Rules for applying shellac. How to apply shellac at home: technique and secrets

Manicure is a service that women consider indispensable. The main development in recent years has been a material such as shellac, which has many advantages. However, it is easy to learn how to apply it correctly without visiting a salon.

Shellac, or gel polish, is a type of nail coating that hardens under the influence of ultraviolet light. The very concept of shellac comes from the name of the first gel polish, which was produced by CND.

Shellac (it’s not difficult to learn how to apply it correctly) combines the features of varnish and gel. From the latter, qualities such as durability, strength, and ductility are taken. There are similarities with ordinary varnish: shellac is sold in jars with a brush. However, the shellac application technique uses several various means.

Advantages and disadvantages

pros	Minuses
Durability. If the manicure is done well, the coating can last up to a month.	A multi-stage, complex procedure for applying gel polish, which takes about 1.5-2 hours.
Protects the nail from peeling, cracking and breaking.	If shellac is removed carelessly, the structure of the nail may be damaged.
Wide color palette. Complex designs are easier to complete with shellac than with regular varnish because it dries faster.	Instability to temperature changes. Moisture and heat cause cracks in the varnish.
No toxic substances such as formaldehyde and toluene in the composition.	High price. In salons, a manicure with gel polish costs 1000-1200 rubles, and with ordinary varnish - 700 rubles.

Is shellac harmful for nails?

A master should know how to follow the correct technology for applying and removing shellac. Then the coating will not ruin your nails. There is even the opposite effect: thanks to shellac thin nails strengthened and protected from external influences.

Since the composition of high-quality gel polish is non-toxic, even pregnant women can do manicures with it. It’s not even the coating itself that can cause anxiety, but the process of applying it.

Some people express their concerns about the dangers of gel polish when they feel a burning sensation in the nail area during the drying process. It's not that the varnish somehow penetrates into nail plate and destroys it.

This is a natural process: under the influence ultraviolet rays Certain components of shellac, called photoinitiators, undergo a polymerization reaction, causing the coating to harden. Most often, tingling occurs if too much material is applied to the nails (for example, if a plate leveling procedure is also done).

Thus, the burning sensation does not harm the nails. If you feel it, you just need to remove your hands from the lamp for a few seconds until the discomfort stops being felt, and put them back.

If impatient girls begin to remove the shellac coating on their own, without using a special liquid, tearing it off in pieces, then the top layer of the nail plate comes off along with the varnish, which can damage the nails.

In this case, already thin nails may become even thinner. Because of this, nails can break and peel. Grinding the nail plate too hard and for too long before applying it can also have a detrimental effect.

Types of shellac

Shellac (how to apply it yourself correctly is described below) can be made many various ways, therefore, all the scope for imagination is given:

Ordinary plain coating. In this case, you can make all your nails the same color or highlight 1-2 fingers on each hand with a different shade or even design.
Gradient. In this case, a smooth transition between 2-3 colors occurs on the nails.
French. You can make a classic gentle version french manicure, or you can experiment: for example, make a strip of bright color.
Lunar manicure- this is something like a reverse French. The hole at the bottom of the nail can be filled with color or left transparent.
Marble manicure. In this case, a texture is created on the nail that is reminiscent of this material.
Shellac with drawings: you can draw monograms, geometric patterns and more complex compositions
Shellac using additional materials: rubbing, foil, rhinestones.

Materials for shellac

Shellac is like (you need to practice to apply it correctly), a multi-step procedure that requires various products that can be purchased in specialized stores.

Should I choose a UV or LED lamp?

A UV lamp emits ultraviolet light. When conducting research, it was found that a 36 W UV lamp (optimal power) polymerizes the coating in about 2-3 minutes, and lamps of lower power take even longer. At the same time, there is a high probability that when drying shellac in a 9-18 W UV lamp, the coating will polymerize unevenly, of poor quality, and matte areas may appear. In addition, light bulbs need to be changed periodically.

The LED lamp works using LEDs. The radiation spectrum of such a lamp is higher than its UV counterpart, so drying one layer of varnish takes only 20-30 seconds. This saves a lot of time and makes the shellac procedure shorter.

According to many manufacturers, LED lamps can work up to 50 thousand hours, that is, almost 5 years. There is no need to replace LEDs, as they do not burn out. At the same time, LED lamps are not capable of drying all varnishes.

IN Lately Many scientists have expressed their concerns about the safety of ultraviolet radiation, since its excess can lead to the development of various diseases. Of course, the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the lamp is not enough to have a detrimental effect on human health.

However, in this regard, it is still much safer to use LED lamps. You can also protect your hands from ultraviolet radiation: for example, use special gloves that leave only your nails exposed, or sunscreen.

