Apologies for my absence! I've just had my head in music making recently, which means I've had to neglect this poor platform since the beginning of the year, but now I return with some fun, featuring my mum, Regina!
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| Image description: Flatlay of products from Dashing Diva; three sets of false nails and gel sticker retail packaging in a presentation box on a pastel pink faux-fur background. |
This product review is something a little bit different for me, as I'm not a nail person, but my mum is! I have collaborated with Dashing Diva to trial and review some of their Magic Press nails with her.
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The manicures in our lives...
Before the 'Rona, before the lockdowns, press on nails were just something I wasn't into, because they just felt like they were going to fall off the moment I applied them. I used to just either paint my nails or get acrylics. Mum, who is 73, on the other hand, has been getting her nails done for a good half a century, since she was in her 20s. When I was a kid, I remember going to a little nail salon in Bronka Arcade at Bondi Junction with her, and I absolutely loved [pestering] her nail technician, Sue. She had been her nail tech since the early 80s until the early 2000s. Fast forward nearly 30 years from the 90s, Mum's still going with her acrylic claws! She's done every manicure you can think of, short of press on nails.
One afternoon a few weeks back, Mum came into my room and asked if I had heard of a brand called 'Dashing Diva', who would be doing a show on Open Shop later that week. I knew of the brand because I have seen them at Beauty Expo a few times, but not being a nail person, I really wasn't too interested in the concept, at least I wasn't until I saw them in person as worn by my friend Victoria from One More Coat.
Mum wanted to try these badly, and I was a little apprehensive, only because I knew she'd forget about them the moment the nail salons opened*. We watched the show on Open Shop, but she didn't like the designs they had on offer as they were too elaborate, so we hit up the website to peruse what was available. Mum's very particular with her nails; she likes them long and slender, usually oval shaped (lately, she's been getting almond/stiletto shapes), and in solid colours, no shimmers, duochromes, glitters etc. There are literally hundreds of designs available in the range, but having so many to choose from was really difficult, so I contacted the wonderful Dashing Diva team and it lead to a collaboration.
*At the time of writing this specific line, the salons haven't opened yet, but they will be as of 1st June 2020.
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Dashing Diva Magic Press
The brand began as an artificial nail distributor supplying salons over the globe with their products before opening their first salon in New York in the early '00s, where having a manicure wasn't just about getting your nails done, it was a whole 'dinner and show' type experience, garnering a fan base of celebrities such as Katy Perry on the way.
The range of Magic Press nails were designed to offer instant manicures, available in a large variety of lengths and shapes, plus colours and designs, that can be matched to any outfit or theme! They can be worn for up to 5-7 days if cared for correctly (wear beyond 7 days is not recommended), without damaging your natural nail, and removal is as easy as the application. They are a single use product, and I will get to that later.
Dashing Diva sent me four products to try.
Tone Up Super Slim Fit Short Square in Apple Red
Tone Up Super Slim Fit Medium Square in Pink Bloom
Design Super Slim Fit Long Oval in Rouge Shine
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| Image description: Flatlay of Dashing Diva Magic Press retail packaging on a pastel pink faux-fur background. |
Bonus: Magic Gel Strip Gloss in Sky Leaf
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| Image description: Flatlay of Dashing Diva Gloss 100% Real Gel stickers retail packaging on a pastel pink faux-fur background. |
Each pack of Magic Press comes with 30 tips in assorted sizes to fit adult nails, an instruction booklet, a cuticle stick, a mini file, and a prep wipe (isopropyl alcohol).
The 'super slim fit' refers to the thickness of the nail itself.
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I did Mum's nails.
Mum's hands have always been working hands and she has a really stubborn habit of not wearing gloves when she does the dishes/cleaning. She's had her acrylics, and she's removed them herself, she's gone through anguish of nails that wouldn't grow without anything on them, to losing a whole nail to infection for a while. Fast forward to now, she's finally got healthy nails (and I use that term loosely), okay, so her nails are *relatively* healthy, but damaged from removing her la st set of acrylics at the beginning of lockdown. She had been using the unsung hero of nail hardeners, Herome, so they weren't breaking.
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| Image description: Pale skinned hands belonging to a mature woman with short trimmed nails, her right hand is resting over her left, laid out on a pastel pink faux-fur background. |
I prepped her hands and nails by using a few skincare items. After she washed her hands well, I applied some Cipher Skincare Ctrl Z with AHA/BHA/PHA (gifted) to her cuticles to soften them, then used the Minenssey Australian Clay Hydrating Mask (gifted) all over her hands, and slipped them into gloves for 15 minutes. After rinsing, I pushed back her cuticles properly (no cutting!) and massaged some of the Minenssey Flannel Flower Absolute (gifted) and Mary Grace Bulgarian Rose Otto Facial Elixir (gifted) into her hands and nails (I personally love to use this as a cuticle oil!).
