What is SNS?

SNS is short for Signature Nail Systems and is the brand behind the world's first dip powder system. That's why SNS nails are synonymous with dip powder nails!

Since then, SNS has continuously launched nail products in line with their original mission. That mission is create solutions for women to be able to enjoy beauty without causing harm to their health. 

Today, SNS produces dipping powder, gel polish, nail lacquer, and nail art products. Check out this timeline to see how it all began and how far we've come. 

If you've ever had trouble navigating our extensive range of products, then this is for you. This is the ultimate guide to everything you need to know about the products and innovations that make SNS an irreplaceable brand in the nail industry. 

Why Choose SNS?

Before we look at the products, let's look at some of the reasons why nail technicians and clients worldwide choose SNS over other brands.

Healthier Formula

Our low-chemical formulations protect the health of both clients and nail technicians.

Cruelty Free

None of our products are tested on our furry friends - never have and never will be!

Vegan Friendly

None of the ingredients we use are made or derived from animals.

Made in the USA

Made in the USA to ensure the highest accuracy and world class colour pigment production in the SNS nail innovation lab.

Quick & Easy Soak-Off

Nail damage often occurs during removal but not with SNS which is easily removed thanks to The SNS Formula.

SNS Nail Products

We're always striving to do better. Every product created aims to benefit all users - clients and nail technicians.

The Original Dip Powder System

If you didn't already know, SNS invented the original dip powder system for nails. That's why dip powder nails are generally referred to as "SNS nails". And SNS is still the leader, being voted "Best Dip Powder System" consecutively for three years by NAILPRO Magazine's 60,000+ professional readers.

Dip Powder offers a way for you to enjoy long-lasting wear from your manicure without damaging your natural nails over time. They’re a healthier approach to nails. 

SNS Dipping Powder System Product Ranges

SNS dip powder nails are a 2-part process and require liquid and powder products.

Dipping Liquids

• Bases & Sealers - Classics
• Bases & Sealers - SenShine

Read our guide on how to use each of the dip liquids for the best results for your dip powder nails.

Dipping Powders

• Pink & White System
• Gelous Color (Nutri-Plus™) Dipping Powders
• Fabulous Dip
• Perfect Flo
• Dipstar

See our ultimate guide on navigating the SNS colour systems.

Dipping Powder Kits

• SNS Dip Powder Starter Kit 1 - Pink & White System
• SNS Dip Powder Starter Kit 2 - Colour Applications

Want to get started? Check to see which SNS nail kit you need.

Nail Art with Dipping Powder

• Air Ombre™ - Dipping Powder in a spray bottle

Look how effortless ombre nail art is with Air Ombre™.

Benefits of the SNS Dip Powder System

When applied properly, the finished SNS Dipping Powder application is strong, durable, flexible, odour free, has a natural feel, requires no UV light, is hypoallergenic, protects the real nail and is healthy for the nail bed.

SNS products are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from the toxic chemicals known to cause damage not only to your nails but also to your overall health.

In addition to offering a system that helps reduce the chemical load and resulting damage to the nails, the SNS Dipping Powder bases and sealers are enriched with no less than 5 nutrients and antioxidants: 

• Vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps the nail bed repel bacteria and viruses, while also protecting nails against UV damage.
• Vitamin E is a nutrient and protector for the nail bed: it helps neutralise free radicals which damage the cells, and strengthens the immune system
• Vitamin B5 has powerful abilities to regenerate the nail bed, making the tissue more solid and elastic. It also provides a protective barrier against harm.
• Vitamin D3 boosts elasticity of the tissues and stimulates collagen production while helping to replenish the cells and maintain their natural moisture levels.
• Calcium is an essential component for cell regeneration and tissue strength. It also has a protective function stimulating the production of natural antioxidants to preserve cell health.

The SNS dipping powder system actively improves the health of the nail!

A key difference between SNS dipping powders and other brands, is the addition of benzoyl peroxide. 

When it comes to the act of dipping, you might have worries about the chances of getting infection. SNS incorporates a common ingredient ‘benzoyl peroxide’ in all dip powders. Benzoyl peroxide inhibits the growth of any bacteria thereby eliminating any possibility of cross-contamination and infection. SNS is the safest option for dip powder nails.

SNS Dip Powder Application

The concept of dipping powders is simple. Dip powder nails are created by layering a liquid adhesive on the nail and then quickly dipping the nail into colour dipping powder.

These layers are then bonded together with an activator before being sealed for protection and shine with a top coat specifically designed for dip powder applications.

Check out our easy-to-follow, in-depth tutorial on how to apply SNS nails for beginners.

SNS Dip Powder Removal

Removing SNS dip powder nails is easy, especially compared to other manicures. There's less chemicals involved with the dip powder system. Acetone is able to penetrate the layers and soften the dip powder. And there's no heavy drilling required!

