Well-groomed and beautifully painted fingernails are an absolute must for every woman. Whether bright and colorful or simple and elegant – they complete your look completely. But the range of procedures available in the nail salon can sometimes be very overwhelming. High shine, minimal drying time, no split ends or breaks and long durability – Shellac promises us all of this. But what exactly are Shellac nails? Is there a difference between acrylic and gel nails or shellac or gel? Read on and find out – in this article we have put together all the important information about the trend for you!
If you're tired of having to repaint your nails every few days because nail polish chips off too quickly, then you may want to consider Shellac. It protects the nails, lasts longer and brittle nails are a thing of the past.
Shellac was invented and patented by the American company “CND” (Creative Nail Design). According to the company founder, Shellac combines the best properties of gel and regular nail polish. The product owes its resistance and hardness to the so-called photoinitiators that are added to it. Shellac nails are done in 3 steps - in the first step the base coat is applied, in the second the nail polish in the desired color and in the third step the sealing top coat. After each step, the nails must be cleaned in the same way as beforeGel Nail PolishCure under an LED lamp. The whole procedure takes approximately between 45 and 50 minutes and afterward your fingernails will be scratch-proof!
Difference from gel
The difference between Shellac nails and gel nails won't surprise you, but there are still a few little things that differentiate the two types of manicures.
- The first difference between Shellac and Gel is theApplication -If you decide on gel nails, your natural nails must first be filed down and roughened a little. Afterwards, adhesive gel and 2-3 layers of plastic gel are applied and each layer must then dry and harden under a UV lamp for about 1 minute. Since the finger nails do not have to be filed or roughened when using Shellac, this treatment is considered gentler. Shellac also requires several layers to be applied, but they are much thinner and appear much more natural.
- The gel nails offer you the opportunity to shape your nails into absolutely any length and shape you want - fromAlmond shape nail designEverything is possible, right up to eye-catching stiletto nails. Since Shellac is essentially a nail polish, nail extensions are not possible.
- Removing Shellac is much quicker and easier than with gel nails - gel has the big disadvantage that it has to be filed down to the first layer before removal, which puts additional strain on your nails.
- Gel is a lot thicker than Shellac nails and for this reason it lasts a little longer - around 3 to 4 weeks.
- If you want to strengthen your nails, then you are better off with gel.
And what is the difference between acrylic and gel nails?
Long, colorful and eye-catching or simple - artificial nails have become a trend that will never go out of style. The most frequently asked question in every nail salon is the difference between acrylic and gel nails.
- The first difference lies in the material used - the compound for acrylic nails consists of a mixture of acrylic powder and liquid. Since the acrylic dries very quickly, the correct mixing ratio is very important. In addition, the mixture should be mixed very shortly before application. And as the name suggests, the material used in gel nails is gel.
- Acrylic nails do not require a special UV or LED lamp to cure - daylight is sufficient.
- However, drying acrylic nails produces pungent fumes that are harmful to health and should not be inhaled. This risk does not exist with gel or Shellac nails.
- If necessary, you can remove the acrylic yourself at home using regular nail polish remover with acetone.
- Acrylic nails are more durable than gel nails, making them better for anyone who wants to strengthen their brittle nails.
Prices and the best brands
Shellac nails are a lot cheaper than acrylic or gel nails - a procedure usually costs between 30 and 35 euros. Depending on the city and nail salon, the price could of course vary a little - but it won't be more than 40 euros. Now, which are the most famous Shellac brands and which Shellac is the best? As already mentioned, the innovative nail polish was invented by the company “CND”, which is the largest supplier of professional nail care products in the world. With 152 shades, the color selection is really large and there is certainly something for every taste. Other brands that have Shellac nail polish in their range are “Gelish” with 141 colors, “Opi” with 71 colors and “Essie” with 36 colors.
About 2 years ago nail polishes were invented that are similar to gel but cost much less. They are known under the names “Gel shine” or “Miracle Gel” and are available in every well-stocked drugstore. The gel effect ensures longer durability compared to conventional nail polish. What distinguishes them from Shellac nails is just the drying process - no UV lamp is required, but it does take a little longer.
How long does the nail polish last?
Is Shellac a long-lasting nail polish? The answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!”. Unlike traditional nail polish, it lasts for about 2 weeks. And all without any scratches or split ends! However, the so-called “2 week rule” applies to Shellac nails. Since the nail polish becomes much harder over time and is therefore increasingly difficult to remove, you should remove the UV nail polish after a maximum of 14 days.
