Here’s Sally Hansen Black Tie, a drugstore polish with a multi-chromed flash.
At once grey, green and purple, this subtle holo-lacquer is part of the brand’s anti-chip Diamond Strength range which contains platinum for ‘superior strength, shine and wear’, to prevent nail breakage. While its hardening quality is noticeable (good news for people with brittle nails), it does chip and sometimes quite quickly. A strange paradox…or maybe not – perhaps the formula compromises the staying power because it makes the nails too hard? I’m not sure. It’s a shame, certainly.
The colour is quite beautiful in the bottle but loses its intensity on the nail. Texture-wise, it’s somewhat gunky. It can dry a touch streaky too. Lustre-wise, it’s shinier than a sheen but doesn’t have a laminated appearance. That said, glossy topcoats diminish the streaks and enhance the shine effectively.
The range does have some pretty colours, so if you’d like to try them for your weak nails, make sure to use a good topcoat to mitigate the mediocre staying power. I actually like Sally Hansen Mega Shine a lot, though this super-shiny clear lacquer is not always good on a manicure because it has a tendency to peel/flake off. Nevertheless, it’s exceptional on the toes and your pedicure will last you a month or more.
In Singapore, these polishes retail at S$13.90 and can be found at Watsons Singapore. For a chance to give this range a whirl, do look out for a giveaway coming up soon!