Gel Polish & Nail Lacquer Products

We do more than just dipping powder. SNS also carries gel polishes and nail lacquers. The best part? They're also Vegan & Cruelty-free - like the rest of our products.

Gelstar™ Gel Polish

GelStar™ has all the benefits of gels, with far less damage to the nail bed. This exciting product line contains Vitamin E and Calcium to nourish the natural nail bed. Application of SNS GelStar is fast and easy, and no alcohol is needed for the top.

Benefits of Gelstar™:

• Healthier Nails
• Durable 14-Day Wear
• Includes Vitamin E and Calcium
• Brilliant, Mirror Surface
• Easy Application
• No Alcohol Needed for Top
• Fast Removal
• Matches over 500 Gelous Colors in Dip Powder and Nail Lacquer
• Vegan & Cruelty-free

‍Gelstar™ gel polish colours are part of the SNS MasterMatch colour system. They match Gelous Color dipping powders, and SNS Nail Lacquers.

Basics 1+1 Gel Polish & Nail Lacquer Duo Sets

Sometimes we just need the basics! SNS understands that salons sometimes seek a lower-cost way to introduce the SNS brand to clients. That’s why SNS Basics 1+1 was created. It’s a simple and inexpensive system that originally came with TWO matching products: SNS Basics 1+1 Lacquer and SNS Basics 1+1 Gel.

Benefits of Basics 1+1 Gel Polish & Nail Lacquer Duo Sets

• Can provide manicures and pedicures, confident that the colours will match every time
• 150 colours - matching with Fabulous Dip, and 2-in-1 Dip & Acrylic Powder
• Brilliant colour with buildable coverage
• Over 14 days of wear
• Easy to apply
• Easy to remove
• Vegan & Cruelty-free

Nail Lacquer

SNS Nail Lacquers are your regular, air-drying nail polishes. Our formula is Vegan and Cruelty-free, and provides unbelievable colour and shine. SNS Nail Lacquers are available in over 500 colours that match MasterMatch nail products - Gelous Color Dipping Powder, and Gelstar™ gel polishes.

Benefits of SNS Nail Lacquer

• Over 500 beautiful colours
• Great long-wear for pedicures
• Easy to apply
• Matches with Gelous Color dipping powder and Gelstar™ polishes
• Vegan & Cruelty-free

Nail Art with SNS

To meet all your creative demands, SNS has created products to make nail art easier and less time-consuming. Anyone can be a nail artist with SNS Nail Art products.

SNS Dolo™ Instant Marble Inks

Dolo™ is the amazing new Instant Marble product from SNS. With Dolo™ it takes just seconds to create a stunningly professional marbling service. Yet these lovely nails last for up to 3+ weeks.

Every Dolo™ nail is a unique, one-of-a-kind creation. And with 10 colour options, your creative possibilities are endless. DOLO is designed for SNS Dipping powders but also works with gels & acrylics too!

Watch this short tutorial to see how easy it is to create beautiful marble designs in a matter of seconds.

B‍enefits of Dolo™

• Creates marble nail designs effortlessly and in seconds
• 10 colours to create an infinite number of combinations
• Fast-drying
• Easy to apply

‍Nail Art Glitters

SNS Professional Tools

• Acrylic Files
• French Dip Mould
• UV/LED Hybrid Lamp
• Glass Bottle Holder
• Plastic Hand Rest‍
• Replacement Brushes

The most popular manicure options today include dip powder nails & gel nails. They both last for weeks at a time, much longer than a traditional nail polish manicure. But when it comes to dip powder vs gel nails; which one is better?

We'll look at what dip powder and gel nails are, their application and removal process, and the benefits of both to help you decide which is better - for you.

What are dip powder nails?

Dip powder nails are like a cross between acrylics and gel nails. They look the most like acrylic nails and have the lightweight feel of gel nails. SNS nails are very durable and generally last for 3 more weeks. Even longer if you wanted them to.

SNS created the world’s first dip powder for nails to improve the condition of nails with every application. The created layers of dip powder provide your natural nails with strength and protection, which allows them to grow.

The entire dip powder system - comprising of dip liquids and dip powders - are enriched with vitamins A, E, B3, D5, and calcium to promote nail health, growth, and repair.

Applying SNS dip powder

‍Applying dip powder is an entirely different process to what you're used to. It involves painting on a clear base coat and dipping your nails into a jar of powder. Hence the name. The layers are then bonded together with an activator, sealing it all together. At this point, you can buff and file the layers to your liking before going in with the top coats.‍

Regarding nail prep: you would prep your nails as you would with any manicure. Cut, shape, buff, and push the cuticles back. Moisture is not a friend of dip powder, so it's important to make sure your nails are clean and dry.

Overall, it takes around 30 minutes to an hour to complete a dip powder manicure. It really depends on the amount of layers you create and your skill level. With that being said, it's definitely something anyone can learn how to do!

