For anyone who isn’t familiar, Shellac is a nail polish and gel hybrid which is painted on like nail varnish and set under a UV lamp. It takes hardly any time to be applied and usually lasts for about two weeks. I discovered it just before my daughter was born and I love it. Firstly because I have a ‘thing’ about having nice nails – somehow I don’t feel dressed or finished if my nails aren’t done. Secondly, I’m a bit naughty and rarely wear gloves when washing dishes and cleaning – so I’m not kind to my hands or nails. Poor poppets.
This was my yummy Summer Shellac colour
Recently however, I’ve noticed how weak and damaged my nails are when I have the Shellac soaked off and I’m trying to decide whether to give it a rest for a while. Basically, I’m considering Shellac rehab. I know that withdrawals are inevitable, and it’s going to be painful – and I really need advice from anyone who has gone Shellac cold turkey.
My more subdued Autumn Shellac. Hmmm – just needs a touch of glitter
So I’m reaching out to any current and former Shellac users, what advice do you have for someone who is considering quitting?
Are there any products on the market for Shellac abused nails?
Or should I just continue having my poor nails Shellaced?
A xxxx
I went through almost a decade of acrylic nails and then gel nail polish. I had my gels removed at the start of this year. It is good to give your nails a break every now and then, but boy is it hard going. I’ve had to keep mine very short, use OPI Nail Envy and also keep them painted which helps make them strong. They are finally nearly back to full strength, as the gel part of the nail has nearly grown out. Having said all that, I will be using OPI gel nail polish in the lead up to and at the wedding!! So here I go again…!!
Thanks so much gorgeous. I also had acrylics for almost 10 years, I loved them! I always had them french and short so they didn’t look like nasty talons. I think I’m going to have to take a leaf out of your book and be brave 🙂 A xx
Hi Amy.My name is Victoria.I’m from Estonia. I’ve been having my nails done for last 7 years. I wear hard gel, it lasts for almost a month, hardly breaks, nails always look good and They look healthy even when I take the gel off. Since I’ve moved to Singapore I decided to switch to Shellac. And I noticed how my nails became much worse. Sometimes even in pain. I spoke to some professionals back to Estonia and I ve been told that soft gel damages the nail. Since them I’m back to hard gel and my nails are really good.
I’ve been to Perth recently and it’s hard to find the place to do hard gel, so what I did – I went to the nail place in Myer and did acrylic nails with shellac on top instead of varnish. Looks good. No pain. And also I did have acrylic nails before. They are really long lasting. The direct contact of Shellac and nail is not good. Another example is my friend. She has natural strong and beautiful nails but was tired of reapliying varnish every two days. So she did the Shellac nails. Her nails got damaged ,started breaking when it hardly happened before. She took it off.
I hope it might be a little helpful.
Victoria
Hi Victoria, thanks SO much for leaving your advice – it’s much appreciated. And it’s also really exciting to hear that a gorgeous Estonian girl living in Singapore is reading my blog 🙂 A xxx
Hi, I’m a nail tech and firstly if your having Shellac they shouldn’t be “soaking” your nails they should be using some cotton wool soaked in acetone with alfoil or some little finger wraps. If they are soaking them it’s unnecessary and will be making your nails weak =) Apart from that a break won’t hurt but if you use Solar Oil (cuticle oil) a couple of times a day you should be able to have shellac on full time with no problems… I do =)
Hi Melli, I suspected as much – I have been to a few different nail salons and the first one used finger wraps with cotton wool soaked in acetone. The salon closest to my house (which equals more convenient) use little bowls of acetone. Thanks so much for the clarification and for taking time to leave a comment! A x
I use Shellac in the UK but will need it redone when I am in Sing for Christmas. Please could you let me know the name of the salon that used the wraps. Thank you so much
As sad as it is, its time for a break. The way to get around this, dedicate an hour in your day / evening on a weekly basis, or if it has to be shorter, do every 5 days and get out your favourite polish. Look at the positive, you can change your colour scheme more regularly and treat your nails with Nail Envy. You can be bold more often and have a great play with such an array of fantastic colours. Mark the start of winter with a splash of fluoro.
Come on, we know you want too………..
You know what, I think you’re absolutely right. I’m going to get a little ‘rehab’ kit together – Nail Envy, Solar Oil, hand cream – and I’m going to be brave. Thanks so much for leaving a comment gorgeous girl. A xxx
That convenience trap is the worst =) Go back to a salon using the wraps and you shouldn’t have that problem anymore, use the cuticle oil as well, you’ll notice the difference =)
Thanks so much Melli, great to get some professional advice. A x
I use it as well and it is true your nails do go very soft and start to peel off. Its better when you leave your nails natural for about 10 days, in the mean time soak your fingers in salt water everyday for half an hour, you will be amazed with how hard they become!
Thanks so much for the advice Maria, I have never heard about soaking your fingers in salt water. I will give it a go. Amy xxx
I spent an hour yesterday soaking the shellac off my nails, I’m detoxing too 🙁 But if you’re looking for a really good top coat that sets your nails in about 60 seconds and keeps the polish on for way longer than normal, try Seche Vite. I highly recommend it
xx
Hi Brighita, thanks so much for your great advice – it’s reassuring that I”m not alone in my Shellac addiction. Will definitely check out Seche Vite. 🙂 A xx
I’ve not tried Shellac before, but always wanted to. Your nails look great! Are you using a nourishing oil or hand cream at night to help strengthen them? 🙂
Thanks Annette! Part of the problem with Shellac is that your nails looks great when you have it on, but underneath my nails are paper thin and weak. If I remember, I usually pop some hand cream on before I go to sleep – but thanks for the reminder 🙂 A xx
Does anyone know where to get Shellac in Singapore? Most places I’ve been to only has Gelish.
Now available in Singapore at Cecilia Westberry’s salon Cecilia’s.
Where:
p: 6774 0449 or SMS 9271 9422
a: Block 6 Holland Close 01-02, Holland Village, 271006, Singapore
Please list more if anyone knows them as this is the only one I know of in Singapore.
Sorry for the late reply but I only just found your blog and have been going through old posts. I have had opi gelcolor gel polish on my nails pretty much continuously since february. My nails are the same when I take it off as they were when I first put it on. I think it comes down to two things, how the nail is treated before you paint it on and how it is soaked off.
The nail should only be lightly buffed with a grey foam buff (not a white block, file or drill) and the only product used a nail prep ph balance never a primer. When it is time to take it off never ever peel it and never soak it in a bowl of straight acetone. It should be done like Melli said and with the opi gel color it can be the polish remover containing acetone which is much less acetone than cheaper bulk acetone.
It should only take 10 to 15 minutes to be ready to slide off the nail with no filing. If it takes longer like the hour Brighita took then it is not soak off gel polish, it is builder gel which means you have been told you are getting gel polish but given a set of gel nails. We have seen that a lot. People think they have shellac but it is gel with shellac on top and it wont budge.
It is really hard to be sure what is being done to your nails is the thing you have asked for applied in the correct way. Gelcolor properly applied and removed should leave your nails the same as having normal polish on them. You just need to find a good place to get them done 🙂
Pamela
I had my first Shellac manicure Tuesday of last week 8/9/15, as I’m transgender, I’ve tried nail polish but as i chip it, I decided to give Shellac a go, and wow just love it. I highly recomend it