Review of Signature Nail Systems

Those who know me know that I am completely OBSESSED with nails. From the most creative artwork, to long stiletto nails, 3-D designs and the latest nail creation, I love it all. Unfortunately for me, I'm a nail biter. Not just a nibbler either. I will pick and bite until my nails are bleeding. I know, I know. It is a disgusting, terrible habit! But after 23 years, I still have yet to break it. I have consistently gotten my nails done (every 3-5 weeks) since I was about 17 years old. I love new and different techniques and have tried it all: acrylics, solar, hard gel (the kind you can't soak off), Shellac, fiberglass, silk wraps, and I have also tried other types of gel such at OPI, Gelish, etc.

My first love in nail enhancements would have to be hard gel. I've used a few types, but my favorite brand thus far for hard gel would have to be LUXE nails. It is what got me hooked on regularly getting my nails done. The look and feel so natural, as well as they were minimally damaging to my nail bed. It also helped that my nail tech was amazing and created the most beautifully shaped nails. Because I am so hard on my nails and such a picker, I also loved how strong and durable hard gels were. I could wear them with a tip (if need be) or on my natural nail. It helped me reduce my biting and allow me to grow out my natural nail- something I had never been able to do.

Once I moved to Texas, I found it nearly impossible to find nail techs and salons that actually used hard gel products. I love the look and feel of shellac ( or OPI gel) nails, but alas, they aren't strong enough for my biting habits. My nails would look beautiful for about a week, and then with one small pick, I would easily rip of the gel and continue biting. I've even tried wearing OPI gel colors with tips under them ( there is a LOT of building of the gel involved to remove the look of any tip lines). Once again, my nails would be perfectly manicured for about a week and a half. Then my bad habit would get the better of me, and I was popping off my nails within minutes.

I'm completely fine with acrylics. I recognize adding tips to my nails is called an "enhancement" therefore, I'm not one of those people who necessarily needs "natural" or organic nails. I'm also so hard on my nails that I am ok if the enhancement does scuff up my nail a bit. In order for the nail enhancements to be more durable and stick, some filing down will be necessary. My major issue with acrylics is the fills. I don't like to get fills because even after just one, my nails begin to feel like talons. The nail just gets too thick and heavy for my liking. I typically like to just get a fresh set- which means more money, and it also means removing the old set which is a painful and time- consuming process. In my search for the perfect type of nails to replace my beloved hard gel sets, I discovered the Signature Nail Systems, or SNS nails.

SNS nails claim they are "healthy natural nails." They say they are organic, there is no odor or primer, no need for a UV light and that the products contain various vitamins and minerals. Do I necessarily  believe this system is completely natural and organic? No. As I said earlier though, being completely natural and organic isn't really a concern of mine.

A description of the benefits of SNS, as well as a chart comparing this system to other nail systems. More information can be found on the SNS website: http://signaturenailsystems.com/Home.html

Intrigued by the idea of something that feels as light as gel, but as sturdy and durable as acrylics without the heavy damage, I spent hours upon hours researching salons that provided this service. I am not typically a "nail salon" girl. I've had my fair share of great salons, but also dingy unclean salons that had a serious language barrier and ruined my nails. I will visit various nail salons for pedicures, but when it comes to my sets, I usually seek out an actual nail tech. Once I find a professional tech whose work I like, I usually stick with them.  My understanding is SNS has been around for many years now. However, I found it difficult to find a salon who provided this service here in Austin. I poured over reviews prior to trying a place. Many reviewers described botched SNS services where their nails were painted with regular polish, they were still cured under lights, or worse, they received basically an acrylic set with a gel coat. With my confidence wavering a bit, I settled on two nail salons. One salon had amazing ratings, but is located far south Austin- near Onion Creek. Since I am North Austin, I was reluctant to make the nearly 30 mile trek ( one way) just to get a set of nails. The other nail salon I stumbled upon was called Studio nails and Spa, and was only 7 miles from me. My major concern was that this salon seemed fairly new, and there were no ratings on it as of yet. After studying their website and watching numerous youtube videos of the SNS process ( so I could call them out if they did anything that wasn't actually part of the system), I made a leap of faith and went to Studio Nails and Spa.