Preparing nails for the procedure

First you need to do classic manicure: file your nails to the desired length, shape them, trim and push back the cuticles. Then you need to buff the nail plate until it stops shining and becomes matte.

Next, you need to wipe your nails with a degreaser using small lint-free wipes. This substance removes dust and excess fat from the surface of the nail.

The following two remedies are not always necessary. However, if they are not applied, the durability of the coating is called into question. Both of these products are in jars, like varnishes, and are applied with a brush. Primer is needed to dehydrate nails. Bonder is a “primer”.

Firstly, the primer and bonder create a layer between the nail and the subsequent varnish coatings, that is, they kind of protect it. Secondly, thanks to these materials, the varnish adheres more tightly to the nail and adheres to it. This means that the likelihood of further chipping and peeling of the varnish is reduced.

It is important to use an acid-free primer. It's more efficient. In addition, he treats the weak more delicately, brittle nails and does not cause skin irritation.

The primer is applied only to the end of the nail, and the bonder is applied to the entire nail plate.

Step-by-step instructions for applying shellac base

Base coats come in different thicknesses. It is better to use a medium-density base, such as rubber. Most often the base is applied in 1 layer. If you plan to level the nail plate, you will need 2 layers.

First you need to put some product on the brush and squeeze it out a little.
Applying the coating should begin at a short distance from the base of the nail. You need to move the brush a little forward, towards the cuticle, then paint over the entire nail and “seal” the edge. It is important not to flood the cuticle and side ridges, otherwise the coating will harden. Having finished applying, you need to place your hand in the lamp and polymerize the layer.
The leveling procedure is done when the nail is thin, weak, flat, or has unevenness. You need to fill the brush with enough material and place a drop on the nail, placing it close to the base.
Without touching the nail plate, you need to easily distribute the resulting drop over the entire nail. It is important to pay attention to maintaining perfect shape nail, that is, there should be some bulge in the middle of it.
If the coating spreads too much, you need to turn your hand with your nail down until you achieve the desired shape.
Next, you need to place your hand in the lamp again.

Instructions for applying a color layer

Shellac (how to properly apply color coating is described below) should be done in several layers. It is difficult to say their exact number, since it depends on the shade. Usually a minimum of 2 coats is required. In this case, the color will be rich and pleasing to the eye.

First you need to cover the entire nail with shellac. The layer should be very thin and almost transparent.

How to apply shellac correctly step by step instructions

It is important to get close to the cuticle, but not to fill it, otherwise the manicure will look sloppy. The coating is then polymerized. The 2nd and subsequent layers are applied in the same way.

Applying the finishing coat step by step

The final coating is applied at the very end of the manicure, when both the coating and the design are ready. Only 1 dense coat without unevenness or bubbles is required.

First you need to put a little product on the brush and wipe off the excess on the neck of the package. Next, the coating is evenly distributed over the entire nail. At the very end, you need to seal the edge, as happened when applying the base. To do this, you need to run the brush along the edge of the nail. If you skip this step, the durability of the manicure is no longer guaranteed, as the polish may begin to peel off.

After polymerization, you need to remove the so-called sticky layer. To do this, you need to put a degreaser on a lint-free cloth and blot your nails with it until they become smooth to the touch.

Common mistakes when applying shellac

For beginners typical mistakes problems that occur when creating a shellac manicure seem insignificant. However, these little things affect the quality and how long the coating will last without chipping.

Insufficient nail preparation. For example, a degreaser was not used, the nail plate was poorly polished with a buff, and before the manicure, the hands were treated with cuticle oil or nourishing cream.
Using an acidic primer that damages your nails.
Shellac is applied in a thick, not thin layer. In this case, it may polymerize unevenly and swell.
The base and subsequent products flowed behind the side rollers and onto the cuticle. It is important to consider that when drying, varnishes can expand and spread over the nail.
Packaging of shellac or other products should be shaken before use. This may cause unwanted bubbles to appear. Before use, the bottle of varnish should be gently rotated between your palms and not shaken.
Packaging of shellac or other products was left open after use or was exposed to sunlight. In this case, the gel polish may lose its properties and deteriorate.
The end of the nail was not sealed when applying base and top coat. This threatens to peel off the coating.

How to make a French design with shellac?

The beginning of the procedure is standard: the nails are being prepared. Next you need to apply the base, and on top of it - a nude shade of shellac, camouflage. Light pink tones or colors that match the skin are suitable. All layers are polymerized.

