Shellac nails: everything you need to know

It feels great to showcase your personality through colourful nails. Additionally, you might want to use neon polish to brighten up your day. But the truth is, the process of painting your nails might turn out to be annoying. For instance, the fact that regular nail varnish takes so long to dry might discourage you from the entire idea. Thankfully, there’s a new game-changer that can make you fall in love with your nails one more time. Shellac nails come with many perks that will convince you to try them out.

One of the best things about shellac nails is that they dry faster under UV lights. Moreover, they’ll last for weeks, and you don’t have to invest in any unique chemicals if you choose to remove them from your nails.

In this article, we want to share with you everything you need to know about shellac nails, including what are shellac nails made of.

What are shellac nails?

Shellac is a hybrid polish that’s also patented. That means it’s made up of half gel and half regular nail polish. Note that shellac is a brand name crafted and patented by CND (Creative Nail Design).

Just like ordinary nail polish, you can directly apply shellac to your nails. Note that you can only use shellac as a pigment, meaning you can’t use it to fill or sculpt your nails. However, just like many other gel polishes, you can dry shellac under UV lights.

Many people are not sure whether shellac nails are entirely safe to use. The truth is, aside from being safe to remove, the nails are also safe to apply. However, you shouldn’t go for a shellac manicure if your nails are thin, brittle, or dry.

Since shellac nails require UV light to dry faster, it’s best to apply any type of sunscreen to your hands before going to the salon. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of how essential this step is. You need sunscreen to protect your skin from destructive UV light. Also, when it’s time to remove shellac nails, you want to make sure that the process is completed professionally to avoid any damages to your skin.

How long does it take to apply shellac polish?

There’re many factors to consider when determining the duration it takes to apply shellac polish. But if you’re going to a professional, the entire process can take between 45 minutes and 1 hour. The good thing is that you won’t spend hours at the salon waiting for the polish to dry.

Your expert will use a special LED lamp to dry the polish. The UV wavelengths from the LED lamp get into contact with the molecules in the formula. You’ll see that the entire drying process only lasts a few seconds, and you’re good to go.

Note that you can apply the polish on your own, but you may not be able to do a good job. That’s because shellac polish needs a lot of expertise to apply correctly. That’s why you should always try to find an expert.

Difference between shellac and gel

Many are not aware that shellac is more of a hybrid of traditional nail polish and gel that’s hardened and cured with the help of a special light-emitting diode lamp. Thus, you won’t have to worry about your polish wearing out.

Compared to gel, shellac is softer and can soak off easily when acetone is used. Those are the main differences between gel and shellac. The other difference is that shellac is gentler on the nails and is also easier to remove than gel.

Just with an acetone, your manicurist can remove shellac from your nails in the nick of time. Most of the time, to remove acetone, you’ll just need to cover them in remover-soaked cotton and wait for less than ten minutes. The remover will eliminate shellac from your nails without damaging your skin.

What are the advantages of shellac nails?

If you’re an avid user of acrylics and gels, you must have realized that they can weaken your nails after some time. However, you won’t have the same experience if you choose to use shellac.

Also, shellac can enhance the durability and strength of your skin. Thus, it limits the chances of your nails chipping and breaking. Did you know that shellac paint is quite thin? Due to that, it can greatly enhance the overall flexibility of your nails.

The fact that shellac is removed via acetone wraps means it won’t damage your skin and nails. Which is a very important benefit!

What are the disadvantages of shellac nails?

The bad thing with shellac is that it won’t fill or extend natural nails. So if that’s the solution you’re looking for, you might have to dry other products. Also, before applying the polish, you should make sure you have a healthy nail bed. Because of that, not everyone can use it.

While shellac is a great product, it might not be suitable to use at home since its application is complicated. Shellac is meant to be a salon treatment – unless, of course, you invite an expert to offer private services at your home.

How to rehab nails after shellac

To stop your nails from getting spoilt, you should take a short break after a shellac manicure. That’s the only thing you can do to rehab your nails after using the polish. Your expert will encourage you to give shellac a break, especially after using it a few times in a row.

How long can shellac last?

Shellac polish should last around two weeks, but that’s just an average duration. To extend the life of your shellac polish, you need to put on gloves when doing home chores.

Compared to other products used by manicurists for nail extensions, shellac polish is gentler on natural nails. Still, you should refrain from the polish if you have brittle or damaged nails. If you have to use shellac, then you should wait until your nails become healthy again.