Introducing CND Shellac Hybrid Nail Color
Exciting news Fanatics! On my last day in NYC I tweased (tweet teased) about a secret nail service I received. I randomly mentioned it here as well and now I can finally share it with you.
CND is launching a brand new product that will make you DIY manicurists seriously consider going back to the nail salon. It’s so amazingly different that if I didn’t write this blog I would be a regular customer and that’s saying a LOT. I’m proud to introduce you to Shellac™!
CND (Creative Nail Design), the leader in professional nail, hand and foot beauty, is proud to introduce the first hybrid nail color after nearly five years of development in its state-of-the-art laboratory. Now you can say good-bye to chips, smudges, and dry time and say hello to Shellac™ Hybrid Nail Color! This revolutionary product applies like polish, wears flawlessly for 14 days of high gloss shine, and is removed in minutes.
If long lasting wear and polish-like application don’t draw you in, the removal certainly will. Check out my experience with Shellac™ and learn more about this revolutionary product after the jump!
So here’s my story. A few weeks ago I spotted a post on the Nails Magazine Blog about this “Top Secret Nail Color” from CND and because I’m the curious type I asked CND’s Co-Founder Jan Arnold about it the first chance I got. Much to my surprise and utter delight, Jan offered to arrange a preview of what she was calling the “magic secret.”
Throughout the week I heard little hints about this top secret product. Things like “no smell” “long-lasting wear” “will get women back in the salon” etc. Being a long time DIY girl you can imagine how the skeptic in me reacted to that last statement. I RARELY receive a salon manicure that wows me enough to go back, what could possible be so magical I’d even consider doing it on the regular?
Thoughts ran through my mind such as, “Is this just another soak-off gel polish?” I mean, big whoop! Been there, bitched about the removal. Besides, would Jan really be all secretive and excited over a product that’s already on the market? If not gel then what kind of traditional polish could guarantee long lasting wear? We’ve all heard those claims before. Could she be planning a rival to Minx that actually lasts? That doesn’t have a chemical smell. Well, when I finally got to the CND Suite to meet Roxanne Valinoti for my super secret magic service all my questions were put to bed.
Shellac™ truly is a hybrid of traditional nail polish and UV gel polish. Unlike soak-off gels it comes in a polish bottle and unlike traditional polish it cures/dries under a UV lamp. Though what I really liked is there is NO BUFFING. There is absolutely no damage to the natural nail in the process. So how does it work?
Shellac paints on like polish – base coat, color, top coat – and is cured in a UV light so there is zero dry time. The colors are hypo-allergenic, and “3-Free” – no formaldehyde, toluene or DBP. Shellac will launch in a range of 12 varieties of shades, from pretty French pinks and whites, to siren red and rich darks. The formula is thin and flexible like polish, so it not only looks natural, it provides strong natural nail protection with a resilient mirror finish that resists dullness and chipping, even during the most rigorous activities.
Just like your average manicure, Roxanne applied a base coat, two coats of polish and a top coat. The only difference is I placed my hands under a UV lamp in between coats. The polish dries completely in only two minutes. Say hello to winter pedicures that won’t leave your feet freezing or your polish wrecked. And because it’s so pigmented and applies like a traditional polish you’re not left with thick nails from coat after coat of gel.
I left the suite with a perfectly glossy, smudge and dent-free manicure in a fan fave from the old CND collection, Fedora. The initial set of shades will include top sellers from the old core line. To be honest, they’re a little bland for my wild color taste but I’ve been assured that more “me” shades are on the horizon.
I flew home the day of my Shellac-ing so I didn’t get a chance to take a pic on Day One but I couldn’t stop staring at my nails. I even ran into an editor backstage who complimented my color and it was hard to keep my trap shut. I wanted to gush about how great my nails looked. It is the BEST professional manicure I’ve ever received and I’ll swear on my polish stash about that!
Since I came home with the Fashion Week Flu (thanks NYC!) the first time I was mobile enough to photograph my nails was on Day 5. Will you look at that shine and flawless finish?
And because I wanted to swatch some polish, I ended up removing Shellac from three nails and just as Rox promised, the removal was a breeze. When they say it’s a 10 minute removal, that’s no joke! After just 10 minutes using the Shellac Remover Wraps the majority broke right off in pieces and what remained was easily pushed off with an orange wood stick.
As amazing as Shellac is on, removal is just as satisfying! No soaking, drilling or filing is necessary. Nails are wrapped in individual Shellac Remover Wraps -integrated cotton pads that limit finger and skin exposure to acetone by keeping it pinpointed on just the nail. Ten minutes of time in exchange for two weeks of perfect color is all it takes. Say good-bye to manicure frustration and hello to pure manicure satisfaction.
Here we are on Day 7 which is when I made this discovery. I had to leave the house so I dug out my bottle of Fedora and was pleasantly surprised to find that Shellac Fedora actually matches Fedora. What a concept! Are you listening OPI Axxium?
Today is Day 14 of my Shellac manicure and with the exception of my natural nail growth and extremely minimal tip wear, the finish is as glossy and perfect as Day 1. Like you wouldn’t know I didn’t just get my nails done unless you held my free edge up to your face. There are no scratches, no nicks, no wrinkling from my nails bending. The flexibility and shine really do hold up. Color me impressed!
So I know you die hards are saying the only way you’ll go to a salon is kicking and screaming. That you love the concept but would rather do it at home. That you’ll never give up your hundreds (or thousands) of color choices. Hey, I hear ya! But for all those women who left the salon because their manicures chipped in a few days, Shellac will wow you. Current salon clients will rejoice to reduce their appointments to once every two weeks.
