Mark your calendars, mani-maniacs. This October, OPI is launching a new soak-off gel called OPI GelColor. A faster-curing, thinner formula than OPI Axxium Soak-Off Gel, it comes in bottles with brush applicators like polish, and cures under light emitting diodes (LED) like those used in your TV remote control. And, says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Executive VP and Artistic Director of OPI, GelColor is just as strong as Axxium Soak-Off Gel.
At launch time, OPI GelColor will be available in 28 shades. The formula requires just 30 seconds in an LED box to cure, and promises at least a two-week chip-free finish no thicker than nail polish. Soak-off time should be only 10 minutes.
Also soon to be available are individual fingertip soak-off sleeves for folks leery of soaking fingers in bowls of acetone.
In case you need an Axxium Soak-Off refresher, here’s a recap: it comes in little pots and has a liquid gel consistency; it needs two minutes of UV light exposure per layer to cure; and removal can take 20 minutes or more.
Sure OPI GelColor sounds a lot like CND Shellac, a gel/polish hybrid which is thinner and takes less time to soak-off than Axxium Soak-Off Gel. But that won’t stop me from giving it a go as soon as I can. (GelColor isn’t a hybrid, by the way — it’s gel.) How ’bout you?
UPDATE: I was careful in this post not to say outright that LED lamps means no more UV because some LEDs are UV types. I think LED UV lamps cure LED-sensitive gel faster than standard compact fluorescent UV bulbs, which is still a plus — in a comparison of 30 seconds in UV vs two minutes… well. Get details on LEDs and UV exposure here.
UPDATE 2: Official word is now that GelColor by OPI will hit salons in North America this November. The 28 shades will include neutrals, brights, darks, sheer and shimmer — see below.
P.S. Turns out there is also an Axxium Gel, a standard, clear UV-gel product that has to be removed via filing or Dremmel. It’s not the same as Axxium Soak-Off Gel. They’re pretty easy to tell apart, though — the coloured gels are all soak-off.
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Soak-off sleeves sound prefect… I’m definitely a fan of the tin foil and acetone soaked cotton ball method of gel lacquer (and glitter nail polish!) removal. Bowls of acetone just always feel so… icky.
Agreed! And the foil is clumsy — and hard to type in. *grin*
Shellac has wraps that work great!
Can’t wait! I’ll be at Tips Nail Bar at opening time the day this puppy launches!
See you there and then, Gorgeous!
Janine still not clear on the new opi gelcolor, if sally hansen bought opi in 2011 and all the newer opi colors are not the original formula, but a watered down sally hansen vesion, and you can find the same colors in target being sold as sally hansen for less money then opi. Is the gelcolor the same as axium just in a bottle with a brush or has sally hansen entered the gel market using the opi brand they now own. Or is axium the real opi formula/long last gel polish.
Hi Terri,
Actually COTY bought OPI; Coty also owns Sally Hansen — that’s a bit different. I highly doubt anyone’s been messing with the formulas — Suzi Weiss Fischmann is still very much involved with OPI and Nicole, both of which were her babies; she would have something to say about it. If anything, Sally Hansen is taking some colour cues from OPI, and showing an excellent understanding of what nail polish consumers like (amazing colour variety!).
OPI Axxium and OPI Gel Color are both SOAK-OFF GEL formulas. They both need to be cured in UV lamps, and both need extended direct contact with acetone for removal.
OPI Axxium is more of an obvious gel texture. It comes in little pots and is thicker on the application brush. OPI Gel Color is a gel, too, but is thinner, almost like nail polish.
Axxium needs two minutes per coat under fluorescent UV light bulbs to cure.
Gel Color needs two minutes per coat under fluorescent UV light bulbs too.
But Gel Color, unlike Axxium, is an LED-sensitive formula. Gel Color basecoat cures in 10 seconds under LED UV light bulbs; Gel Color colour cures in 30 seconds per coat under LED UV light bulbs.
Axxium is very strong, much stronger than Shellac. Gel Color seems to be just as strong — I say “seems to be” because I get two layers of basecoat (I’ll explain why in the post I’m going to turn this comment into *grin*).
Sally Hansen nail polish is regular nail polish. Some of them chip less quickly than others, but they’re still polish, NOT the same as the soak-off formulas used for “no-chip” or “longwearing” manicures.
Does that help?