The most difficult thing in a French design is drawing a stripe called a smile. There are special brushes for painting it, but not every craftswoman finds them convenient. You can also use stencils, but it is not always possible to predict how the varnish will behave: it may flow under the paper or blur when it is torn off. This is why it is better to draw a smile by hand.

To make a smile, you should draw it starting from each edge. You can rely on the natural smile of the nail. You can also first outline the outline, and only then fill it with color. Once the drawing is completed, the hands are placed in the lamp, then the top coat is applied.

How to apply a design to shellac?

Drawings and patterns are applied with a separate thin brush or a special tool called a dots. Depending on the desired result, the drawing can be done on top of the base or color layer.

The drawing itself depends on the imagination of the author. You can simply put dots, you can draw curls, flowers, or even more complex compositions. In any case, you need to carefully think through all the elements so that during the work process it is already clear what to do.

You can paint not only with shellac, but also with acrylic paints. In this case, after applying the base or color layer, the nails must be treated with a degreaser.

If drawing by hand seems like an overly complicated undertaking, you can use a stamping kit or special stencils. However, you need to act carefully so that the varnish does not spread.

Rubbing design

A rub is a sparkling pigment that, as the name suggests, is rubbed into the nails before application. top coating. Bright colors are best applied to a dark base, but delicate shades give a light manicure a pearly shine.

Once the color layer has polymerized, the sticky layer does not come off. Having collected a certain amount of rubbing on a pusher or a special fan brush, you need to pour the material directly onto the nails. Next, use your fingers or an applicator (as for eye shadow) to rub the pigment into your nails. The main thing is that there are no bulges or irregularities, otherwise they will be visible with rubbing.

Finally, you need to apply a top coat. Excess rubbing that remains on the skin around the nail can subsequently be washed off with water.

Kamifubuki design

Kamifubuki are large, round-shaped sparkles. They come in different colors, and in some sets 2-3 shades that match each other are selected at once.

After polymerization of colored shellac, a finishing coating is applied, but hands cannot fit into the lamp. While the top coat is still wet, you should place kamifubuki on your nails.

4They can be moved using a toothpick, needle or dots along the nail plate to create a harmonious composition. After applying the sequins, dry the layer. Another layer of topcoat is then applied over this to seal the design.

Monochrome design

A plain manicure is a classic and the simplest type of design. This is the most advantageous option if you want shellac to look strict and restrained, and not pretentious.

The monochrome design can be diluted with rhinestones and sparkles, decorating one finger on each hand with them. You can also dilute the colors by using an additional shade, for example, on your ring fingers.

Essentially, a monochrome design is just a layer of color without any additional tricks. That is why this manicure is ideal for beginners.

What other simple designs are there for beginners?

Rhinestones and bouillons

From rhinestones you can make both a minimalist design and a voluminous, luxurious composition - a matter of taste. The technology for creating decor with rhinestones or bouillons is very similar to the design with kamifubuki.

A top coat is applied on top of the colored layer, into which rhinestones are placed. Only after this the manicure is dried. Then the finishing coating is applied again on top, which, however, does not “drown” the stones. You need to brush around the rhinestones. After this, the layer polymerizes.

Foil

Foil for manicure is sold in special rolls or “booklets”. It can be applied both to the entire nail and to its individual fragments.

After applying the topcoat, there is no need to remove the sticky layer. You need to cut off a small piece of foil and apply it to your nail, pressing it with your fingers. Then the material is torn off, and the design should be transferred to the nail plate. At the end of the procedure, the finishing layer is applied.

Matte finish

Finish coatings are not only glossy, but also matte. Matte design It will look beautiful both on a monochrome coating and on top of rubbing and foil.

How to spot fake shellac?

Original shellac can be distinguished from a fake by the external characteristics of the packaging. The quality of printing on counterfeit material is usually worse: the label is too glossy, the font is blurry.

In addition, the composition is not indicated. Counterfeits most often have a very unpleasant odor. You should be wary if gel polish from a famous brand is sold at a very low price, which does not correspond to the cost in other stores.

How to remove shellac at home?

To remove gel polish you will need the following materials:

buff or file;
10 lint-free wipes;
10 pieces of food foil;
orange stick;
shellac remover.

First you need to go over your nails with a buff or file until the gloss disappears. Then lint-free wipes soaked in gel polish remover are placed on the nails. All fingers are tightly wrapped with foil. When 10-15 minutes have elapsed, remove the foil.

By this point, the varnish should have softened and begun to peel off. Following the growth of your nails, use an orange stick to remove the polish. Finally, you can buff your nails again to remove any remaining shellac.

Causes of nail damage after shellac removal

When removing gel polish, it is very easy to damage your nails if a pusher or any other metal tool was used instead of an orange stick. Such things injure the nail plate.

