Shellac Manicure vs. Gel Manicure. It is a serious dilemma that most girls have faced. Shellac or gel? Gel or shellac? Which one should you choose? The answer is easy: both! A great manicure will make your summer outfit go from drab to fab, and having your nails done at home can save you a lot of time and money. In this blog post I will give you the top 20 tips for getting professional results at home with shellac manicures.
1. Keep nail polish remover in your bag at all times. This way if your nails start to chip you can easily remove the polish and reapply it before going out again.
2. Always use clear topcoat over colored base coats for longer wear, especially if you live in a humid climate like mine! This helps prevent chipping which can occur when water gets trapped underneath the polish causing it to bubble up and peel off while drying time; clear topcoat also adds shine so there’s no need to use another product after applying color!
3. Don’t forget to apply cuticle oil regularly, especially during winter months when dry air causes skin around nails dry out faster than usual making them more prone cracking or splitting.”
Shellac manicures have become the hottest beauty trend of 2012. Unlike gel manicures, they don’t require a UV light or have the harmful UV rays to dry them, which makes them better for your nails. These manicures also last longer than regular polish, usually up to 14 days without chipping or smudging.
Shellac manicures are done by a professional at a salon, but you can also do it at home with shellac nail kits. You can buy starter kits online and in some stores that include a base coat, color coat and top coat along with the special nail cleanser and cuticle oil. Here are 20 tips for getting professional results from your shellac manicure:
Gel manicures and shellac manicures allow you to enjoy a professional-looking nail color for up to three weeks without chipping or smudging. Both gel and shellac are applied in the same way as traditional nail polish, but they require a few extra steps. The polish for each type of manicure is cured with a UV lamp, and acetone is used to remove the polish.
You can get a gel or shellac manicure at a salon or do it yourself at home. “Gel” and “shellac” aren’t actual products, but rather, they’re generic industry terms that refer to any manicure product that uses UV technology, says Michelle Saunders, Essie’s lead educator. Some companies have their own proprietary formulations of gel or shellac polish, such as the Shellac brand by CND.
Both types of manicures are more durable than regular nail polish. They also tend to leave nails feeling stronger than if you’d just gotten a regular mani/pedi. This is because the process involves applying a base coat under the color and top coat over it (both are usually made with strengthening ingredients like keratin).
A similar shine-boosting effect can be achieved by simply using regular nail polish with a gel-
If you want a top-quality manicure that lasts for weeks, try shellac. It is especially hard and glossy, and it will not crack or chip. Most importantly, it does not peel or flake as quickly as regular nail polish does.
Shellac nails have been around for about four years. Shellac is a mixture of gel and nail polish. “Gel” is a type of nail polish that has been hardened under UV light. It was originally used in salons as a soak-off base coat to protect the nails from the damaging effects of acrylic nails.
In order to get the perfect manicure at home you will need to purchase a kit that includes the following supplies:
UV lamp or LED lamp (usually lights up in blue)
nail buffer
nail cleaner (preferably acetone)
nail file
cuticle stick (optional)
top and base coat
A shellac manicure is the latest advancement in nail care. It is a long-lasting gel polish that comes in over 100 different colors. The Shellac polish lasts for two weeks without chipping or peeling and only takes ten minutes to dry under a UV light.
There are three steps to a Shellac manicure. The first step is to shape your nails, then apply the base coat, and then paint on two coats of color, followed by the top coat using the UV light to set between each step. After each coat has been applied, your nails are placed under the UV light which dries them instantly. When you are done with all four coats, use the UV light one more time to cure your nails for five minutes. Finally, you can use some cuticle oil and hand cream to massage into your hands so they feel refreshed.
If you love having nail color on your finger or toe nails but hate how fast it chips or peels then you need to try shellac manicures. With shellac manicures you will never have chipping or peeling again because the color stays on for a full two weeks and is extremely durable so it won’t chip when cleaning around the house or doing yard work.
Shellac manicures are also
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know that I’ve been on the hunt for the best at-home gel manicure kit. A few months ago, I reviewed the Red Carpet Manicure System. At the time, it was my favorite kit by far. However, after using it weekly for several months, I started to notice that my nails were becoming thinner and more fragile.
I have a love/hate relationship with gel manicures. As someone who works from home and can get away with wearing bare nails (most of the time), I love having a long-lasting manicure that doesn’t chip for at least two weeks. However, as much as I love having chip-free nails, there’s this little voice in my head telling me that the UV light is damaging my nails.
So while I was sad to see that the Red Carpet Manicure system was damaging my nails, I wasn’t really surprised by it because gel manicures are known to damage nails over time. It’s just one of those things you have to accept if you’re going to use a gel system on your nails.
The secret to a great manicure is a great base coat, and this one from Essie is our favorite. “It’s a good way to get the most out of your nail polish, as it prevents chipping and peeling,” says celebrity manicurist Elle. “It also adds an extra layer of shine to your nail polish.”
Apply your first coat of polish. Using quick strokes, apply a thin layer of the colored polish on each nail. Allow the coat to dry completely before applying the next one.
Apply your top coat. Once your color has dried, you can add a layer of protective clear polish over it to give it a glossy finish and shine that lasts longer. The top coat also helps prevent the color from chipping and fading as quickly.”