How to make shellac for yourself: step-by-step instructions, photos, ideas for manicure

How to make shellac yourself at home? How not to spend a large amount of money on the services of an experienced specialist? You can learn about this and much more from the following material.

Shellac is a new manicure technique. It is not as harmful as the classic method of nail extension. At the moment, applying gel polish to the feet is rapidly replacing other methods of design and treatment of the nail plate. Many ladies of various ages who try to follow fashion use the services of manicurists when they want to get shellac done. No matter how complicated the process may seem, you can do it yourself at home.

What is shellac?

Shellac is a logical, consistent way to extend gel nails. During the procedure, a set of polymers is used, each of which has the properties of both a varnish and a special gel.

The composition of the coating applied to the nails includes the following components:

• Film former. When this substance hardens, it forms a dense coating that is not afraid of any mechanical stress. The component is considered the basis of any type of shellac.
• Photoinitiator. This substance absorbs the sun's rays, thanks to which the varnish hardens faster.
• Pigment . The shade that is the main component of shellac. Using pigment, you can give your nails a certain shade.
• Thinners . Components that allow you to adjust the consistency of the varnish.
• Supplements . These components enhance and regulate the quality of the varnish. Thanks to additives, the color becomes more intense and resistant to abrasion.
• Shellac looks like a medium liquid mass. The color of this mass may vary. It all depends on the pigment present in the composition. To get a new, unusual shade, you can mix several gel polishes at once.
• The varnish dries using a special UV lamp. A coating that dries under other influences is not very stable. Shellac has increased strength. It can be stored for at least 14 days, while maintaining its original appearance.

Type of manicure

How to dry such shellac coating

Many girls and women prefer to take care of their hands and nails at home, developing and implementing their own designs. To successfully apply Shellac to records, you will need a special lamp.

The compact tabletop device has built-in ultraviolet, cathode or LED light sources. Under the influence of light rays, the coating layer hardens in 1-2 minutes, as the polymerization process occurs. The dried composition firmly adheres to the surface of the nails and retains its flawless appearance for three weeks.

The beauty and durability of the manicure depends on the quality of the device, and it lasts for years. Therefore, you should not purchase cheap analogues from dubious sellers. Experienced professionals recommend products from the following brands:

• "OPI", "Harmony";

• "CND", "Gelish".

What you need for a shellac manicure: important tools, materials

For a shellac manicure there is a basic kit that includes tools and materials. Thanks to this set, you can create an exquisite manicure yourself at home:

• UV lamp. The power of such a light bulb should be 36 W. If you have a lamp with a lower power, the varnish may begin to peel off over time. Consequently, you will end up with an ugly manicure.
• Degreaser . Most often, such substances are sold in the same store where all shellac components are sold. If you can't find one, use regular medical alcohol.
• Base coat. Try to choose a high quality foundation.
• Shellac of the required color.
• Finish coating. You also need to choose quality material.
• Orange stick.
• Napkins that have no lint. The fact is that the lint can ruin your manicure. You will have to remove the shellac layer and then reapply it. You will need wipes to remove the sticky layer at the final stage.
• A liquid used to remove shellac.

When choosing, pay attention to the CND brand. The company sells high-quality material for creating shellac. The fact is that the manufacturer is responsible for the quality of its own products and provides a guarantee for each product.

Basic and additional materials
You can, of course, buy material of lower quality. But with such products you may not get a beautiful, long-lasting manicure. If you save, you won’t be able to get an excellent result - a beautiful, long-lasting, elegant manicure.

New shellac ideas from leading designers

Each new season has its own fashion trends, innovative ideas from the previous year are developed, and some become a thing of the past. 2022 was no exception.

Minimalism style

For several seasons in a row, minimalist designs have been breaking all popularity records. Laconic pictures on a plain neutral background look both modest and stylish. They perfectly express the mood of the owner, her hobbies or life position. They go perfectly with different textures, negative space, and two-color duets.

Geometric figures

This year in fashion:

• monochrome and multi-color solutions;
• single-color and multi-colored stripes, parallel and intersecting lines;
• diagonal, horizontal and vertical stripes, dots and polka dots;
• triangles, complex shapes filled with color and glitter;
• active use of “negative space”, French, lunar techniques.