Is Shellac for everyone? No, but it’s truly unique and the best option for anyone who wants a long lasting manicure. Period! I fully intend to get Shellac pedicures once they’re available in my area and I would love to gift my mom a Shellac-ing since she sports chipped polish way too often.
Shellac™ by CND is a professional salon service launching globally in May 2010. Pricing will be determined by salons but I anticipate it falling somewhere between a traditional manicure and enhancements.
So what do we think? Anyone ready and willing to give Shellac a try? What colors would you like to see included in the Shellac lineup? Would you opt for a Shellac pedicure over a manicure?
***EDITED TO ADD – To find a Shellac salon near you, use the salon locator on the CND website.***
Disclosure: I was furnished with a service by CND for potential review. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
I have oily nailbeds therefore my nails will not hold polish. If I polish them with regular polish, it will be chipping off in a few hours. I have been using Shellac for about 2 months now and absolutely love it, it will stay on my nails for 2 weeks. I have also purchased the CND lamp along with several of the polishes and the base and top coats. I am a licensed cosmotologist and I have several family members and friends who use this product as well and they love it too. I have family members in the medical profession who say it works great for them as they are always in water and hand sanitizers and gloves. It’s great!!!!
I recently got shellac nails and after 2+ weeks went for another shellac manicure but at a different salon. They were having a really hard time removing the shellac from the previous salon and asked where I had them done. I told her and asked if there was a problem. she said that a lot of salons are stating that they are using shellac when in fact they are using the gel that is for acrylic nails. she said it is cheaper but also really bad for your natural nails. can you confirm that this is true? could a salon use another product with the same appearance as shellac? my sister has been getting her shellac manicures from the 1st salon and when she removed the shellac, herself (by peeling it off) her nails were super thin and brittle. thanks for any advice you could give me.
I am not a professional. I applied and removed the Shellac myself and had no problem doing so. Use small pieces of cotton soaked it acetone then wrap with foil, leave on for 10 minutes and the Shellac will come off easily. I used an orange stick to remove whatever residue was left…really a simple process to remove. If not you can purchase the Shellac removal system on ebay or Amazon. By the way it was my first time using and my nails did not look damaged. I did not have to file my nails down.
I am not a professional but it is my experience that many salons mix product lines and even product types. Different elements of the Shellac manicure were in short supply in the beginning and many salons substituted stuff from other lines, even acrylics. This is especially true of salons that advertise “gel manicures,” as opposed to “Shellac” or “Gelish” or specific brands. Often mixing works, at least on the surface, but often they cause problems for the client especially on removal. If you want a Shellac manicure, ask for it by name. And never, ever, ever peel off your manicure, no matter what product is used. Any product that can cling to your nails like that when peeled off will take off the top layer of your nail plate and leave your nails in sorry shape. It can easily take 5-7 months to grow in a new nail from base to tip.
I have just invested in the line & so excited to start w/it! Have heard nothing negative so far & can’t think of any reason NOT to use it! As far as you sister peeling it off…the nails DO have to be soaked, b/c it will damage the nail bed. Pulling, peeling, lifting off any product WILL damage nails, as it would cause stress to the nailbed. I’m super excited to promote shellac & am so happy to be able to give my clients another option.
I had my nails done for the first time. Only lasted 10 days (wore gloves to do everything). They chipped and peeled, so I finished the peeling job.
Now, I have noticed, after 3 weeks that two of my nails are lifting from their beds. What in world is going on? So upsetting.
Was using NailTek on naturals and my nails were healthy, long and strong for the first time in my life. Now I’m not only back to square one – they are worse.
Anyone else having a similar problem?
What to do about the beds???
Please help !!!!
Yes! 3 of my nails are lifting from the nail bed. However I have used shellac faithfully for 8 months, no problems till now. I have found others with the same problem. My nails are really dry. You can see the others who have posted on beauty tech.com . Best info I found is keep nails clipped daily use no polish till grown out. Use tea tree oil daily and use cuticle oil. Also try and keep nails dry! Use rubber gloves whenever possible!
This just happened to me also. I went to a different salon and the owner told me what I had was NOT shellac. This concerns me since I am paying for shellac but not getting it. Also, the first salon had twice applied & removed what I later found out to be gel, but using a metal scraper that left my cuticles raw and bleeding. How can I report salons that are not using the real shellac, but advertising they are and charging me as if they were?
This is not uncommon. Shellac is becoming something of a generic term, even though it is a brand name for a specific hybrid gel polish, for a wide range of gel manicures. I’ve seen all kinds of things called Shellac – some of them no more than just a different gel polish. But some of them have been hard gel products and even acrylic products.
But I can’t understand why you would sit still for *any* nail procedure that caused you pain and/or bleeding! You should have stopped them immediately.
Every state licenses manicurists and salons differently. Google the authority on your state.
Good morning all! I have a question regarding Shellac. I had my nails done this past Thursday. I got the french tip (white) and it was just fine the first day or two, however starting the third day, my tips are slowly turning brown. I’m not understanding why because I have not messed with anything that would cause my shellac to change colors. Has anyone else had this problem? Is that a normal reaction for the white polish?
Thanks,
Miesha
It is not a “normal” reaction at all. I would assume that the CND UV Lamp was NOT used, or that the application wasn’t done correctly.
Sometimes tanning can turn your nails brown. If you are tanning ask your tanning salon for nail protectors so your nails do not turn brown. Or cut off the tops to latex gloves and put them over your nails while you tan.
