Frequently asked questions about LDS
What is the difference between LDS Gel Polish and LDS Gel & Lacquer Duo?
LDS Gel Polish is a single 0.5 oz bottle of cure-required gel polish. The Gel & Lacquer Duo pairs the gel with a matching air-dry nail lacquer in the same shade, so your salon clients can match manicure and pedicure without re-painting.
Is LDS HEMA-free?
LDS Color Craze (Healthy) is the HEMA-free and TPO-free line, designed for clients with sensitivities. Standard LDS Gel Polish contains HEMA. Look for the Healthy Gel collection if a HEMA-free formula is required.
How long does LDS Dipping Powder last on nails?
With proper prep and the matching LDS Dip Essentials liquids, LDS dip manicures typically last 3 to 4 weeks before lifting. We recommend the 1.5 oz size for high-volume salons.
Do I need a UV or LED lamp for LDS Gel?
LDS Gel cures under both UV and LED lamps. LED cure time is 30 to 60 seconds per coat; UV is 2 minutes. Standard 48W salon lamps work for all LDS gel products.
Can I get LDS at wholesale pricing?
Yes. ND Nails Supply offers wholesale pricing on every LDS product for everyone, no minimum order, no business license required. Check the Buy in Bulk & Save category for additional volume discounts.
Why salons stock LDS
LDS, short for LAVIS DIP SYSTEMS, is the most widely-stocked house brand at ND Nails Supply, with 3,180 SKUs spanning gel polish, nail lacquer, dipping powder, builder gel, and the Healthy 3-in-1 line. The brand built its reputation among independent salons and high-volume nail studios by delivering competitive wholesale pricing without sacrificing pigment quality. Where premium brands like OPI sit at the $14 to $22 per 0.5oz tier, LDS holds the $4 to $12 sweet spot, which lets salon owners stock 200+ shades at the cost of a single OPI seasonal collection.
For ND's wholesale-priced-for-everyone model, LDS is the volume anchor. Same-day dispatch on in-stock orders before 2pm PT, no business license required, no minimum order. Salons that lead with gel-and-dip services typically build their first 100 SKUs around LDS Color Craze or LDS Gel Polish before adding premium lines for specific client requests.
The LDS product lines
LDS does not run a single catalog. The brand is organized into six product lines, each engineered for a different salon workflow:
LDS Gel Polish (original)
The foundation line. 200+ shades in 0.5oz salon bottles and 1.5oz refill sizes. Standard HEMA formula, cures in 60 seconds under LED or 2 minutes UV. This is the wholesale workhorse for salons that need broad color choice without HEMA-free constraints.
LDS Color Craze (Healthy)
HEMA-free and TPO-free reformulation of the original line, designed for sensitive clients. Same shade-family coverage as LDS Gel Polish, same cure time, same durability. Salons that report client allergic reactions switch over to Color Craze without changing application technique.
LDS Nail Lacquer
Air-dry classic lacquer matched 1-to-1 with the gel line. For salons that offer pedicure services, this lets you sell matching manicure-pedicure sets where the client's polished toes match their gel manicure tone-for-tone. 187 shades in stock at ND.
LDS Gel & Lacquer Duo
Pre-paired matching sets. The 1,200+ duos at ND are typically priced 15 to 20 percent under the combined cost of separate gel and lacquer purchases, which makes them the go-to for salons running mani-pedi combo specials.
LDS Dipping Powder
SNS-comparable durability at LDS pricing. The Pink, White, and Clear Powder set is the base kit; the colored dip range tracks the gel shade library so salons can offer dip-or-gel choice in the same shade. 455+ dip colors in 1oz wholesale sizes, 232+ in the 1.5oz pro-volume size.
LDS Healthy 3-in-1
Three-in-one system: base, color, and top in a single bottle for fast turnover services. Reduces inventory count for salons that lead with quick express-mani service tier. 1oz and 1.5oz sizes available.
How to pick the right LDS line
The shortest path to picking an LDS sub-line is to match the client workflow:
- DIY pro or new salon stocking up: start with LDS Gel Polish (original) plus the Base & Top Gel kit. The price tier lets you build a 50-shade starter library without overcommitting to specialty lines.
