I just have to share this with y’all. And I’m sure I’m late to the game, but for those of you who don’t know about this will be forever grateful! :)
So what am I talking about? Shellac? What’s that? It’s a new type of manicure! I never would have thought I’d be posting about my nails on my blog and I’m sure you didn’t either, but I promise it’s worth it.
Umm, have you ever tried to take a flattering picture of your hand? It’s hard. They kept looking fat so I gave up after the 100th photo. And my wedding finger looks all puffy from my ring but it doesn’t look like that in person I swear!
Let’s just focus on the nails. Don’t they look pretty?! That’s my new Shellac manicure that I had done on Monday, and I’m in looooove with it. My friend (hi Wendie!) told me about them so I went to the nail salon to see what it’s all about.
About Shellac manis:
- They last 2-3 weeks. For real.
- ZERO dry time. Seriously, it was amazing.
- They stay glossy and shiny for weeks!
- No nail damage
- They are a little more expensive than regular manis. I think mine was $35 or $37? I swear those people always change their prices!!
- They have several polish colors to choose from now, and you can do it in a french manicure. (But I heard those don’t last quite as long for some reason? I still need to try that out.)
- You can remove the polish at home with these foil wraps with acetone in them, but I think I’ll just go back to the nail place and get another manicure and have them do it.
- Applied at the salon–base coat of some gel stuff, polish color, and a top coat
- Coats are cured under a special UV lamp just a few minutes at a time.
Now, I am NOT one of those people who always keeps up with my nails and toes, and haircuts and hair color and stuff like that. I’m quite awful at it. But I do like to indulge myself with a pedicure now and then, but wouldn’t even bother with getting a manicure because they would look like poo just the day or 2 after. But now, I’m happy to say I think my nails will always be done!!
Oh, you can get a shellac pedicure too!
When I say my nails were dry instantly, I’m not kidding. And what’s weird is that the rest of the manicure when they massage your arms and hands with lotion was AFTER my polish was on! No marks, smudges or anything. I was freaking out.
I got my manicure on Monday and snapped these photos Thursday afternoon, so you could see what they look like after 4 days. I am seriously amazed. Normally my manicure would look terrible, chippy, and dull by now. And none of my photos were edited or enhanced in any way.
Pretty cool eh? And still SO shiny!!
I can’t wait to see what they look like in another week. If they still look this good (but I’m sure some natural nail growth at cuticles will happen), that will be the best $35 or $37 I’ve ever spent.
Have any of you tried this phenomenon yet? If not, go and treat yourself to a shelllac manicure this weekend because you deserve it!! :)
P.S.–just make sure your nail place does it right and knows what they are doing. Here is the founding company’s site if you want to read more about shellac. And no, I’m not affiliated at all with them. Just like to spread the love when I find something good! :)
P.S.S.–The Shellac manicures ARE different than gel manicures. I don’t really know the difference, but supposedly the shellac is better, and better for you. :)
P.S.S.S.–Enter the WUSLU giveaway here if you haven’t already. Ends Saturday!
xxoo,
Decorchick!
I have been wanting to find someone who does this!! They look so purity…
Hey, you could have another gig as a hand model. They look great. My sister had hers done two weeks ago, went on a very adventurous cruise and they still look great! It’s the wave of the future for nails. Thanks for stoping by my blog yesterday. You are too sweet. Today’s post will be a baby’s nursery. Tootles and have a great weekend.
Yup… Great stuff I am a Nail Tech and I own The Nail Room… I’m happy to see that you blogged about this… Have a great weekend
Pattie
I had my first one done 3 weeks ago yesterday and I just took it of on wednesday of this week! Yep it lasted 3 weeks and still looked shiny it was just grown out too much to look good anymore. Kind of a pain to take off, I soaked in acetone in a bowl and used an orange stick to kinda push it off, took maybe 20 minutes. Anyway, I had no chips or smudges at all the whole time…oh wait except my pointer of my right hand I bent it and it kinda made the polish look all wrinkled on one corner. Seriously the best thing ever! They go for $25 in my area.
Kyra –
A much easier way to get those off is to soak a cotton ball in pure acetone, please over the nail and wrap in a strip of aluminum foil (foil keeps the heat in and speeds process). for 10 minutes. When you take it off the Shellac should almost “slide” off your nail. What doesn’t slide off, you can gently scrape off with an orange wood stick. Don’t dig into you nail.
Another way to remove is to again soak a cotton ball in acetone then place on nail and wrap with a bandaid – again let set for 10 minutes.
Whichever method you choose – don’t be impatient, it will take 10 minutes to penetrate the Shellac.
Very Pretty!