Removing SNS dip powder

Taking off your nail enhancements is so easy when you have dip powder nails. That's thanks to the SNS formula, which contains less chemicals compared to other manicures. This is also what makes SNS different from other brands of dip powder.

Remove dip powder nails by buffing the shiny top coat surface off. Then soak your nails in a bowl of warm acetone and let it do it's thang. The dipping powder should soften and allow you to wipe it off. Then repeat soaking and wiping until it's all off. There's no heavy drilling required.

Benefits of SNS dip powder

SNS has been voted "The Best Dipping Powder System" for 3 consecutive years (2018, 2019, 2020) by over 60,000 professional readers of NAILPRO Magazine. As well, it's rated #1 for strong & healthy nails by consumers worldwide.

Users - both client and nail professionals - love SNS dipping powders for many reasons.

• Formulated with nutrients; low in chemicals
• Helps your nails grow longer and stronger
• No UV light needed
• Durable; lasts over 3 weeks
• Vegan & Cruelty-free formula
• Easy to apply and achieve professional results
• Easy to remove without damaging natural nails
• Stunning colours and finish
• Great way to curb nail biting habits
• Dip powders are odourless

SNS dip powder system products

So we've mentioned before that the dip powder system involves both dip liquids and dip powders. Here's an overview of what's available:

Dip liquids

Otherwise known as SNS Bases & Sealers. They are essential to creating dip powder nails and work hand-in-hand with dipping powders to create strength and add protection to natural nails. Our dip liquids are available in the Classics Nutri-Plus range as well as the SenShine range for sensitive skin and eyes.

Dip powders

SNS invented dip powders. So naturally, we have the widest selection of colours available.

There are several dip colour ranges: Pink & White System, Gelous Color, Fabulous Dip, Perfect Flo, and Dipstar.

Learn more about the colour systems here.

What are gel nails? 

Gel manicures are applied like regular polish but require the use of a UV or LED light to cure. The result of gel nails have the closest look to nail polish and will give you perfectly glossed wear without chipping or peeling moments after applying.

Gel nails last for 2 weeks, or more with care. SNS gel polishes are created with less chemicals and won't leave your nail beds weak like some gels are known to do.

Applying gel polish

The gel nails application process is very similar to regular nail polish. But instead of waiting forever for it to air-dry, you need a UV lamp to cure the polish.

Nail preparation for gel nails is standard. Cut, shape, push cuticles back, and buff your nails. Gel nails adhere better to a rough surface so don't buff them too much.

Start by painting on a base coat followed by 2-3 coats of your chosen gel polish colour. Finish with a shiny or matte top coat to protect your colour. For each coat of gel you paint on, you'll need to cure it under UV light for 30-120 seconds depending on the gel polish itself.

Gel nails typically take up to an hour to do. Much of that time depends on how long the gel polish needs to cure under UV light.

Removing gel polish

Like dip powder nails, the removal process for gel nails is easy and definitely something you can do at home.

All you need to do is soak some acetone in cotton balls and wrap over your gel nails for 10-15 minutes and it should come right off. Any remaining gel polish can be scraped off with a cuticle stick or lightly buffed with a buffer block. Just take care not to scrape too vigorously or you might removing some layers of your natural nail.

Benefits of SNS gel polish

Besides making your nails look super neat and pretty, there are many benefits of gel nails. And SNS gel polishes give you even more reasons to try it out for yourself.

• Easy to apply
• Easy to remove; less chemicals
• Contains vitamin E and calcium
• Stunning colours and shiny finish
• Doesn't leave any sticky residue
• Lasts for over 2 weeks; 3x longer than regular nail polish
• Feels lightweight and is flexible
• Vegan & Cruelty-free formula

SNS gel nail products

Within the SNS nail system, there is SNS Gelstar gel polish and the Basics 1+1 Gel and Nail Lacquer Duo Sets to choose from. Each has hundreds of colours to choose from with colours that match SNS dip powders and nail lacquer too!

Dip powder vs gel nails: Which is better? 

Both gel and dip manicures have their benefits. They are both long-lasting, lengthening the time between trips to the nail salon or your DIY at-home manicure.

A benefit of dip powder over gel is that no light is needed to cure the polish and are more durable than gel nails. But it can go on a bit thick if you're not careful. Gel polish goes on thinner and looks more like regular nail polish.

Whichever one you decide to get, remember that all SNS has vegan and cruelty-free. Not to mention the bonus of having formulations enriched with vitamins and calcium to promote healthy nail growth. With that in mind, it becomes less of a question of "Which is better?" but more so “Is dip powder or gel better for my lifestyle?”

Which one is best for you depends on what you're looking for, your nail's condition, and how much time you have, and whether you’re getting them done at a salon or by yourself at home.