Instructions for home
You don't have to go to the nail salon for beautiful Shellac nails - there are now many LED and UV lamps on the market and all the equipment for private use. Since the prices are around 50 euros, this is also the cheaper alternative. But before you make Shellac yourself, it would be advisable to have a few treatments with a professional nail artist - this way you will see in more detail how to do it. And this is how Shellac can be applied:
- In the first step, the nails are filed and given the desired shape.
- Apply the basecoat and then let one nail after the other cure under the LED lamp for 10 seconds.
- Then two thin layers of the colored nail polish are applied, which must also be dried under the lamp.
- Finally, apply the sealing top coat and place your hands under the lamp again for 10 seconds.
- Now just massage moisturizing hand cream into your hands and your cool Shellac nails are ready!
How do I remove polish from nails?
You have successfully applied the Shellac nail polish yourself and now is the time to remove it again? The good news is that you can remove shellac yourself! We will explain how this works below. When removing Shellac, the nails do not have to be filed and roughened, which can be seen as an advantage. Good old acetone is used to remove UV nail polish. However, since it has the bad reputation of being harmful to the nails because it removes fat and moisture from them and can result in brittle nails and dry skin, the company “CND” offers an acetone-free solvent. It is also available in Germany.
And this is how you can remove Shellac at home:
- Apply nail polish remover with acetone to cotton pads.
- Wrap the cotton pads around your fingernails and then wrap them tightly again with aluminum foil.
- Leave it on for about 10-15 minutes and then either wipe the Shellac off or very carefully scrape it off your nails.
- According to Shellac experiences, care after the whole procedure is an absolute must - this is the only way your Shellac nails won't break. So treat your hands to a good dose of hand cream. Even better would be some coconut oil or tea tree oil.
Are there also disadvantages?
We have already explained to you what shellac is and how it is applied. Well now we are going to address the question of whether Shellac is bad for nails.
- The biggest drawback and the reason why Shellac could be harmful is the way it is removed. Acetone treatment is very aggressive, both on the skin and on the fingernails. The consequences are dried out skin and brittle nails, which also become more susceptible to various fungal and nail infections. For this reason, many dermatologists recommend giving your fingernails a break of at least 2-3 days between each manicure.
- Before applying gel nail polish, you should make sure that your nails are completely healthy. If the cuticles or nail beds are damaged in any way, we advise against using Shellac. Such problems shorten the shelf life and the Shellac does not last as long as it should.
- The use of a UV lamp for curing is another disadvantage that needs to be seriously considered. It is no longer a secret that UV rays are harmful. On the one hand they are considered to cause cancer and on the other hand they lead to age spots. Even if the radiation only lasts a few seconds and the likelihood of cancer developing is very low, it is recommended to apply a hand cream with UV protection beforehand.
Shellac nails – difference between UV and LED lamps?
The working principle for LED and UV lamps is basically the same - the light and radiation ensure that the UV nail polish hardens and dries faster. The only difference is in the type of lighting. The wavelengths of UV lamps are broad and for this reason curing takes a little longer. However, they work with all artificial nails - both acrylic and gel or shellac nails. With an LED lamp, the wavelengths are narrower and this means that your fingernails become completely dry after a few seconds. When it comes to price, LED lamps cost a little more - but they also last longer. Are you wondering whether you can dry LED or normal nail polish with a UV lamp? The answer is “Yes!” – A big advantage of LED lamps is that they are suitable for drying all nail polishes. But LED lamp and UV nail polish don't work because the LED rays cannot activate the UV gel.
Strengthening nails with gel – does it do any good?
If your fingernails are thin or prone to breakage and split ends, you may want to strengthen the nail with gel. The gel is applied in several layers and then cured under a UV lamp, which in turn ensures stable and break-proof nails. The best thing about strengthening nails with gel is its suitability for everyday use - chipped nail polish after cleaning or washing dishes is now a thing of the past! Even aggressive cleaning agents are no longer a danger.
Nail polish bubbles – that could be the problem!
No matter how much effort we put into painting our nails, sometimes these small, annoying bubbles appear on them. So that this doesn't happen to you again, we have the most common causes for it.
- Room temperature too high –A little-known fact is that heat spoils nail polish. So it's best to store your nail polishes in a cool place or put them in the fridge 1 day before use.
- Shake nail polish –Every woman has done this at least once in her life. But this is another reason for the annoying bubbles. Therefore, we recommend that you roll the nail polish back and forth between your hands next time.
- Too much nail polish –Applying too many coats of nail polish will obviously dry more slowly and the likelihood of a few bubbles forming is also much greater.
- Various products –Since the products from different brands have different ingredients, it is quite possible that they do not mix.