CND makes Shellac Remover Wraps so you don’t need to soak your skin in acetone and never need to file off the surface.
I need those!
Re: filing the surface, that has to be done with Axxium Soak-Off because the top coat isn’t a soak-off formula. The Shellac top coat is. (That’s why you need non-acetone remover if you want to put regular polish over Shellac, then remove it a day or so later.)
No soaking in acetone? This shit was MADE for me!!!
Wellll… if you think about it, your skin still comes into somewhat prolonged contact with acetone as the sleeves (or soaked cotton if you use the foil method) sit on your fingertips. But if the gel breaks down more quickly, at least it’s for a shorter amount of time.
Still prefer that to the effing bowl.
Just have to make sure your nail expert’s going to use them. Doesn’t she already do the foil method for you if you’re wearing soak-off on your fingers?
Nope, I soak in the bowl. Foils are saved for toes.
wahoo no more uv lights… i always wondered what kind of health effects they may have (even if it’s 2 mins)
The UV lights in a nail-curing light box aren’t strong enough to do much — 10 minutes outside without sunscreen is worse if you think about it. :-)
And I’m actually waiting on confirmation from OPI as to whether the lights are non-UV or not. I suspect they’re UV, and have had a chat with another expert who says yes, probably.
Whoops! I should have followed up on this comment.
Yes, OPI Gel Color requires UV light to cure. The formula is sensitive to LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs, though, which basically means that in an LED UV lamp (regular lamps are fluorescent UV bulbs), Gel Color BASECOAT cures in 10 seconds, and Gel Color COLOUR cures in 30 seconds per layer.
You mention in your update that ‘some LED are UV types.’ …Do you happen to know what kind of LED light OPI’s new lamp uses?? I ask because my father makes LED lights, and as long as I can find out what ‘kind’ of LED this system is cured with, he will be able to finagle me a temporary lamp until the price of the OPI one goes down.
Hi Chri,
I’m not so sure about the temporary light box thing — I’m sure there are regulations related to bulb placement, how far things have to be from the skin, etc. As for LED specifics, I think it depends on what wavelength the LED gel is sensitive to.
That said, LED gel still cures under fluorescent UV light — it just takes two minutes per coat instead of 30 seconds per. LED UV gels contain ingredients that make them respond faster to specific LED UV wavelengths; those wavelengths are usually part of the broader range that fluorescent UV bulbs emit.
i have already had my salesman to put me on the list for the gelcolor system, so that i will be sure to get it……(i had to wait forever seems like to recieve my shellac) but, i was told by a different salesperson that my shellac light would work. is this true? thanks :)
Hi Cheeta,
Yes, your shellac light will work. Just note: you’ll need to cure the gel for two minutes per coat. LED-sensitive gel are designed to respond speedily to specific LED light wavelengths, but that range usually fits into the broader range that fluorescent bulbs emit.
Make sense?
I soak of the gels, I use shellac, in a plastic manicure bowl that way only the fingertips are exposed to the acetone and it is a little more comfortably than a bowl.
Do you know if OPI’s GelColor will require you to etch the nail plate before application? Every gel polish I have looked (except CND Shellac) requires buffing, etching or filing before application, witch over time effects the integrity of the natural nail.
Hi Rebecca!
The OPI Gel Colour will require a light buff just as CND SHellac requires which is merely to remove the shine using a 240grit file or buffer.
Shellac does NOT require a “light buff”. That’s why it is loved so much. If GelColor requires it, no matter how light, if you’re filing over the nail plate, I’m not a fan.
Hi Rebecca,
Actually, the original how-to when Shellac was first released included a light-buff step. They’ve removed that step in the last little while — a good marketing decision.
As well, there’s a difference between a light buff and filing over the surface — the first is only about removing the shine in order to improve product adhesion.
Sounds like Shellac works well for you, though; no need to move to another brand if you’re happy with the results!
Hi Rebecca,
Janine is correct. CND Shellac instructions included P.R.E.P at the beginning, but no longer requires removal of shine (the “R” in P.R.E.P.). We will be testing the same out with some other products available and we’ll keep you posted on the durability and length of wear.
honey do u even know what r u talking about hey the buffering is needed so the product last longer
Can you tell me the size of the bottle and the cost ?