Tanning lotions and any body lotions with tinted moisturizers (some have tint even if you think they don’t read the ingredients) even new bed sheets or clothing can turn nails!!! What I’ve learned by experience of being a Nail Tech!
Why can u not use a normal 36 watt lamp for shellac,Wats the difference in the cnd lamp
I agree w/Jenny, either the lamp was not used or they were under there for too long!
Do you color your hair brown? This is the most common reason I’ve seen for shellac changing colors, along with the other suggestions mentioned.
Also, if you smoke, the nicotine can cause the white to change colors.
Does anyone have experience of regular polish between the shellac/gelish top/base coats? The girls at cosmoprof said it works the same, but a tech friend of mine says she doesn’t think it’s a good idea because of highly viscous polishes being dry enough to not dent. I am very leery…
Yes, I have done regular polish between Gelish base and top coats…I even use my lamp to help cure the regular polish more quickly and it works! Polish stayed on the requisite 2 weeks! That said, I love the “feel” of the gel polish on my nails and prefer to use it instead. I just don’t have that many gels to use and am in the process of building my collection as I see adequate swatches of the gels out there to choose from.
La mesa, California
I offer SHELLAC
619-994-8245
MADONNA
I have all 24 colors
Hello Madonna,
I am interesting to be a distribuitor for shellac in Romania. Can you help me in this vay???
Regards,\
Diana
doltea@yahoo.com
0040737741011
O.M.G. – this looks amazing!!!
Loved this until I tried to get it removed. The product at my nail place was represented as easy removal with simple nail polish remover (acetone). No such luck! Can’t get the stuff of my nail!! Don’t want it filed off so I have to let it grow out. Ugh! I think artificial nails will come off easier than this polish did! It lasted a while and if it weren’t for nail growth could have kept going with it. Looks good but comes with the price of nail damage!
Shellac should soak off in 10 minutes with no nail damage at all. It sounds as if you were not given a Shellac manicure but a “gel manicure,” maybe even one which combined products from other product lines and even other products – like hard gels or acrylics. It is very common in salons that advertise “gel manicure” instead of a specific product.
CND Shellac will not remove with regular nail polish. You need 100% Acetone.
How do you remove shellac off acrylic or gel nails as the acetone will also remove the nail?
I don’t believe it is intended to be worn over enhancements. It was designed to be applied to natural nails.
Pls I need to know where I can find a shellac in South America, thanks
I just started with Shellac, and I love it so far. I do all sorts of nail treatments and enhancements and this will be fantastic for manicures and i have used it for toes too really lovely. Has anyone experimented with layering two different colours? have seen some on internet and looks fab. Be nice to swop colour combos with people.
I did tutti frutti (sp) & fedora & it came out rather nice (kind of like fuschia).
I just bought the CND UV lamp and the CND base and top coat. I was wondering if I could buy the Gelish brand nail polish to go between the CND coats? Does this work or is it bad for your nail?
I am not a professional. I have been doing my own Shellac for the past several months and love it, except for the limited colors, only 24. I know you can layer, but why should I have to buy two small Shellac colors to get one iffy color when I can get a Gelish bottle that is twice as large with a clear color. So, I’ve now started using Gelish colors with the Shellac base and top coats. It works great. I have the benefits of Shellac – super wear and shine, no filing of nail plate or even “breaking the seal” for removal – with the incredible color range of Gelish’s 72 colors.
Where can I buy shellac?
I bought the machine and do my own too. What kind of “gelish” colors can I use?
Where does one by Gelish in canada we only have Gelous, shellac and gellac…Can it be done with anyone of these products
DO NOT use any other products outside of the Shellac, mixing other products can cause serious damage to your nails…yes I am a licensed prof…20 yrs plus. With that being said please do not mix and match products and or maufactors
I must disagree, DeJa. Mixing product lines works very well without any damage to nails whatsoever. I do think you have to be extremely careful in mixing product *types* however. Mixing hard gel with gel polishes with acrylics, etc. is likely to do some damage even if only at removal. But careful mixing with types is usually okay.
But more to the point DeJa, I think you need to address this to your fellow nail professionals! I think it is one thing for DIYers to experiment on themselves mixing Shellac, Gelish, and other SOGs. It is quite another thing when nail professionals mix products (and product types) and pass them off as Shellac. If you read this forum, you will find many, many instances of clients being told they were getting Shellac when they were getting something very different. Although my usual nail tech uses only CND Shellac products (including the CND Shellac lamp), when I was out of town I got a “Shellac” manicure but I recognized the products used as Axxium and Gelish!
This was particularly bad last year when Shellac was in short supply, but as you can see from this forum, it continues unabated even now.
There are two issues at stake in this. The first is a simple truth-in-advertising issue. If you advertise a Shellac manicure, you need to use all Shellac products. The second issue is the health and safety issue you point out – mixing product types can cause all kinds of problems and this is especially a problem when the client does not know what was used on her. It is most often a problem when it is time for removal and the client goes to remove her “Shellac” only to have it not budge.
So rather than castigate DIYers who do only damage to themselves, you need to get on your fellow nail professionals. When they mix products it can damage not only many clients, but their own reputation and the reputation of the manufacturer.
Combining different gel brands most likely will not work well for you. The product will come off faster. A great, cheaper light is at premiernailsource.com, type in pni rapidcure. Its the 36 watt lamp.
could someone please let me know what happens when you have new growth?
You don’t fill like on acrylics.You just remove the Shellac and start over. But that’s kind of the point of Shellac and the gel polishes. They come off easily, so you can remove and have a fresh manicure quickly.
