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What are shellac nails and are they worth trying? The advantages and disadvantages of the new trend.

Shellac nails are a new trend but what are they comprised of?

There is a lot of hype around shellac nails especially since there are very similar to gel nails that have been around for a long time. Shellac nails are made up of both gel polish and traditional polish. As it is still a new concept there is still not a great range of shades available but it is getting there.

Shellac nails have been hyped for a good reason

We all want that perfect manicure, the polish that doesn’t chip and stays on longer so we don’t have to repaint our nails every three or four days. Understandably, we are all tired of being afraid to use our nails near water as we see it as the enemy when it comes to our freshly painted masterpieces. That’s where shellac nails come in. Their biggest advantage is that they don’t chip easily and they can last around two or three weeks depending on your lifestyle. Not only that, but they allow our nails to grow and act as a shield during that time.

The best of both worlds

We all have been there, waiting for the nail polish to dry before we can even breathe, making sure nothing touches our fingers for at least an hour. As shellac nails are a combination of gel and normal nail polish they have the best properties from both of them which means a glossy finish that will not require you to wait around for ages for it to dry since you can cure it with UV light. This means that the possibility of a smudge is little to none, one less headache to worry about.

Every good thing has a bad side

Yes, they last long. Yes, they are beautiful. But what about your health? There is a good chance that the exposure to the UV light curing lamp can slightly increase the chance of skin cancer. While dermatologists note that the increase for a fortnightly manicure is a bit small, consumers need to be aware of all risks associated with their decisions. The same problem exists for gel nails as well. In addition, the UV light can also cause the skin to dry which is not something pleasant.

Money and time

Another downside is that shellac nails can only be removed at a nail salon and that is most likely when you will want to do them anyway. While traditional nail polish manicures can be done at home and they are inexpensive, shellac nails need a manicurist and they start at $25 in the best case scenario which is pretty pricey for a plain manicure. As mentioned above, there are not many shades to choose from compared to traditional nail polishes and the designs will not be as creative. Of course, this is temporary and will change in the future.

Is it worth it?

If it’s worth it or not depends on you and your lifestyle. Do you think the positives outweigh the negatives? We all know that smudging our nail polish two minutes after applying it is the worst nightmare but our health is more important. If it’s a one time thing then definitely treat yourself! You deserve it! But in the long run, it might prove time consuming and expensive.

What do you think? Would you like to try shellac nails? Let us know in the comments!

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  • I havent worn nail polish for years. I found that it weakened my otherwise strong nails.

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  • I do SNS at nail salons only on special occasions they last longer than shellac and look nicer

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  • I wouldn’t waste my money. If someone wants there nails done professionally well and good. I try to do my own as I won’t waste monies on nails.

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  • I don’t have the time to do my nails at the salon, I try at home but always comes off after a few days

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  • I heard that SNS is much better for your nails than SNS.
    Either way there is an SNS specialist at Fairfield in Sydney who can do amazing designs on your nails!

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  • No will never try too toxic and it just adds more chemical exposure contributing to your risk of disease in the future.

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  • They should last forever. We tried to get shellac finish off a wooden ceiling in a our and wow! It is really really hard to do.

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  • I think it just makes the nails go weak. And expensive

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  • Shellac isn’t just for false nails. It includes getting your real nails painted. I have done this a couple of times such as when I have gone on holiday. It’s great because they stay shiny and last the whole trip. I have also discovered that it can be taken off at home – you just have to have the know-how!

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  • I have always been to scared to try false nails

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  • I just have natural nails

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  • I might try it for the Christmas period as it would be great to not have to worry over that week

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  • If only I didn’t bite my nails

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  • I’ve only ever had my nails done once and that was because we were going to a wedding. Every once in a while I’ll get a manicure and a pedicure but can’t see the point in getting false nails. As with everything else, what works for one person won’t always work for everyone. Shellac nails are definitely not for me

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  • I tried it once and OMG, they ruined my nails. And the upkeep — I didn’t have the time, interest or cash to keep them going. It took over 12 months for my nails to recover from being fragile and brittle.

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  • I have had Shellac nails for about six years. I gradually alternated them with normal polish, however my nails are now very strong and I love the fact that I only need them done every three to four weeks. I get so many comments about my nails and the colours are great – people are staggered to find that they are my real nails.

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  • I wont be trying this as I am happy having natural nails which I might add are quite long and shaped. My daughters always envy me as they look as though they are the traditional French nails but quite natural and they spend hours getting ‘the look’. From nailbed to top of finger is 10cm and the nail then extends a further 10cm – I garden [without gloves], type on my nails and have done so before electric typewriters were brought into vogue, let alone computer keyboards. My nails don’t bend and I can remember my children asking me not to cut my nails as when they are long I can feel what I touch with them, but when they are short I seem to lose that feeling and if I grabbed the children to move them out of harms way my short nails would dig into their flesh, but the long nails didn’t.

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  • I’m not really overly interested in them.

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  • I bite my nails way to much, but still love to have some nice nails every now and then. Just too expensive for me to maintain :(

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  • Never had nails done…that not for me

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