The holy grail of nail polish (Orly Nail Polish)

Member Name: TomandJerry

Product:	Orly Nail Polish
Date:	25/10/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: gorgeous

Disadvantages: my secret is out

Orly International hails from Los Angeles, California. They do a huge range of nail colours, treatments, french manicure and manicure essentials like polish removers, nail whiteners and files.

Orly nail lacquers are free from DBP (a plasticizer), Formaldehyde (a toxic chemical) and Toluene (a toxic solvent). Good to know.

I must start off by telling you that I do not use Orly polish for manicures. I give myself PEDICURES only. This is because I do not really like my finger nails, so leave them quite natural, but I DO want a good pedicure that makes my tootsies look fab and that lasts without chipping. Well, I hate to show off, but my pedicures last until I decide to remove them... No chipping or flaking, they last and last. I cannot relate to stories from girls of how their polish chipped off within a week - this NEVER happens to me.

I was lucky enough to find Orly quite early on in my DIY pedicure days. I tried a few brands of polish like No7 or Revlon, but was never impressed with the colours and finish. They I went for a one off professional pedicure and that day changed my tootsies forever. It was a little local salon, unimpressive but with good prices. No one in the salon really spoke English, so a lot of gesturing and no chat (all the better for me reading my magazine in peace - bliss). Anyway, they did a great job and used ORLY. I liked the finish so much that I tried to buy a bottle of polish from them there and then, but they didn't sell to the public. I then went home on a mission to find it online. Which I did, and bought a few different bottles so that I could do my own french polish pedicure.

Now you cannot expect polish to stay put without chipping if you just slap it on. You have to use a basecoat, colour, and then a topcoat. It may seem like a drag, but will save you time in the long run and will look much more professional. My nails look better than if a salon had done it, and it is much cheaper, because you buy the bottles and use them over and over again. No way would I ever pay a salon to do it.

Sooo, for the best french pedicure you have ever had I am going to share with you my Orly product list. Don't say I'm not good to you...

The Holy Grail list:

Bonder - a unique rubberized basecoat, grips lacquer to the nail surface for lasting adhesion. Prevents nail lacquer from wearing off for up to two weeks.

Beverly Hills Manicure - in white tips

French manicure - in bare rose

Glosser - super high-shine topcoat to top it all off.


You can buy the products online starting from about £4.30 from beautyexpress.com or similar sites. The bottles come with their Award Winning 'Gripper Cap' which makes opening easier as you get a better grip on the lid with no slipping.

As I haven't been for a salon pedicure since the one when I found Orly, I had no idea how much one costed, so had a quick peek online. It looks like you would pay around £28 depending what you want done. Each time?!!! I bought all 4 bottles for less than that and get tons of treatments from it.

A great investment, and with practice your friends will be looking on in envy and asking where you go to get your nails done.

(... you won't tell them though will you? Lets keep this a secret between you and me)

Summary: keep this to yourself