When I arrived I  was warmly greeted. I was the only one in the salon, but both girls working were sweet and friendly. They were also conversational. The salon, upon first scan, was large and simple, but very clean. I explained I wanted an SNS set, and they immediately brought out a huge section of their color swatches. I was impressed already! Such a variety of color choices- a confidence boost for me. Lan was the lovely lady working on my set. She decided for my first set it would be best to add tips, and then hopefully during the fill tip enhancements would no longer be needed. She was gentle and meticulous. She didn't file and drill my nails down relentlessly, and she actually redid a nail completely because she wasn't happy with how it turned out.

The SNS process is interesting. The best way I can describe it is basically a gel/ acrylic hybrid. After shaping my nails, she put one coat of gel on. Then she dipped my nails into an extremely fine clear powder as the "base coat." She then flicked my finger (to dust off any excess) and moved on to the next finger. She repeated this process twice on each nail, as she said she wanted to build up the base a bit more on my nails. She then put another coat of gel and dipped each finger in the my chosen colored powder twice. After the color was added, she added a gel coat again, letting it dry by a fan for a moment. The final touch was a top coat, which glossed the nails to a high sheen. I immediately loved them. They felt so natural and thin, looked as gorgeous as a shellac set, but felt EXTREMELY strong and durable. She charged me $40 for a new set. In completing my research, this was a very reasonable price for a new set of SNS nails. In comparison to the amount of money I have spent on other sets in the past, I also found this price to be fair.

My first SNS nail set in a Lavender color. I had just gotten done with a crazy (and long) set of stiletto nails, so I asked her to file my nails down extra short and shape them as natural as possible.

I was curious about the "fill" process,  since the color essentially came from a powder and likely could not simply be "added to" like they normally do with an acrylic set. She said they would soak my nails for just a minute or two in acetone to soften the powder up, and then essentially shave off the colored powder so that a new color could be added. It sounded like it wouldn't get built up and heavy like an acrylic set, so (depending on how the set wore) I figured I would try a fill with the SNS rather than getting a new set.


After three weeks of wear, my nails were in excellent condition! There was little lifting, all 10 nails were still intact, and there was no color fading/ chipping. I did have one nail that was slightly loose, so just shortly after hitting the three-week mark, I decided to go get my fill done. She soaked my fingers in acetone for about 2 minutes. The gel/ powder mixture immediately became almost gooey. She then used the drill to shave off all the layers, leaving just a very thin base layer as the starting point. She actually just pulled off the one loose nail I had (and started over fresh with that nail). I was impressed at how painless it was and how little damage was done to my nail in comparison to acrylics. She repeated the same base coat/ dip, color coat/ dip process as the first time. For my fill, she had me dry next to the little table fan for just a few minutes longer. She said it was because she did not was any bumps in the top coat. Does this make the SNS completely free of any drying time as it claims? NO. But again, waiting a few minutes at a fan does not make a huge impact on my opinion of a set. My fill cost me $28. This was a huge savings for me because usually after 3-4weeks I am paying for an entirely new set.

This is my fill set after about a week and a half of wear. You can see they look still look amazing- nearly new! I chose the color "Puppies Breath", which is a peachy/ nude natural color. I plan to get another fill in 3 weeks, to see if the sets remain as durable and lightweight.

Overall I have been LOVING my SNS nail sets! My hands are constantly in water at work, and I haven't noticed it effecting my nails. They look very natural. Most people think they are simply shellac or gel set. I have had little to no lifting even on my fill set, and I have yet to have a nail crack or any color chip off. At this point they really fit my needs. They are strong and VERY durable, help my natural nail grow, have high shine with beautiful colors, and no UV lights or thick and heavy powders are required. I would encourage you to give them a try if you're curious about the system. It was worth it for me! I would also encourage you to do your homework to find the perfect salon. Just like the gel craze, so many salons claim they offer this service, but really they just use acrylic powder in place of the actual process.

For those of you who have tried it- what are your thoughts? I would love to hear others' experiences (good and bad) with the Signature Nail Systems.

If you're in the Austin area and would like to check out the salon where I got my SNS sets, please visit:
http://studionailsspa.com/

- The POSH Lady