When removing shellac, if you move against the growth of your nails or press too hard on the tool, your nails may begin to peel.

Care for restoring nails after shellac

There are several ways to restore nails after wearing gel polish:

If you follow the above tips for applying shellac correctly, you can achieve an excellent manicure. However, we should not forget how important practice and the use of quality materials and tools are in this matter.

Article format: Vladimir the Great

Video about shellac extensions

Where to start making shellac:

Shellac nail coating has become very popular lately.

It makes it possible to create long lasting manicure, which will delight the owner for at least two weeks, allows you to experiment with design and simply looks amazing.

You can go to a salon or see a specialist, or you can make shellac at home.

To cover your nails with shellac, you need to prepare a fairly impressive list of necessary tools and materials, which you will need for this:

Special set to make hygienic manicure. Usually includes files, tweezers, a cuticle remover, a spatula, a buff, a pusher, a stick, and a brush for removing dirt from the nails.
Products intended for disinfection.
Primer (nail degreasing agent).
Gel polishes – base, color and top coat.
Ultraviolet lamp with a power of at least 36 W.
Soaking liquid.
A special product that removes the sticky layer from nails.
Napkins (they should not have lint).
Foil and sponges.

If you plan to do a manicure with nail design, you will need at least two or three color coatings.

Sequins, stones and other decorative elements will also come in handy.

If you plan a manicure with a pattern, consider the rules for color combinations. It is better not to combine warm and cold tones side by side, and a delicate, almost transparent coating should not be complemented with a dense one.

Preparing nails for manicure

For the coating to be durable and attractive, you need. It includes the following measures:

The cuticle is trimmed and the nails are given the desired length and shape;
Using a special file, the surface is polished - this helps remove excess shine from the surface of the nails;
The marigolds are treated, for which you can use any antibacterial drug;
Nail surface treated with alcohol.

Applying shellac

First, the prepared nails need to be thinned cover with a base coat. Afterwards, you need to hold the marigolds in an ultraviolet lamp. After the nails are coated, you need to dry them for two minutes each time, and there is no need to remove the sticky layer that may remain.

The drying lamp should ideally have power 36 W. Its use is good because all nails can be dried in just one use of the device, which saves time. A 9W lamp will also dry your nails, but then you won't be able to dry everything at once.

Apply on top of the base layer with a brush from the bottle. shellac base color. It is recommended to cover your nails in two layers, a third is also acceptable. Dry each layer for two minutes.
At the end of the procedure, you need to apply a fixing finishing coat. Its thickness will be greater than the previous layers. You need to apply it cleanly and without streaks, and then brush the edge of the nail over its entire area with a pressed brush. The coating should cover the entire nail.
The last layer is also needed Withsuture for two minutes. Be careful that the finishing base does not affect the cuticle and area near the nails, as this will damage the integrity of the coating.
Using a lint-free cloth pre-moistened with isopropyl alcohol, remove excess layer from the sealer.
Apply to cuticle nourishing oil. You can also do a gentle massage in the area around the nail.

Drawing on shellac

First you need to figure out how to apply a design using shellac on nails that are covered with the same material. This quite a simple way, and it is also suitable for those whose artistic talents are small, but, nevertheless, they want to transform their nails with the help of an original design.

After applying the gel polish and drying it with a lamp, a slightly sticky layer will remain on the nails. If we talk about the drawing, there is no need to remove this layer, since it can provide the correct smooth brush strokes.

You will need a kolinsky brush and a dots (a small manicure stick with a tip). Consider that the main color is good combined with the shades of the picture. Do not combine two dark and light colors, otherwise the manicure will be faded.

To obtain beautiful patterns and curls, initially apply the dots using dots. Then use a brush to pull the polish away from the point in the direction you want.

We must also not forget that the gel polish itself has a fairly liquid consistency, and in order for the strokes to be clear and look attractive, certain practical skills are needed.

It wouldn’t hurt to first practice applying the pattern with gel polishes on plastic tips. The completed drawing needs to be dried in a lamp and apply topcoat, then dry again.

Drawings on shellac with acrylic paints

Drawing with acrylic paints differs in that it requires a surface, which has no fat. Therefore, after the base coating has dried, remove the sticky layer with acetone or a liquid specially designed for this purpose. Then you can start drawing.

Make sure that the paints are not excessively diluted with water, as otherwise the excess moisture will prevent the finish from drying properly.

Also, you don’t need to put a lot of paint on the brush, because otherwise under the finishing coat it may appear. cracks and chips.