It is possible to creatively combine a variety of solutions and elements that will appeal to the fashionista. Rhinestones and pearls, kamifubuki, and different types of foil will help decorate your nails.

Sequins

Glitter powder and glitter are an excellent choice for creating an unusual, expressive manicure. It is not only suitable for holidays. With a little glitter, bright spring-summer nails will sparkle with refreshing colors. And soft pastel colors will reveal new, unexpected facets. Glitter can be applied to the entire surface or partially. Stretching or emphasizing drawings made by hand or using stickers.

How to properly make your own shellac nails: preparatory stages

So, having prepared all the necessary tools and materials for a shellac manicure, you can begin the preparatory stages. This includes preparing the nail plates.

Preliminary manipulations consist of the following steps:

• Treat the cuticles on your fingers.
• Form the nail shape that you like best.
• Polish your nails. This procedure is considered mandatory. Thanks to it, the shellac and the surface of the nail plate adhere better.
• Treat your nails with an antibacterial agent. It will degrease your nails and ensure even application of the polish.
• Apply a layer of base coat.
• Warm your nails under a UV lamp to fix the gel polish. The warm-up time should be approximately 30 seconds.

How long does shellac last?

The main advantage of this type of coating is its incredible durability. If the nail plates are healthy and do not peel or break, shellac will last from two to four weeks. The only negative is that by the end of the month the nails grow and their base becomes visible.

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Shellac at home for beginners step by step: base coating

Covering your nails after preparing them begins with applying a base. This layer protects nails from the negative effects of the pigment layer. In addition, the base makes the adhesion of the polish and nail much better.

step by step
according to the following instructions:

• Paint the left edge of the nail plate.
• Paint the right edge.
• Apply the base in the center of the nail.
• Before moving on to the next step, make sure that the edges of each nail are carefully “sealed.”
• Thanks to this technique, you will evenly distribute the base over your nails without catching the skin.

The entire database processing procedure consists of the following steps:

• To begin, twist . This way you will warm up the base, after which it will lie evenly on the nails.
• Apply foundation. Make sure the layer is not too thick. Otherwise, the base will take longer to harden, which can cause unwanted stains on your nails.
• Dry your nails for 30 seconds.

How long does it take on average to apply shellac?

One of the main reasons why girls do not want a procedure in a salon, but prefer to do it at home, is saving time. To come to a session with a master, you need to adjust your schedule to his schedule and spend time traveling there and back. In addition, the price for a manicure in a salon now ranges from 500-2000 rubles.

Shellac coating can be done quite quickly, since there is no need to waste time on lengthy drying of the work. Typically, time is divided into stages:

• Rough processing of nail plates – up to 40 minutes;
• Preparing the surface for decoration – up to 20 minutes;
• Application of decorative coating – up to 40 minutes;
• Design – up to 40 minutes.

On average, it takes from 2 to 2.5 hours to perform manipulations at home. However, if you first need to remove the previous work, the time increases to three hours.

Before applying shellac step by step, make sure that you have enough free time so as not to rush yourself while distributing the pigment, as this may affect the quality of the manicure.

How to apply shellac?

This layer makes your nails the color you want. To properly apply shellac, follow these instructions:

• Apply a thin layer of product. Do not seal the edges of your nails.
• Dry the shellac under the lamp for approximately 3 minutes.
• Next, reapply shellac . You can apply the same varnish or use a different color. With this technique, an original, unusual drawing is obtained.
• Hold your painted nails under a special lamp for approximately 3 minutes.

Keep in mind that each layer of shellac must be thin enough, otherwise the varnish will begin to swell and bubbles will form underneath.

The layer should be thin

• Before applying the varnish, check what condition it is in - the product should not be very thick. Varnish can deteriorate over time if you store it incorrectly.
• Make sure that the cap on the tube is screwed on well. Store the varnish only in a dark place where the temperature is no more than +25°C.

What is the difference between gel polish and shellac, are they the same thing or not?

Gel polish and shellac are not the same thing, although these materials have many of the same characteristics. To understand the essence of each material, it is enough to know the following nuances:

• For the first time, durable varnishes were created by CND. They received the common name Shellac.
• Other manufacturers created varnishes with similar effects that were resistant to abrasion/washing out for up to 14 days. They began to be called gel polishes.
• These two materials cannot be called similar, because they have significant differences.

