Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat Nail Polish Review by Jerrica Tisdale

“Sally knows that having options is important. For the ultimate in mixing and matching, Crackle Overcoat comes in 8 different shades which can be paired with any nail color. From bold blue to mature metallics, you can create a unique mosaic design that’s modern and sophisticated” (source: SallyHansen.com).

 

 Crackle Overcoat Nail Polish Review by Jerrica Tisdale

If you like experimenting with your  nails then you’ve probably considered buying Sally Hansen’s Crackle Overcoat nail polish.

Sally Hansen’s Crackle Overcoat nail polish seems like a fun way to experiment with the look of your nails, and though a great idea, the product fails to deliver a lasting polish that offers unique designs.

I purchased the Sally Hansen Cherry Smash a couple months ago, because the advertisement intrigued me, and the designs look sophisticated and clean. I thought it could be a fun way to experiment with my nails. Overall, I wasted money and received unsatisfactory results.

The Truth is in the Design

Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat from the original application was hard to apply to my nails.  My bottle was watery, and no matter how much I applied it, it was not enough to create a thick coat. Almost immediately after putting on the coat, my nails began to crackle. I liked how quickly it began to dry, but other than that, I did not enjoy the product.

The shapes the Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat  makes is very clumpy cracks. The non-uniformity of the crackles really bothered me. I expected smooth cracks that in their own way made a pattern and design. So I could not help but be disappointed in the product.

Also, sometimes when applying it, it’s hard to see the lower level of polish, depending on the colors. The  Sally Hansen Cherry Smash combined with many other colors overpowers them too much to create a nice contrast. There are eight different colors to choose from, so I suggest you buy them based on what colors are likely to contrast or combine best with your other nail polish.

Depending on how much time and effort you put into your nail polish can effect  your results. I like to do my nails quickly and move on. Someone who carefully caters to their beauty regiment might get less clunky crackling.

In fact, the people that generally have a positive review of the product are the ones that put in the effort to learn how to manage it well.  So the product is not a complete waste if you’re into experimenting with your nails and have patience.

This is a video shows how to properly apply the polish to get better results:

I’ve read many reviewers say that Sally Hansen’s Crackle Overcoat nail polish did not crackle for them, did not spread well, and the crackling was inconsistent. So many people have issues with this product.  But many others have no problem with it. And even find ways to make great unique designs on top of the crackling.  So it really depends on how picky you are about how you think or want the crackling to look, and if you want to spend time learning how to maneuver them in your favor.

The Cost &  How Long it Lasts

A major issue with the Sally Hansen’s Crackle Overcoat is it does not last long. The nail polish cost about $7, or $8 dollars at most cosmetic, or drug stores. For the price most people expect to have a bottle that lasts at least a couple months. The Crackle Overcoat only lasts about a week, or two, before the bottle completely hardens. I read that this has happened to other people, so it’s not a rare occurrence. So depending on what type of bottle you get, the polish could  be a waste of money. You can not leave the bottle open, or not completely tight. My bottle was closed, but I guess not tight enough, before it completely hardened.  The nail polish is expensive and unless you are completely careful it will not last long enough for the cost.

Other Options

 

Crackling nail polish seems be a big craze right now so there are many options out there. The general ones that have better reviews are China Glaze Crackle and OPI Shatter Nail Polish. All three cost around the same depending on where you buy. You can see a general short comparison of all three polishes here:

OPI,China Glaze,and Sally Hansen Shatter/Cracklin Polish Comparison

I have not tried the others yet, but I read really good reviews on the OPI Shatter nail polish, so I’ll try that out one day. For now, all I know is I am not a fan of the Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat, but there are many options you can pick if you’re not a fan as well.

Also, if you really want to try something new and different, I recommend you just buy regular nail polish and watch tutorials on doing different designs. Crackling just might not be a design you like, but you can find ways to experiment with your nails that are more fun, less expensive, and has the effect you desire.

Pros & Cons

Overall, I had a negative impression of the Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat nail polish, but there are positives attributes of the polish.  Here is a recall:

Pros

• Dries fast
• Can create nice designs if patient enough to learn how to work the product

Conclusion

Sally Hansen’s Crackle Overcoat nail polish, though generally a cool idea, fails to deliver a beautiful design. It does not offer a sleek and effortless crackling as advertised. The nail polish does not last more than a couple of weeks, and costs too much for only a week’s worth of usage. I  think this product is good for people really into crackle nail polish and willing to experiment to create their desired designs. It’s a good idea, just too many holes in the execution. There are a lot of other crackle nail polish that give better effects for less effort. If you are a lazy lion with your nails, this is not the product for you.