2 Ways to Mani and Pedi
There are two ways to do your nails at home with Velvora: gel nail strips, which cure in 60 seconds under a UV or LED lamp and give up to 14 days of wear, and nail polish strips, which need no lamp and no drying time and last around a week. Both work on hands and toes, so the choice comes down to how long you want your look to last.
Way 1: Gel nail strips, the long wear one
- Real semi-cured gel, finished on your nails
- About ten minutes to apply, then 60 seconds under a UV or LED lamp
- Up to 14 days of glossy wear on fingernails
- HEMA free and TPO free, and removed gently with cuticle oil, no acetone
- Matching pedicure strips for your toes
Shop gel nail strips or read how to apply gel nail strips.
Way 2: Nail polish strips, the no lamp one
- Real nail polish in a peel and press strip
- No lamp and no drying time
- Around a week of wear, perfect for a quick change or a weekend look
- From £5 a set, ideal for trying new shades
- Comes off with ordinary nail polish remover
Shop nail polish strips or read how to apply polish nail strips.
Side by side
| Gel nail strips | Nail polish strips | |
|---|---|---|
| Lamp needed | Yes, 60 seconds (thumbs separately) | No |
| Wear time | Up to 14 days on fingernails | Around a week |
| Finish | Hard, glossy gel | Classic polish finish |
| Time to apply | About 10 minutes, plus curing | Quick, with no drying time |
| Removal | Cuticle oil, lift and peel, no acetone | Ordinary nail polish remover |
| For toes | Pedicure gel strips, often last even longer | Work on toes too |
| Price | £11.99 a set at full price | From £5 a set |
Do both work as a pedicure?
Yes. Gel strips come in shapes cut for toes, and pedicures are where gel really shines: toenails grow more slowly, so a gel pedicure often lasts longer than the 14 days you would get on fingers. Polish strips work on toes as well, ideal for a quick holiday-ready change.
Which way is for you?
Pick gel nail strips if
You want one application to last through work weeks, holidays and washing up, and you don't mind 60 seconds under a lamp. The starter kit includes the mini UV/LED lamp, two sets of your choice and a cuticle oil pen if you don't own a lamp yet.
Pick nail polish strips if
You love changing your look often, want no extra kit, or you are trying nail strips for the very first time. From £5 a set, they are an easy way in.
Or have both
Gel for the weeks that matter, polish for the in-between moods. They sit happily side by side in your nail drawer.
Common questions
Which lasts longer, gel or polish strips?
Gel strips. They give up to 14 days of wear on fingernails, often longer on toes, while polish strips last around a week.
Do I need a lamp for polish strips?
No. Polish strips are real nail polish, so there is nothing to cure. Only gel strips need a UV or LED lamp.
How do I take each type off?
Gel strips come off with a few drops of cuticle oil and a wooden stick, with no acetone, as shown in how to remove gel nail strips. Polish strips come off with ordinary nail polish remover.