I did my nails.
I just uh, filed mine down so they didn't look like they were gonna catch or break, then I put some hand cream on them. I always use hand cream (or any moisturisers, serums, or facial oils that I have lying around) every night before bed because I have really dry, cracked hands otherwise.
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| Image description: A pale skinned left hand, palm facing the camera with fingers and thumb bent inwards showing filed down nails, against a pale blue/grey wall. |
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APPLICATION
It was easy, but fiddly. I have naturally shaky hands, and I didn't find it too difficult.
Of course, I didn't get photographs of this process because I only have two hands and they were both busy.
Mum wanted the Tone Up Short Square in Apple Red. It didn't take too long to lay out all the nails that I was going to use. I used the prep pad to clean mum's nails about 20 minutes after her treatment. I think we should've waited a little longer, but in salon, I've seen nail technicians use lotion before painting nails, and simply wiping them with isopropyl alcohol prior to painting them.
I applied each nail and pressed down firmly for about 30 seconds to ensure the adhesive bonded. My mum, having done some research prior, learned a little hack where you dust a translucent setting powder under the nail and around the edges to prevent the adhesive from picking up gross things. Hey, it worked!
The last step was to file down the little nubby bits on the tips (the pedicure nail tips have little handles that you break off). I used the little file that came with the pack, but it was pretty pathetic, so we got out the proper file. Mum decided she wanted to do her own filing, so I wasn't going to stop her.
For my instant manicure, I used the Tone Up Medium Square in Pink Bloom. I breezed through it. I also filed down the shape to be a little rounder and shorter.
Of course, I didn't get photographs of this process because I only have two hands and they were both busy.
Mum wanted the Tone Up Short Square in Apple Red. It didn't take too long to lay out all the nails that I was going to use. I used the prep pad to clean mum's nails about 20 minutes after her treatment. I think we should've waited a little longer, but in salon, I've seen nail technicians use lotion before painting nails, and simply wiping them with isopropyl alcohol prior to painting them.
I applied each nail and pressed down firmly for about 30 seconds to ensure the adhesive bonded. My mum, having done some research prior, learned a little hack where you dust a translucent setting powder under the nail and around the edges to prevent the adhesive from picking up gross things. Hey, it worked!
The last step was to file down the little nubby bits on the tips (the pedicure nail tips have little handles that you break off). I used the little file that came with the pack, but it was pretty pathetic, so we got out the proper file. Mum decided she wanted to do her own filing, so I wasn't going to stop her.
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| Image description: Pale skinned hands belonging to a mature woman with short, squared shaped, shiny apple red coloured false nails, her left hand is resting over her right on a pastel pink faux-fur background. |
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| Image description: Pale skinned hands belonging to a mature woman, palms facing up with fingers curled back to show short, squared shaped, shiny apple red coloured false nails, on a pastel pink faux-fur background. |
For my instant manicure, I used the Tone Up Medium Square in Pink Bloom. I breezed through it. I also filed down the shape to be a little rounder and shorter.
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| Image description: A pale skinned left hand, palm facing the camera with fingers and thumb bent inwards, showing medium length light pink false nails, against a pale blue/grey wall. |
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WEAR TEST DIARY
At the time of writing this paragraph, Mum has already worn her nails for about 48 hours, and me, for 24. Mum's nails look great, but she did complain that one began to lift slightly, but it seems to be stuck on. I don't trust her to have worn gloves when she did any dishes. So far, mine have survived a long shower where I washed my hair, brushing the dog, rubbing the lotion on its skin (skincare routine), hand sanitiser, several washings of hands, cutting avocado and getting it all under my nails, washing dishes, scrubbing hair dye off the toilet seat (I don't trust myself to use gloves, either), scratching my head. They're definitely not going anywhere.
I've come back at my 48 hour mark (3 days for Mum) to say that they've also survived chopping vegetables and cooking dinner. The amount of times I've washed my hands today after handling pumpkin, onion, and greasy falafel. At this point, they feel like they're lifting on some nails, but they're quite stuck on. Mum's nails are really stuck on too, but she's not 100% happy with the shape.