I am having problem with a couple of my clients i am having them peel off from tip . i have a 2 hand 45w uv lamp but i dont have cnd lamp could this be my problem please help thank u .
As long as your using a UV lamp it should not be your problem, the name brand of the lamp makes no difference Shaz
! Are your bulbs good/new? Are you curing the nail long enough? Look at those things okay 
Good Luck!
I purchased a “kit” with a non-CND UV lamp (36 watt) and brand new CND polish. I’m wondering if the lamp is too strong b/c my polish wrinkles up. All of the polish was brand new so I don’t think it’s the problem. But I’m miffed. It didn’t happen with the first color poish I was using but it starts to happen within seconds of placing my hand inside the lamp. Thanks.
shellac needs to be applied thinly, if it is too thick it will wrinkle like you are saying. Ive found after you have put the top coat on and cured it it can fix some of the wrinkle if its only a small amount.
I agree i have had that happen to me also, be careful on your application, the thiner better!
I have a star nail lamp and i have to choices of bulbs which one is better 9watt or 6watt
Shellac requires a 36 watt lamp. The 45 watt is curing the product too quickly, and leadng to the chipping. Also, be sure to wipe the nails with Srubfresh before the base coat. The brand of the lamp does not matter, as long as the wattage is correct. I am a salon professional.
A true salon professional would know that wattage is how much electricity the bulbs need to work, not how much UV output is being produced by those bulbs. Don’t give advice that is incorrect. Shaz, you really do need the CND lamp. Go to cnd.com, create a pro account and read the info on there about shellac. All UV products are formulated to be used with that company’s lamp for a reason. If you don’t use the perfect lamp, you can’t expect perfect results.
before you start lashing out jess with the anger, maybe you should get your facts right hahaha of course the watt effects the strength of the bulbs, the higher the wattage the more power the bulbs have! Even though i am trained on this, i would say its common sense lol jess! You have just made yourself look rather silly! Never laughed so much!
Of course the brand of your lamp does not matter, a uv lamp and bulb are the same no matter what brand, you can’t change uv rays! The other girl was correct your wattage is to high, check your lamp sometimes you have an option to change the wattage or strength of the bulbs, good luck x
Haha go Clare! Im over high and mighty “technicians” it’s not rocket science people….although if you ever want to expand your horizons fellow nail tarts, discover how shellac came about and what it is most commonly used for – will give you a whole new perspective. Shellac is not only a brand name…its a bonafide compound guys!
Shaz- i am having this problem also. Have you found any solutions?
could it be that you,re not ‘sealing’ the polish properly? making sure you apply right to the tips with each layer and with top coat making sure you run your brush along the length of the tip to seal it.
just a possibility not sure if this is the actual reason
Is the polish peeling on the tips, or is the tip of the nail splitting in thin layers. I have a problem with my nails chipping in layers, but it’s not because of the polish or the application, that’s just what my nails have always done.
Some of your clients may have that problem.
I love Shellac! I will never go back to regular polish! I am a nail tech and have applied many, many Shellac services on happy clients. I am suddenly having problems with uneven application of the polish and have noticed my newly purchased base coat has a “yellowish” cast to it. After I apply the base coat, the color will start “shrinking up” leaving unpainted spots on the nail. I am a aavid shaker of the bottles and ALWAYS prep the nails. Help….do not understand why this is happening!
I was told if you’re getting those spots, that is an uneven application…I would also not shake the bottle as this causes any polish to get air bubbles. That could be part of the spots too. Roll your polish bottles b/w your hands instead. Good luck!:)
The CND website specifies shaking the bottle to keep the chemicals properly mixed…check out their website for details. You may have a bad bottle since you just started having problems…it happens.
I was wondering if you can use the Shellac without the UV lamp? I love the way that it looks on my nails, and have several bottles of the top, base and laquer, but can’t afford the lamp yet. What will happen if I don’t use the lamp?
It will never dry. It’s a UV polish gel hybrid so you must use a UV lamp.
hey im going to have my first shellacing session very excited im just wondering if i can get tips or can this only go on my short nails
I have been using Shellac on my nails for almost a year. I first started using it for my upcoming wedding so my nails wouldn’t break before the big day. I would get them redone every 2 or 3 weeks and I agree with everything written in this blog. They dry immediately and soak off in 10 minutes. My nails looked beautiful on my wedding day and through my 3 week honeymoon (a little grown out though – but still shiny and chip-free). I have continued to get them done because I actually bite my nails (gross, I know) so having them done all the time stops me from doing that.
Could someone please tell me where I can buy Shellac, I would love to do this myself at home and not have to worry about going to a salon!
Pamela, you can buy CND Shellac on Amazon.com. They also have the UV lights. I would rather do it at home, too! I haven’t tried it yet, though. Anyone have any tips or suggestions for DIY?
Thanks Laura!
youtube any nail product for application hints and tips.
I recommend going to a good nail tech to do this for you *before* you try the DIY route. Shellac is hardly any more difficult than a standard manicure, but it does have its own little quirks and techniques. It is very helpful to watch a pro do it. There are also videos on youtube as well. beautwests.com is a good resource for gel/hybrid polishes. And buy a good lamp, preferably the CND one; it makes a real difference.
Thanks for all of the recommendations, Nancy! If I decide to do it myself, I will definitely check out the videos. I did go to a salon to try it last week, and have been pretty impressed. My nails look great, and are still very shiny. I just got my first chip today, Day 6. I was hoping it would last a couple of weeks before that happened, but it’s still MUCH better than regular polish.
