Today, many fashionistas are asking the question of how to do shellac nails at home, since the procedure in beauty salons is quite expensive. Every girl dreams that her manicure will last as long as possible and not be upset by chipped edges at the most inopportune moment. That is why many manufacturers of products for these manipulations offer innovative durable coatings. The gel polishes are truly impressive - they last on your nails for up to three weeks.

The most popular gel polish can be called the product of the Schellak brand - many fashionistas have their favorite shades from the shellac palette. But applying gel coatings is accompanied by one difficulty - drying them requires a special UV lamp, so most often this manicure is done in salons. If you are satisfied with gel polishes and plan to do such manicures regularly, you should think about purchasing a UV lamp. And we will tell you how to do shellac nails at home, step-by-step instructions with a video will help you understand all the intricacies of this process. It also describes in detail how to remove shellac polish at home without much difficulty and without harm to the nail plate.

What do you need for shellac at home - what can you save on?

In addition to the above-mentioned lamp, you will need a whole set of tools and tools, which can cost a pretty penny. Let's find out what is needed for shellac at home, and whether it is possible to reduce the cost of a manicure. So which lamp to choose and what can you save on?

It is not at all necessary to buy a lamp from the same manufacturer as the varnish. You can purchase a less expensive lamp that will do the job just as well as equipment from well-known brands. In salons, nails are often treated with a special cuticle cleaner before applying the coating. You can completely do without it by doing the usual trimmed manicure or pushing back a small, neat cuticle with an orange stick.

By the way, you can replace the orange stick with a plastic one - it will be cheaper. To polish the surface of the nail plate, a buff is used; this tool is a rectangular parallelepiped with abrasive sides. Instead of a buff, you can take a regular small file.

Before applying the gel coating, nails must be degreased. In salons, this is done using a branded primer, and to cover nails with shellac at home, just wipe your nails with acetone-containing nail polish remover.

After applying shellac, you need to remove the sticky layer; there is also a special liquid for this procedure, and we also successfully replace it with the above-mentioned acetone-containing product. Remove the sticky layer using lint-free wipes - a cotton pad or swab will not work.

What else you shouldn't skimp on - color (tinting) coating, base coat and top coat, all these products should be from Schellak. At least one color coating is required. If you are going to create an unusual shellac design at home, choose several contrasting shades.

Step-by-step instructions for applying shellac to nails (with video)

The procedure for creating a manicure using shellac is significantly different from the procedure for painting nails with regular varnish - it is much more complicated. Therefore, the first few times we recommend strictly following the step-by-step instructions explaining all the steps when applying shellac at home.

1. Get your nails in order as usual - adjust the length, shape, take care of the cuticles, but do not use any creams or oils.
2. Sand the surface of each nail with a file or buff. This will increase adhesion - improve the adhesion of the coating to the surface of the nail, which will have a positive effect on the durability of the manicure.
3. Apply primer and wait until it dries, or wipe your nails with an acetone-based nail polish using a lint-free cloth.
4. Apply a thin layer of shellac base coat. The end of the nail must be sealed - the coating is applied both to the end of the nail and slightly to its reverse, lower side. This technique will help prevent chipping; it can also be used when applying regular varnish.
5. After applying the base, dry your nails in the lamp for one and a half minutes.
6. Apply a thin layer of colored shellac.
7. Dry your nails in the lamp for one and a half minutes.
8. Apply a thicker layer of colored shellac, sealing the edge of the nail.
9. Dry your nails under the lamp for two minutes.
10. Apply the top coat in a thick layer, covering the end of the nail and the cuticle area.
11. Dry your nails in the lamp for at least two minutes.
12. Remove the sticky layer using a lint-free cloth and a special product.

If you are doing a manicure in more than one color, but are doing designs on your nails, you need to place your fingers under the lamp for a minute and a half each time after applying elements of the next shade. Step-by-step application of shellac at home will take you about an hour, but once you get the hang of it, you can spend about 40 minutes on a manicure. After applying the base and color component, sticky layers also remain, but there is no need to remove them - thanks to them, the manicure lies evenly and more tightly, and lasts longer. If you want the polish color to be slightly sheer, you can apply the colored polish in one coat.