- Salon with sensitive clients: lead with LDS Color Craze (Healthy). The HEMA-free formula reduces allergic-reaction risk and meets the modern compliance ask from informed clients.
- High-volume mani-pedi salon: focus on the Gel & Lacquer Duo category. Pre-paired matching sets cut SKU management in half and unlock combo-pricing strategies.
- Dip-focused salon: anchor on the LDS Dipping Powder line plus Dip Essentials liquids. The durability matches SNS at a meaningfully lower per-ounce cost.
- Express service tier: stock LDS Healthy 3-in-1 for 20-minute mani turnover.
LDS lines compared
| Line | Best for | HEMA-free | Cure system | Typical wear | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LDS Gel Polish (original) | Foundation salon stock | No (standard HEMA) | LED 60 sec / UV 2 min | 2 to 3 weeks | $4 to $9 per 0.5oz |
| LDS Color Craze (Healthy) | Sensitive-client salon | Yes (HEMA + TPO free) | LED 60 sec / UV 2 min | 2 to 3 weeks | $6 to $12 per 0.5oz |
| LDS Nail Lacquer | Pedicure services | N/A (air-dry) | No lamp needed | 5 to 7 days | $3 to $7 per bottle |
| LDS Gel & Lacquer Duo | Mani-pedi matching | Depends on gel side | Gel: LED 60 sec | 2 to 3 weeks (gel) | $7 to $15 per duo |
| LDS Dipping Powder | Dip-focused salon | Yes (dip uses no HEMA) | No lamp needed | 3 to 4 weeks | $8 to $16 per 1oz |
| LDS Healthy 3-in-1 | Express service tier | Yes | LED 60 sec | 2 weeks | $10 to $14 per 1oz |
How to apply LDS gel polish
The LDS application workflow is identical across LDS Gel Polish and LDS Color Craze. The dipping powder and 3-in-1 lines have their own systems.
- Prep the nail. Push back cuticles, lightly buff the natural nail surface, then dehydrate with a nail prep. Skip this step and lifting risk goes up significantly.
- Apply LDS Base Gel. One thin coat. Cure for 60 seconds under LED or 2 minutes UV.
- Apply LDS color (coat 1). Thin, even coat from cuticle to free edge. Cure for 60 seconds LED.
- Apply LDS color (coat 2). Most shades reach full opacity at coat 2. Cure 60 seconds LED.
- Apply LDS Top Gel. Seal with one coat of top, covering the free edge. Cure 60 seconds LED.
- Wipe the tacky layer. If the top gel leaves a residue, wipe with 99 percent isopropyl alcohol. Some LDS top variants are no-wipe.
Care & maintenance for clients
Salon clients who follow basic LDS care guidance hit the 3-week durability target consistently. The three rules to share with clients at checkout:
- Cuticle oil daily. Hydrated cuticles reduce lifting at the proximal nail fold. Recommend the Cuticle Oil & Massage Oil category at ND for client home stock.
- Wear gloves for cleaning. Bleach, ammonia, and acetone-based cleaners attack the gel film. Dish-washing without gloves is the single biggest premature-wear cause salons see.
- Book removal at the 3-week mark. Peeling off gel pulls the natural nail layer. Soak-off removal with 100 percent acetone-soaked cotton wrapped in foil for 10 minutes is the only safe method.
For salon storage, keep LDS bottles upright in a cool, light-protected drawer. Direct sunlight on the bottle accelerates pigment degradation over 6+ months.
Wholesale pricing at ND
ND runs a wholesale-for-everyone pricing model on the full LDS catalog. No business license, no minimum order, no membership fee. The Buy in Bulk & Save category adds another 10 to 25 percent on top of the wholesale tier when buying in volumes of 50 or 100 bottles. Free shipping kicks in at $99 across the LDS lineup, and same-day dispatch ships any in-stock LDS product ordered before 2pm PT on weekdays.
Salons that order LDS monthly typically hit the free-shipping threshold on every order. Pairing LDS Gel Polish with LDS Nail Lacquer in matching duos keeps the SKU count manageable while letting salons offer the mani-pedi match service tier.