Pamela, have you tried a salon application first? If it doesn’t last as long as you hoped, at least you didn’t put all that money into buying the shellac and the lamp. I’m having second thoughts after the chipping, so I haven’t bought anything yet. However, I did call a number of beauty supply stores (from the retail section of the CND website), and none of them require a license to buy the shellac. I wouldn’t worry about the legality of buying it on Amazon or anywhere else. If it really was illegal, CND would have taken legal action against Amazon by now.
I also found many affordable ones on ebay.
I saw many affordable ones on ebay and amazon.
I had shellac done on my nails twice for a total of 6 weeks. The color looked great and only started to chip around the end of the 3rd week. I had the shellac removed and my nails trimmed down because they had gotten very long. I went with a regular manicure after 6 weeks because I found my nails had been damaged by the shellac. My nails are split in layers which has never happened before, in fact my nails are so hard that I have to have them cut down because they grow too long. Now my nails are split and very dry.
The peeling of your nails is not the result of the Shellac. It could be down to a few things. Acetone is used to remove Shellac, so that in itself can be a bit drying. You should be using a good quality cuticle oil every day while wearing Shellac. This helps keep the polish hydrated and flexible, and in fact, goes straight through the product, nourishing your own nail underneath. The removal itself can also be the culprit. If your nail technician is not using beauty grade, buffered acetone or is too rough during removal, this could also lead to peeling.
Let me start off by saying Shellac is a PROFESSIONAL ONLY service that should only be performed by a licensed cosmetologist/nail technician. The products you buy on unauthorized websites (ebay, amazon) come with no guarantee as to quality. You do not know if you are even actually getting Shellac. Second, combining product brands will not only effect the performance of the product, but can potentially be harmful to you. Products are meant to work together with others in their lines. Also, they are meant to work with the specific UV light to that brand. Using alternate lights can cause under/over curing which, again, effects product performance and can lead to eventual overexposure issues to uncured product that manifests itself as allergic reactions. Once you’ve developed an allergic reaction to a product, there is no turning back. You will most likely be unable to wear gel polishes, enhancements products, possibly even nail polish in the future without sever discomfort (redness, itching, swelling and/or pain). Please, please, please, leave professional product applications to the professionals. There is a reason cosmetologists go to school for this. Not to mention, you are illegally purchasing these products. Websites that do not require license verification are illegally selling these products. CND does not endorse, condone or allow unauthorized distribution.
I strongly disagree with you Jess. There is absolutely nothing about Shellac or Gelish that requires professional level skills. The products and their formulations are quite similar to regular nail polish and the other products used (alcohol, acetone, etc.) are similarly relatively benign and openly available. Furthermore, there is nothing illegal about buying or using professional products unless you misrepresent yourself. Although a vendor could be violating a contract with the manufacturer or distributor, there is no legal barrier to a consumer buying and using these products. Should a consumer educate herself about how to use these products safely? Of course – especially your points about using the manufacturer’s lamps or in not mixing product lines. Could a consumer do herself harm with them? Of course. But that same consumer could do damage with regular polish, tips or L&P which are sold everywhere. I have a great deal of respect for the skill and artistry of professional nail techs, but most women want something much simpler and accessible. It is silly to assert that DIYers aren’t skilled enough to paint their own nails and hold them under a light!
Moreover, I don’t think the impetus for this is safety, it is the concern for the impact that consumer sales will have on professional nail techs. I think this is a mistaken belief. Properly marketed at the corporate and salon levels, Shellac/Gelish can pull lots of women back to salons, with only a tiny percentage choosing the DIY route. Rather than castigate DIYers, professionals ought to recognize why some people choose the DIY route. While some of it is due to dissatisfaction with professionals (sanitation/cleanliness, scheduling, skills, cost, etc.), some of it is due to a desire to do it yourself and the satisfaction derived from that. DIYers can be a professional nail techs best friend. While I am a confirmed DIYer, I occasionally still go to my fav nail tech and recommend her highly. People love my DIY Shellac/Gelish and I have recommended both the brands and my salon dozens of times.
Sorry for the long screed, but this DIYer vs professional nail tech thing really irritates me. It is a false dichotomy and we’re all seeking the same thing. We should be working together.
oh no i’m so worried i just sold some shellac to a customer that has her own uv lamp…….does that mean i could be arrested? I might hand myself in to the police!
Seriously???!!! Ahhahahahaha
Jess-do you think the 36w UV on EBay work with Shellac? I’m just about to do my shellac training…very excited!
If you do not use the specific CND UV Lamp, you cannot guarantee your service and neither can CND guarantee their product. You won’t receive any educational support from them with the wrong lamp.
again jess your unintelligence makes for fun reading! You have obviously been trained by cnd an have no actual brain power to even comprehend common sense, it is people like you that give us business professionals the reputation of silly girls! Here’s a question for you, can you tell me the difference of output of uv? You are sayin different brands of lamps won’t work so how does the uv differ? (haha even the question is hilarious, i’m intrigued to know your answer lol)
First of all, I was not lashing out with anger. I was merely stating a fact. And if you do a quick google search, you will find that all UV bulbs are NOT created equal and it DOES matter what lamp you use. Here, I did the work for you. Again, don’t give advice to someone looking for info if you do not know the proper answer.
http://www.canwestesthetics.com/?p=813
http://www.nsinails.com/nail-lab/science-of-beauty/what-makes-a-gel-cure.html
Just a couple I found, there’s a lot more. And oh, surprise, not anything to do with CND! I believe you are only making YOURself look silly..