I’m afraid I don’t have that info, Wanda — you’ll have to contact a distributor in your area, or hit OPI.com. It’s a professional product, not available in the usual retail outlets; bet you already know that :-)
Hi Wanda. The bottles are.5oz and they are $14.95. Versus Shellac .25oz for 15.95. And the soak off wraps are I believe $24.95 for 240 versus 24.95 for 100 of the shellac soak off wraps. So you get more bang for your buck with opi! That almost makes it worth spending the $400 on the LED light.
Bait and switch!! They have now up’d thier advertised price. Call to ask why the change and was told it was a misprint!!! Get ready to pay more the Gelish per bottle!!!!
Can’t wait put in two orders of this product!!!!! Good luck everyone!!!!
Where did you order it? Can’t find it online anywhere!
Do you know if axxium soak off gel colors have expiration date on them? I rent a booth and can only use so much of it…especially when there are more and more colors coming out.
Not sure, Tiffany — meant to check the last time I was at the salon and I’m sorry, forgot. OPI will know, of course — their FB page or Twitter folks are a great route to info.
Is there a list of colors that come in the opi gel colors kit that comes out the end of October?
Hi Karen — that’s the catalogue list of colours up there at the end of this post :-)
I received 6 out of 26 shades from OPI, extremely disappointed that they already backordered when it haven’t launched nationwide yet…anyhow, did love the way it applied like polishes and dry in 30 seconds, now I have to keep up with polishing at 30 seconds for every 5 fingers :) Can’t wait to see the rest of the color.
Yay! I’ve got all colors and the system is awesome! Soak off is less than 10 min if you wrap in plastic and add warming mitts. Drop a bit of oil on the cuticles and they get hot oil treat while soaking off!
Love the oil tip, Nea! And the warming mitts… nice.
Nea where did you buy the system? I’ve looked online and can’t find it anywhere!
Hello, ok, love this system with the exception of the polish not staying on the free edge even after I cap with every coat. By the time I get to the thumb, I have to hurry and go back over the previous 4 nails and get them in the lamp before it shrinks away from free edge. It doesn’t do this around the cuticle area, just the free edge. What amI doing wrong? Thanks
I had this done recently at puts and it is awful. I got it done on a Thursday by Sunday one nail the polish peeled off completely. My mom also had it done and by Friday all of hers where peeling off. We called to complain and the manager redid them. We had it redone on Sunday and on Monday it started chipping off. I have had the UV version done before and it lasted a minimum of 2 weeks. Take it from me do NOT get it done you won’t be happy with it.
I had it done at ulta. Spell check changed it to puts.
I wondered about “puts”! Thanks for the clarification :-)
I’m also wondering how much of the manicure failure is down to the technician’s familiarity with the product, or lack thereof? I’ve spoken with manicurists who have been using it for a a few weeks; they love it. I haven’t had a chance to try it myself; your experience sounds so disappointing :-(
I also just had OPI Gel Color applied at Ulta. No chipping so far, but the technician got the color too close to my cuticles on a few nails and it cured in there. It looks horrible! I tried correcting it (with Axxium I could peel the gel only off my cuticle and it came off nicely) but it is not helping. I can’t believe I spent over thirty dollars on this when I could do a much cleaner job at home! Does anyone have any advice on correcting the cuticle area?
I just had the same experience at ULTA!!! I am so annoyed but at least I got it during the promotion so it was less than $30 and I got a free nailpolish…but ya they did a terrible job!
I’m not sure whether this means something’s off with Gelcolor by OPI or ULTA.
Same here, with Gel polish, but it wasn’t at Ulta. I could see the tech crashing into my cuticles they look very messy. Also it was my first time with OPI instead of CND and didn’t know what to expect, I think she cured my nails for a total of 10-15 minutes at least under the lights. Once she was all done the second hand she said 5 minutes and left me there.
Sounds like the tech didn’t know how to work with the Gelcolor, Cheryl. It does not need more than 30 seconds of exposure in an LED-UV lamp. Or, in a regular fluorescent UV lamp, it does not need more than 2 minutes per layer.
It never needs 5, 10 or 15 minutes if it’s applied properly.
The key to Gelcolor, it seems, is applying thinner coats and working fairly quickly. And avoiding the cuticles.
I am a nail tech that does Shellac, but have been have some problems with it peeling. I have decided to try Gelcolor for the first time I hope that it does not peel. Have there been complaints about peeling, and also is gelcolor really a gel and if so what does that mean?
