Daisy Nail Design, also known as DND, has been manufacturing nail polish for over a decade. One of their most recent innovations is a two-step gel that doesn’t require either a bond or a base coat. As they point out, leaving out those steps saves time and money. And believe it or not, a Daisy Duo manicure can last up to three weeks.
When I first heard about Daisy Nail Design, I looked to see if I could find their website. Since they are located in California, I was able to track down just a couple of pieces of information. First, they appear to sell to salons directly. And second, it is possible to buy their nail lacquers online from resellers, or from a beauty supply store.
So how does their Daisy Duo process work? I’ll tell you more about it below.
Simple, straightforward manicure
Here is what I learned about how to apply Daisy Duo nail polish. The steps are as follows:
- Prepare nails by buffing and cleaning them
- Paint on a thin layer of the gel color coat
- Cure for 30 seconds under an LED lamp, or 2 minutes under ultraviolet light
- Apply a second layer of color and cure that as well
- Finish by applying the top gel coat and setting it under a lamp
- Remove any sticky residue with a lint-free wipe or pad
As you can see, you only need the gel color and the top coat. You don’t need a bond or a base coat. Just the color and the top coat by themselves cure hard enough endure up to three weeks.
Just as important, you have the flexibility of curing them under either ultraviolet or LED light. If you use an LED lamp, your nail will cure in as little as 30 seconds.
When I learned all of the above information, I was excited to imagine how this kind of manicure would save me a great deal of time and money over visiting a salon.
Extra benefits of the Daisy Duo gel polish
Another bonus I discovered about the Daisy Duo gel polish is that it has no odor. It doesn’t make a stink when I paint my nails. It also doesn’t tend to run or drip as much as some nail lacquers I’ve used in the past. And when it’s time to remove it, I can soak off the gel with acetone in about 20 minutes.
Shopping for DND gels
When you shop for a Daisy Duo Gel, you’ll get a white bottle with the colored polish gel and a clear bottle with matching nail lacquer. Each bottle is half an ounce or 15 mL. Of course you’ll want to purchase the clear Top Gel if it’s not part of the package you select. While you can use another brand’s top coat, your manicure may not look as good for as long.
As of this year, there are over 100 colors in the DND palette. When you look at the bottle, you’ll get a fairly good idea of how the color will look. But it’s best to look at swatches to see the final result ahead of time.
Some users have reported that neon colors need more than two coats to look opaque. But many customers are enchanted with all the many vibrant glitter polishes. And there are lots and lots of these shimmery shades.
Besides the eye-catching shades like Sapphire Stone and Pinky Kinky, you can enjoy neutrals like Fairy Dream or Snow Flake. And like any gel, you can up the ante with stencils and other nail art like holographic accents.
Tips for better manicures at home
Whenever you do your own manicure or take the time to care for someone else’s nails, here are a few tips to make it easier.
- Careful preparation prevents disaster
- Preparation includes setting up supplies and preparing your nails, but not washing hands!
- A light touch with thin layers works best
- Keep gel polish off your skin to avoid lifting later
And now, I’ll give you a little explanation of each of those four steps. First, if you get organized before you begin, you won’t have to interrupt yourself in the middle because you forgot wipes or an angled brush to remove mishaps. Grab your lamp, plug it in, and round up all those supplies.
Second, if you do a first-rate job removing the old polish, pushing back cuticles, and buffing, you’re almost guaranteed to end up with a beautiful, long-lasting manicure. But one thing you should do is NOT wash your hands. It’s always best to apply polish to very dry nails.
Third, when painting on gel polish, use thin layers. Even if the polish seems transparent, that will change as you add additional coats. Cure each coat for the recommended length of time. If you don’t set the polish properly, it will be tacky and will self-destruct in no time at all.
Fourth, make sure you only paint the nail, not the skin around the nail. If there is a bridge between the polish on the nail and the skin, the gel will lift and flake.
If you follow these tips, you’re likely to have beautiful nails every time, especially when the DND polish is so easy to use.
Conclusion
If you love doing manicures and pedicures at home, you may fall in love with the Daisy Duo gels. They are straightforward to apply and less expensive than many competing polishes. Just as important, they are tough enough to last up to three weeks without chipping and fading.
If you are health – conscious, you’ll see it’s a pleasure to work with the DND gels because they don’t have a strong odor and they can cure in 30 seconds under an LED lamp. You won’t need to deal with toxic fumes or expose yourself to ultraviolet radiation.
Overall, I’m pleased to cut out extra steps by leaving out bond and a base coat. I’m also thrilled to have so many colors to choose in the Daisy Duo palette. I hope you’ll enjoy this gel polish as much as I do.
