sns dipping powders French Dip Kit

***See comment for update and new tips!***I started doing my nails not so much because I wanted them to look a certain way, but because fingernails are supposed to protect your fingers and mine were so flimsy I had to keep them cut to the quick so they wouldn't tear and split. I started with gel and always had problems with it lifting and cracking and chipping. Then, when I had an allergic reaction to the "one step" gels, I got nervous about them. Then, I moved on to Jamberrys. I loved the way they looked and they would usually last me at least close to a week with gel on top. And they were easy to remove. But they were hard to get smooth at the free edge and they did tend to lift at the cuticle and fall off prematurely.Enter dip nails! I've tried 3 different brands (SNS, Revel, RCM) and they're all basically the same. Anyone who says they don't have an odor is lying. They smell like super glue. Because they are super glue. But doctors use super glue in place of stitches, so that doesn't worry me. I only notice the smell off and on and it certainly doesn't linger. They also take a long time to remove. I got a couple of acetone steamers here on Amazon. When you soak the dip nails in acetone, they turn to goo. The steamers beep every 5 minutes and I take my hands out and wipe some of the goo off and put them back in. It takes about 1/2 hour. That kind of sucks; but it's also I'm sure at least a little because I put the dip on thick.Seems like a lot of complaints for a 5 star item? Well, I did say I started doing my nails because I wanted them to be hard and strong. Dips give me the hard nails I've only dreamed of. They DO NOT BEND. Gel would bend. Jamberrys with gel on top would bend. Dips are hard as rocks. I love it!These nails also dry pretty fast and are very shiny. They do highlight the natural lumpiness of my nails, but I'm getting better at application, and it doesn't bother me too much.The first time I did the dip nails, it was a hard no. They were so thick they hurt and they were awfully lumpy. So I started grinding them down to remove them, and they started looking better. So I just added more activator and more topcoat and they really looked good. I discovered that you really have to brush away the extra powder after each coat (tapping isn't enough), or it will gunk up your brush and mess up the whole thing. But they are endlessly repairable. You can always file away the top layers and add more or just add more activator and topcoat.The first time I did them, they also lifted the tiniest bit at the cuticles. But they were never in danger of falling off. And that was definitely operator error, as I haven't had any problems in the applications since.

Expensive & not worth the price! Instructions are written in an Asian character language with only the product names in English. Inner package packaging poor. While my tiny bottles weren't broken like another reviewer were, they were in a heap at the bottom of the box. The EA Bond wasn't included so I had to order that separately after I received this NOT-complete set. Poor customer service. I would have been better off paying half as much for Kiara Skye nail dipping powder set, with clear (English) instructions, great customer service.

This is my first foray into a dip system although I have been doing my own nails for a long time and through many systems and products. This system is by far the easiest and fastest I have ever used. The SNS system is very easy to follow and even on the first try I was able to construct a beautiful set of nails. I had never tried to do a French tip set so this also was new to me but with the dipping tray provided it was simple - just dip the end of your nail into the tray to the depth you want and pull it out again. In the past I have used several kinds of acrylic systems. These worked great but took quite a long time to do. The dip system took about half the time which is amazing. I'm on my third set and this last time I added tips rather than just using the product over my natural nails. Once again the nails look great and hold up well. I'm eager to try the colored dipping powders and will post again when I do.

Although the package arrived with some damage to the bottle from the brush saver liquid leaking out, I like the kit. Its very easy to apply and the instruction pamphlet and video is very educational. I would have given it 5 starts but the little mishap prevented that.

The items packaging was poor. The bottles were all loose. The brush cleaner bottle top was loose, thus half the bottle leaked into the box. The solution melted the bottom of two of the dipping powder containers. They became glued into the packaging. The liquid also leaked onto the instructional DVD and damaged it so it cannot be watched.

I was not even able to use the kit. I opened the kit to discover that one of the bottles broke in transit to me. I had to fish out multiple pieces of broken glass to even see the other items in my package! Due to the spilled polish in my package, I wasn't even able to open most of the other pieces in my kit!

I'm absolutely obsessed with this stuff. Since this is a starter kit I found a local store near me that sells different colors. I'm always doing my nails with this stuff. I Would not recommend using the nail file (dremel) even on the lowest setting on your real nails. Just get a light buffer and use that. The Dremel didn't come with the kit but you will need it for shaping the nails. The top and bottom coat brushes dry really fast so make sure you save your brush by between uses dipping it in brush saver. This doesn't ruin your nails like acrylics but it has the strength that acrylic has. My nails actually got better when using this, as long as I don't use the dremel on my real nail. The best thing about this Is I didn't have any idea how to do this before I got the kit. The directions that come with it walk you through step by step. It has both written and video instructions.

Received the product on time, but the Sealer Dry bottle was open and spilled all over everything. The Gelous Base bottle I can't even open. I had read other reviews where this had happened, but thought it was a fluke. I have been so excited to get this kit and start using it, now I can't. This is so upsetting when you pay this amount of money for a product.Update: I contacted Amazon about the problem. They sent me another complete package at no charge. This package was fine. So I actually got two packages for the price of one, with the exception of two bottle that I cannot use. But I can always order them at a later date. I've been using the product and I love it. So my advice is to anyone that this may happen to, call Amazon and they will take care of you. Don't just get mad.