Hi there, I just posted a link on this website about how I feel about the GELCOLOR, feel free to check it out :)
Hi everyone, I am a licenced esthetician and I use Shellac, gelish and now the new OPI GelColor. First off, like with any new product there is a learning process but if you are already using shellac this product should be fairly easy for you to use. So here are my thoughts- using the new OPI LED light will make a world of difference, and its beautiful! I was using my CND light with the system at first and was not getting a high shine. Second- the product has a self leveling effect so its important to keep a close eye on your sidewalls. What I have been doing is after the base coat, I polish the pinky on one hand, allow them to stick it in the LED light while im doing the next pinky- then switch hands again. This way the product has a few seconds to cure and that will stop it from running down on the sidewalls. You are able to apply a thicker coat of the OPI without any bubbling, so in some cases I have only been doing one coat of the color because its all that is needed. I would 100% recommend this prodcut for any Spa/Salon use but some practice may be needed before you start applying it to clients. If anyone has questions please feel free to email me :)
I ventured away from my Shellac comfort zone which I’ve always had success with and tried the Opi Gel Polish. I absolutely LOVE the wear and incredible shine, but the removal is a nightmare! I soaked in straight acetone for at least 30 minutes all while gently removing the (minimal) amount of pieces that were coming off with an orange stick. After almost an hour, I had to be a bit more aggressive and ended up damaging all of my natural nail beds. :( The removal with Shellac has never been this tedious and damaging. Does anyone have any suggestions? Help! I’d like to give it another try, but am not going to put my natural nails through that removal process again! Thank you!
Hi Marisa, sorry it’s taken me a bit to answer!
If you’ve only used Shellac before this, by comparison the OPI Gel Color removal will seem tedious. The best thing about Shellac is that it soaks off in a snap.
That said, my nails have NEVER been damaged by the removal of OPI Axxium, nor the removal of OPI Gel Color. My go-to expert, Leeanne Colley, sets my bowl of acetone in a shallow-ish dish of hot water so it warms up… and it works faster. Try that to see what happens, ‘k?
I am a licensed cosmo and bit the financial bullet today and invested in the OPI LED lamp and GelColor system. I currently do shellac and brisa at my salon and I haven’t been able to find ANYWHERE if the LED lamp only cures OPI GelColor or if I can use it for my Brisa nails or even Axxium… Not sure about wattage or exposure. If you can point me in the right direction it would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
Hi Trish,
From what I understand, an LED UV lamp will work on LED-sensitive formulas like OPI GelColor, Gelish and Artistic Colour Gloss.
But it will NOT work properly on regular UV-sensitive gel, such as Axxium — regular UV sensitive gel requires a broader range of UV light, which is provided by standard UV light nail lamps. (I believe standard UV light nail lamps take four 9-watt UV bulbs.)
Hi, I am experiencing some issues with the OPI gels (not AXXIUM) It pools around the edges and when cures it sticks to the fingers. It is messy looking and will lift soon and not stay the couple of weeks like it needs too. I would like any tips or knowledge anyone may have on this. I shake the bottle well before application and have been using the CND gel lamp to cure.Thanks so much,
Terry
Hi Terry,
A reader named Lori commented with some good tips just a few comments above this one. After base coat, she does the pinky nail first and has clients cure that one while she switches to the pinky of the other hand. I’m not sure whether she continues the manicure the same way, switching after each nail is done, however.
I haven’t noticed that kind of problem when I get mine done, though. My go-to, Leeanne, is quite practiced with this sort of thing, however, perhaps moreso than most.
Hi again, Terry,
I checked with Leeanne. She advises trying thinner coats of product so there’s much less on the brush.
With certain colours she’s noticed there’s a bit of shrinkage — by the time she reaches the fourth finger, the gel colour on the first nail has shrunk back from the edge a little. She says if that happens, just do a quick edge touch up before the client puts her nails in the UV lamp. Or if you want to avoid that altogether, she’s found a trick: do a quick swipe of acetone on the nail surface immediately before applying and curing the basecoat.
I’ve had the new opi gel color done twice now. The first time it lasted 4wks before chipping and I’m on my second wk of having it done again and no chipping yet. I found the cnd color chipped after a few days. I also love the variety of colors the opi has. To me its worth every penny.