Shellac can cause significant damage to the nail plate - in most cases, the nail becomes too dry and thin, and becomes more brittle. But this can be avoided if you contact specialists to apply the material and strictly follow their recommendations for the care and wearing of decorative coating.

By the way, in different sources there are different spellings of the name of the material for sustainable manicure - shilak, shellac, sherlac, schelak. But it is actually correct to write strictly according to the transcription of the original word - shellac.

Shellac manicure: how to apply decorative elements correctly?

The scheme and method of applying decor during a manicure with shellac is almost no different from decorating nails during a manicure with ordinary varnish. But here, after applying the decorations, you should also re-coat your nails with a finishing coat of varnish.

The decor on the nails during a shellac manicure can look like:

• Ribbon, stripe.
• Ornaments.
• Various patterns.
• Images.
• Applying several shades of varnish at once.
• Glitter and so on.

Images

Ribbons

Stones Glitter and powder

Popular types of nail decoration

It’s already clear what a shellac manicure is, but not every girl is satisfied with plain-colored nails. It is the durable coatings that allow you to create a wide variety of designs. To feel like a nail artist, you don’t even need to know how to draw.

Popular types of decoration:

• Lunar manicure, French. It’s convenient to do it using stencils, but you can paint over the smile line with a thin brush.
• Gradients. They give enormous scope for imagination; you can come up with a variety of shade combinations.
• Stickers. A simple, convenient, cheap way to decorate your nails with flowers, animals, hieroglyphs and any other pictures.
• Rhinestones, broths, stones. They are used for convex decor, do not require any glue, and are “settled” on the top coat, sometimes on the base.
• Stamping. It is a plate with patterns applied; you can choose your own shades and shapes.
  Overview of stamping technology

What is manicure, its types and popular nail design options

There are many options, the main thing is not to go to great lengths, the abundance of rhinestones, bouillons, kamifubuki and stickers looks cheap. You need to know when to stop and don’t forget about the appropriateness of such a manicure at work or in an educational institution.

The final stage of a shellac manicure is applying the top.

During the final stage of the manicure, the last layer, the top coat, is applied with shellac. This procedure is performed as follows:

• Apply top coat in a thick layer. Seal each open edge of your nails with topcoat. This way the colored varnish will be in a closed “vessel”.
• Dry your nails. The drying time under a special lamp should be approximately 2 minutes.
• Take a lint-free cloth and a special product. Remove the sticky layer.
• If you don’t have a means to remove the sticky layer, acetone or ordinary alcohol will do. But these substances can ruin your manicure. Therefore, use them extremely carefully.

Are the funds beneficial?

The answer depends on personal feelings, so you can find it by trying both methods.

Useful qualities also include strengthening nails and protecting them from environmental influences. But you should not use products to treat the surface, since these are decorative products that do not have such effects.

How to properly apply shellac at home: secrets

Making your nails beautiful can sometimes be very difficult, especially when it comes to shellac. If you are a beginner, you can use the detailed instructions above, but it may not be enough for you. After all, you are not familiar with the secrets that real professionals know.

To get the perfect manicure, experts recommend using the following tips:

• To evenly distribute the glitter on the surface of the nail, mix it with a small amount of transparent base. Mix the mixture thoroughly, then apply a second layer of jewelry to your nails.
• To make your manicure last longer, apply shellac in a thin layer. Avoid touching the cuticles to keep your manicure looking neat.
• To do a French manicure, do not use stencils. After all, after drying the varnish, it will be difficult for you to remove them. If you remove the stencils before the gel has dried, it may run.
• If you use shellac to extend your nails, do not file the entire nail down. Just sand .
• To remove cuticles, experts advise using a special product. However, if the cuticles are not very noticeable, then take an orange stick and use it to push back the cuticles on your fingers.

Instructions for home

• When buying a UV lamp , pay special attention to the power of the equipment. The best option is a 36 W lamp. In this case, the varnish will dry quite quickly.
• Any correction must be carried out under this mandatory condition - the nail plate must be dry. Even a gentle file will not be able to keep wet nails intact.
• Use cuticle oil every day. Apply it in the morning, then in the evening. Only in this case will you not get hangnails on your fingers.
• Before visiting a beauty salon, first treat your nails. If your nails are sick, shellac will only make the problem worse. The nails will begin to break, peel, and fungus may appear.
• Do not apply hand cream before applying shellac.