There are materials that cannot be used to apply designs to gel polish. These are gouache and watercolor paints, as well as regular varnishes for nails. They are incompatible with the structure of gel polish, in which case your time and materials will be wasted.

Drawing is not so difficult. Even if you don’t have much imagination, it’s not a big deal, because on the Internet you can find a lot of ideas for shellac nail designs and even special training videos.

Features of removing shellac

In order to remove the applied coating, you will need such materials:

10 special patches or sponges;
orange or wooden stick;
a special product that dissolves manicure - gel polish remover, varnish with acetone or isopropyl alcohol.

You need to wrap each nail with a sponge well soaked in liquid. The finger can be sealed, so to speak, prepared foil.

The image of a beautiful well-groomed woman consists of many components: hairstyle, clothes, shoes, face. It often happens that nails are somewhere at the end of the list - and this is wrong.

Neat manicure, sleek hands - business card any woman. Peeling nail polish looks simply terrible, and there is simply no time to refresh it. Today this problem can be solved quite simply: shellac has become the most popular procedure in nail care salons.

But what to do if you don’t have enough time or money to go to the salon? Of course, there is a way out - this is to make shellac at home. For beginners, here are step-by-step instructions for this now popular manicure.

Beautiful word, by the way, does not conceal anything mysterious. Shellac is a waste product (in other words, excrement) of scale insects that feed on tree sap. This digested resinous substance is collected, dried and crushed, then the varnish mass is melted and cast into molds. The end result is a great manicure product.

Manicure has never been a special procedure, but the use of shellac has its own distinctive features. Firstly, the need for nail extensions disappears; secondly, the coating is quite durable and lasts much longer; thirdly, gorgeous appearance and a rich range of colors.

The disadvantage of shellac is primarily its cost.

The life of a manicure, no matter how elegant it may be, is very short. Housework is the responsibility of any woman; very few have au pairs. Daily cooking, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning - all this leads to the fact that nail polish quickly fades, cracks and loses its appearance.

Shellac is a different matter: a symbiosis of gel and varnish (even done at home by beginners in accordance with step by step instructions) lasts quite a long time, and during this period it becomes possible to further strengthen the nail plate.

Advantages and disadvantages of shellac

Shellac, as you may have guessed, has many advantages:

Shellac manicure looks great on any nails: both long and short. At the same time, the painting method gives you a chance to grow your nails to the desired length.
Because shellac natural remedy, it allows you to strengthen thin and brittle nails.
Shellac stays on your nails for a long time: some fashionistas manage to keep their manicure for up to three weeks.
To remove shellac from nails, special products are needed, which means that household chemical products are not harmful to it.
Shellac gives your nails a dazzling shine that lasts incredibly long and does not fade.
Manufacturers closely follow fashion and the color palette of shellac is constantly expanding. On sale you can find not only classic tones for manicure, but also bright avant-garde paints.
Perhaps the most important advantage of shellac is that it is absolutely harmless. Dangerous formaldehydes are not included in its composition, therefore women prone to allergies and pregnant women can safely do a shellac manicure.

If for some reason the coating suddenly becomes boring, then shellac can be removed at home. To do this, you need to buy special products, liquid and film at the salon, carefully study the step-by-step instructions for beginners and clean the nail plates yourself.

Everything in the world has its downside - and shellac is no exception:

First of all, this concerns the high price of the procedure itself, and if there is a need for correction, then this is also quite expensive. So, if your nails grow too quickly, you will have to put up with additional costs.
The second negative factor is more significant. Shellac, as the manufacturer assures, is indeed a very durable coating. But nails tend to expand under the influence high temperatures, and then decrease again, taking on its original size. So washing dishes in hot water or a too warm bath contribute to nail deformation and cause microscopic cracks in the coating.

Through these microscopic holes, dirt can get under the varnish layer, and dirt creates greenhouse conditions for many bacteria and microorganisms. Shellac lasts a long time, which means the bacilli have enough time to damage the nail. So fungus is not the most dangerous disease.

To avoid sad consequences, it is better to do all dirty housework with gloves.

What tools and equipment will be required?

Shellac is a very complex procedure, and it is best to do it in a salon, with an experienced specialist. But “it’s not the gods who burn the pots,” so if you have certain skills, you can do it yourself at home. To do this, you need to know step-by-step instructions for beginners and have special tools and ultraviolet lamp for drying manicure.

To apply shellac at home you will need some tools and supplies.

First of all you will need: basis for applying the base coat, shellac coating and sealer. Professionals recommend using a base and base coat from the same shellac category, preferably from the same manufacturer. Otherwise there is a risk that desired result will not be achieved.