jess, you crack me up. taking it awful seriously. sounds to me like GOING to the salon is when you WONT KNOW WHAT YOUT GET. ive been a nurse for 28 years…no MY job…no one wants to be doing at home. but im pretty sure (and reading/hearing people’s comments etc proves it) that any person who really wants to can figure out how to shellac their nails. crack me up!!!!! me? ive been doing my nails for EVER @ home just traditional manicures. im blessed with strong nails and have even had people try to pull them off d/t not believing me when i say they are real. i despise the look of acrylic nails and to me the shellacs look a lot like that. thick and fakish. so ill stick with my traditionals. and hey all you “diy” nail people make sure you don’t go to jail for illegally purchasing your UV light at amazon.com. LOL!!!
I do actually take my job seriously, as I’m sure you do. Your post is like me saying “we don’t need nurses with degrees…anyone can give someone a sponge bath and bring them another pillow”. Sounds pretty silly, doesn’t it? I am a very successful nail tech and I try every day to dispel the stereotypes that this is not a real job or that people in this industry are not intelligent, strong and driven people. Your comment about the appearance of shellac proves your ignorance of the industry and its products. Shellac appears exactly the same as polish, only with a smooth, mirror finish you cannot get with polish past 3 days. If it looks thick and anything like acrylic, it is not Shellac.
I have had a Shellac manicure for the last 2+ weeks and it is as great as you say. The problem is I have a severely split nail that keeps splitting as it grows out. We were hoping that the Shellac would keep it together but no such luck. This means it will require an acrylic or gel nail to protect it until it grows out. But I don’t want fake nails on all my nails because it is so damaging. Is there a way to have Shellac on that one fake nail and on the rest of my natural nails? I know the acetone used to remove the Shellac is a problem but if I keep the same color until I’m ready to remove the one fake nail will I be okay?
Have your nail tech try a fiberglass wrap under the shellac, using the base coat as the resin. It will give you a lot of extra strength, but soak off just as easy as normal.
[...] Nail Design) Shellac, which is a hybrid of soak-off gel polish and regular polish (as described here on All Lacquered Up). As both of these methods require the use of UV light to dry the nails and the [...]
I have had the shellac polish put on twice now I love it but I am having problems with it chipping, this time they tried something new and it has chipped again. Do you have any idea. She does everything just as you have said in the past post.
Its important to ensure that the acetone is washed away completely before reapplying Shellac; especially ‘underside’ of nail free edge.
If the nail polish is not sealed on the tip properly then I find that is when they chip sooner. Make sure whoever doing them to seal the tips good..sometimes the short nails are hard to do until the grow out longer you get a better seal.
I had my shellac nails done Saturday, May 14th. Everything has been perfect with it until yesterday. I noticed the tips of my nails, as well as the edges of the shallac around my nails, has turned purple! Every single nail is stained – and it won’t come off. I tried to recreate the purple effect with different things I touched yesterday (nothing really out of the ordinary) but nothing affected it:
- hand soap
- phone cleaning wipes
- neosporin
- white strips
- face makeup
- hand lotion
Any idea what it could be? I’m getting my nails redone on Saturday and don’t want it to happen again.
PLEASE let’s not resort to name calling and insulting each other. Everyone has a right to their opinion and to state it. If you can’t debate this issue calmly and fairly I will have no choice but to close the comments.
I love hearing everyone’s views on Shellac, the helpful tips that have been offered and the salon vs home use debate. Just keep it friendly.
Hey All- Im having a tragic little problem with my Shellac at home kit. Im new to manicures so please be patient with my stupidity. when i apply shellac as per all the instructions within a few days i find the sides are lifting off (of the polish) and before i know it the polish will catch on something (like brushing my hair) and cause a chip. Could this be because a- im not bufferring correctly
b- im not putting my hands in the uv lamp for the appropriate times 10 sec, 2 min, 2 min, 10 sec
c- the obvious use a licensed manicurist.
i feel im trying my best and filing them well etc but they just keep seeming to lift up and loose their ‘stick’ to my nail bed, i do find when the nails are long enough that painting the ends and ‘closing them off’ helps.
please someone help so that my lovely $400 investment and pretty nail colours arent a waste.
i went to a salon and got mine done and that is exactly what happened to mine. so i am also interested in knowing why that happens.
I have had my nails shellaced twice. I never get professional manicures because the salons smell so terrible. I have had chemo and avoid most chemicals. a friend invited me to a ladies day spa trip. The manicurist convinced me to try shellac. Obviously, I was extremely skeptical.
I did everything possible to chip them. I planted 500 annuals, typed four lectures,cleaned my basement and washed an 88 piece set of antique china by hand. Not a single chip in three weeks. I did use Sally Hansen xtreme polish in MATCHING color to fill in. Worked well. Time between first and second shellac 5 weeks. I do plan to buy CND products online at Amazon. I used to be a professional makeup artist and I have never been impressed and totally satisfied with any product. I am now! Do your homework, watch a video, take your time and you will never go back to regular polish again.