Isn’t Shellac wonderful? I’ve been licensed to do hair and nails since 1985 – this is by far the best nail product that’s ever come out in my opinion. No damage to the nails at all – and only 10 minutes to soak off with those cute little wraps we use. I don’t do nails/hair as a full time job (as I work at the hospital/nursing), but I keep plenty busy on the side.
I was my hands multiple times an hour and my manicures last up to 2.5 – 3 weeks with the Shellac. And you can layer the colors to create more colors. I’m so happy that Creative Nail Design came up with this.
Just an FYI for you. You can polish over the top of the shellac for a quick change and remove with acetone or non-acetone polish remover and it will go right back to your mirror shine shellac manicure.
There are others out there that claim to be as good as the Shellac, but I’ve yet to find one that live up to Shellac’s reputation. I’m so glad you got to check it out.
My girlfriend and I tried it and both found our nails to be really weak after. I know it’s supposed to be better for your nails than gel but it had the same after-affect. Maybe it’s just us! Your nails look beautiful though!
Did the tech not tell you that it is advisable to use Solar Nail Oil daily to help keep your nails moisturized? Actually, any kind of nail oil is good. Remember that you are putting something over your natural nail and it’s unable to get moisture – lending to them becoming brittle over time.
Of course it would depend on the condition of your nails prior to applications as well. If they still feel weak and brittle – get some Solar Nail Oil or Almond Oil and massage it into your nails daily.
It is awesome but can get expensive every couple of weeks and you are limited to the colors available. I figured out a way that it’s wayyyy cheaper and opens you up to any color you want! Ask the Nail Tech to put clear solar gel over the color you have put on your nails after the manicure, around here it only adds $5 to the cost of your manicure! I get it done all the time and my regular manicure lasts 3 weeks!
you have such pretty hands! and lovely nails! so glad you tried it out…I consider it every time I get my nails done, and i do believe you’ve just sold me on it! thx!
Soo pretty, but more importantly, I LOVE YOUR WEDDING SET! That is beautiful!!!
Cool! I’ve never heard of this! Looks fantastic – thanks for posting and filling us in!
I wonder how it’s different from gel? I LOVED doing gel manis until my poor nails got destroyed by the filing… yeow!
I keep hearing about these and am so intrigued!
I get it and love it! Three weeks and I only need to go in because of nail growth, the rest of the nail looks great! I haven’t tried my toes yet, but I sure wish that had that option when I played sand volleyball! I bet it would have lasted longer than a regular pedi!
I get shellac manicures, too! I get french ones and they have lasted up to 3 weeks. They start looking rough by week 4. :)
Give your nails a rest now and then, though. After two back to back shellacs, I’m waiting a month or two before getting another.
Completely adorable. I don’t keep up with manis either, but if it will last I am all about it. Thanks for the tip, girl. I love things like this. Have a great weekend.
I have been getting Shellac for about 8 months and I get the french all the time and never had a problem, actually seems to work better for me than a color. Also, there are ways to add 1 color as base and 1 as top and it gives you a completely different color so there are almost endless color combos..
yes ive used it… its awesome for either natural or acrylics. i do it on my natural nails that i like a little off the bed but not long. it keeps them from peeling and breaking. also you can just get clear or you can polish over it to change color just dont use acetone to remove polish.
thanks for sharing.
Hey there, I’ve never heard of this! But yours sure look super! Don’t worry abot you’re hands, they’re gorgeous ; ) I sure don’t do mine, but will surely tell my girls! I’ve only heard of the shellac we used to use to put over finishes on furniture/ flooring! Do they even still use that stuff anymore? LOL
Well, thanks for keeping us informed.
Beautiful!!! I’ll have to try this!!
They look GREAT!! I need a mani and a pedi! Haven’t had one in quite a while!
I am addicted to this process, mine only last two weeks before they start to peel up. However, they are put through a lot of work and painting and cleaning and such…worth every penny.
That sounds too good to be true! I immediately went to the website so I could find a salon by me. I’m going to Hawaii in two weeks and shellac sounds like the perfect treatment to have nice nails the whole trip!
Sarah
I am obsessed with Shellac. It really does last so long, and I haven’t had any problems with it weakening my nails. There have been a few times since I started “shellac-ing”, that I just did a regular mani and have been so disappointed after a couple of days! It is such a good idea!
I just had my first shellac experience last Thursday, and I’m pretty sure we got the same color! :) Also, we painted our guest room this weekend and my pretty hot pink nails were COVERED in light teal paint. Was all hope lost? Did I ruin my shellac-ed nails forever? Am I out of luck? Nope! Rubbing alcohol took it all off in seconds! Perfect. :)
I’m allergic to acrylic…allergic to the gel….do I dare try this??
What color did you get? I’m thinking about getting mine done and just love that color!
I just had mine done int he Coral shade…just beautiful!!!
They look great! What color did you use?
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