Look at the video of a shellac manicure at home - this is useful information for future masters:

How to make a French design with French shellac at home?

The French design with French shellac can be called universal; it is suitable for both the office and a party. Let's look at how to make it beautifully and neatly below. Many fashionistas have adapted to making French nail art using stencils, but we hasten to disappoint you - French shellac is done by hand at home. The use of stencils is unacceptable, as they will leave sticky marks and the finishing coat will not be of sufficient quality, which can result in chips and cracks appearing within a few days. To paint the white or colored edge of your nail, you will need a narrow brush. To ensure a flawless result, first practice drawing a smile line with regular varnish.


Before you start creating a French jacket, you should not carry heavy bags or wash it by hand. If the arm muscles were tense, the hands will tremble, and an even smile will never work. Pour some white polish onto a piece of foil to make it easier to dip a thin brush into the polish. Squeeze the brush well on the edge of the bottle and make two strokes from the side edges of the nail to the middle, drawing the border of a smile. Draw a solid line exactly along the strokes. Now paint the smile area using point-to-point movements, touching the original line as little as possible. After applying white polish, keep your nails in the lamp for one and a half minutes.

How to remove shellac polish at home: you can remove and erase it in different ways

And now you have fully appreciated the benefits of gel coatings, and the design honestly lasted for several weeks. It's time to find out how to remove shellac at home without permanently damaging your nail plate. This can be done in different ways.

Special kits are sold that are used by specialists in salons. These are pieces of foil with small fragments of sponge. These expensive sets can be successfully replaced with cotton pads and baking foil, cutting both into pieces of the desired size. The Schellak company recommends removing the gel coating only with a special branded shellac remover, but practice shows that a regular nail polish remover, which costs several times less, is quite suitable.

Before removing shellac polish at home, soak cotton pads in the product and apply them to each nail. Now wrap pieces of foil around your fingertips and press the cotton pads tightly against your nails. Leave the foil on your nails for 15 minutes, periodically pressing on the cotton wool. Remove the foil and remove the shellac from your nails with an orange or plastic stick. If you applied shellac too thickly, you may need to repeat the procedure on how to remove shellac at home. If this does not help, and in some places the polish remains, file it off with a manicure file, and then do not forget to lubricate the nails and the skin around the nails with cuticle oil to avoid drying out.

Now you know how to apply and how to remove shellac at home. Perhaps soon this type of manicure will become your favorite way to decorate your nails. Finally, we suggest watching a video of a shellac manicure at home in order to finally consolidate in your memory all the subtleties of this process.

Now cosmetic brands have begun to produce home kits with LED lamps. If you don’t have the time or desire to sit in the salon for hours, you can create a gel manicure yourself in just 30 minutes. And Irina Savchenko, training manager of the Orly brand, will teach you how to do it correctly.

Keep in mind that it is correct to call only products from the CND brand, a pioneer among long-lasting varnishes, “shellac.” But its serious popularity has made this word a household word: when we say “shellac,” we mean a two-week manicure.

STEP 1
File your nails and push back the cuticles with a spatula. Then moisten a napkin with a degreaser and wipe the nail plates with it.

STEP 2
Did you manage? Apply a thin layer of base coat to four nails (don't touch your thumbs yet). And immediately place them in the lamp for exactly 1 minute.

STEP 3
Now take the gel polish. After painting your nail, don’t forget to “seal” it by running the brush along the outer edge - this way nothing will happen to it during the entire vacation. And fix the coating in an LED lamp: the instructions will indicate the exact drying time of the product (from 30 seconds to 3 minutes). Apply a second layer of varnish using the same pattern.

STEP 4
Ready? To make your manicure shine throughout your vacation and look as if you just left the manicure, use a top coat. After applying it, immerse your fingers in the lamp again (from 30 seconds to 2 minutes).

STEP 5
Now, as at the very beginning, wipe the nail plates with a degreaser to wash off the sticky coating that formed on them during the procedure. Remember: the napkin must be lint-free.

THE FINAL TOUCH
Ideally, it would be good to soften the cuticle with oil - one or two drops is enough.

• Now repeat steps 2-5 with your thumbs.

