Shellac Manicure Pedicure

Shellac should last at least two weeks and is less damaging to natural nails than gel, although it should not be applied over brittle or damaged nails.

Do away with waiting for your nails to dry! Shellac and gel manicures dry quickly when exposed to UV or LED lights, eliminating the need for drying time.

Benefits

Shellac nails are long-wearing, cute, and simple to maintain. Furthermore, they’re less damaging to natural nails than acrylics if applied and removed correctly and can even promote nail growth!

Application is similar to getting a gel manicure; your nail professional will start by cleaning and pushing back cuticles before applying a base coat, followed by two layers of color and topcoat cured under an LED light.

As a result, this entire process takes only 45 to an hour compared to traditional polish drying times of several hours! With one manicure lasting 14 days without chipped nails or additional maintenance needed.

Application

Shellac nails are an increasingly popular manicure option that lasts up to 14 days. Created by CND, this hybrid gel polish has the strength of gel polish while maintaining traditional nail color qualities.

Shellac nail polish stands out from traditional nail polish because its formula was developed specifically to last longer and cure under UV light, hardening and strengthening it to avoid chipping and peeling.

Lippmann indicates that Shellac can be applied and removed professionally by a manicurist without damaging natural nails, according to her patent formula containing small tunnels within its nail polish that allow acetone to soak into and dissolve it without harming natural nails.

Shellac nail polish, however, is only produced by CND so its color selection is more limited than with other gel brands offering 388 colors of both gel and polish. This could explain why some off-brands do not follow its patented formula and soak off properly; hence its bad rep.

Removal

Shellac nails are well-known for their durability and shine. Lasting roughly two weeks, these stunningly durable nails can protect brittle or short natural nails while helping grow them out because their thin yet sturdy nature means it doesn’t wear away with nail growth like standard polish would.

Shellac can be damaging to natural nails if not applied or removed properly, which is why professional manicures should be sought to ensure nails can be properly soaked off with a solution.

If you wish to perform your own Shellac removal at home, use cuticle oil to soften and moisturize your nails before placing a cotton square or cotton ball soaked with acetone polish remover on each nail and covering them with aluminum foil for 10 minutes soaking time. When removed, your nails will be clean and healthy again – an effective home solution if you do not have access to a salon.

Maintenance

Shellac nail polish can provide long-term nail and cuticle care, and the following steps can help ensure its success: keep hands hydrated by regularly applying hand lotion or cuticle oil; avoid direct sunlight as UV rays can dry out nails and skin over time.

As much as you may want to use your nails as tools, doing so could damage or chip the polish and shorten its lifespan. Furthermore, nail picking and biting should be avoided since both can damage both natural nails and their polish layer.

Whenever your manicure falls apart, it is wise to visit a professional nail technician for removal of Shellac and starting over from scratch. The process itself should not damage natural nails if done properly.