In addition, you must have:

antibacterial agent;
orange wood spatula or stick;
nail file;
manicure scissors;
bondex, a product for improved adhesion;
cuticle cleaner;
sanding file.

Preparing nails for shellac

So, having everything available necessary tools for shellac at home (read about step-by-step application for beginners below), you can start preparing your nails.

Before applying gel polish, you need to prepare your nails, treating the cuticle in particular.

The preliminary operation includes:

processing of the cuticle and formation of the nail plate;
grinding is a mandatory procedure that improves the adhesion of shellac directly to the nail;
disinfection with an antibacterial liquid, which additionally degreases the nail and ensures uniform coverage;
applying the base layer;
heating with an ultraviolet lamp to fix the gel, at least 25-30 seconds for each nail.

How to make shellac at home. Step-by-step instructions for beginners

Now that the nails are ready, you can proceed to the actual applying shellac:

When making shellac at home according to step-by-step instructions for beginners on your own, you should know that There is no need to remove the sticky layer after the first and base coat, as this will enhance adhesion.

After applying each layer of shellac, nails should be dried in a UV lamp.

What will happen to your nails after applying shellac?

No matter how safe the shellac procedure is for nails, restorative measures are still necessary. After all, everyone changes their underwear every day, but the nail remains in a kind of shell for a long time. So, if yellowish spots appear on the surface of the nail plate or the nail is somewhat deformed, then urgent measures should be taken.

You can revive your nail in the master's salon or use home remedies, which is generally preferable because they are inexpensive and available:

Make lotions from heated olive oil during the week. Nails will receive additional nutrition and hydration, which means they will maintain a healthy appearance.
A piece of lemon, which should be rubbed daily on the surface of the nail, can work wonders. Essential oils and vitamin C will restore shine and eliminate delamination and fragility.
A bath with sea salt will get rid of a possible fungal infection. It is advisable to do the procedure every day, for 10-15 minutes.

Sea salt baths are recommended for restoring the nail plate after shellac

Secrets of applying shellac at home

Making shellac at home yourself, following step-by-step technology application for beginners, you can save a little. So, what means and tools can be replaced and with what:

Manicurists use special products to remove cuticles, which are quite expensive. But if the cuticle is not too noticeable, then in this case you can use an orange stick to simply push it back.
The grinder is completely replaced by a regular polishing file: the end result will be the same.
A small bottle of salon disinfectant, which can cost about a thousand, is easily replaced with nail polish remover or acetone.
The base coating cannot be replaced, but in cosmetics stores you can find a suitable product that, among other things, also has a healing effect.

Take a couple more secrets of applying shellac at home.

Cuticle oil should be used morning and evening every day

Useful tips from the professionals:

When purchasing an ultraviolet lamp, you should pay attention to its power; the most optimal result is achieved when using a 36-watt lamp. In this case, the coating dries quite quickly.
Before starting your manicure, roll the coated jar in your hands. This little trick will significantly improve the properties of the varnish, which will lie smoothly without much effort.
To prevent shellac from thickening, it should be stored at room temperature, carefully closing the bottle after each use.
Any corrective treatment should be carried out only under the obligatory condition: the nail must be dry. No soft file will protect a wet nail plate from damage.
Use cuticle oil daily: morning and evening. Only in this case will you be able to avoid the appearance of sloppy hangnails.
Before going to the salon to get your hands beautiful, you should treat your nails if necessary. Shellac can only aggravate the problem of brittleness and splitting of the nail plate.
Do not apply hand cream immediately before a shellac manicure.

How to remove shellac gel correctly

To remove shellac manicure yourself at home(for beginners step by step application described above) you need to prepare:

cotton pads or special sponges;
10 pieces of foil so that you can wrap your fingers;
isopropyl alcohol or a special solution for dissolving shellac.

Before removing shellac, hands should be washed with warm water and soap and dried thoroughly.

Shellac removal procedure

Now you can start removing the shellac:

Cut the cotton pads in half.
Soak a piece of the disc in alcohol and apply it to the nail, secure with metal foil. Try to avoid getting alcohol on your skin to avoid causing irritation. Foil is used to prevent the alcohol from evaporating too quickly. You will have to wait about 15 minutes for the result, during which time you can lightly massage your fingertips for better penetration of the alcohol.
In some cases, shellac is removed with a film; if this does not work, then it can be removed with an ordinary plastic spatula. It happens that, due to inexperience, the coating was applied in too thick a layer and the shellac cannot be removed. This means that you will have to repeat the procedure with alcohol or simply cut off the shellac.
Finally, you should lubricate the nail with cuticle oil to avoid drying out the skin and nail surface.

