Jamberry TruShine Gel System Review

Some of you may know that last year I decided to sign up and become a Jamberry Nails consultant.  Truthfully, I am kind of addicted to the whole concept of Direct Sales, but that's another post in itself. Jamberry was just a baby of a company when I signed up, so it was exciting to be a part of a new and successful business.
But as  it is with any business there can be up's and down's and Jamberry was no exception.
Pretty soon Jamberry was everywhere which may seem like a good thing, but in Direct sales, the more popular the company, the more consultants, which means more competition.
Add to that the fact that I struggled with my own application issues and had a hard time getting my wraps to stay on.
I had pretty much resigned myself to quitting.

Then the TruShine system came along.

TruShine was released at our National JamCon in August and right away gained buzz from the consultants there that received it.
TruShine not only features a 5 Free gel enamel line, but also provides a self timed LED curing lamp that cuts down on exposure to harmful UV rays.

The best part though: It works with our wraps!

Naturally, I had to try it for myself.

I was hording away a half off code I snagged for referring a party in the spring so I decided to use it to buy the TruShine Starter Kit. It retails for $120 and includeds the LED lamp, Gel base coat, Gel top coat, Black Cherry Gel Enamel, Jamberry Cuticle Oil, 10 Jamberry Prep wipes, 50 Gel Removal packets (featured in Women's Health Magazine), buffing block, cuticle stick, file and orange sticks.

After my half off code it was $67 with tax and shipping!

I waited after I put the kids to bed so I could take my time and concentrate. I've never used any kind of Gel System at home so I wanted to make sure I took my time and did everything right. Overall, application from start to finish took 1 hour and 12 minutes. This included putting my 3 year old back to bed twice and one potty break. If I had to guess, I'd say I actually spent a little over 45 minutes ACTUALLY doing my nails.

Here is my process:

I washed my hands, pushed back my cuticles and put a quick coat of Jamberry Nail Strengthening polish on. Then I applied my wraps as usual. I wanted to do an accent nail or 2 of the Black Cherry just to see the difference between the gel with gel color and the gel with wraps..

After I applied the wraps, I lightly buffed them and my naked fingers and cleaned them off with a prep wipe. SAVE THE WIPE, YOU WILL USE IT LATER!!

I applied the Gel Base Coat to all nails, wraps and naked. then I cured them under the light. I do my 4 nails on one hand, 4 on the other and then both  thumbs. Feel free to do it your own way!

After curing the base coat, I applied 2 coats of Black Cherry gel Color to my naked nails and cured them after each coat. The Gel Enamel is thicker than most polish so it takes some getting used to. My best advice here is to use thin coats and wipe off any gel that gets on your skin before curing. (I used the orange stick but found an easier way...more on that later) Another tip: Brush across the tips to seal the gel in. It's a little trickier the shorter your nails are, but trust me, it makes a difference.

Next I applied the Gel Top Coat to all nails and cured one last time.

After you cure, be sure and used your saved wipes to wipe off the sticky gel residue.
Here is the final product!!!

 My nails lasted me a good 10 days with no problems. On the 11th day, I smashed my thumbnail and the gel broke off. The gel over the wraps was still going strong when I removed them, however I did notice that they began to get a yellowish sheen to them. I am a non smoker and didn't spend a ton of time in the sun but apparently this is common and is more noticeable over lighter/white wraps and colors.

Removal was super easy. The removal packets are worth the $12 by far. They smell pleasant even have a sticky side that you can use to really seal your fingers in there. After 10 minutes my gel flaked right off.

I was able to use a few of the packets over again, but had to keep them on twice as long, so it's up to you whether to save your money or your time.

Overall, I am really impressed with the system. It was easy to use, even for the first time. My nails seem to be a stronger and feel more reinforced. I don't have the bubbling or lifting I normally after applying my wraps. My tips are smooth. Honestly this is the best my nails have felt since I had acrylics! Stay tuned or follow me on Instgram or Facebook to see how they hold up.
The only cons I can see right now is the overall price, though that can easily be fixed by hosting a party and getting the system with Hostess Rewards!

If you'd like more info on the system or are interested in hosting a party you can go to this link and send me a message!

Stay tuned for some tips and tricks!!