At the 3 day mark (4 days for Mum), mine feel a little loose. Don't get me wrong, they're still stuck on pretty well, but the adhesive is starting to lose its tact around the edges. I guess I'm a little abusive with how I use my hands. Mum did a bit of scrubbing in the kitchen yesterday, but she hasn't said anything about any nails lifting off. She is already excited for the next set, which are long and oval, just like her regular acrylic manicures. I told her that I want to wait the recommended two days between applications so we can test this system out to the tee. I'm also trying to convince her to try out something a little out of her comfort zone of pinks, neutrals, and reds, like the gorgeous emerald green themed set from one of the collections I purchased.
I'm just going onto day 4 wearing these. I'm honestly bamboozled like a doggo at how they're still stuck on and have not yet succumbed to the wrath of my evening baking and scrubbing dishes. I had my hands IN the cornbread muffin batter, I had my hands IN the sink filled with warm soapy water while I was washing everything. They're still on, and they still look like they're fresh. I got more avocado mushed under them this morning, and they have survived. Unfortunately for Mum, day 5 was the day of her first casualty, so she has removed her set. Her natural nails have grown slightly, and they look pretty good. I think mine will be coming off soon too.
At the time of writing this paragraph, Mum has already worn her nails for about 48 hours, and me, for 24. Mum's nails look great, but she did complain that one began to lift slightly, but it seems to be stuck on. I don't trust her to have worn gloves when she did any dishes. So far, mine have survived a long shower where I washed my hair, brushing the dog, rubbing the lotion on its skin (skincare routine), hand sanitiser, several washings of hands, cutting avocado and getting it all under my nails, washing dishes, scrubbing hair dye off the toilet seat (I don't trust myself to use gloves, either), scratching my head. They're definitely not going anywhere.
I've come back at my 48 hour mark (3 days for Mum) to say that they've also survived chopping vegetables and cooking dinner. The amount of times I've washed my hands today after handling pumpkin, onion, and greasy falafel. At this point, they feel like they're lifting on some nails, but they're quite stuck on. Mum's nails are really stuck on too, but she's not 100% happy with the shape.
At the 3 day mark (4 days for Mum), mine feel a little loose. Don't get me wrong, they're still stuck on pretty well, but the adhesive is starting to lose its tact around the edges. I guess I'm a little abusive with how I use my hands. Mum did a bit of scrubbing in the kitchen yesterday, but she hasn't said anything about any nails lifting off. She is already excited for the next set, which are long and oval, just like her regular acrylic manicures. I told her that I want to wait the recommended two days between applications so we can test this system out to the tee. I'm also trying to convince her to try out something a little out of her comfort zone of pinks, neutrals, and reds, like the gorgeous emerald green themed set from one of the collections I purchased.
I'm just going onto day 4 wearing these. I'm honestly bamboozled like a doggo at how they're still stuck on and have not yet succumbed to the wrath of my evening baking and scrubbing dishes. I had my hands IN the cornbread muffin batter, I had my hands IN the sink filled with warm soapy water while I was washing everything. They're still on, and they still look like they're fresh. I got more avocado mushed under them this morning, and they have survived. Unfortunately for Mum, day 5 was the day of her first casualty, so she has removed her set. Her natural nails have grown slightly, and they look pretty good. I think mine will be coming off soon too.
It's day 5 and these babies are going to come off today. Most of them are still stuck on well and good, except for the middle finger on my right hand, which began to lift a bit. I decided to grease up my hands with a facial oil, then gently lift each nail off. It did tug a bit, but the adhesive came off pretty cleanly.
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| Image description: A pale skinned left hand, palm facing the camera with fingers and thumb bent inwards, against a pale blue/grey wall. The fingernails have small amounts of adhesive residue left over from the removal of the Dashing Diva Magic Press nails. |
I cleaned up my nails by wiping them down with nail polish remover, then I massaged the Mary Grace facial oil into my cuticles. It's amazing how much my nails have also grown in 5 days, I already need to file them down again!
Coming back a few days later, I filed down my nails and used the Gloss Gel Strips. I'll wear these for the time being, and then come back to the Magic Press in the near future! I'll be posting these on Instagram and Facebook.
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| Image description: A pale skinned left hand, palm facing the camera with fingers and thumb bent inward, on a granite pattern bench top. The gel nail stickers on the thumb, forefinger, and pinky finger are opaque with an ombre of pastel pink to pastel blue, the middle finger has a teal leaf with blush pink splatters and holographic flakes on a translucent white base, and the ring finger has silver glitter on a clear base. |
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PROS + CONS
There are so many benefits to this product:
+ You don't need to pay for a salon manicure* that may only last a few days, each pack starts at $14.99AUD, and if you're clever with your sizing, you might get two lots of manicures from the one pack. You can also mix and match from different sets.