Shellac is a wonderful product for manicure both in the salon and at home (you have already read the step-by-step instructions for beginners), your nails look neat, elegant and, importantly, natural.

Over time, experience and proper dexterity will come, and the whole procedure will not take too much time. As a result, your hands will look very attractive, and your nails will receive additional protection.

Shellac "Cat's Eye"

Cat eye nail design is very popular and looks very impressive. Using gel polish with the addition of a metal base and a magnet, you can get a pattern that really looks like a cat's eye.

For such a design you need to prepare green gel polish and special magnet. However, if there is no special one, then Any will do, the most common one.

Manicure "Cat's eye" can be performed at any time color scheme

First, a base coat is applied to the nails., which must be dried in an ultraviolet lamp. The next layer is green, which is also dried. The magnet is not yet used.

But now a magnetic plate is brought to the second coating: metal particles of varnish are folded into an elegant pattern. If the magnet is held upside down, a stripe will form on the nails; but if you scroll it over the surface of the nail, the image will come out intricate, similar to a drawing cat eye. Now all that remains is to complete the usual procedure.

It is not at all necessary to use only green color palette: After all, a cat’s eyes can be yellow or even blue.

If you like the cat design, then you should buy a special magnet, with which you can get a spectacular pattern.

As you can see, shellac at home (for beginners) step-by-step execution see above) is quite feasible. The main thing is to follow the instructions and not be afraid to fantasize.

A true woman loves to pamper herself with something extraordinary and beautiful so that others will admire her. There are many ways to please yourself, for example, with an original type of manicure, but some have a big problem- fingernails are not as healthy and strong as we would like, and they do not withstand every procedure.

Shellac is exactly what women need: the coating looks great, for many days the nails look well-groomed and neat, remaining with bright, elegant shades of any color without any flaws.

In fact, this is the name given to resin that is obtained from plants in the hot tropics and then used in the production of plastics and varnishes.

Of course, cosmetologists adopted this unique natural product, and now shellac is also a successful combination of varnish and gel, and only natural nails are covered with it.

This procedure in salons is not cheap, since the materials required are expensive and of high quality. But many people want to learn how to make shellac at home - the instructions will help you perform this, albeit difficult, but very effective type of manicure.

If you compare it, for example, with nail extensions, then shellac spares the structure of the nail - it does not damage it or thin it, the nail grows freely, without being subject to cracks and delamination.

If you follow the instructions, then you can do this procedure yourself, just like in a salon.

Advantages of shellac coating

The advantages of this coating are as follows:

the coating can be done regardless of the length of the nail;
the structure of the nail is significantly strengthened, which also affects its growth;
can last up to three weeks, keeping the surface as smooth and shiny;
chemicals used in the household do not affect gel polish in any way;
the composition does not contain dangerous formaldehydes, which often cause allergic reactions and negatively affect the structure of the nail;
You can remove shellac yourself, you will need instructions on how to do it correctly and a special liquid prepared in advance;
has a wide variety of different colors and shades - from cold to warm, an approximate number of about 250.

Disadvantages of shellac coating

But, as always, even very good things in life have minor cons. Shellac also did not escape this fate, so experts warn that if the procedure is violated, the following can happen:

your nails will begin to hurt, and even taking into account the fact that it is not difficult to cure them, their appearance will be far from perfect for some time;
every two weeks you will have to spend time on a small correction;
at home, it is also necessary, as the instructions warn, to make and prepare some devices in order to perform shellac correctly.

Necessary equipment

Anyone who processes their nails at home has the following for these purposes:

an ultraviolet lamp with a power of at least 36 W, otherwise the gel will not be able to harden, will not polymerize, and the whole procedure will be in vain. When purchasing, you will need to pay attention to the internal area: your hand should fit there freely. Many of these types of lamps are equipped with a timer, which is very useful when making shellac. You can purchase them in a specialized store, and the price depends on the equipment and manufacturer. You can also use an LED lamp, its power should not be lower than 18 W;
Shellac gel polishes. The CND company has especially succeeded in their production, but there are many other companies. It is important to use products belonging to the same brand while working;
special degreaser, can be replaced with shellac wipes;
standard manicure set;
soft file and file for rough processing;
products such as cuticle oil;
base coating;
top coat, which, as the instructions warn, will better help the gel adhere to the nails. It is used both at home and in salons to make nails stronger and overall shellac better;
lint-free napkin;
means to remove residues.

The instructions for the procedure at home contain many devices, but beautiful, well-groomed nails, which will be no different from the work of a professional master, will completely cover the costs.

Initial preliminary procedure

Before starting the main process, the nails will require careful pre-treatment so that they do not experience a stressful situation.
There is nothing complicated or difficult here.

