The Best Semi-Cured Gel Nails: Ohora Nails Review
I don’t know what it is about my nails, but I’ve never been able to get a salon gel manicure to last more than a couple of days without chipping. If I got a week out of gel nails, it was a success! I’ve tried everything – different salons, nail prep, long-lasting at-home polish, but I could never get my gel nails to last. That was until I discovered Ohora semi-cured gel nails!
Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nails Review
Since I discovered Ohora, I haven’t been to the salon for a manicure. The semi-cured nail strips look and feel like regular gel polish AND they’re cheaper than a salon gel manicure. I’ve tried several semi-cured gel nail brands, but Ohora is my favorite. I find that they last the longest (for me) and have the best variety of colors and designs.
What Are Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips?
Ohora uses semi-cured gel strips made from 100% gel liquid that is 60% cured, so they are soft and pliable and feel like stickers when applied. After curing 100% under an LED lamp, the gel turns hard and shiny, and looks exactly like salon gel nails! P.S. Ohora now offers Gel Press-Ons, but this review is specifically for the Gel Strips.
The nail strips come in a small box containing a black plastic box with 30 semi-cured nail strips. The black box is necessary to prevent the strips from being exposed to UV light (including sunlight), which hardens the nails. Each box also comes with 2 prep pads, a wooden cuticle stick, and a nail file. You do need to purchase the lamp separately or buy a starter kit.
The price of a box ranges from $13.50 – $21 which is already cheaper than a salon gel manicure. And when you consider that you can probably get 2 manicures out of 1 box, the cost is even less! Ohora also offers discounts and sales.
How Long Do Ohora Nails Last?
The brand claims they last up to 14 days. I’ve had mine last anywhere from 5-10 days. It really depends on how healthy your nails are and how well you prep them. I start to experience lifting of the nail around the cuticle after about a week. Some people really hate this because hair can get caught in the nails. It is annoying, but it’s not a deal breaker for me.
Size and Fit
Each pack contains 30 nails, so if one chips or pops off, you can replace it. I’m able to get 2 manicures out of each box, although the sizes aren’t perfect on my second application because I run out of the bigger sizes. Technically, you can stretch the gel strip to better fit your nail, but I think this compromises the adhesive a bit. I’ll keep the leftover strips and combine them with other sets to create my own designs! I’ll also use the leftover extra-small sizes on my toes instead of buying pedicure strips. So really, I can get 3 uses out of 1 box!
I do find that the sizes are on the narrow side. Ohora is a Korean brand, and I think their nails are generally smaller. Ohora has addressed this with some of the colors and newer styles, and upgraded the sizes based on feedback from US customers. But even with this size upgrade, I still never use the smallest sizes in the pack.
The Best Ohora Nails for Beginners
If you are new to applying “sticker” nails, I’ve found the most forgiving colors to be nude or ombre nails. These tend to blend in better at the cuticle line, so it’s harder to tell if you didn’t get exactly the right fit. The styles I’ve tried that give that effect are Fruit Party, Sparkle Glam, and even Hibiscus Jelly. I recommend starting with a solid color set to avoid design confusion. It’s easier to find the right fit when you don’t have to worry about choosing a specific design for a specific nail.
Where to Buy Ohora Nails
Even though Ohora is a Korean brand, they have a warehouse in the US, so ordering from the US website is fast and easy! Ohora nails are also sold on Amazon. You can find Ohora nails in Target stores and online, although the selection is smaller (and I’m not sure if there’s a quality difference). I’ve bought from Ohora’s website and on Amazon and haven’t had any problems!
How to Apply + Remove Ohora Nails
What I LOVE about Ohora nail strips is that they are SO easy to apply. There’s no messy polish to deal with, just peel the strips off the sticker sheet and press on to your nail. As with anything new, there is a bit of a learning curve, so it might take a few sets to figure out an application process that works for you.
1) Prep Nails: Wash hands and remove excess oil on nails with the included prep pad. It’s important to have dry, oil-free nails to ensure proper adhesion. Skip the hand lotion until after the manicure! I also make sure to trim or push back my cuticles.
2) Choose Size: Ohora includes 30 strips of different sizes so that you can find a size that works for your nails. When in doubt, choose the smaller size – the sticker shouldn’t be touching your skin or cuticles.
3) Apply: Place the strip above the cuticle and press from the center to the sides, then cut the strip to match your nail length. You don’t have to be precise with the trimming because you’ll file them down once they are cured. I like to use a nail stick to really press the sides of the nail down, so there’s no lifting once I cure them.
4) Cure: Place nails under LED lamp for at least 120 seconds to completely cure and harden them.
5) File: File the tip of the gel nails to match your natural nails. I don’t recommend leaving the gel longer than your nails, because there’s a higher chance it will chip.
Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nails Application Tips
- Roughen Up Nail Surface: Since my oily nails are probably the culprit for poor gel adhesion, I like to make sure mine are extra prepped! This probably isn’t the healthiest for my nails, but I roughen up the surface of my nail with a file. I’ve found that when my nails are super smooth or buffed, the gels don’t stick as well. Sometimes, I’ll also apply a nail dehydrator to make sure there are no oils left!
- Keep Semi-Cured Strips Away From Light: Make sure to keep the uncured nail strips away from the LED lamp and other light sources, as even natural sunlight can harden the uncured gel.
- Do Not Touch Adhesive: Avoid touching the adhesive on the nail strip with your fingers to prevent oils from transferring and making the strips less sticky. I peel off the stickers from the tip because I always end up cutting that part off. I also try to avoid peeling the sticker back up off my nail to reposition it. It’s best to get the correct placement on the first try!
- Avoid Water: I avoid getting water on my freshly cured nails to make sure they have time to set. I’ll usually apply my nails right before bed so that they can set during the night.
Ohora Nails “Fruit Party”, Ohora Nails “Tint Brick”
How to Remove Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nails
Removing the Ohora nails is pretty straightforward. Ideally, it shouldn’t cause any damage to your nail. I had been removing my nails with the Ohora remover, but I always ended up with damage. BUT I just discovered a new way that works MUCH better.
1) Soak Nails: I USED to drench my nails with Ohora’s Easy Peel Remover to get the adhesive to loosen up. However, I could never get the nails off without taking some of my nail with it. Now I use plain old olive oil and soak my nails to loosen it up, and it works a lot better. I’m assuming that any type of oil would work, but I always have olive oil on hand, so that’s what I used. The key is to get the remover/oil underneath the gel nail so it can dissolve the adhesive. It helps if the gel is already lifting around the cuticle – that’s when I know it’s time to take them off.
2) Push + Lift: I used to use a wooden cuticle stick to try to lift up the nail and push it off. But, as I said above, a lot of my natural nail would still be stuck to the adhesive and would peel off. NOW I use a dental floss pick and wiggle it under the nail, by the cuticle line, to help the gel nail separate more gently from my natural nail. I’m happy to report that I was able to get them off with hardly any damage!
3) Remove: Use a prep pad to remove excess adhesive from the nail.
I do some nail rehab after I remove the gel nails. I’ll let my natural nails breathe for a couple of days and use oils, nail strengtheners, and nail masks to help. I particularly like the Manucurist’s Green Care line!
Allergy Risk with Gel Nails
I love gel nails, but there is a slight risk of developing an acrylate allergy that you should be aware of. Acrylates are found in gel nail polishes, including semi-cured polishes, as well as adhesives and medical devices. Repeated exposure to acrylates can lead to a lifelong contact dermatitis allergy characterized by rashes, itching, and swelling. Yikes! This isn’t a specific concern about Ohora – all gel polishes usually contain acrylates.
P.S. If you are looking for an acrylate-free gel nail alternative, check out my Manucurist Gel Polish Review!
While Ohora claims their gel nails are made from hazard-free materials and are HEMA- and TPO-free, I believe they still contain acrylates. It’s kind of hard to find this information because Ohora doesn’t include a full ingredient list on its website. But in the FAQ section, they do mention it. While Ohora says their products are free of harmful substances, they also suggest testing them first to ensure you don’t have a reaction.
How to Safely Apply Semi-Cured Gel Nails
To reduce my risk of developing an allergy, I make sure to do these things when applying gel nails.
- Use Gloves: I use these nitrile gloves to peel the stickers off and press them onto my nails. Avoid touching the uncured gel to your skin, as that can cause problems.
- Use a Stronger Lamp: The mini LED lamps that you get from Ohora and other brands are great for travel, but I don’t really trust them to fully cure the gel polish. Am I being paranoid? Maybe. But I purchased a stronger lamp to make sure I’m curing properly.
- Fully Cure Nails: The main culprit of acrylate allergies is exposure to uncured gel polish. Once the gel is cured, it’s no longer an issue. So I cure my nails longer than recommended to make sure they are 100% cured – especially if I’m using the mini LED lamp.
- Wear UV Light Gloves: This isn’t related to the acrylate allergy, but in order to prevent UV damage to my hands, I wear UV gloves when I place my hand under the light.
Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nails have really been a game-changer for me. I never imagined I would be able to have nice-looking and fun nails on a regular basis. Feeling frustrated with nail polishes and manicures used to be common for me, but now there’s excitement in doing my nails, knowing they will last a long time. I also enjoy experimenting with different colors and designs that I could never achieve with regular gel polish at home! 100/10 would recommend!
