Have you heard of Gelly? A local family-run business, Gelly was born out of a simple belief: everyone deserves beautiful, glossy gel nails without the hassle, damage, or price tag of regular salon visits.
Their semi-cured gel nail strips deliver a salon-quality finish, but on your schedule. They’re fast, easy to apply, gentle on your nails, and last up to two weeks. No mess. No stress. Just beautiful results at a fraction of the time and cost.
They have a wide variety of colours and designs available (you can shop them here), as well as all-in-one kits to make application a breeze.
Our editor recently had the opportunity to test the Gelly Home Salon Kit, and – spoiler alert – they’re a hit!
“I love getting my nails done, but I’ve stopped going for professional gel manicures for two reasons. Firstly, the damage they do is not worth it. I’m left with weak, brittle nails that peel every time. And secondly, it’s becoming very pricey.
I’ve tried a few do-it-yourself nail wraps in the past, but found them difficult to use and frustrating. When the opportunity to test Gelly Gel Nail Strips came around, I was really excited at the prospect of discovering a DIY nail kit that actually works.
I received a Gelly Home Salon Kit with all the tools you need to do your own nails, as well as a set of Gel Nail Strips in shade Wine Red.
On a rainy afternoon, I decided to test it out. The instructions are on the back of the Nail Strip box, and they’re really easy to follow. There is also a video tutorial on Gelly’s website which shows you how to apply the nails step by step.
First, file your nails and push back your cuticles. You then wipe your nails with one of the alcohol wipes to remove oil or dirt, and then it’s time to apply your gel sticker.
There are several sizes in the pack. Once you’ve selected your desired size, you peel it off and smooth it onto your nail. It’s important to smooth out any bubbles and to flatten the edges. I used the nail scissors to cut off the excess nail sticker and then filed the rest down for a smooth edge.
You then pop your fingers under the little UV light included in the kit, for 60 seconds. After it was cured, I applied a coat of the High Gloss UV Top Coat for added shine and cured it for another 60 seconds. And that’s it! Gel nails at home without the fuss or the price tag.
A lot of people have asked about how easy these are to apply. My answer is that it was much easier than I expected. It took me about an hour from start to finish, but this included reading up and watching the video on how to do it. Plus, it was my first time, and I was being extra cautious not to mess them up. I think I’ll be much faster next time.
I started with my left hand (seeing as I’m right-handed), and by the time I finished, I felt I had the hang of it and found it really simple to do my other hand, despite my left hand not being very coordinated.
The strips work really well and they’re easy to apply. I found this whole process lots of fun, and doing my own nails (without the messiness of regular nail polish) was very therapeutic. At R199 for a strip of colour, it’s much more affordable than paying for a gel mani at the salon (plus you save on petrol and parking too!).
But even more important than the cost is the quality of the product and the brand’s damage-free promise. These nails do not require an acetone soak-off, which is a major win. Instead, you simply remove the nail strips using cuticle oil and a small wooden stick included in the kit. They’re really quick and easy to remove. No stripping your nails or damaging them with acetone, which is known for being extremely dehydrating and damaging.
The colour looks fantastic. I love the high gloss finish and this shade of red is right up my alley. The stickers feature a chip-resistant formula and can last up to two weeks after application. Mine looked perfect for seven days. On the evening of the seventh day, I noticed a bare nail, which had come off during a shower. I’m very rough with my hands – I clean, I garden, I play with my dogs and I’m very ‘hands-on’ at home. To me, seven days is incredible!
In addition to an array of solid colours, Gelly also offers Nail Strips with trendy designs and arty details (think florals, glitter and patterns).
I had high hopes for this product, but it exceeded my expectations. The ease of applying the strips, the beautiful, high-shine colour and the longevity were more than I expected. Will I be using this again? Absolutely yes – I’ve already started looking at which colours I’m going to order for my next manicure.”
Anien – Editor
