What is the difference between gel polish and shellac?

Many girls use both gel varnish and shellac, but they just cannot answer the question of how they differ from each other. In fact, these coatings are very different, and in order to select them, you need to know exactly what their differences are. This will be discussed now.

Gel Polish is an innovative decorative tool that is used to obtain a resistant manicure. This coating is fixed on the nail with an ultraviolet lamp, which ensures the hardening of the composition.

To gel lacquer firmly attached to the nail plate, you need two main procedures such as:

• cutting the top layer of the nail;
• pre-coating with a special agent - primer.

The composition of the gel polish includes the following components:

• a foaming agent that has polymeric bonds hardening under the influence of UV rays;
• photoinitiator - the catcher of the same rays;
• thinners - participate in the formation of the desired consistency;
• pigment, giving the desired color lacquer;
• additional additives - vary from specific manufacturer and the desired effect (gloss, texture).

Shellac is different from gel. He absorbed the properties of both ordinary varnish and gel. By its composition, it is still more close to the traditional varnish, but in terms of the strength of the coating it is much better. It does not require primer application, you can do with a degreaser. The coating also dries under ultraviolet rays using a special lamp. Generally, shellac is a tool from CND. It was she who patented her work, and later attempts to copy this tool appeared. So it turned out gel polishes.

Shellac exists in three types: single-phase, two-phase and three-phase. Accordingly, these options differ in the application: one coating combines the base, the main varnish and top, two-phase - contains the base together with the color coating, but requires a top. And the three-phase version needs a separate base and top. In its composition, shellac contains the same substances as gel varnish, but with one difference. All the ingredients in its composition have been thoroughly tested and a lot of research, thanks to which the scientists derived a special hypoallergenic formula.

Like every tool in the beauty industry, gel varnish and shellac have their pros and cons, which influence the choice in favor of a particular coating. To find the optimal solution, you need to thoroughly examine all the advantages and disadvantages of these decorative coatings for nails. The only thing that can be literally outlined at once: both gel varnish and shellac cannot be performed at home without special tools. But the durability of the coating still justifies it.

The advantages of gel polish are as follows:

• You can make such a manicure pretty quickly, literally 2–3 hours and a resistant coating for two or three weeks will be obtained;
• thin and fragile nails are protected from nature from external damage under such a coating;
• rich palette of shades and spectacular possibilities;
• quick drying under a special lamp;
• low cost of the procedure;
• bottles are sold most often in large quantities;
• You can easily perform the correction as the nail grows, that is, every time you remove and make a new coating is not necessary.

The advantages of shellac are as follows:

• easy to apply due to not so thick consistency;
• there is no need to violate the integrity of the nail plate before applying, the nail does not deteriorate, and therefore there is no damage to the body;
• hypoallergenic composition - shellac is not harmful to health, almost all components are natural;
• no odor;
• very wide selection of colors;
• do not need primer, stapling varnish and the surface of the nail;
• manicure can be easily removed with a special liquid;
• durability of manicure.

Gel Polish has the following disadvantages:

• before applying the nail plate is seriously damaged by polishing;
• it is difficult to perform such a manicure at home or you have to buy the entire expensive arsenal for such a procedure: a lamp, a lacquer itself, a primer, a degreaser, a top tool;
• possible allergies to components contained in the composition;
• there is an unpleasant smell during the procedure;
• A UV lamp is an instrument with unproven harm; many believe that an excess of ultraviolet radiation can provoke terrible diseases;
• you can not wear such a manicure all the time, otherwise the nails are too seriously affected;
• can not be removed by conventional means, it is necessary to soak the gel polish for a long time under the foil, and then clean it with special sticks.

Shellac has such disadvantages as:

• high cost relative to the gel;
• there is a danger of drying the nail with numerous procedures for applying shellac;
• holds less (about 2 weeks);
• the probability of running into a fake is high (a protective hologram is always on the original bottles);
• It is advisable to contact the salon for the procedure or purchase all the equipment from scratch;
• bottles with shellac usually have a fairly low capacity;
• it is quite difficult to find shellacs for sale, especially the original company;
• shellac more than other coatings are subject to the formation of cracks due to aggressive environment and temperature changes;
• you can not perform the correction, when the nail plate grows, you need to re-do the manicure, removing the old layer.

Despite the fact that both tools are very popular, but shellac is still much more expensive. Therefore, its manufacturers produce mostly universal color palette that fits any occasion. But the colors of this product are more saturated, since they have a large concentration of pigment in the composition. Gel Polish has a greater variety of colors and, accordingly, possible design. Manicure with the help of it can be made the most courageous and fantasy.

For lovers of natural neutral manicure, shellac is still better, since the coating made with it can be made with a minimum thickness. A good master will be able to perform a beautiful manicure and gel varnish, and shellac, so there is no particularly strong difference in the design methods and colors that influence the choice. In addition, glitter, rhinestones and other decorations can be glued to both surfaces with the help of a special base.

First you need to decide what amount you need to meet to create a manicure. Gel varnishes allow you to make a stable, beautiful and very budget coverage.But with its certain minuses, as already mentioned. Shellac is many times more expensive, it can not be adjusted later, but it is practically safe for health and allows you to make a lasting manicure, even for pregnant girls.

If gel varnishes are characterized by proportionality of price and quality, then shellac can be found more budget, but practically not inferior to the original. But still the one who stands at the origins, as a rule, makes a better product. It is worth more to consider products from different manufacturers.