How to remove shellac at home

1. Lightly go over your nails with a 180 grit file to remove the top layer of coating.
2. Now moisten cotton pads with a special liquid (it is included in any LED manicure kit) and wrap your fingers in them. If you want to speed up the process, also pack the limbs in foil. Sit like this for 10 minutes.
3. Believe me, it's worth it: the varnish will come off on its own.
4. If not, help him with an orange stick or a plastic scraper.

Which kits to use at home

Set for gel polish manicure, Red Carpet

• Degreaser Prep
• Base coat Structure
• Color coating LED Gel Polish (128 Reddy)
• Brilliance Top Coat
• Purify nail pre-cleaner and sticky remover
• Erase gel polish manicure remover
• Portable light-emitting diode (LED) lamp

The manicure, as usual, did not last even a week; the coating was cracked and began to chip off in the corners. And my friend has been wearing her French jacket for almost a month and no matter what. Don't complain, but read how to apply shellac correctly to show off your perfect nails.

Let's divide the whole process into three steps:

• preparation of materials;
• preparation of the nail plate;
• applying shellac.

Any process begins with the preparation of the necessary materials. It’s better to have everything at hand at once than to waste time searching for the necessary thing.

To properly apply shellac and forget about manicure for up to 4 weeks, you will need:

1. UV or LED lamp. Their main difference is the rate of polymerization of the varnish. Therefore, for some coatings there are restrictions on drying in a particular apparatus. For example, shellac for LED lamps will not dry in a UV lamp and vice versa.

1. Manicure set. You will need a cuticle spatula, a special hatchet, nail files (wooden and/or glass) and a manicure brush.

1. Cuticle softener. It can be oil or a special cream. If you are going to do a trim manicure, then you won’t need it.

1. Degreaser and hydrator. If there are none, you can find an alternative. Read, .

1. Base and top coat. The recommendation on the shellac bottle will help you choose the right one. If there is none, replace the top coat with a clear varnish.

1. Sticky layer remover. An alternative would be a degreaser.

1. Lint-free wipes. Don't look for a replacement for them in the form of cotton pads. They will leave lint and subsequently compromise the integrity of the coating.

Step 2. Preparing the nail plate

It is important not just to carefully apply shellac, but to create all the conditions so that it lasts as long as possible.

Manicure

Don't rush to apply nail polish. Pay attention to their shape and regrown cuticle. The first is to correct, the second is to get rid of.

Always start with the cuticle. The need to remove it is simply explained. You won't be able to carefully apply shellac without affecting it. With further growth of the nail, it will be the cause of peeling of the coating. Therefore, either cut it with special tweezers, or soften it with cuticle oil and move it away with an orange stick or spatula. Touch up the remains (keratinized layer) with a manicure hatchet.

Don't forget about form. Even if it is perfect, the nail will still have to be sanded for better adhesion to the coating.

Don't use metal files. They destroy the structure of the nail. Give preference to sapphire, sand and fine abrasive ones.

After filing, clean off nail pollen with a special manicure brush.

Degreasing

After giving the nails the correct shape, proceed to the next stage - degreasing.

Pay special attention to this procedure. Degreasing and removing excess moisture from the surface of the nail is necessary so that shellac lasts a long time, does not peel off or roll off during wear.

First, disinfect your nail with an alcohol wipe. It will remove remaining dust and partially remove greasy deposits. Carefully treat the sides and the area around the cuticle.

After this, degrease the surface of the nail plate with bonding agent and remove excess moisture using a dehydrator.

Treat all your nails sequentially, rather than waiting for one to dry before starting the next one. The sooner you complete the procedure and move on to the next step, the more likely your nails will not have time to get greasy again.

Don't apply too much product. The thickness of the layer does not affect the quality of degreasing. Rather, on the contrary, an excess of the substance negatively affects the coating.

If you did everything correctly, the nail will look matte.

Step 3. Applying shellac

The nails are prepared, the remaining dust and grease have been removed, which means you can move on to the most important stage - applying shellac.

Creating the Foundation

Surely, you have already taken out your favorite bottle of shellac, unscrewed the brush and brought it over your nail. Wait. First, create a base. This will be the key to a long-lasting coating.

