Shellac vs gel: the low down on which is better You can enjoy a fantastic polish with both. For longer lasting, with more colour options, choose gel. For shine and ease, choose shellac. Talk to your nail technician and they may also have individual recommendations for you.
A Gel manicure typically lasts anywhere from 3 weeks to a month and there is a very low chance of a Gel manicure chipping. In comparison, a Shellac manicure typically last about 2 weeks if it is taken care of properly and has a higher chance of chipping after a few weeks go by.
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. Shellac looks like a thick glossy gel polish, and the main benefit is that it reduces chipping.
“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.
Gel Nails. A gel manicure and a Shellac manicure are essentially the same thing: long-lasting polishes cured under UV lamps. The difference is that "gel nails" or "manicure" is the generic term for nails done under a UV lamp, while Shellac is a brand of gel nails by the company Creative Nail Design (CND).
For longer lasting, with more colour options, choose gel. For shine and ease, choose shellac. Talk to your nail technician and they may also have individual recommendations for you.
Additionally, while Shellac appears to help avoid the damage to the nails caused by acrylics, SNS goes a step further, according to Vo. “SNS is positively good for nail health. The SNS dipping powder system is fortified with no less than four vitamins, plus the all-important mineral calcium.
Because shellac nails use traditional nail polish, in addition to a gel layer, they're a little more prone to chipping than methods like the gel application, which means you may need touch-ups more than with other types of nails.
Gel manicures can cause nail brittleness, peeling and cracking, and repeated use can increase the risk for skin cancer and premature skin aging on the hands. To keep your nails healthy before, during and after gel manicures, dermatologists recommend the following tips: Be proactive with your manicurist.
It gets applied like regular nail polish but dries like gel. Shellac gives your manicure a little more stability than the usual manicure, allowing longer lasting results. These manicures take slightly more time than the regular because of the UV curing process between each coat.
While there is nothing wrong with shellac itself, it's the curing process that raises safety concerns. LED light lamps used to cure shellac emit UV rays, and extended exposure to UV rays can have potential side effects, including premature aging of the skin, age spots, and skin cancer.
Gel and shellac manicures are chip resistant and lasting, but they can also cause nail brittleness, peeling, and cracking.
After 1 week
Some nail types are very thin, weak, or oily. Thin and weak nails can't be buffed well enough to create the little “velcro” action that adheres the polish to the nail.
Unlike with acrylics, there is typically no damage done to the nail bed at all once you remove the polish. Gel nails are flexible with your regular nails and can easily be removed at home. Cons: Because there is UV light involved, there are some concerns about premature aging skin and skin cancer.
While you can get your shellac manicure removed at the salon, you don't have to. You can buy special shellac remover wraps, but you don't need them. The acetone should loosen the shellac so it can be gently pushed off of the nail; you don't need to scrape or file or otherwise mistreat your nails to remove it.
Shellac is thinner and softer than gel polish, but harder than traditional varnish.
So how long should you leave between applying builder gel again? In our experience a break for a week every eight weeks will be the perfect length of time to let your natural nails breathe. During the break period, make sure to keep your nails moisturised and hydrated.
There is very little evidence that SNS is any better or worse for your nails than gel polish, hard gel or acrylic. What causes damage to your natural nails is not the product itself, but the application and removal process. This is why your technician will advise you not to pick at or peel off your gel or acrylic.
The bottom line
If you're trying to switch up your manicure, shellac nails are definitely worth a try. They're long-lasting, cute, and easy, and as long as you get them removed properly, they won't cause any major damage.
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.
Some salons do it wrong and damage your nail. It will damage your nail if you leave it on too long as you have. Gel polish continues curing slightly when on the nail so you should never have it on for more than 3 weeks because it will start to get much harder and damage the nail.
SNS has become a popular choice recently for a long-lasting manicure, but in our opinion, gel nail brands like Gelicious are a much better choice for a healthy manicure.
The Down-Low on SNS
Unlike your typical lacquer or gel polish, SNS is applied as a powder in multiple coats that hardens onto the nail. Where Gel nails rely on a UV lamp to set the polish in place, SNS eliminates the need for unnecessary exposure, causing people to think of it as a healthier alternative.
Both powders and gels are easy to apply and the result is a durable mani that lasts you around three weeks. What's more, the removal process is comparable to Shellac in speed and ease (it typically involves soaking your nails in an acetone solution) and they cost roughly the same.