• Original brand Shellac CND Offers a great product, no doubt. The consistency is perfect, the brush is very comfortable, rounded, the villi do not bristle even after prolonged use. When combining the base, stamp and base coat there is a very good durability of such a manicure. There are all the necessary studies that have confirmed the safety of the nails for this company. Varnish is easily removed with a special recommended tool of the same company and does not require cutting. Shellac CND has the most dense structure. Just two layers are enough for perfect coverage.

• More budget Kodi brand Do not hold on the nails as long a period of time. The brush is very hard, which makes it difficult to perform manicure: it is almost impossible to distribute an even thin layer of varnish. The base of this company has an average quality, but recently released a special rubber base, which in theory should increase the resistance of the manicure. Brand Kodi uses in its arsenal about 400 shades of shellac, there is even a "cat's eye". The texture of the brand is not very dense, but not quite liquid. Unfortunate shades turned out yellow and orange, which can be infinitely applied to the nail plate, but the proper overlap of the natural color will not work.

• Bluesky - also an inexpensive brand. In contrast to Kodi, it has a very soft fluffy brush, which also adversely affects the coating. The fact is that brushes of this type recruit a large amount of money and interfere with its distribution on the surface of the nail plate. Therefore, it is difficult to apply varnish without first pressing the brush. Everything else, the very consistency of the tool leaves much to be desired. In addition, through the base of this company can penetrate the dark color of the main varnish and paint the natural nail. Bluesky shellac holds even less - about ten days, not more. But the main advantage of this budget brand is a very rich palette - 600 colors, which includes the majority of modern fashionable shades and textures.

Despite the fact that both tools are similar in application technology, there are some subtleties and differences. It is worth figuring out how to apply gel polish using the correct technology, which looks like this:

• It is necessary to perform nail care: give them the desired shape, remove the regrown part of the cuticle, trim the burrs and go over the nail file for better adhesion of the layers;
• then you need to degrease the prepared surface and cover it with a base (primer);
• fix the base with an ultraviolet lamp;
• put the main color in several layers, then the finishing layer, all in turn is fixed in the UV lamp;
• remove the top sticky layer with a special agent and a napkin.

This is the technology when applying gel polish to be observed in order to achieve a high-quality coating.

Shellac is applied in a similar way, but a little differently, namely:

• need to do a manicure;
• apply a degreaser and dehydrator onto the nails so that the surface of the nail becomes perfectly clean;
• apply a base coat and dry it under the lamp;
• apply colored layers, each of which is also processed under the lamp;
• Manicure should be finished with top coat, also dried in a UV lamp;
• then remove the sticky layer with a special cloth that does not have a nap.

Even the most resistant manicure should be removed sooner or later. Dermatologists generally do not advise wearing a coating for more than seven days to give nail breathing. Gel polish and shellac differ in methods of stripping. Step by step to remove the gel Polish as follows:

• sanded with a special nail file;
• wet swabs in nail polish remover;
• attach these tampons to the nail and wrap with foil on top, leave for 10-12 minutes;
• As a result of the previous procedures, the gel polish softens so much that it is very easy to remove it with a special stick.

In addition to this combined method, gel polish is sometimes completely removed only mechanically. That is, they use special nail saws or manual abrasives and destroy the decorative coating to the end.

Both of these methods of removing gel polish do not very well affect the surface of the nail plate. In the first case, the long-term exposure to solvents will dry the nail, and in the second, the surface is damaged by tools.

Shellac is removed a little differently, namely:

• special sponges in the shape of the nail or banal cotton swabs are impregnated with shellac remover;
• Apply such a product to each nail and wrap a foil - it turns out as if a compress for the nail plate;
• wait 15–20 minutes;
• remove the compress and ideally get clean nails.

There is a rather aggressive way to remove shellac at home, which includes the following actions:

• you need to pre-cut a little top coat;
• prepare a container with acetone;
• lubricate the skin around the nail fat cream or oil;
• dip the tips of the fingers into the liquid so that it completely covers the nails;
• wait ten minutes;
• pry softened shellac with a stick and remove it from the nails;
• After an aggressive procedure, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and spread them with a nourishing cream, it is also advisable to use nail oil and cuticle.

Despite the fact that shellac is removed more benign, you need to remember that any resistant coating is not so easy to remove. Otherwise it would not be so durable. And removal with the help of solvents and cutting unambiguously adversely affect the nail plate. With each new manicure, this effect only becomes more noticeable.

The girls in the question of what coverage is better, are divided into about two fronts. Some are delighted with shellac because it has impeccable composition and beautiful shine. Others advocate for gel polish, as it is much cheaper and lasts longer. Most of the fair sex prefers all the same gel, as it is really more durable. Reviews say that if you properly wear such a manicure, namely, do not expose it to aggressive agents, do not keep your hands in water for a long time after the application, be careful with heat, then your nails will be perfect for about three weeks. Then you have to adjust them because of the natural growth.

Shellac is also recognized, but speaks about it not so enthusiastically, since its duration is limited in practice to two weeks, and sometimes even ten days. Lovers of regular updates manicure note that nails spoil from both types of varnishes almost the same.If you do not give them a break, the nail plate becomes brittle, yellowish and overdried. Many women say that they would probably choose a safer shellac, but then they have to do manicures more often and pay many times more to the master. Therefore, on this side, shellac is inferior to gel. In any case, it is worth trying both surfaces and choosing the best varnish for yourself, since everything is individual. So, any tool can fit one woman perfectly, and for another - not suitable at all.

For information on how to apply and remove gel polish and shellac, see the following video.