I’ll Never Get Gel Again

If you’re anything like me, you value the importance of a long-lasting manicure. While gel manicures have reigned supreme over the years due to their two-week wear period, there’s been a need for alternative formulas. Some people have developed allergies to traditional gel formulas, stray away from the elaborate removal process, or just want more freedom when it comes to changing polishes frequently. Enter The Manucurist Green Flash LED nail polish.

With nearly the same benefits as traditional gel polish, The Green Flash line is plant-based and formulated without HEMA. “My main goal was always to make professional quality nail color and care more health-focused and accessible,” explained Gaëlle Lebrat-Personnaz, CEO + co-founder of Manucurist. “After two years of R&D, we developed the Green Flash LED gel alternative polish formula, which allowed for long wear (up to 10 days), but most importantly, a simple and non-damaging one-minute removal process that did not include acetone or harsh drilling needed with traditional gel formulations.” Ahead, I tested The Manucurist Green Flash LED nail polish. Keep reading for my thorough review of what is now one of my favorite products to date!

What We Like:

• Beautiful color range.
• Long-lasting and maintains nail health.
• Exceptional alternative to gel formulas.

What We Don’t Like

• After curing, it takes a few minutes to dry down thoroughly and can feel tacky at first or possibly smudge.

About My Nails: I Am Never Without Nail Polish

I’m someone who wears nail polish all of the time and rarely ever has naked nails. You will find me in a classic red manicure or even something sheer, but never without polish. My go-to colors are classic red, orange-red, deep crimson, and soft pink. I wore gel polish for years and even taught myself how to do gel manicures at home. Being a makeup artist and writer amongst other creative endeavors, I work with my hands daily, so to have something that lasts and doesn’t chip is essential. I keep my nails on the shorter side when it comes to length, and I file them at least every other day and apply cuticle oil daily.

The Ingredients: Safe and Effective

If you react to gel polish or search for nail polish without certain ingredients, this formula is an excellent option. Formulated without HEMA (a methacrylate monomer and considered the number one allergen in nail products), the ingredients come from natural sources such as corn, sugarcane, potato, cotton, yuca, and wheat.

How to Apply: It’s a Process

Like traditional gel nail polish, you’ll need to apply a base coat, two color coats, and a topcoat before curing each under an LED lamp.

1. Start by removing any oil or residue from the nails, and apply a thin layer of base coat all over the nail, avoiding the cuticles and any skin.
2. Cure under the LED lamp for one minute.
3. Apply a thin layer of the color polish, cap the free edge, and cure for one minute.
4. Repeat this step once more.
5. Apply a thin layer of the top coat, cap the free edge, and cure under the LED lamp for two minutes. Do not touch the nails for another 5 minutes to ensure they are fully dry and not tacky.

The Results: You May Never Wear Gel Polish Again

I tested this polish with an open mind, yet was apprehensive if it would last and hold up as advertised. I have been so impressed with the results and how long-wearing it is that I’ve been using it exclusively for over three months. It lasts at least 7 days without any chipping and has strengthened my nails and made them much healthier. The removal process is a breeze and does not damage nails. “Our breakthrough innovation, Green Flash LED gel formula, is the only gel on the market that removes in one minute without acetone”, added Lebrat-Personnaz, which is true. I soaked lint-free cotton pads in the acetone-free remover and used the nail clips to hold the pad over my nails for one minute, and the nail polish peeled right off my nails without fuss.

After the 7-8 day mark, I noticed little chips, especially at the edges of my nails, but nothing major, which is the most impressive callout of all. I refresh my manicure every 8-9 days, and the Green Flash lasts much longer than traditional nail polish.

The Value: Exceptional for the Quality

Although more costly than regular nail polish, the quality of ingredients, the long-wearing factor, and the gorgeous shade selection, all aid in making the Green Flash LED nail polish worth the cost. In my opinion, it’s a quality investment and worth every penny.

Similar Products: Very Few

Green Flash LED nail polish is the first HEMA-free and methylacrylate-free LED polish that can be removed in one minute without acetone. Other products with similar philosophies are available, but not the same.

L’Atelier Green Paris launched in 2023 and offered 85% bio-sourced LED-cured nail polish that can be removed without acetone.

Madam Glam offers a vegan, 21-free, and HEMA-free formula in builder gel, yet it requires soaking for removal.

Final Verdict: Absolutely Worth Trying

If you’re looking for an alternative to gel polish that’s packed full of nourishing ingredients and healthy for your nails, look no further than The Manucurist Green Flash LED nail polish formula. With stunning colors to choose from, you’ll find the formula holds up to its promise of long-wear and maintaining the health of your nails. It’s probable you convert to wearing this formula full-time and become just as obsessed as we are!