Nail lacquers that dries fast and stay on long, that’s pretty Dope.
This week I tried out products from the nail art brand, Dope Nailz.
Dope Nailz was created in 1999 by a self-proclaimed stoner, and nail technician, Carter, who let people smoke in her nail salon. She realized she liked to relax by smoking and painting her nails, and figured other people would too.
Now, more than 20 years later, Dope Nailz has grown to offer cannabis connoisseurs a line of plant-inspired lacquers, 3D nail art, and accessories.
CBD-Infused Nail Care?
All Dope Nailz lacquers are vegan, cruelty-free, and “5 free,” which means they don’t have any formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate) or camphor — all toxins, some of which are linked to cancer. Lacquers are different from normal nail polishes. They’re thicker, which makes them more durable, according to the nail care experts at OPI.
Dope Nailz makes these products for stoners. They can be used on natural or acrylic nails. They currently offer 23 different colors — with new ones added each season — all named after a different strain of cannabis, like Purple Haze, Blueberry Kush, OG Pearl, Cherry Pie, Blue Dream, and more.
The company also offers CBD-infused products, including their lavender scented Dank Cuticle Oil, and a line of lacquers, which come with “a small amount of CBD” in each — though those are currently sold out. According to the company’s website, the .5 ounce bottle of Dank Cuticle Oil contains “25% CBD,” but I’m not quite sure what that means.
I reached out to Dope Nailz, and requested the approximate CBD content of their products, but did not receive a response before press time.
It is important to note that the company requires consumers to be 21 or older to purchase any of their CBD products. Because some of the products are infused with CBD, they also contain essential vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants, which can help restore weak nails and make them stronger.
The Nail Lacquers
I did not try any of the company’s CBD-infused products. However, I did sample three lacquers: Northern Lights, Black Magic and Blue Magoo.
The nail lacquers go on opaque — even a thin first coat hardly needs a second coat. I had a friend test out some of the lacquer too. He said that even a few days after painting his nails, the lacquer had not chipped. He didn’t apply a top coat, but did put a layer of the sparkly Northern Lights lacquer on top of the Black Magic, which may have helped prevent chipping.
I tried the Blue Magoo lacquer without adding a top coat of the Northern Lights lacquer. Some of the paint chipped within the first day, but it mostly stayed on pretty well. I also noticed that the lacquers were pretty forgiving. Because they are so thick, little mistakes on a nail like a smudge are hard to notice from far away, making your nails still look well done despite any faux paus.
The lacquer dries quickly, becoming dry to the touch in under 10 minutes. I also found the colors to be very vibrant and fun. At $8-$12 a pop, though, these lacquers are a bit pricier than your average nail lacquer. However, considering the quality and durability of each, I think the prices are fair.
The Bling
Besides the lacquers, I also tried out some press-on nail jewelry, and cannabis leaf nail decals. They had two different kinds of leaf decals, including a bright neon multi-colored pack and a plain green pack. I got three golden cannabis leaf jewels: one plain gold one, one gold with tiny pearls, and one gold with diamond looking jewels.
I found it difficult to put them on my nails. It also proved challenging to get them to stay. The decals I tried barely stayed on for an hour. But I am not a nail professional, nor do I have a lot of nail experience. For that reason, I recommend bringing the decals to a nail appointment to have a professional apply them because they are really cute and would be a fun addition to the nails of any stoner.
Dope Nailz also offers manicure kits and press-on nail sets. Besides all the nail products, they also sell merchandise, ranging from flip flops, to cell phone cases, and T-shirts to jewelry.
However, their website isn’t the cleanest or easiest to navigate. I found it was difficult to find information about them as a company or about each individual nail lacquer. But I would like to know more about the products, and the company’s mission.
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