Jessica Cosmetics' Gel and Polish Hybrid

There's polish, there's gel polish, and now there's Flash Fusion 2.5.2. Jessica Cosmetics' new hybrid product was showcased at ISSE 2013, with two in-booth nail techs giving the quickest pedicures I've ever seen.

As its name promises, Fusion 2.5.2 is a two-step self-curing system (primer plus color) that takes five minutes to apply and dry, and two minutes to remove. "It's ideal for toes," said Valerie Celia, VP of marketing at Jessica Cosmetics International, Inc. "You don't need to bring flip flops to the salon anymore."

The difference between Fusion 2.5.2 and other gel-polishes is that the product does not require a UV light to cure. The wear time is between traditional polish and gel-polish.

NAILS managing editor Sree Roy sampled the polish in Vitesse (French for "speed"), a medium gray, on her toes. After two minutes of drying, she slipped her flats back on and continued to peruse the show floor — without any known smudging! She has yet to remove the polish, but similar to gel-polish removal, it will involve wrapping the nails in an acetone-based solution for two minutes.

Currently there are six Flash Fusion polishes on the market with an additional 12 colors coming out for spring. All polish names are synonyms for speed, such as Hustle, Rush, Whirlwind, and Zoom, to brand the new system.

Jessica also displayed its new polish line "It's a Girl Thing." Available in spring as well, the six colors — a collection of gray, purple, blue and red tones — are named after and modeled by founder Jessica Vartoughian's daughters and granddaughters.

— Brittni