Use a special transparent gel as a base. It usually states that it is suitable specifically for shellac. It is better not to select analogues or experiment with alternative means. At the basic level, the best option is the original product.

Cover the entire nail thoroughly, leaving no gaps. Otherwise, the shellac will begin to slide off the unpainted areas.

After applying the gel base, be sure to dry your nails in a UV or LED lamp for 10-60 seconds. The waiting time depends on the manufacturer and composition of the coating, as well as the lamp used.

Pay attention to the labeling of the shellac bottle. LED is used to indicate quick-drying varnishes. Only LED lamps can dry these. UV - on the contrary, polymerizes only under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. They will not be suitable for LED lamps.

Have you noticed that there is a sticky layer left on your nail? Under no circumstances should it be washed. This is done only at the end of the entire manicure, and not in the early stages.

Painting your nails

Has the base dried out? Great, you can start applying shellac. There is no fundamental difference from applying regular varnish.

Start with the little finger and work your way up to the big toe. You can dry each nail separately or paint them all at once and place your hand in a UV lamp. The only difference is the availability of free time.

Fill the nail with shellac in three steps. First, place a small dot at the base, near the cuticle, and draw a line along the entire length. Then go over the left edge of the nail, and then along the right. Remember to seal the tip while applying the final coat.

The number of layers of shellac depends on its color and density. Some light shades only develop on the third or fourth coat, while for rich colors two will be enough.

Finish your manicure with a top coat. It will protect shellac from exposure to aggressive environments, prolong its durability and protect against fading.

Remember that each layer must be dried in a lamp for at least two minutes.

Removing the sticky layer

After polymerization of all layers, a sticky layer remains that can and should be removed. Many women use alcohol for such purposes without spending money on special products, such as a cleanser or a degreaser. It is not advisable to repeat after them. Alcohol will deprive the coating of gloss and devalue all your work.

Take your time to remove the sticky layer immediately after drying. A minute should pass between these two stages. This will protect your shellac from tarnishing. Use only lint-free wipes to avoid leaving unnecessary marks on the surface.

It's better to see it once than to re-read it several times. Therefore, watch the video instructions for applying shellac at home:

Common Mistakes

The coating will last longer if you take into account a number of common mistakes and do not repeat them.

Material peeling

To prevent shellac from chipping, flaking, or wrinkling, follow 4 rules:

1. Prepare your nail plate carefully. Insufficient degreasing, neglect of the dehydration procedure, and the use of improvised means lead to shellac peeling.

1. Know your limits. Do you want bright nails? Apply several thin layers of coating, rather than one thick one. It is unlikely that it will be possible to dry it sufficiently, which means that it will quickly wrinkle, sagging will form and chips will occur.

1. Don't feel sorry for the top. Unlike shellac, you can apply it in a thick layer.

1. Stick to drying times strictly. If you realize that you only have an hour to create a manicure, it is better to refuse shellac coating. Reducing the drying time leads to delamination of the material.

If you carefully followed all the rules and strictly followed the instructions, but the varnish still chipped, then the reason is in the characteristics of your body. You may have peeling nails. A nail file and vitamins will solve the problem.

Neglecting the cuticle

Often, removing cuticles is long, tedious and sometimes even painful. But without this you won’t get a lasting manicure. Imagine, the nail is constantly growing, but the cuticle remains in place. By grabbing it when painting, you doom the coating to peeling off.

Carefully look at the composition of cuticle softeners. Give preference to bases based on fruit acids, avoiding alkaline ones. They do not leave a specific coating, which means they minimize the risk of coating damage.

Use of low-quality materials

It is difficult for beginners to decide which product is of high quality. I would like to buy inexpensive shellac and quickly start creating beautiful nails. This approach is wrong; you won’t be able to save money on cheap coatings. They damage the nail plate and are consumed 2 times faster.

Find a trusted seller and buy all manicure products in specialized stores.

Pay attention to the expiration date and storage conditions. Do not use shellac that has been exposed to direct sunlight. This manicure won't last long.

For those who are still confused about the concepts of shellac and gel polish and don’t know what to choose, what are the differences - this is the article for you.

What is shellac and how is it made?

