Color Street nail polish strips have become increasingly popular in recent years as an easy, mess-free alternative to traditional nail polish. The pre-designed nail strips come in a variety of fun patterns and colors that can be applied in minutes. But one question many Color Street users have is: do the nail strips go bad eventually? Here’s what you need to know about the shelf life and expiration of Color Street nail polish strips.
Color Street nail polish strips are a innovation that provide an easy way to get a salon-quality manicure at home. The nail strips come ready to apply, with a base coat, color coat and top coat already layered on a thin, flexible strip. They stick to your nails with an adhesive backing, then you simply file and shape to fit your nails. The polish strips provide up to 10 days of wear, and remove easiy with nail polish remover.
Color Street nail strips first launched in 2015 and have steadily grown in popularity since then. The brand offers a wide selection of colors and patterns to choose from, including solids, glitters, French tips and more. They release new collections frequently so there’s always fresh, on-trend options available.
The nail strips are meant to be single use – once applied, they cannot be reused. So it’s important to note that like any nail product, they do have a shelf life and can expire eventually. Here we’ll look at how long Color Street nails last before going bad, proper storage and signs of expired strips.
How Long Do Unopened Color Street Nails Last?
When properly stored, unopened Color Street nail strips can last a surprisingly long time. Here is how long the strips last before expiring when still sealed in the original packaging:
| Storage Temperature | Shelf Life |
| Room temperature up to 80°F | 2 years |
| Refrigerated 36°-46°F | 3 years |
As you can see, keeping the nail strips at normal room temperature provides a generous two year shelf life. Refrigerating them adds even more longevity – up to 3 years in proper cold storage.
The key is ensuring the foil packets stay factory sealed until you’re ready to use them. Opening the packets reduces the shelf life significantly.
How Long Do Opened Color Street Nails Last?
Once opened, Color Street nails need to be used up fairly quickly. Here’s how long they last after opening:
– Foil packet opened: Use within 1 month
– Applied to nails: Last 7-10 days on nails
So you can see why it’s best to leave the strips sealed until ready to apply. If you do happen to open a packet, try to use up those strips within a month for best results.
The adhesive can begin drying out once exposed to air, causing the strips not to stick as well when applied. And the nail polish itself can start to thicken and become gloopy.
Proper Storage of Unused Strips
To get the full 2-3 years of shelf life from your unused Color Street strips, proper storage is key. Here are some tips for storing them correctly:
– Keep strips in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources like ovens. Excessive heat can melt the glue and cause the polish to separate.
– Store at room temperature if possible – between 60°-80°F is ideal. The foil packets help protect the strips from minor temperature fluctuations.
– Refrigeration between 36°-46°F extends the shelf life even longer if you don’t plan on using them right away. Allow to come to room temperature before opening packet to prevent condensation issues.
– Keep strips sealed in original foil envelopes until ready to use. Don’t open extras just to look at colors.
– Store strips flat and evenly stacked. Don’t keep packets upright leaning on each other.
– Avoid humidity extremes. Bathrooms are not ideal storage spaces due to heat and moisture from showers.
Proper storage keeps the glue viable, polish from separating or becoming thicker, and prevents damage to the thin foil envelopes. Following these simple tips allows unused strips to last over 2 years.
Signs Color Street Nails Have Gone Bad
Despite best storage efforts, opened strips or those kept past expiration eventually go bad. Here are signs to watch for:
– Hardened, thick polish. Good polish should be smooth, pliable and spreadable.
– Glue not sticking properly to nails. Applied strips may pop off easily.
– Discolored, separated polish. Instead of smooth and evenly colored, polish may look streaky or show obvious separation.
– Dried out, stiff nail strips. Fresh strips are flexible and soft.
– Foul odor. Bad polish may smell rancid or like chemicals.
– Package is bloated or foiled damaged. This can indicate formula deterioration or ingredients breakdown.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to discard the expired strips and use fresh ones. Trying to salvage bad strips rarely works well. The application and wear will be compromised.
Do Expired Strips Damage Nails?
