All about manicure shellac

For many years, shellac is in first place among the most popular manicure procedures. He slowly pushed back the once common build-up. What is shellac, what hides, what advantages and disadvantages it has, should be considered in more detail.

Shellac (shellac) is a type of nail cover. For the first time such coverage appeared on the world market thanks to the company CND. To date, this product is produced by a large number of manufacturers, with the name Shellac stuck to all the products of hybrids. It is worth more to consider why the coating has become so popular.

Shellac differs from simple nail polish more juicy shades and natural brilliance. This coating is worn longer, does not wash under the influence of water and does not roll. And also shellac perfectly clings to the nail plate, without weighing it down. Shellac is applied as easy as regular varnish, but unlike simple varnish it lasts 2-3 weeks and perfectly tolerates all external influences. Another distinctive feature is drying, because the gel polish is dried in a special lamp, and removed with a special liquid.

The composition of shellac is as follows:

1. film former - a component for the formation of a solid film on the surface;
2. photoinitiator - a substance that absorbs UV radiation;
3. active ingredients - substances necessary for the varnish to have a certain consistency;
4. pigment - a substance to give color to varnish;
5. Additives and fillers are special ingredients for imparting the consistency of varnish viscosity, gloss and elasticity.

Before deciding on this or that procedure, it is necessary to study everything about it in order to not regret the consequences. Like any innovation, gel polish has its pros and cons. It is worth paying attention to the following advantages:

• shellac is suitable for nails of any length;
• the difference between shellac and extensions is that shellac is applied to their nails;
• nails under shellac grow back faster, since with the gel coating the nails do not break or peel off;
• shellac keeps on nails up to 3 weeks; neither water nor the destructive components of household chemicals affect it;
• shellac is harmless even for pregnant girls, as it does not include formaldehydes, which are considered extremely dangerous;
• gel polish can be easily removed at home by buying a special liquid and foil; under the influence of liquid gel easily moves away from the nail;
• small damaged areas of the nail, if necessary, can be easily increased if covered with gel, which will allow the damaged area to grow quietly.

It is worth more to consider the disadvantages of this coating.

• High price. The procedure is not cheap. If you compare a manicure with a coating of ordinary varnish and with shellac, then the second option will be twice as expensive. If you want an individual design, then you have to pay for it separately.
• Diseases of the nail plate. Although the coating is considered practical and durable, it has a big drawback in the form of exposure to temperature variations.For example, taking a bath or doing a wet cleaning, the nail expands due to excessive moisture, and then, once in normal conditions, it narrows. Due to permanent deformation, the coating may crack, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Through these cracks gets dirt, water, and this is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Since this coating is worn for a long time, there is a risk that during this time the bacteria will significantly undermine the health of the nails.

The composition and consistency of shellac allows the masters to make the most diverse and complex types of manicure. In this case, only the processing technique may differ. It is worth considering the most common types of manicure.

Classic French manicure that never goes out of style. It looks very elegant due to the exceptional sheen of shellac.

Gentle, sophisticated manicure will complement any wedding image, making it complete and sophisticated.

This type of manicure is convenient to do exactly shellac, as it does not dry out in air, so you can safely use different colors and transitions.

A manicure with holes is just as common as a classic French manicure. An extensive color palette allows you to experiment with different colors and designs, display something exclusive.

Volumetric manicure is very convenient to do exactly shellac, since the thick texture of lacquer allows you to display any pattern, keeps well and does not spread.

To perform this manicure sold special sets, which includes varnish and magnet. The magnet is applied to the lacquer, due to which a picture resembling the eye of a cat appears. Hence the name.

To properly make a manicure, you need to know what tools you need directly for work. To create a compelling manicure you need to purchase the following tools:

• manicure tweezers;
• scissors for manicure;
• nail files;
• orange stick;
• nourishing cuticle oil.