Shellac is a resinous substance of some tropical and subtropical plants, used in the production of varnish, plastics, etc. Shellac contains shellolic acid, aleuretic acid, shellac wax, dihydroxyphycocerolic acid, a water-soluble pigment, and water.

Shellac, a long-lasting nail coating, is a unique hybrid of gel and varnish from the manufacturer CND, a unique product that has become an alternative to regular nail polish.

Girls, let's be literate: Shellac is a product of the American company CND (Creative Nail Design). Shellac products are unique. Shellac is one brand in the world of gel polishes, all other brands (there are a huge number of them on the market now) are gel polishes.

Differences between shellac and gel polish

Shellac CND gel polish contains a large percentage of varnish base. Apply like regular nail polish. And due to its gel base, it lasts a long time on the nails.

Frequently asked question “Should I choose gel polish or Shellac?”
Knowing all the features it will be easier to make a choice.
Before coating the shellac gel polish, you do not need to file it down first - sand the nail.

And before applying gel polish from most companies, it is necessary to sand the nail. Also, CND does not have a primer, you can immediately apply the base coat, and when applying most gel polishes you need to use a primer (do not confuse primer and nail degreaser).

Before applying simple nail polish, the master must degrease the nail plate.

How to remove shellac at home

To remove shellac coating at home There is no need to destroy the top layer first, just apply CND Product Remover to a cotton pad and place it on the nail, then wrap it in foil and wait 10 minutes. If you compare it with gel polish, it’s a little more complicated; first you need to file away (destroy) the top layer, and only then apply nail polish remover.

How to apply shellac correctly

8 simple steps to properly apply Shellac at home?

Step-by-step description of the coating procedure:

STEP 1 . We file it with a file and give the edge of the nail the desired shape.

STEP 2 . Apply Cuticle Away to your cuticles.

STEP 3 . Do a manicure without using cream or oil.

STEP 4 . Wipe the nail thoroughly with Scrub Fresh degreaser, paying special attention to the entire surface of the nail.

STEP 5 . Apply UV Base Coat and cure in a lamp for 10 seconds

STEP 6. Apply UV Color Coat Shellac - color coating in 2 layers, each polymerizes in a lamp for 2 minutes. First, apply the gel polish on 4 nails of your right hand, polymerize, then on 4 nails of your left hand, polymerize. Then apply the gel polish to 2 thumbs at the same time.

Apply each layer VERY THIN, if the layer is thick, the shellac will curl when drying. If shellac gets on your skin, be sure to remove it before drying.

STEP 7 . Apply a thin layer of UV Top Coat gel, sealing the tip of the nail. We polymerize in a lamp for 2 minutes.

STEP 8 . Apply Cool Blue Remover to the sponge and remove the sticky layer from your nails.

How long does shellac last?

Shellac coating usually lasts up to two weeks, and gel polishes last 3 weeks. There is a difference between hybrid coatings in terms of wear time.

Pros and cons of BlueSky shellac

PROS

Shellac is quite durable and does not get damaged. The coating retains its shine throughout the entire period and does not fade. Shellac is quite harmless and does not contain dangerous chemicals. Large selection of colors, easy to remove and apply.

MINUSES

It is better to do the procedure in a salon until you purchase the equipment. One of the disadvantages is the purchase of a lamp for drying nails after painting, so you cannot immediately begin the shellac procedure at home, without additional expenses.

What to choose shellac or regular gel polish

Everyone makes their choice based on the criteria: if the naturalness of your nails is important to you and you don’t want to injure the nail plate (by filing, chemical primer), then choose shellac.

Video about how to work with shellac in 2016

In the video you can watch the procedure for removing and correctly applying shellac. How to make shellac nails at home, as well as complete and detailed instructions.

This is a combination of varnish and gel for nail extension. Outwardly, it resembles ordinary varnish. But its durability is not inferior to gel.

Advantages

It combines the best properties of its components:

• resistance to external influences (does not chip, does not scratch, does not wear off);
• excellent color range;
• beautiful shine;
• optimal density;
• absence of harmful chemicals;
• creating additional hardness;
• increasing plate flexibility;
• ability to last up to 2-3 weeks while maintaining an attractive appearance.

The palette includes 36 color tones. Their number is constantly increasing.