Differences

This includes technical indicators.

Compound

Each brand has an individual “zest”. But the main point is the ratio of the gel component and the varnish in the bottle. And to be more precise, their concentration. So, there is less gel in shellac than in other products. But its components include acetone, which greatly dries the nail surface with prolonged use of the coating.

On the other hand, alternative varnish names include other harmful substances: formaldehyde, toluene, etc. But we note that the positions of leading brands are absolutely harmless.

Application method

First, we put the nails in order: we file them, treat them if necessary. The process takes place in different ways. Using shellac does not require the application of a primer, and to remove old layers it is enough to use a special liquid.

For gel, a degreasing layer is necessary, otherwise the color will not stick to the surface. To remove it, it is better to contact an experienced nail specialist. The procedure carried out independently may damage the record.

Polymerization period

Drying time depends on several factors:

• number of layers;
• type of lamp: LED dries 2 times faster;
• the presence of decorative ornaments;
• percentage of gel component: shellac is fixed better.

As a result, it takes about half an hour to work with shellac, and much longer with other types.

Duration of wearing

The gel retains shine and freshness of color for 2 weeks. CND products have amazing durability - up to 3 or more. For example, some coatings last up to 28 days, demonstrating resistance to external influences, scratches and chips.

The criterion depends on several factors: proper application of products, contact with household chemicals and water. Also, overgrown nails look unpresentable, so the best option is about three weeks.

Withdrawal procedure

Shellac has a gentle layer removal procedure. It does not require filing or stripping of the design. The process is performed using a special solvent, covered with foil for 10 minutes to soften the coating. The CND set includes lint-free wipes and orange sticks that do not damage the surface.

Despite this, the gel still has a lot of fans. Nail experts assure that with the right approach and the use of high-quality tools, it is impossible to damage your nails.

Color palette

Gel products have a wide range, allowing you to create a design to suit every taste. But in shellac, brightness and saturation predominate, as well as innovative thermal positions that change shade at different air temperatures.

Price

Each individual brand sets its own price and, depending on this, it can be several times higher or lower. For example, the founder company has the most expensive line. The analogue from Gelish sets the same price tag, but the bottle is twice as large. And Kodi releases items that are 3 or even 4 times cheaper.

Correction

The advantage of gel polish is that the manicure can be adjusted. In this case, the design is preserved for several more weeks. Shellac cannot be restored. Therefore, after the end of its service life, the old layer is removed and a new one is applied.

Consistency

The “brainchild” of CND contains a larger amount of varnish component, which means it is as liquid as the classic product. It is applied to the nail quite thinly and is practically not felt. And the gel variety is thicker.

Benefits of shellac manicure

As you can already understand, shellac has many positive aspects. Among them we highlight the following:

• looks just as good on short nails as it does on long nails. This method makes it possible to paint nails to the required length.
• Since shellac is considered a natural remedy, thanks to it, nails are strengthened breaking .
• Shellac can last on nails for quite a long time. Many women wear this manicure for almost 3 weeks.
• To remove shellac, you need a special product. This means that nails coated with this method are not afraid of various household chemicals.
• Thanks to shellac, nails become shiny . The shine on them can last for quite a long period without fading over time.
• Companies that produce shellac products try to closely follow fashion. Therefore, the palette of varnish colors is regularly updated. On sale you can always find both classic shades and bright, interesting, avant-garde tones of gel polishes.
• The main advantage of shellac is that this method of painting nails is considered completely safe . The main components of shellac contain no formaldehyde. That is why such a manicure can be done not only by girls prone to allergies, but also by pregnant women.
• If you suddenly get tired of shellac , you can remove it yourself at home. To do this, purchase a gel polish remover or film in advance from a specialized store. Then carefully study the instructions for beginners , and only after that clean your nails of polish.

