I give you the deets.

Okay, so let's have this showdown/comparison, shall we? This is for all those who love them some mani, for those who are obsessed with nail coloring, and for those who are just getting into this madness. Ready?

So, let me give you a little background-slash-disclaimer first. See, this whole obsession with nail polish just started a few years back, back when I was in Singapore if I remember correctly. I would visit my sister and her family and I would spend hours in malls and shops, just browsing and looking. Nail polishes are just so easy to buy in that country because their imported products are priced lower than the ones you buy here in the Philippines. (Taxes, man. Such a bitch.) The selections are great too and the collections are updated constantly. One polish purchase became three then five then, well, you get the gist. My collection isn't as crazy as Christine's (of Simply Nailogical) but let's just say I could rival one of a starting manicurist. :P

As for nail wraps, I just really wanted to try them, see if they're better than nail polishes or not. There are tons of designs out there and they're just as tempting and addicting as nail polishes. It's also amazing how lovely the designs are that range from girly to sultry to bold and rhinestone-packed ones. Just overwhelming, really!

So before I start, let me just say that everything in this post are based from my experiences from using polishes and wraps. The opinions and thoughts are all from personal experience, not from other people's. You may agree or disagree with my comparisons so for the most part, let's all just agree to disagree, yes?

AVAILABILITY

Hands down, nail polishes are the easier ones to get a hold of. They're pretty much available in department stores, supermarkets, drugstores, bazaars, etc. You have a wide selection of colors in different finishes, sizes, and prices. So it's pretty safe to say that nail polishes are more available than wraps.

There aren't a lot of local brands that carry nail wraps. Most of the time, nail stickers (the accent ones) are more common than wraps and sometimes the brands that carry nail wraps often sell ones that are quite pricey (which is ridiculous, if you ask me.) However, I've seen a couple of cheap ones here and there in some department stores so there are still options for those who want to try them out. You have limited options but they're there.

APPLICATION

(For the record, I apply nail polish and nail wraps after base coat.)

We all know how nail polish works. You paint your nails with one thin coat, let it dry, then add another layer to make the color more even and opaque. Painting your nails will test how good your polish is because this is where you'll either experience some streaking (lines caused by brush strands), pooling (that big gloop on either the cuticle area or at the free edges/tips), or bubbling (bubbles that show up only when your polish dries. Ugh, I hate this the most.). It's so easy to paint the nails but the true goal? To have as minimal cleanup as possible. I've still a long way to go but for the meantime, a cuticle stick, a cotton pad and bud, and nail polish remover are my besties.

For nail wraps, you pretty much lay out the wraps, choose the ones that more or less fit your nails and stick them on. Easy peasy. Hate to break this to you, amigos, but the true challenge is with trimming. Nail wraps, depending on your nail length, are long so you will definitely have to trim the excess, either using a nail file or a clipper. Thing is, when you're filing or cutting the part that's closest to the free edge, sometimes the nail wrap just tears. And it's so freaking annoying! I've used thin and thick nail wraps and I always, ALWAYS tear some part, no matter how careful I was. But once you get over that and do it 9 more times, that's pretty much it. No polish remover involved.

LONGEVITY

(Again, this is based on usage with a base coat.)

For the most part, nail polishes last me around 3-4 days before it chips. Most of the chipping start at the free edges or tips which is pretty common. For the most part, the longevity of my nail polish depends on the coat thickness itself. I sometimes apply quite a thick coat and while that makes the polish opaque, it also guarantees chipping. But yes, 3-4 days on me before I see any signs of chipping or thinning.

For nail wraps, longevity depends on the wraps' material. The thinner the nail wraps are, the longer it will last. I've used thin ones and thick ones before and their main cause of chipping: parts that aren't stuck down. Some parts just don't stick so they're the ones that really loosen up and the cause of the wraps unraveling. That unstuck piece causes a tear that just gets bigger and bigger over time. So for me, I've had nail wraps that I wore for just a day or two before it completely unraveled on me but I also had ones that lasted for about 3-4 days.

IN CONCLUSION...

Which would I ultimately choose? As much as I'd love to say both, I think I'll go with nail polishes. Nail polishes are very affordable (fine, some are pricey) and they pretty much last you a long time. Nail wraps are quite pricey when you think about cost per wear. You can spend the same amount of money on a nail polish and a nail wrap set but at the end of the day, nail polishes will still be there for future use unlike nail wraps that are just good for one use. Also, nail polishes can be used on both mani and pedi unlike wraps that are quite limiting.

I have to say though, nail wraps are a heaven-sent for those who suck at nail art. Nail wraps come in such gorgeous designs and all you have to do is stick them on, file down the excess, and call it a day. No more spending hours on doing nail art you'll most likely ruin with shaky hands. So if you like cute designs now and then, nail wraps are the way to go.