Classic or semi-permanent, with or without a lamp, it can be hard to find your way around all these nail polish formulas and their routines… Here are a few tips to tell the difference between Green™ and Green Flash™ nail polish, and find the Manucurist system that suits you best.
Green & free to the very tips of your nails
A clean nail polish that air-dries
Green™ is the name for Manucurist's traditional nail polishes. The Green™ range offers a palette of over 90 colours, giving you a wide choice to match your outfits and satisfy your mood season after season. Its vegan and up to 84% bio-sourced formula, free from controversial ingredients, guarantees beautiful nails with no compromise on the health of your hands. Last but not least, it's the solution for a homemade-like-a-pro manicure — easy to apply, quick-drying and delivering an ultra-shiny gel effect without a UV or LED lamp. Perfect for anyone dreaming of a flawless manicure in no time!
Green™, a lamp-free nail polish with zero compromise on the health and beauty of your hands.
Green™ System, an easy 5-step routine
For a vibrant Green™ manicure that lasts, we recommend preparing your nails properly with the tips in this article. Then follow the Green™ System, a five-step routine applied as follows:
- The Degreaser: prep the nail surface by removing any trace of grease with the Degreaser, for better adhesion and longer-lasting wear of your Green nail polish.
- The Base Coat: apply one coat of Green™ Base Coat, enriched with vitamins and hexanal, which protects and strengthens the nail and helps the colour adhere better.
- Green™ Colour: apply your Green™ nail polish and enjoy an ultra-pigmented colour with an extreme shine.
- The Top Coat: sensitive to natural UV rays, the Sunshine Top Coat speeds up drying time, extends the wear of your nail polish and gives it a gel effect.
- The Drying Drops: applied at the end of your manicure, these Drying Drops cut drying time in half and deeply nourish the skin around the nail.
Find all the Green System essentials in the Green™ Discovery Kit for a clean, easy and quick manicure.
The limits of classic nail polish
UV lamp-free nail polish does have its limits, though. Even if you prepare your nails carefully before application and follow the Green™ System to the letter, it won’t last as long as gel polish. Green™ polish stays flawless for up to 7 days, as long as you don’t put your hands through too much.
Our tips to extend the wear of this type of nail polish:
- Avoid exposing your nails to hot water for too long. Wear gloves when doing the dishes and opt for showers rather than baths.
- Avoid knocks and abrasive contact — now is not the time to take up DIY or gardening.
- Keep hydrating and nourishing your nails by regularly applying a few drops of Huile Verte.
After a week, Green™ nail polish starts to lose its staying power and may begin to chip. If needed, you can extend its wear by touching up the most worn areas. But ultimately, it's best to remove your nail polish with a gentle acetone-free remover and take care of your natural nails before applying a new colour.
Prep your nails well before applying a new Green™ colour.
If you're looking for a long-lasting nail polish, give the Green Flash™ experience a try!
Flash your way to long-lasting nail polish
Green Flash™, the 1st LED nail polish
Green Flash™ is THE next-generation nail polish that has revolutionised the world of manicure by offering a safe & clean alternative to classic semi-permanent nail polish. Just like semi-permanent, Green Flash™ promises perfect wear for up to 10 days and a "gel effect" shine that we love. It is also applied in multiple coats that need to be cured under a suitable LED lamp. The difference lies in its vegan formula, free from allergenic molecules (such as methacrylate monomers, including HEMA and di-HEMA) and up to 84% bio-sourced ingredients (cassava, cotton, sugarcane, corn or wheat). Thanks to this innovation, Green Flash™ removes in 1 minute with a gentle remover, with no need to file, buff or use an acetone-based remover that dries out the nail and surrounding skin. In short, with Green Flash™, you get the pleasure of a beautiful long-lasting manicure with no risk to the health of your hands.
Discover the Green Flash revolution for yourself — the clean alternative to semi-permanent.
At each step: apply & flash
Thanks to its ultra-simple system, Green Flash™ makes doing your manicure at home so much easier. After prepping and degreasing your nails with the Green Flash Eau Dissolvante, all you need to do is follow these 3 steps, making sure to stick to the usage instructions:
- The Base Coat: apply the vitamin-enriched Green Flash™ Base Coat in thin coats, wrapping the tip of the nail over the free edge. Then cure the base under the LED lamp (2 minutes for a Slim 24W lamp, 1 minute for a Premium 36W lamp).
- Green Flash™ Colour: apply your Green Flash™ colour in 2 thin coats and cure after each coat under the LED lamp (2 minutes for a Slim 24W lamp, 1 minute for a Premium 36W lamp).
- The Top Coat: apply the Green Flash™ Top Coat (12-day wear) or the Xtrem Flash™ Top Coat (21-day wear) then cure under the LED lamp.
Finish your manicure by applying a few drops of Huile Verte to the cuticles and massaging in to deeply hydrate.
Keep all your Green Flash manicure essentials within reach with the Trousse Addict.
2 LED lamps for a Green Flash™ routine that's all you
Manucurist has developed 2 LED lamp models to best meet your needs. Both are equally effective and deliver a quality manicure, as long as you stick to the recommended drying times. If you exceed the indicated times, you risk your nail polish chipping.
- The Slim 24W lamp is a foldable lamp you can easily travel with. It plugs in via USB or to a mains outlet with a 5V/2A adapter. With this model, allow 2 minutes drying time for the Base Coat, 2 minutes for each coat of nail polish and 3 minutes for the Top Coat. In total, your manicure takes around 30 minutes.
- The Premium 36W lamp is also foldable but slightly larger and more powerful than the Slim lamp, allowing for faster curing — ideal for those of you in a hurry. With this model, allow 1 minute drying time for the Base Coat, 1 minute for each coat of colour and 2 minutes for the Top Coat. In total, your manicure takes around 20 minutes.
Manucurist LED lamps go wherever you go, for a Green Flash™ manicure wherever you want, whenever you want!
In summary, Green™ nail polish is an excellent option for those who love a wide choice of colours and are new to nail polish. As for Green Flash™, it's the ideal nail polish for those who want long wear without wasting time or ruining their nails.
Frequently asked questions
Can you apply semi-permanent nail polish without a lamp?
It is not possible to apply semi-permanent nail polish without a UV or LED lamp. To harden, this type of nail polish must be exposed to UV rays to trigger a polymerisation process, which is essential for ensuring the polish adheres well to the nail and lasts several weeks without chipping. If you want to avoid using a UV or LED lamp, you can opt for classic nail polishes that air-dry. They offer a comparable shine and gel effect but are less resistant and don't last as long.
Are UV lamps dangerous for your health?
A recent study by the Academy of Medicine highlighted the risks linked to UV lamp exposure used for curing semi-permanent nail polishes. The study flagged cancer risks from frequent use, with UV lamps above 48W and exposure times of 20 to 40 minutes per day. With a maximum output of 36W, an exposure time of 5 to 9 minutes per manicure and clearly stated usage precautions, Manucurist LED lamps can be used safely. If you have sensitive skin, feel free to follow the Academy of Medicine's recommendations by applying sunscreen to your hands 20 minutes before applying semi-permanent nail polish.