After having solar nails for YEARS, I’ve tried taking them off before to give my nails a break only to find that they were so damaged that they would split, bend, tear & rip up into the cuticle which was very painful. I not only felt handicapped & couldn’t use my hands like I normally would, but I couldn’t handle the pain of having my nails rip into my cuticles. Needless to say, my “natural” phase lasted about 5 days before I had to get solar nails put back on. After hearing about Shellac, I decided once again to take my solar nails off. I had heard that the Shellac makes them hard, doesn’t chip & lasts for up to 14 days. I am beyond impressed!! I am going on day 10 and my nails still look fantastic! I don’t have the ridges that you normally have after taking off solar nails. I use my hands a lot & am pretty rough on them. This past week, I have weeded & worked in my flowerbeds numerous times, did some heavy duty cleaning around my house and yard and my job requires me to type all day long. I have no chips, splits, tears… nothing. I highly recommend the Shellac! On another note, after having had the natural looking solar nails (light pink & white w/ the occasional glittery white), having color on my hands has been kind of fun. I opted for bright pink for my first go around! Try it! You’ll love it!!
I just had my first shellac manicure on saturday. By sunday it was separating at the back like acrylics do and by monday the white at the tip of my frensh was all cracked. Several nails are now chipped….$35 not well spent for a 2 week manicure that only lasted 3 days…….ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM???
Whats the best way to soak them off without going back to the salon?
Sorry to hear your Shellac hasn’t lasted. Chipping and lifting after a few days is not normal for Shellac and it sounds like a poor application. You might go back to the salon that did it – most of them guarantee their Shellac manicures and will re-do (remove and reapply it) it for you for free.
You can choose to remove it yourself. There are lots of YouTube videos that show you how. CND’s video is here – http://www.cnd.com/Education/Videos/shellac-french-application-and-removal.aspx, but my favorite is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TCQ0wdvmz4 Great music!
The same thing happened to me last Friday, so I went back to the salon where it was done and had it reapplied. The first girl who applied the shellac did a really poor job of application, she allowed the shellac to touch the cuticles and the sides of the skin along the nail bed, this always will result in peeling and separating. The second application looks great and I really like it. Do not hesitate to get the salon, a different person to do the application, I know it’s only $35 but if it lasts less time than painting your nails at home, well that is not right, no one minds paying for a professional job, but PROFESSIONAL is key.
Hi Nancy- its actually happened at 2 manicurists now so im wondering what the reasons behind it could be?
Hi ladies – I am a cosmetologist and I have been applying Shellac at home for a few weeks now. I am trying to come up with a pretty pink color and am considering applying a total of three layers of the colored Shellac, between the base and top coat. Does anyone have experience or advice for this?
Thanks!
I was skeptical to get it redone. My wedding is next saturday and I didnt want to have to go back in again when I have so much else going on. The cuticle thing makes sense for the peeling, but does anyone know what would cause the white to crack at the tip of the nail.
I can understand being skeptical. I mean, if they got it wrong once… Unfortunately, there are a lot of people doing Shellac manis who are not properly trained by CND. There are a bunch of possible causes for your problems – base coat or color coats applied too thick or inadequately cured, product touching the cuticle or side walls, UV bulbs not functioning properly (and did they use a CND UV lamp or some generic). Did you clench your hand at all while it was curing, causing a bad cure?
It’s hard to say without seeing it, but it sounds like a bad application.
Hi Laura-
I have noticed the ‘cracking’ look occur with lighter colours, mainly the cocoa- i think its a little hit n miss. when you say crack are you meaning it shows cracks internally on the polish or that it cracks and comes off though?
shows cracks internally……but the last two days it has just cracked and come off.
Hi all,
I have all the supplies to do my own Shellac mani but I thought it was sound advice to get it done professionally.
The salon was very soothing and the staff quite nice and accommodating. I told them I wanted a French shellac and they got to work. The first alarm bell went off when I saw the tech take the bottle of white Shellac from a small warming pot. When she opened it I could see for myself that it was too thick but she went right ahead with painting the tips. Everything I have seen regarding the white is that it needs to be applied in VERY thin coats. I got to see for myself when it is applied too thick. As soon as my hand went into the lamp I could see the white begin to shrink up and wrinkle. The techs solution was to apply another thick coat and cure and no surprise this wrinkled too. Then she thought applying the top coat would “even” things out. Well it didn’t, I told her if I was going to have this manicure for two weeks I was going to have it look like an awful mess.
At this point the owner came by and I showed her the results and she agreed that it was unacceptable and had me go over to another tech who did the removal process (it comes off as easily as advertised) and started over, this time with the base coat, very, very thin coats (2) of white, a coat of sheer pink and the top coat. 15 minutes later I had a beautiful french manicure. And apparently bulletproof too. I got home and promptly spent 4 hours cleaning house. No gloves, scouring powder, scrubbing, vacuuming, mopping….and not one single dent, chip, or mark on the nails. This is the best thing since sliced bread
.
Btw…the lamp they used was not the CND brand, it was the same one you can get on Amazon, the Thermal Spa 34 watt UV. It worked great.
I will follow up in a few days to let you know how the french wears.
I had my shellacs professionally done. First application — amazing, they lasted a full two weeks. Second application – 2 weeks later — looked amazing — but only lasted about ten days before the shellac started to pull away from the nail bed. Third application – 2 weeks later — looked awesome — by about day 7 my nails where chipping, my nails looked nasty by day 10. Fourth application -2 weeks later – looked good, but my nails have no length due to excessive chipping and splitting — I removed the shellacs at home before my next appointment because my nails looked so bad. The nails are in terrible condition, I went to the salon for shellacs to help me grow my nails — shine is nice, but by the time you add the tip to the total price my nails cost about $5 a day — and currently are filed down to nothing (no white length) and the nails are weak — so I can tell when they grow — they will not be strong enough to hold. Overall I am terribly disappointed with shellacs — I was hoping that I could have long nails for the price of $5 a day — but all I got was a week of shine, followed by a week of mess and no length. Perhaps my manicurist is terrible — may go elsewhere, or may try to do them on my own. Tonight is my 5th and final appointment — I prepaid for a series — but will not continue — I refuse to pay $5 a day for crap — if I got long nails for $5/day I would consider continuing — but after the chipped nails, and polish pulling away look I have endured over the past few weeks — forget it.