After the nails take the desired shape, you need to take care of the next step - covering the nails. To properly cover the nails, you will need the following components:

• degreasing agent - it is necessary in order to reduce the risk of fungal diseases;
• special lint-free wipes - you can, of course, replace them with ordinary cotton pads, but they leave the villi on the nails, which will have a bad effect on the quality of adhesion of the varnish;
• Ultraviolet lamp;
• a shellac base is a special coating that makes the nail smooth and even; the base can be adjusted to give the desired shape of the nail;
• color coating - allows you to cover your nails with any color you like;
• top - means for fixing the manicure, it must be applied after the completion of all manipulations;
• 99% isopropyl alcohol or a professional agent for removing the sticky layer.

No matter how simple everything looks from the outside, in fact, the work is very laborious and requires increased attention. A newcomer must be very attentive, since any wrong movement will damage the cover. For example, if you do not finish the base, then most likely the coating will swell up or completely disappear. Or, if the saw is not at the right angle, the shape of the nail will be spoiled. A beginner should follow the following action algorithm.

• First of all, it is necessary to carry out a regular manicure: remove the extra cuticle, trim the length, give shape if necessary. It is worth noting that the cuticle has a protective function: it protects the nails from bacteria, so you need to be extremely careful when removing.
• After cleaning, you need to sanitize hands and nails with a special antibacterial agent.
• The next step is polishing. Polish nails with a soft buff. Polishing is carried out with light movements along the nail plate.
• After polishing it is necessary to degrease the work surface. If there is no special liquid, you can use alcohol. Due to this, it is possible to avoid delamination.

• The next step is primer application. In principle, when working with shellac, the use of a primer is optional. However, without a primer, there is a risk of lacquer detachment, as it serves as an interlocking component between the nail plate and shellac. The primer does not need to be dried in a UV lamp.
• Next, you need to put the base. The base layer should be applied to the nails as thin as possible, keeping the brush parallel to the nail plate. Nail stained completely, starting with the cuticle and ending with the tip of the nail. The base must be dried under the lamp for about 1 minute. Many masters prefer bases on a rubber basis, since after it the nails become even and smooth. Please note that after coating with a base coat, you do not need to remove the adhesive layer.
• After the base layer comes a colored layer. It should be applied to the nails as well as the base layer, that is, from the cuticle to the edge, holding the brush parallel to the nail plate. He also needs a lamp. If desired, the color layer can be diluted with a pattern or stones.

Every 2-3 weeks, the shellac needs to be corrected, which consists in updating the old gel. To date, there are two known ways to remove old shellac from the nail:

• wash gel polish with a special tool;
• remove shellac with a special cutter on a manicure device.

It is worth considering how shellac is removed in a beauty salon if correction is necessary.

This process includes the following steps:

1. the client washes his hands with a special soapy liquid;
2. small sponges impregnate with a special tool and impose on the nail; you must wrap with foil in such a way that the sponge is located on the nail and fits tightly against it;
3. windings should be left for 10 minutes, because during this time the gel polish will soften and it can be easily erased;
4. if there are still pieces of gel on the nail, you can rewrap and leave for 3-5 minutes; small residues can also be removed with an orange stick.

This method of removing gel polish is known to all. However, few people know that it can also harm the nails. From the effects of the solution, the nails dry out strongly, so that they can begin to exfoliate. If for some reason you cannot or do not want to use this method, then there is another one for you - the hardware one. Shellac is cut by the same manicure apparatus, which is usually used for hardware manicure, the difference lies only in the shape and composition of the cutter. It rotates at high speed, while removing the gel from the nail.

Usually use a mill from hard alloys or ceramics. The ceramic mill in the world market appeared relatively recently. She loved her strength, durability and stamina. Another important advantage is heat resistance, that is, the cutter does not heat up during operation. The unique composition of the ceramic cutter allows you to gently file off the material without damaging the surface of the nail.

The carbide cutter is made of special metals and has a beveled, straight or cross-shaped cut. Difference from other nozzles is that the covering is cut off, forming thus chips, but not dust. This cutter is great for cutting a thick layer of gel.Metal nozzles work in an enhanced mode, without making dust.

It is worth considering the myths and truth about the removal of the gel apparatus.

