I have always been a nail girl. Long ago, I was obsessed with the nail stickers from Sally Hansen. Between 2010 to 2014, I was never caught without a fresh pack of them tucked in my vanity or my backpack. Point blank, they were way ahead of their time. Flash forward to now, I have all the nail wraps, stickers, and decals at my fingertips (pun absolutely intended). And I have tried nearly all of them. Yet, I stillI hadn’t claimed a favorite or touted one being considerably better than the rest—until now.
It’s the little things that excite me these days when I open my mail containing new products to try, and a package from Heyhae nails sent me into an immediate spiral—and propelled me to post on my Instagram Stories. Gel nail stickers that are made in South Korea? Score. Gel nail stickers that cure in the sun? Okay, I have never seen that before. I was hooked and ready to finish all my responsibilities for the day so I could wind down and try them while bathing in the sun—hey, it’s a two for one!
Heyhae Semi Cured Gel Nail Strips
The first set I tried were perfect for summer; I was heading upstate for a family camping trip and to go to the county fair. Of course, I needed an easy manicure but one that I wasn’t afraid to mess up. But honestly, a camping trip was such a great test to see the durability of these sun-cured gel nails. I packed Hey, Sunset Drive and my eyebrow scissors and committed to doing them in the car ride up. I figured I would just stick my hand out the window to cure them afterwards. TL;DR? I was really putting these to the test and making them go through all the unconventional scenarios. Because if they could pass this, they’d be good enough for anything.
The application was shockingly easy and mess free. One by one, I chose my sticker and peeled off the protective layer of plastic before peeling it off the sheet. They were flexible and could be pushed and stretched a little on the sides if the sizing was slightly off. They didn’t take me long to finish and looked very salon worthy in the end. After holding my hands out the window for a full minute, they were cured. They strongly adhered like gel does after putting your hands under a UV lamp. What’s more, they lasted all weekend and then some—about a week to be exact. The only time I lost one before they grew out was when I was bit by a goat at the county fair (I told you I tested them in unconventional ways!). I think that’s pretty durable in the name of nail stickers, don’t you?
Next, I was curious if the brand had more subtle or solid color manicures. Could Heyhae realistically be a solution for all my at-home manicure needs? I was pleased to see that in addition to fun ombré manicures and cute designs, there were also solid-colored options. I didn’t have time to go get a fresh manicure before fashion week, and I didn’t want bare nails, so I opted to put on Hey, Coffee Run. I felt it was a great ode to the upcoming season of fall colors, and I liked how it resembled a tortoise shell. I was able to put them on in less than 10 minutes, and they concealed my jagged nails and overgrown cuticles. I was obsessed.
Heyhae Semi Cured Gel Nail Strips
If you’re anything like me and love a gel manicure but can’t deal with the wait time in a salon, you absolutely need to have some packs of Heyhae nail strips in your beauty stash. They’re affordable, ranging from $10 to $13 each with enough nail stickers for two manicures in a single pack, easy to use, and there is little downtime when it comes to curing the gel since that can be done in the sun. Before you ask, even on a cloudy or rainy day, they only take about 30 seconds under a little LED lamp (I was curious so I tried, because I like to have options).
Finding DIY gel nail stickers that actually last, shave time off your beauty routine, and come in a variety of trending colors and designs has never been easier. And remember, no LED lamp required. Just a little hot girl or sweet treat walk will do, and your nails will cure in the sunshine without you evening knowing it’s happening. What’s more convenient than that?
Shop more of Heyhae’s options below.
Heyhae Semi Cured Gel Nail Strips