Who wouldn’t want their nail polish to last two or three weeks without chipping, flaking or peeling?
Shellac nail gel is a special nail polish combined with a gel that is supposed to provide you with this type of long-lasting result.
Shellac is the brand name for a product produced by Creative Nail Design (CND). Their Shellac polish can only be bought and applied by a licensed nail salon. However, like any product, there are do-it-yourself versions that can be purchased on the internet.
How it is applied?
Shellac nail gel is applied by brushing on several coats of the polish/gel but between each coat, nails are dried using a hand-size UV light.
Other gel manicures are applied in a two-step process. First, a gel substance is applied to the nail that is filed and shaped. Then nail polish follows to add the color.
Shellac nail gel has combined these two steps by repeatedly having the technician layer the polish/gel combination on to the nail.
How it is removed?
Shellac gel is removed by applying a special acetone wrap to the nails and fingertips to soften the polish so it can be scraped and filed off.
The acetone stays on for about 10 minutes. It is only supposed to be removed by the salon to avoid damaging your nails.
Who is it best suited for?
Shellac is not good for people who have damaged, split or peeling nails. Your nails should be healthy in order to consider using Shellac.
How much does it cost?
Shellac manicures cost $30-40 dollars each time at a salon and $5 to remove the polish.
Now, here is the "Bad and Ugly" part.
According to Good Housekeeping, “Shellac contains methylpyrrolidone, a chemical that is used to dissolve other chemicals. In June 2001, methylpyrrolidone was added to California's Prop 65 list of toxic chemicals as a chemical discovered to cause reproductive toxicity.”
(Note: CND Shella has reported that "As of August 2011, CND Shellac does not contain the chemical Methyl Pyrrolidone (n-MP").
“Nail polish, polish removers and artificial nail products contain a host of toxic chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer, reproductive harm, asthma and other negative health effects,” according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
A problem with any nail polish product is that exposure to vapors can cause eye irritation, redness and itching, as well as skin irritation of varying degrees. Most salons do not have the type of ventilation really needed to evacuate the fumes from these chemicals.
Repeated exposure to acetone-based nail polish remover can damage your nails. The reason for this is that acetone is a solvent and can even dissolve plastic.
It can dry out the nail leaving it susceptible to injury and expose you to other chemicals in the remover.
UV light is necessary to cure the Shellac nail gel by placing one's hands repeatedly under the light. There have been concerns that skin cancer of the hand or fingers could be caused by this type of exposure.
CND has indicated that they provide UV lights that use low wattage UV bulbs but unless you have confidence in the salon, there is no way to really know.
It is recommended that you apply sunscreen prior to the application of the gel and be religious in its use daily.
Source:
Shellac Nails - FAQ's Creative Nail Designs - Shellac Nails. About.com. Web. July 15, 2012.
http://skincare.about.com/od/caringforyourfeet/a/CDNShellac.htm
Pros and cons of Shellac nail polish. Web. July 15, 2012.
http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/122994693.html
Is a Shellac Manicure For You? Web. July 15, 2012.
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/research-institute/about...
What's the difference between acetone and non-acetone nail polish remover? Discovery Fit and Health. Web. July 15, 2012.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/nail-care/tips/non-acetone-nai...
Nail Products And Salons. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Web. July 15, 2012.
http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=224
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles/
Reviewed on July 19, 2012
by Maryann Gromisch, RN
Edited by Jody Smith