In the mood Gently

Unusual

Bright Blue Red

Shellac solutions for short nails

Short length is a wise choice for active, active ladies, young mothers caring for babies. Small nails look elegant and discreet, perfect for any look. Here are the most popular destinations this season:

• bright longitudinal stripes;
• delicate nude and translucent shades;
• any rich dark tones - chocolate, burgundy, blue, emerald;
• red palette;
• lunar design, French and reverse French;
• minimalism and abstraction.

Disadvantages of shellac manicure

Everything that exists on our planet has negative sides. Shellac was no exception. There are few disadvantages to manicure, but you should definitely know about them:

• The shellac procedure is quite expensive . Correction can also cost you a decent amount. So if your nails are growing quickly, accept that you may be incurring additional costs.
• The next negative side of shellac is the following - despite the fact that manufacturers claim that the coating is very durable, due to high temperature, nails can expand and then shrink, returning to their original size.
• Due to warm water while washing dishes or taking a bath, nails can become deformed, resulting in micro-cracks in the coating. Due to such cracks, dirt can get under the varnish, causing the development of bacteria.
• Shellac can stay on nails for a long time, so microbes have a lot of time to develop and damage the nails. If you want to avoid such consequences, try to do all your homework with gloves.

The service is expensive

Long periods of wear can promote the development of bacteria

Cons of products

The main disadvantage is that the layers prevent the penetration of oxygen to the plate, since it is tightly closed. Therefore, in order to reduce harm, it is necessary to take breaks between successive procedures and give the nails a rest. It is important to use caring elements, such as cuticle oil. The negative effect of shellac is excessive drying. Its cause was the presence of acetone in the composition.

The gel base also has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, before applying it, it is necessary to remove the top layer of the plate, which causes it to become thinner. Secondly, it is more often exposed to temperature changes, which provokes the appearance of microcracks and chips.

So, we looked at what it is: gel polish or shellac and what is their difference. Despite the differences in some criteria, the coatings provide unsurpassed hand aesthetics: it is impossible to overestimate the beauty and well-groomed nature of manicured fingers.

How to do a manicure with Cat's Eye shellac?

This type of manicure is considered very popular. By using a varnish that contains metal particles in the procedure, you can create unusual patterns that resemble a cat’s eye.

For this design, prepare the following materials:

• Varnish. It should be green.
• Magnet.

If you don't have a special magnet, then take a regular one.

Cat's eye
The process of creating such a manicure consists of the following steps:

• For shellac, prepare your nails and apply a base.
• Dry the base under a UV lamp.
• Apply a special green varnish and dry it too.
• Reapply the polish and hold the magnet near it. The metal particles will form an unusual pattern.

If you approach the magnet with its edge, you will get a pattern in the form of stripes. By twisting the magnet, you will get an interesting pattern that resembles a cat's eye. At the very end, coat the varnish with topcoat.

Shellac: French manicure

Perform French shellac using this method according to the following instructions:

• Initially, remove the cuticles, give the nails the desired shape, remove the oily layer.
• Apply primer.
• Next, cover your nails with a thin layer of base.
• Dry your nails under the lamp for approximately 3 minutes.
• Use a special cloth to remove the sticky layer that forms after drying.
• Paint your nails with the desired color.
• Carefully draw "smiles".
• Cover your nails with base coat.

French
Creating shellac at home is an easy procedure even for beginners. If you follow our instructions, you will definitely get a beautiful manicure.

You can find out more about manicure here:

• Manicure yourself at home, with or without varnish
• Hot manicure at home
• Designs and ideas for purple manicure
• Emerald manicure
• Beautiful knitted manicure
• Manicure with hearts

Reviews

• Polina, 31 years old: “With my rhythm of life, Shellac is irreplaceable. With him in my arms I feel like a real woman. We girls know how important a manicure is to those around us. When communicating, I often gesture with my hands, imagining what my partners would think of me if I were without a manicure. Sometimes in a series of events I forget to come to the next coating session, but my master constantly reminds me of this, which is very convenient. I go to her once every three weeks, that’s how long my nails are in perfect condition.”
• Rimma, 46 years old: “I did Shellac coating several times. I’ll say right away that its quality will depend on the experience of the master. The first time it literally fell off in pieces on the third day. And I decided to return to gel polish, until a friend introduced me to her trusted master, who is also a virtuoso in his field, after she covered my nails with shellac, I had a wonderful manicure for a whole month.”