The procedure begins with a nail bath, then an oil designed to remove cuticles is applied. Some people simply trim them, but if the cuticles have grown very little, you can only slightly push them back with an orange stick, making sure to use emollient oil.

The cuticle must be treated well, since the shellac coating lasts a long time, and the neater the edge of the plate, the longer the nail growth will not be noticeable.

Many women have experienced the benefits of shellac. The durable coating lasts two to three weeks without chips or scratches, so you can wear the chosen type of manicure without tedious “fixing” and repainting. It is ideal for young mothers, working girls, and also for long trips, for example, at sea.

Required Tools

First of all, you will need a set of coatings with at least one color. Some components can be replaced with more budget-friendly options from inexpensive manufacturers, or you can purchase everything from one.

You will need:

Sequencing

The home technology for making shellac is no different from the salon process, since practically not a single component can be replaced. As an exception, instead of liquid, you can use regular alcohol to remove the sticky layer, but professionals insist that this harms the quality of the manicure.

The entire procedure takes about an hour, but as you gain skill in working with the thick texture of gel polish, this time is reduced to 40 minutes.

If you are going to design, choose at least two shades of the base coat. You can purchase a design set based on the principle “color + sparkles”, “color + mica”, or two or three contrasting shades to choose from.
Combine cold tones with cold, warm tones with warm or neutral. You should not complement translucent shellac with dense or glossy mother-of-pearl.
The sticky layers formed after polymerization of the base coat and the first layer are not removed, and this improves the adhesion between them. You can only apply one coat of the base color, but then it will turn out translucent. If this is exactly the effect you expect, then re-painting will not be necessary.
In order for the topcoat to look beautiful after hardening, it must lie in an even, dense layer. Paint the cuticles and sides of the nail with it and be sure to seal the free edge of the nail with a well-wrung out brush. This technique will ensure maximum wear time for your manicure.

How to remove shellac

The main quality of gel polishes is durability, so removing them requires more time and effort. But there is no need to file off shellac like extended nails.

Professionals recommend taking a break between wearing gel polish. After two times, you need to give your nails a rest to restore the water-fat balance - at least a week. At this time, take care of your hands with cream and nourishing oils.

Making French

A beautiful and neat manicure can also be achieved using shellac materials. He will delight you for all three weeks, or even longer. The transparent coating does not lose its appearance even as the nails grow.

The sequence of actions and drying time are indicated in the table:

French shellac has its own difficulties.

You cannot use stencils to draw a smile line. Sticky marks on the main tone that remain after removal cannot be removed without damaging the quality of work. In addition, over such marks, the finishing coating does not adhere well to the base - chips are possible after just a few days, and throughout the entire depth of the coating. Therefore, you have to make a smile manually.

How to draw the perfect white edge:

With a brush wrung almost dry, draw a smile in two strokes - from the edges to the middle,
draw a smooth alignment line. Now you have a drawn outline that you don't touch anymore.
With a pressed brush, use dotted strokes almost perpendicular to the nail to paint the entire free edge.

Ready!

If you are not used to painting French without a stencil, practice several times with regular varnish.
Before an important procedure, do not strain your arm muscles, do not carry heavy bags - your hands will tremble and you will not be able to draw a straight line.
To make it convenient to scoop up white gel polish, pour a large drop of it onto a stable covering - a plastic jar lid or a piece of foam, and dip the brush there.
Squeeze the brush well against the neck of the bottle.
With each layer, paint the end of the nail, moving the brush slightly under the nail - seal it.

What color combinations to choose?

Beige and caramel French tones are on the decline right now, so follow the advice and choose cool pink tones.

The most popular options:

white + pink gloss;
white + lilac with a diamond tint;
white + pink mother of pearl.

If you want to get a strict white edge and an absolutely transparent tone, it is better to choose the latter with a slight shade of pink, which is almost indistinguishable and at the same time well tinted.

In contrast, a varnish that is as transparent as water will unnecessarily emphasize the imperfections of a natural nail.

For a festive or wedding jacket, choose silver or golden hue and microglitters. The fashion for combining silver and gold has passed, so decide on one of the shades.

French glitter or French mica requires a clean white edge and a stock coated with holographic mica. Mica can have a neon effect, which gives a very beautiful reflection in the dark.

To create a French manicure for the office, choose pink pearl for the base and ivory for the free edge of the nail.

Colored French refers to everyday manicure in a casual style. Draw the smile line with any color. The most fashionable colors this season are lemon yellow, turquoise, royal blue, scarlet, cherry, burgundy, tangerine, anthracite, and blue-black. Do not use brown and gray shades for colored jackets.

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