Shellac Nail Polish Review

What is Shellac?
Shellac is the brain child of a California company called Creative Nail Design, more commonly known as CND. The company says it spent five years perfecting the product. Shellac is frequently described as a hybrid of the popular gel manicure.It ranges in the industry from $30 to $40

So what’s the Difference Between a Gel Manicure and Shellac?
Just like KFC and McD, these two are practically the same. All "gel" manicures — whether brand-name or not — have very similar technical properties: UV light cures and hardens the polish, which makes it last up to two weeks. The downside of this durability is that removing these varnishes requires an acetone finger-bath.


The one difference is that Shellac, uses a formula they call a "Power Polish," which is basically a blend of UV-cured and regular nail polish.But Shellac is not for everyone. Your natural nails and nail beds must be healthy. If they're splitting, peeling or damaged from using acrylic or gel enhancements, experts say you should wait and talk to a licensed, trained nail care professional.

How is Shellac applied?
Shellac has to be applied in a salon as it requires the use of specially created UV lamps to cure the polish. First, a base coat is applied followed by two layers of colour and completed with a top coat. After each coat is applied your hand is placed under the UV lamp while your other hand is being painted. No dry time is required and so you need not worry about smudging your nails.


How is Shellac removed?
The removal process for Shellac is also slightly different in that CND sells their own acetone wraps, which isolate the powerful remover to just the nail-bed area so you don't have to entirely soak your fingertips in a bowl. This saves your fingers slightly, as acetone dries out nails and skin.

Whichever you choose, don't forget to apply sunscreen to the backs of hands prior to sticking them in a UV lamp, which emits harmful rays. Once you remove the polish, use nail oils and creams to keep your hands hydrated and healthy.