+ They're quick and convenient, you don't need to be a professional to apply these, nor do you need time for drying.
+ They don't look fake, they look like a really top notch manicure that you paid a fortune for.
+ They feel natural, especially the super slim fit styles which have more flex ability, you could say, 'it feels like I'm wearing, nothing at all... nothing at all... NOTHING AT ALL'.
+ They don't damage your natural nails and are easy to remove.
There are unfortunately downsides:
- They are made of ABS plastic, so not eco friendly, but they are technically recyclable as it is a thermoplastic (the same stuff used in Lego). The con lies in if I dispose of these tips in my yellow lid bin, whether they would be recycled. They are a code 7 plastic, so perhaps I might collect them in a bottle made of similar materials and throw them out when it's full.
- They can only be worn for a few days at a time, and are single use. This isn't a bad thing on the health front as prolonged wear/reuse with different adhesives may cause damage or infection, but it is definitely a con on the plastic front.
- You have to be careful with your hand care and washing. Oily products and solvents such as those found in hand sanitiser will disrupt the adhesive.
*Manicure refers to the service of having your nails trimmed, treated, and painted with regular nail polish.
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THOUGHTS
I personally love them and they have something for everybody. They're a very high quality product and will shatter every expectation you have about press on fake nails (they definitely did for me). I bought a bunch more for myself in whimsical styles (uh, mermaids, unicorns, kawaii stuff, duh), because I know I'll use them again after success with this first lot.
As much as Mum liked them, she has decided to go back to acrylics for the time being, but may opt to try these again in the future, but who knows what will happen between the time of writing this and publishing.
The Australian distributor also have incredible customer service and super fast shipping. I placed my order on a Sunday morning, and my order was with me on Tuesday morning.
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Dashing Diva products are available in Australia directly from their official distributor's website with free shipping over $30AUD, Open Shop Australia (limited edition stock), selected Priceline stores, and independent retailers.
Check out Dashing Diva Australia on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
PROS + CONS
There are so many benefits to this product:
+ You don't need to pay for a salon manicure* that may only last a few days, each pack starts at $14.99AUD, and if you're clever with your sizing, you might get two lots of manicures from the one pack. You can also mix and match from different sets.
+ They're quick and convenient, you don't need to be a professional to apply these, nor do you need time for drying.
+ They don't look fake, they look like a really top notch manicure that you paid a fortune for.
+ They feel natural, especially the super slim fit styles which have more flex ability, you could say, 'it feels like I'm wearing, nothing at all... nothing at all... NOTHING AT ALL'.
+ They don't damage your natural nails and are easy to remove.
There are unfortunately downsides:
- They are made of ABS plastic, so not eco friendly, but they are technically recyclable as it is a thermoplastic (the same stuff used in Lego). The con lies in if I dispose of these tips in my yellow lid bin, whether they would be recycled. They are a code 7 plastic, so perhaps I might collect them in a bottle made of similar materials and throw them out when it's full.
- They can only be worn for a few days at a time, and are single use. This isn't a bad thing on the health front as prolonged wear/reuse with different adhesives may cause damage or infection, but it is definitely a con on the plastic front.
- You have to be careful with your hand care and washing. Oily products and solvents such as those found in hand sanitiser will disrupt the adhesive.
*Manicure refers to the service of having your nails trimmed, treated, and painted with regular nail polish.
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THOUGHTS
I personally love them and they have something for everybody. They're a very high quality product and will shatter every expectation you have about press on fake nails (they definitely did for me). I bought a bunch more for myself in whimsical styles (uh, mermaids, unicorns, kawaii stuff, duh), because I know I'll use them again after success with this first lot.
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| Image description: Flatlay of Dashing Diva Magic Press retail packaging on a white with pastel pink/blue/black water colour splatter background. These are the items I purchased. |
As much as Mum liked them, she has decided to go back to acrylics for the time being, but may opt to try these again in the future, but who knows what will happen between the time of writing this and publishing.
The Australian distributor also have incredible customer service and super fast shipping. I placed my order on a Sunday morning, and my order was with me on Tuesday morning.
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Dashing Diva products are available in Australia directly from their official distributor's website with free shipping over $30AUD, Open Shop Australia (limited edition stock), selected Priceline stores, and independent retailers.
Check out Dashing Diva Australia on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
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Putting together blog posts such as these take a lot of time and effort, so I don't publish them often and leave this space for reviewing unique and unusual beauty products and trends. If you enjoy these posts, please consider buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi!
My regular beauty related content can be found on Instagram.
This product was supplied as a PR sample for review, my thoughts are honest. For more information, please read my Disclosure Policy.
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