I have a large collection of nail polishes which I’m afraid to say, go mostly unused. Don’t get me wrong, I love nail polish but I hate the chipping which always seems to happen to me with in only a day or two after application. I’m quite rough on my nails, working in hospitality makes it hard not to be! BUT I think I have found the solution – Shellac Nails
Shellac Nails don’t chip and can last for up to two weeks! Fantastic! Basically, shellac nails are just like getting a normal manicure, using a special UV Gel nail polish. Between the base coat, colour and top coat the nail is cured (dried and hardened) under a UV light. Most salons in Australia are offering this service these days, costing roughly $50. Shellac is much kinder to your nails than gel and acrylic, and has a natural look as it is just your nail being painted without any extension tips. CND Shellac appears to be the first choice for most reputable beauty salons, though some others offer alternatives such as Bluesky Shellac, Gelish, Opallac.
It is possible to do shellac nails at home, although nail professionals don’t recommend it. CND Shellac is very expensive to purchase, so I did my research on Bluesky Shellac. After much internet trawling I have just purchased a Bluesky Shellac Starter kit from www.passionflowerindustries.com for $84.55. Bargin, considering all other starter sets of Bluesky were $100+. It comes with a 36 watt UV lamp, Bluesky base and top coat, and 6 different colours of my choosing. Also thrown in are 5 alcohol wipes (for final step in shellac application in removing tacky layer), 2 cuticle sticks and a nail file. I am a bit weary of this Bluesky product as it has had a few bad reviews but it has also had MANY great ones so I can’t wait to try it out!
So once it arrives I’ll give update on part 2 of DIY – shellac nails at home. But in the mean time, what has been your experience with shellac? love it or loath it?
Lady Carmichael x
Lady Carmichael 