As we've explained here and here , most nail wrap retailers sell the same sets of products from a handful of manufacturers. At Valerie Allen, we've chosen our favorite product series and the most beautiful designs, and offer them to you!
Since we strive to be transparent about our place as a retailer, we like to include series names in our product listings.
Here, we breakdown some of the differences between our favorite series, and how you can tell them apart as a consumer!
Nail Polish Wraps
ZB Series
Manufactured in China, ZB wraps are some of the most popular wraps in the world because they come in great sizes, are easy to apply, stick like glue, and are available at inexpensive price points. Plus, the manufacturer has a catalog of thousands of stock designs! They're also very friendly to work with when making custom/exclusive designs.
You can tell a ZB wrap because it will always have 16 strips, and feature a series of tabs from a middle white line. The tabs are not perforated at the connection, distinguishing this style from others that have mimicked its presentation.
Big names, such as Lily & Fox, sell ZB wraps.
JK Series
The JK series and the ZB series come from the same manufacturer, but have some key differences. JK comes in either 20 or 22 strips, and is produced on a card (rather than as tabs) so that both sides are ready to use. They tend to be longer and more flexible than the ZB series, as well. They're our favorites from this manufacturer!
K Series
The K Series comes from a second Chinese manufacturer, and is distinguished by being two sets of 9 strips connected by a silver and white band. They are perforated at the connection point. These strips are designed to be long enough to use on two nails, and are often better for people with wide nail beds. They are slightly thicker than the S-Series and T-Series manufactured by the same company.
S Series
The S Series is from the same manufacturer as the K series, and is visually very similar to the ZB wraps from another manufacturer. It has 16 strips connected to a silver and white bar. If you look very closely, you can often see the perforation at the connection point, which can help distinguish S series from ZB. S-Series and ZB-series wraps are very similar, though some will find that the S series is slightly thinner. Some customers like this; others do not!
T Series
The T Series is virtually identical to the S Series, except it comes in 14 strips, rather than 16. You'll also notice that it has only a silver bar in the middle, rather than silver and white. In practice, however, they are of similar consistency, adhesion, stretch, and size to the S Series.
ColorMe
Color Me is a branded product produced in Korea and available at wholesale prices. It is most often seen in its full branded packaging (so it's not hard to distinguish); however, they do offer both ODM and customized designs. Their printing template is very different from their Chinese counterparts, and their nails tend toward the small side. The Color Me design team and artistic style is leaps and bounds above other manufacturers. But, unfortunately, their adhesives don't play well with about half of our testers! Can't have it all, right?
The Valerie Allen Line
Coming soon! We couldn't miss taking this opportunity to remind you that we've created a custom series of nail wraps and that they're on their way to you! We took our favorite things about the series above and asked our favorite manufacturer to create us something a little bit different. Look for it soon!
UV-Free Gel
UV-Free Gel
At present, there is only one Chinese manufacturer making high-quality UV-free gel strips. These are sometimes called "quick gels," or "air-dry gels," but stores often point out that they give a gel finish without the need of a UV lamp.
These wraps are designed to be very thick and very shiny so that no top coat is necessary. They add volume to your nails and immediately mask ridges and other imperfections.
Right now, if you see a UV-free gel in a series of shops, you can reasonably conclude that it's the same product.
Korean companies, such as Dashing Diva, and Shine B have also manufactured UV-free gels, however, they're mostly sold in larger brick and mortar stores.
Semi-Cured Gels
As we've mentioned elsewhere, semi-cured gels (SCG) are a bit of a different game from nail polish wraps. There are several true brands of SCG, which offer truly unique products. However, there are also many, many people selling the series below in their own retail outlets and as white label products on marketplaces such as Amazon.
NG-Series
The NG series of SCG are ubiquitous on Amazon and other marketplaces, and with good reason! They're less expensive than more exclusively branded products, and yet they wear very well. They also have a set of very pleasing stock designs for buyers to choose from.
The NG series, however, is one of the places where consumers can be misled by excessive re-branding and marketing tactics. You will often find NG gels being sold at wildly different price points.
One of the keys to identifying an NG Series SCG is that circle illustration on the front of the box. Many resellers choose to rebrand the box, but to retain that illustration. Some even retain the "NG" numbering system.
Other resellers have tried to distinguish themselves by photographing the strips, themselves; however, you can often spot the "NG" label at one end of the strip:
They are otherwise distinguished by having 20 strips on a single card.
SG Series
The SG and NG series are manufactured by the same factory. The SG series is less expensive, however, and it shows. They have only 16 strips, and they tend to be thicker, less flexible, and to adhere/cure less effectively. Users can usually only get 7 days out of an SG wraps, vs. many more days from an NG style, and some users will be bothered by the thicker edges of the SG series. You can tell an SG wrap in much the same way you can an NG wrap! Resellers will often retain the "SG" labeling somewhere on the packaging/images. These wraps are less common on marketplaces such as Amazon because their price point makes it difficult to be profitable after marketplace fees.
UVG Series
These SCG are made by a different Chinese manufacturer and are relatively new on the scene! They come with 22 strips on a clear backing and feature a white box with a photograph like the above on the front. The manufacturer produced these pleasing photographs, so you can often tell a UVG wrap because the reseller will use this stock image.
Empowering YOU!
Given this knowledge, you can enter the online world of nail wraps with confidence! A ZB wrap is the same, whether it's sold in store A or store B. This gives you, the consumer, the power to patronize shops with great customer service, a curated collection of designs you love, and some amazing customized designs.
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