As you know I do love to do my nails but never have manicures. Being a poor student taught me how to do-your-own nails many years ago and since that time I’ve never really returned to the salon. I was fascinated about Shellac manicures because they guarantee a 14 day wear with perfection and they aren’t acrylics.
With that I booked in for my complimentary manicure as part of RAFW to see what all the buzz was about. So what’s it like? Well, the manicure is superb, feels great and looks great. Cherie my manicurist didn’t file the nail bed or cut my cuticles back which was what I was afraid of. The various layers of lacquer are fused via UV light to bond to the nail and create the hard wearing appearance.
The only downside is that as they are ‘fused’ if you like to your nails, they are impossible to get off with regular nail polish remover. I was shown the process when I had them done, but wasn’t told that I’d have to go to a salon to have the treatment. So as one fellow RAFW attendee quiped today, ‘You’re stuck with them till they grow out!’
So would I continue to have them done? It’s hard to say as I’m not sure I’d pay around $50(the manicures vary in price according to salon) every two weeks for it, but they look A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. For someone that would never have acrylics done, it’s a fabulous alternative and if it gets me through fashion week chip free, all the better.
21 comments
[…] forget about Shellac… love. (If you haven’t heard of this before now, head to Lady Melbourne for the […]
Love your shellac nails
Hi, has anyone ever used Luminails gel and got an allergy? I am just recovering from a horrendous skin allergy which resulted in hot red rashes and blisters with clear liquid which weeped and spread from the tips of my fingers to my arms & face.
Does Shellac react the same way? I am sceptical about trying after the fright I got with Luminails. What are your thoughts, should I?
[…] were advertising cheap Shellac nails, which is another GREAT thing I could totally spend money on! And my friend Lady Melbourne gets shellac manicures and she is beautiful and her nails always look great so WHO AM I TO BUCK A […]
I ‘ve always been there,Amazing nails is the best and very popular
Hi ladies,
I used to come to big nails salon for shellac,but very disappointed,since i ‘ve found out Amazing nails salon in Moorabbin,i think this is the best and cheapest place for shellac in Melbourne,
http://cheapnailmelbourne.hopout.com.au/
I always come every 2 weeks with 2 or 3 workmates,we all had shellac nails done beautifully,and our face,eyebrows,underarms,legs waxed and every thing has been done at reasonable cost,staffs here are experts, nice and honest,there are also many shellac colours to pick,i am just too happy to share my experience to everyone
Love
I have had acrylic or gel nails for the last 8 years. I am looking at going back to natural but my nails are very weak. Are shellac nails an in between alternative??
Shellac is fabulous!
I also soak mine off myself with acetone. I buy a more concentrated solution from over the counter at the pharmacy.
Thanks for the tip re bunnings! I will buy it there next time, it might be cheaper.
It’s easy to remove Shellac yourself. Just get some pure acetone (you can buy it from Bunnings – yes Bunnings! – for next to nothing. Just go to the paint stripper aisle. LOL!)
Soak a cotton ball in the acetone and press to the nail, and then wrap the nail tight with aluminium foil. Repeat on each nail and leave for 10 mins. Then pressing down on the nail with your thumb, remove the foil and cotton ball in a twisting motion as you pull the foil off your fingertips.
Remove any remaining traces gently with an orangewood stick – it should just flake off – and then wipe over each nail one final time with acetone.
It’s not recommended you pick off the Shellac as you will damage your natural nail in the process.
One of the selling points of Shellac is that there is no damage to the natural nail, if applied and removed properly.
Good luck!
Hi there! I love Shellac, I get it done every 2 weeks and i will never use normal nail polish again!
Gel nails are a very different process. Shellac is manufactured so there are tiny microscopic holes all over the nail so the nail bed can breathe. Hence, your nails are much healthier and it doesn’t destroy your nails like gels do. I had very healthy nails till I had gels on for 2-3 mths (with regular removal), it’s taken me 6mths to get them back to being really healthy. I wouldn’t recommend gels unless you already have very weak/unattractive nails to cover and don’t care if they are weakened further. Shellac is a much better alternative.
Hi LM,
The shellac should come off with pure acetone. There are many salons that do ‘gel polish’ which is essentially the same thing as shellac, cured in the same way but for about half the price.
It’s a good idea for when you are going on holidays & don’t want the fuss of repainting or touching up your nails, then I guess its more of a treat as well 🙂
Breeahna @ Always Chasing
Looking good and its good to see you are enjoying your trip. I also like the watch!
Ree on her blog posted all about her experience with Shellac
http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeandgarden/2011/03/shellac-manicure-update-the-removal/
Thanks so much for all your suggestions! I will definitely see how it goes Alicia and Miss. Bias and you know what? I might even do a post on it coming off ‘F’, even if it doesn’t look so great!!
LM
xx
Looks like you’re having a great time at RAFW!
I have had shellac before and absolutely loved it. As Miss Bias said above, after a couple of weeks you can just peel it off, it’s not necessary to go back to a salon.
Enjoy the rest of your time at RAFW 🙂
There’s a salon in Northcote (not in Northcote plaza) that does Gel Nails for less than $50. It’s like Shellac but with more colors and lasts longer than the Creative Range.
Looks great! I’m also not one to enjoy having permanent things attached to my nails. I love the manicurists’ huge hairdo!!
Wow, looks Fabulous… I don’t suppose I could convince you to create a post about removing the shellac? I’d be really interested to see photos of that process.
The zero dry time really appeals to me!
Hi Lady Melbourne
I’m glad to hear that you are thoroughly enjoying RAFW thus far.
My manicurist recently put me onto Shellac nail polish also. It does make your nails look incredible and the polish does stay fused on for nearly 2 weeks. I found that once the polish starts to chip away itself, you can then peel off the remainder of the polish. However, if it isn’t quite ready to come off, it is a little more difficult to remove yourself, but can be done without having to go back to the salon.
Enjoy the rest of the week. Looking forward to seeing more of your coverage.
Miss Bias
http://www.missbias.blogspot.com
The red is amazing!