Do-it-yourself kit

To properly apply the composition at home, you need to prepare the following:

• cream that softens cuticles (thick leathery ridges surrounding the nail plates below);
• a wooden stick for removing cuticles;
• soft special file;
• base coating;
• shellac with selected color;
• top (top) layer of shellac;
• Ultraviolet lamp;
• shellac remover.

How to apply and remove?

The technology of applying varnish consists of several mandatory steps.

Preparation

Before applying the composition, you need to prepare your nails:

1. Trim the cuticles and use a nail file to create the desired shape and length.
2. Use a file to sand the nail surfaces to remove the gloss.
3. Treat your nails with any antibacterial drug
4. Degrease the surface with alcohol and wait until it dries. In the absence of alcohol, it is permissible to thoroughly wash your hands with soapy water and dry them well with a towel.

Applying base and drying

The base should be carefully and thinly applied to prepared nails (including their end part). Then hold it in a UV lamp for a couple of minutes. After each layer of gel it is necessary to dry it for two minutes. Do not remove the remaining sticky layer.

A 36 W lamp is best suited for drying. It is convenient because both hands can be dried in one go, which saves time. It is acceptable to use a 9 W lamp, which will dry just as well. But with its help you won’t be able to dry both hands at once.

Application

You can apply the main color to the base using a brush from the bottle. We recommend covering your nails twice. Three layers are allowed. Don’t forget to dry each layer for two minutes.

The final stage

At the end, a fixing layer is applied, which is thicker than the previous layers. It must be laid down without streaks with a pure gloss. Next, brush the entire perimeter of the free edge with a wrung-out brush. The finish covers the entire color layer.

The last composition dries for two minutes. It is necessary to ensure that the fixative does not get on the skin and cuticle. Otherwise, the integrity of the coating may be compromised. All that remains is a lint-free cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol to remove the stickiness from the fixative.

Using nourishing cuticle oil completes the procedure. It is useful to do a light hand massage.

Features of coating removal

To get rid of the coating, you should stock up on:

• sponges (10 pcs.) or special patches;
• stick (orange or wooden);
• branded product that dissolves manicure (special liquid, varnish with acetone or 99% isopropyl alcohol).

Wrap each nail in a sponge well soaked in liquid. Each finger can be “sealed” in pre-cut foil. Keep for up to ten minutes. Massage the nail plates without removing the sponge (plaster). Then use a stick to remove the remaining coating.

Helpful information

Cost of the procedure in beauty salons

The average price in the salon is 2,000 rubles. It can vary from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles.

A kit for an independent procedure can be purchased in an online store for a price of 1.5 to 2.5 thousand rubles. It may seem like there is no difference. But the purchased set can be used for a long time and as a result this will provide significant savings.

What do you need to remember?

For your first experience to be successful, you need to know about several more important factors:

1. The varnish will not peel off if each layer is thin.
2. There is no need to neglect the treatment of the cuticle, otherwise the composition that gets on it will soon begin to peel off.
3. It is necessary to buy only original products from trusted manufacturers so that there is no doubt about their quality.
4. The top (finish coating) should be thicker, which guarantees its strength.
5. It is better to soften cuticles with a cream containing fruit acids. If the cream has an alkaline base, then the nail plates require especially careful degreasing.
6. The power of the ultraviolet lamp must correspond to the shellac coating technology, otherwise it may be deformed.
7. Detachment of the composition is possible not only in case of technology violation. This may be due to the individual structure of the plate, taking medications, vitamin deficiency, or hormonal disorders.

Hands should be given rest. After shellac twice, a break of 20 to 25 days is required.

How to store?

Many problems can be avoided by proper storage of the product:

• sealed vials should be stored for two years;
• after opening the bottles and using the product, it is necessary to clean the necks of the vessels and close them tightly;
• Do not allow the bottles to be heated or exposed to sunlight;
• Before the procedure, the composition must be mixed well;
• if it has thickened, you should not dilute it with new one from another bottle, this will worsen the quality of the manicure.

It is very important to strictly follow the rules for applying and storing the product. This will save you from annoying failures and allow you to create a wonderful manicure yourself. With high-quality coverage, a woman can walk for up to three weeks.