Why Does Shellac Ruin Natural Nails? Any polish that is cured onto your nail has the potential for nail damage. Usually, shellac and gel manicures begin by intentionally damaging the top layer of the nail bed to essentially "rough it up." They do it because the polish adheres better to a textured surface.
Some of the more delicate Shellac colours can fade if exposed to chlorinated water followed by excessive sun (remember that chlorine is a bleach and sun intensifies the bleaching action). Wash and dry your hands and nails after swimming and before sunbathing to minimize any colour fading.
Shellac is not alcohol- or water stain-resistant, but damage caused by either one can be easily repaired.
Nails need to be lightly scratched to ensure proper product adhesion. However, I have found that too much buffing weakens the clients' nails, which makes nails more susceptible to bending, eventually tearing the Shellac or gel over time, causing the gel to chip.
Washing up liquids and bleach all contain chemicals that may weaken, corrode or dissolve your nails which will make them much easier to come off. Simply wearing rubber gloves provides you with an effective extra layer that eliminates exposure to these chemicals.
Shellac™ can only cure correctly if you cure it with the original CND lamp. If you use any other device, the durability of Shellac™ may be compromised. If Shellac™ is not properly cured, it can have a rubbery feel to it and the product will most likely chip off.
Your shellac nails should remain shiny and chip-free for 14 to 21 days if you take care of them responsibly. Don't worry about your day to day activities: taking out keys, working on the computer and (light) cooking are no match for shellac.
Shellac manicure starts peeling within a day or 2:
Your tech may have not dehydrated your nail bed well enough. You don't always need to rough up the nail but the natural shine should be buffed down first (unless you are using Shellac brand gel polish they require no buffing). The polish might be older.
Gel and shellac manicures are chip resistant and lasting, but they can also cause nail brittleness, peeling, and cracking.
The alcohol in many hand sanitizers can dry out polish and crack cuticles, causing polish to chip. “Nails that lack enough moisture often become brittle”, says Cassy Chao, manager of Dream Nails Salon. “Brittle nails don't receive and hold polish or shellac like a healthy nail bed will.”
Hand sanitiser
Yet alcohol-based hand sanitiser can wreak havoc on a manicure. Metta says, “The whole point of hand sanitising gels and products is to break down bacteria and germs. Which means it's going to affect the nail coating and help break those down as well.”
Hot water is your gel nails' worst enemy. Therefore, avoid long baths and wear gloves while doing the dishes or else, it will cause the gel polish to lift up and even peel off altogether. The combination of detergents, harsh chemicals and hot water can ruin your manicure game.
Shellac was the first hybrid polish, produced by CND, and you can expect manicures to last about two weeks. Some may find that the chip-free finish lasts longer than this, but it's recommended that you get them removed after 14 days as by this time your own nail will have started to grow out.
Myth: Shellac scratches easily and is very brittle. FACT: Shellac is a durable finish that is much less brittle than lacquer and does not scratch as easily. Unlike polyurethane, a damaged shellac finish can be easily touched up or renewed by applying another coat.
The end result in both cases? Hard-wearing, shiny, thick colourful nails that will last 2 to 3 weeks without chipping. In our experience, SNS can last up to one week longer than Shellac nails without chipping, and SNS also creates a thicker-looking nail from all that powder getting added on.
“We highly recommend using shellac polish versus your typical gel polish because they soak off easier and are less damaging to the nails during the soak-off process,” Dunne says.
Shellac is much less damaging to nails than traditional gels (or acrylics), and if your goal isn't to make your nails longer, then they're a great choice.
A shellac manicure can usually last 14 days without chipping. If you want your shellac to last another fortnight or so, protecting your natural nails, a nude-ish Shellac Forte is your best bet. Here are 3 reasons why you may want to try it.
How long does it take to cure SHELLAC™ Color Coat? SHELLAC™ Color Coat should be cured for one minute in the CND™ LED Lamp (preset button 2S) or two minutes in the CND™ UV Lamp.
In case of infill, nail technician will file the top layer off and then apply infill as normal following by applying new coat of shellac gel.
STEP 5: Recoat as required until you're happy with the finished look. At least three to four layers of shellac are required to achieve an ideal finish. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the wood achieves a smooth, even appearance.
Unfortunately, leaving your CND™ Shellac™ manicure on for too long can result in service breakdown; lifting, chipping, discolouration etc.
I use a dye in the shellac itself and add leather dye to get the colour I want. These dyes fade a little in full sun, but I enjoy this result. For most of my work I stick to clear shellac. Three to four coats is generally enough to give the work a fully protective coat.