shellac gel nail polish

Shellac is a UV light cured gel polish that lasts about two weeks. I have used OPI's Axxium gel polish and it destroyed my nails. I now use Shellac. This top coat goes on easily and cures quickly under the UV lamp. TO HARDEN AFTER CURING, USE HIGH PROOF RUBBING ALCOHOL TO CLEAN EACH NAIL. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS THE NAIL WILL BE STICKY. One item of mention is that to remove you need to use an acetone nail "wrap" for about 20 min to get the polish to come off easily. I make my own "wraps" by soaking cotton balls with acetone, placing the ball on my nail and covering with a 4 inch square of aluminum foil. Wait 20 minutes and the polish peels off like magic with no nail damage. Although this system takes more time compared to regular polish, it is long wearing under harsh conditions. The only reason you can't get more than two weeks out of a single coat of polish is because your nails will grow out.

I bought a UV light here on Amazon and do my own CND shellac. Expensive investment up front but salons get a premium for this service and it is no harder than just painting your nails. With the CND Shellac system I get two weeks of perfect, chip-free wear. Check out the wattage that shellac requires and get a light. It does not need to be the "official" CND light.

It helps if you apply a light coat of bonder on the nail bed. Then apply the Shellac base coat and cure. Then the colour coat and cure. Then apply the top coat and cure...turns out perfect every time! After finishing the top coat, you'll notice a slightly tacky finish on your nails. Take a lint free pad and soak it with 91% alcohol and rub it off. Voila! Perfection!