To soak off shellacs without going back to the salon you need 100% acetone — beauty clicks sells a brand called Lensco — other sites sell other brands as well. Take a piece of cotton — saturate it with acetone — place it on the nail — wrap the nail in aluminum foil — leave on for 10 minutes — remove the foil and the cotton — use a wooden cuticle pusher and PUSH the shellac off — works like a charm. Clean the nails with soapy water and a nail brush — then oil them really really well — you may have to reapply oil a few times after removing the shellacs. Hope this helps
Also forgot to mention: the site extended lenghts.com has a “kit” that contains the acetone, alcholo, wraps to use in place of foil and cotton (I don’t like these very much — but maybe other do), cotton squares, wooden sticks to push the cuticle etc. They also sell most of CND line — ultra violet lamp, acetone, base coat, top coat and colors — go source for all your CND needs in my opinion. Though their delivery time is SLOW.
hi, i was wiondering if anyone knew of a place in phuket Thailand that does a good CND shellac manicure? much appreciate it. becky
I’m looking for a glitter that actually covers the nail – all the glitters,
I’m finding leave nail showing and are very fine glitter.
i like it!
I’ve had shellac manicures a few times now with no problems, but I got one last night and this morning 2 of my nails are no longer shiny. Any ideas why? Are there lotions or things that might make this happen? Can I repair myself or do I need to return to the salon?
You could just add a coat of clear top coat to restore the shine though I’m not sure why it dulled on its own.
try rubbing with isopropyl alcohol… my nail tech recommended that to remove anything that sticks to them.
perhaps the last layer was not properly wiped and the adhesion layer is still there. Try wiping with 99% isopropyl alcohol and see if that helps.
I had actually spilled white polish (I was putting a design on my big toes!) on one of my shellac nails (french manicure) and I was determined to get that white off. I used a little polish remover and then I buffed the nail with a La cross nail file…it’s a file that has 4 numbered sides, shape-smooth-buff-polish.
Of course I used the one that said polish and it will shine them right up if they become dull for some reason. I’ve had the french done twice..my first one lasted 2 weeks, and would have lasted longer, but I like getting them done. I’m now on the second one (which is 4 days old) and it still looks pretty good. I did notice some cracking on the white tips (internal crackling) and I will mention this the next time I go into the salon. It really is not noticeable, nor has it affected how long my manicure lasts. My nails are relatively long, have not chipped, peeled or broken, as a matter of fact the polish has kept me from picking or fooling with them.
I have just started with the Shellac system, professionally applied. My question is, what are the side effects of using the UV lamp on the nails and hands. I am concerned about possible skin cancer. I have had melanoma on my arm-it was removed 25 yrs ago-but is there a danger?
I had the same concerns, so I asked “my” professional manicurist. Her reply — they are only 9 watt bulbs — but there are 4 nine watt bulbs — which is 36 watts of power — 3 to 4 inches from my skin. Also conceptually, if the UV light is not as harsh as the sun, why can’t I “set” my shellac just by putting my hands in the sunlight? However exposure time is only about 5 minutes per hand, per manicure — then again, I suspect the shellace would never harden in regular sun exposure — clearly I’m not an expert in the field, just a person who likes having a nice finish on her nails — but not at the cost of skin cancer, or even sun spots on my hands — what would be the point of that — short term beauty for long term agony? Overall, I am still undecided about whether this short intense exposure to UV light is enough to do any damage — awaiting replies of LONG time UV lamp users!!!
RE: Splitting nails : Nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron, calcium, and B vitamins results in soft peeling nails. Also, anything that causes pressure to be applied to the nail bed (think of an iron ironing a shirt) — this kind of motion can cause the bond between the layers of the nails to weaken and thus split.
I had a no chip manicure for the third time three weeks ago. The veins on my hands are now raised and very noticeable. Is it possible this was caused by the UV lamp? Overexposure maybe? I loved the manicures but am now reluctant to continue with them.
The short story is that a properly fubctioning UV lamp is no problem. You might want to check out http://www.schoonscientific.com/resources-publications-technical-articles.html which has a bunch of scientific articles on nail stuff. Doug Schoon is affiliated with the industry but is greatly respected.
Thanks, Nancyg! The article stated that the hand and nails are exposed for two minutes or less each time for a total of six to ten minutes. It seemed that my hands were in the machine longer than two minutes at a time. Since I did not have this problem prior to the manicures, I still have to wonder if this was the cause of the problem. I tried researching the Internet about possible overexposure but could not find anything on it. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is anything to reverse this. Thanks again for your prompt response.
I slather up my hands with sunscreen before I go, thanks to the information about the UV.
Anyone able to answer this question? I’m on my second Shellac manicure, which I love. Part of the reason for going the UV Gel route is that my nails are very soft and tear somewhat easily.
A nail ripped the other day(about 1/8″ total) near where the nail meets the nail bed. I crazy glued it from the back and succeeded in repairing it. You can’t even tell there’s a very fine line in the manicure unless you are holding it very close up)
When I get the Shellac off in 5 days time, will removal also take off the glue? Is there some way to carefully take off the gel w/o further ripping the nail?