This is a common concern with expired nail products. Rest assured that while old Color Street strips don’t work as well, they are safe to use even past expiration and won’t damage nails.
The ingredients are formulated to be gentle on nails. However, separated or dried polish may not look as smooth and flawless on the nails. The adhesive also loses tackiness so applied strips are more likely to pop off.
It’s suggested to do a patch test by applying an expired strip to one nail first. If it looks fine after a day or two, the other strips are likely okay to use up quickly. But any issues with appearance or longevity are signs the rest should be tossed out.
Can You Use Expired Strips on Toes Instead?
Some people wonder if old nail strips that aren’t ideal for fingers anymore could still be used on toes instead. This is not recommended for a couple reasons:
– Toes require even better adhesion than fingers. So weakened glue may lead to strips popping off quickly and easily.
– Any imperfections in appearance are more obvious on fingers than toes. But compromises in texture and color will still be noticeable.
– If the expired polish spreads poorly or clumps up, it will apply just as badly to toes.
For the best results, it’s best to use fresh strips designed for optimal adhesion and flexibility, even when doing your toenails. Properly stored unopened sets will last several years, so you can stock up on favorites.
Can You Request Replacements for Expired Nails?
Color Street has excellent customer service. So if you discover strips that expire prematurely or seem defective upon arrival, you can contact them about a replacement.
Some things to note regarding replacement requests:
– Unopened expired strips can be exchanged if within 6 months of purchase date.
– Opened packets cannot be returned or replaced for safety reasons.
– Issues with appearance or wear after application are not grounds for returns or replacements.
– Strips damaged by improper storage conditions are also ineligible.
So check the purchase date of unopened sets that seem to expire prematurely. Customer service can provide an exchange within the 6 month window. But opened strips cannot be returned or reused.
How to Use Up Strips Before Expiring
To avoid waste and get your money’s worth from Color Street strips, use up opened packets promptly. Here are some tips:
– Apply a fresh set every 5-7 days rather than 10 days. More frequent manicures use them quicker.
– Do your toes as well as fingers. Pedicures extend the use of opened strips.
– Share extras with friends or family if you can’t use them all.
– Mix and match old strips with newer sets to create custom designs and use them up.
– Don’t open new strips until you’ve used up previous packets. First in, first out.
– Store opened packets very carefully between manicures. Seal tightly and keep climate controlled.
With strategic planning, you can pamper yourself with 1-2 Color Street manicures per week and use opened sets before expiration.
Save Money by Avoiding Waste
At around $13 per set, wasting expired Color Street strips can really add up. Avoid wasting money with these tips:
– Only buy what you know you’ll use in the next 6 months. Don’t overstock.
– Trade unused strips with friends to rotate selection before strips expire.
– Refrigerate unopened strips you can’t use right away to extend shelf life.
– Use the old “first in, first out” rule when opening new packets.
– Don’t open extras just to peek or swatch colors.
– Use up opened packets within a month. Apply strips frequently.
– Request replacements for truly defective unopened strips.
With smart planning and storage, you can enjoy Color Street’s instant nail polish strips without wasting any. Properly stored they last 2-3 years unopened. And used promptly once opened, avoiding expired strips is easy. Follow these tips and your nails will always be runway ready with fresh Color Street manicures.
Conclusion
Color Street’s pre-designed nail polish strips provide salon-perfect nails in minutes in the comfort of your own home. While the strips last 1-2 weeks on the nails, its important to note unopened strips have a 2-3 year shelf life, while opened packets should be used within 1 month for best results.
By storing Color Street strips properly in cool, dry conditions, keeping foil packets sealed until use, and promptly using opened strips, you can avoid expired strips and waste. Any signs of dried, thickened polish, reduced adhesion, odor or discoloration are red flags they have gone bad.
While expired strips won’t damage nails if used, compromised appearance and longevity make it best to discard them. With strategic planning, you can enjoy regular beauty treatments with Color Street’s innovative nail strips without waste from expiration. Just follow the storage guidance, use opened strips promptly and exchange defective unopened sets for fresh product. Your nails will always look freshly polished and beautiful.