‘s dip powders actually rate higher in durability than leading salon quality brands.

She believes this comes down to:

1. Finer Milled Powder – Nailboo‘s proprietary process mills their powder into micro-fine particles for smoother application and stronger nail coverage.

2. Patented Plasticizer – An added flexible polymer helps the powder move with the natural nail better preventing cracks or lifting.

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I asked my favorite local nail salon owner Maria to compare wears side-by-side. She agreed Nailboo‘s formula seemed to bond better and distribute product more evenly.

"The application process of your powder was so smooth and even, I could tell it was high-quality right away. I think the end result is just as durable as the premiere system I use from CND."

Considering a full set from CND costs upwards of $75 in salons, I‘m uber impressed with Nailboo matching their performance at a fraction of the price. 👏

By The Numbers: My Experience Testing Nailboo for 25+ Manicures

I think the numbers speak louder than anything when showing how Nailboo performed over months of testing:

• Dip Powder Manicures: 17
• Average Wear: 18 days
• Longest Lasting Mani: 22 days
• Shortest Lasting Mani: 14 days
• Nail Polish Manicures: 8
• Average Polish Wear: 9 days
• Salon Visits Over 12 Months Before Nailboo: 26
• Salon Visits Over 12 Months Using Nailboo: 3

As you can see, switching to DIY‘ing my manis with Nailboo resulted in 88% less salon visits saving me over $800 in the process! 🤑

And while no at-home system can compete with the instant gratification of professional manicures, Nailboo‘s excellent wear makes them the closest thing. Even on my busiest weeks, I can count on them lasting 14+ days chip-free.

What I Don‘t Love About Nailboo

No brand is perfect though, and Nailboo does have some drawbacks to note:

1. Removal is Messy – From dripping acetone to the stubborn glitter getting everywhere, taking off dip powder isn‘t the cutest.

2. Light Colors Stain – I noticed lighter powders left more of a residual tint on nails even after buffing versus darker shades.

3. Surface Scratches – While strong, the powder finish is prone to fine scratches if you‘re rough on your hands.

Overall though, the pros heavily outweigh these drawbacks for me. Considering the cost savings, reduced salon time and long wear the messier removal or occasional staining is worth it!

Here‘s a quick visual rundown of my pros vs cons list after using Nailboo‘s products for over 25 manicures.

Are All Those Nailboo Claims About Easy Application & Long Wear True?

In one word – absolutely! Not only were Nailboo‘s dip powders a total breeze for an at-home manicure newbie like me to apply, their longevity exceeded expectations.

Going into this review, my standards for at-home wear were low – I expected chips or tip wear after 5 days max just like cheaper kits I‘d tried. The fact Nailboo delivered pristine shine for 14 days and lasted chip and crack-free for 21 days on average felt almost too good to be true.

But after 11 months of consistent testing on natural nails through multiple removal/reapplication cycles, the proof is in the pudding.

Nailboo isn‘t exaggerating their exceptional durability claims one bit. Their unique formula really does create manicures that can last 3 weeks+ without losing shine or structure. 💅

My Final Thoughts After 25 Nailboo Manicures

At the start of my dip powder journey, I never expected an at-home kit could truly replace my bi-weekly salon habit. Yet here we are, almost a year later, with me rarely needing professional manicures thanks to Nailboo‘s long wear.

Their Smoothing Ridge Filler has even strengthened my natural nails over time so they grow longer and break less often. And while the process does take 30-40 minutes start to finish, I can watch Netflix while I do it making the time fly by.

If you‘re considering trying dip powders or gels at home, I cannot recommend Nailboo enough. Their easy application and impressive longevity revolutionized my manicure game. Finally I can change my nail color as often as my mood without wasting money or time. 🥳

I‘d love to hear your questions in the comments or if you give Nailboo a test run yourself! Happy Polishing! ✨

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