• Removing the gel, you can cut down and nail. In principle, the master can scratch the nail, but for this he will need to make an effort. The bottom line is that during the correction only the top layer of the coating is cut, that is, the gel polish itself. There is still a base layer under it - just as it serves as a stop-signal for the master.
• When removing the pain is felt. In fact, the pain is not felt during the cut. Women who often do a manicure will confirm this. Some people feel something like tickling, others have a slight burning sensation, which occurs because the cutter heats up with frequent turnover, although this should not be. In this case, it is recommended to change the mill.

What to do to remove the gel without damaging the nail. It is worth paying attention to the following tips for beginners:

• when starting cutting, make sure that the elbow and arm are fixed in one position so that there are no awkward movements;
• remove the gel should be tangential movements, it is necessary so that the nail does not heat up and does not cause discomfort among customers;
• the master produces movements only in the direction in which the mill moves, that is, if the apparatus moves to the right or left, then, respectively, the movements of the master are directed in this direction; if you work against the stroke, the cutter will slide off the nail.

Today you will not surprise anyone with a manicure with gel coating. Gel coating has become widespread due to the durability, a huge palette of colors and a variety of designs that can not be done with ordinary varnishes. However, not all women can appreciate this innovation. For example, owners of thinned nails may encounter chipped or even broken nails. But do not be discouraged, because the manufacturers thought about it and developed special reinforcing substances.

One of the ways to strengthen thin nails is acrylic powder. This is a synthetic substance that has high thermoplastic properties. Powder is made from acrylic acid, which tends to strengthen everything that is applied over. This product is quite common on the shelves with cosmetic products. The only name may be different. Acrylic powder is also known as velvet sand. In addition to strengthening, sand also has a decorative function. But all this is one material, which is presented in different forms. It is either white or colored.

The advantages of using acrylic powder are as follows:

• nails are noticeably stronger;
• the nail plate is protected from scratches and microdamages;
• nails look natural;
• the procedure does not take much time and effort.

It is worth paying attention to the following disadvantages of the procedure:

• rarely, but sometimes acrylic powder can break off;
• it is rather difficult to remove acrylic powder, because it only gives in to sawing.

To strengthen the acrylic powder nails, it is necessary to perform the following steps:

• carry out a cleansing manicure - it is necessary to thoroughly clean the nail plate from dust and dirt, because the not completely cleaned nail plate is the cause of detachment of any coating;
• further, it is necessary to thoroughly polish the nail plate, but without fanaticism;
• treat your nails with an antibacterial agent;
• primer is applied to the nail;
• base gel is applied to the dried primer;
• Acrylic powder is immediately applied to the wet base and dried in a UV lamp for 2–3 minutes;
• then it is necessary to remove the remains of powder with a nail brush;
• if small bumps form on the surface, then you just need to polish to form a flat surface;
• if necessary, a decorative gel polish is applied, if not - a top layer that needs to be dried in the lamp, then remove the sticky layer from it;
• after all manipulations, the final finish is applied, which is also dried in the lamp; after it is removed from the sticky layer and applied oil for the cuticle.

Another problem faced by customers of nail salons is cracking gel varnish. This happens for two reasons - poor-quality materials or illiterate work of the master. To avoid such problems, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• purchase high-quality goods;
• choose a qualified master;
• do not use creams and oils before the manicure procedure;
• you should not omit such a step as disinfection; If there is no special disinfectant, you can use alcohol or a liquid based on alcohol or acetone.

Another unpleasant problem that can be encountered after a manicure is bloated shellac. This can occur if the wizard’s work does not meet all necessary standards.

• The immortal classic. This is a classic French manicure, which probably will never go out of style. Now the jacket is diluted with stones, flowers, voluminous figures, a matte finish. In any version it looks stylish and elegant.

• This year, fashion trends preferred calm tones. Light brown hues, all tones of beige and pink colors, are widely used. Such tones are great for both medium and long nails. This manicure can be diluted with rhinestones or acrylic powder of the same color.

• Despite the predominance of calm tones, bright hues did not recede from their positions. The incomparable red, blue, coral, yellow - were favorites of the past summer. Bright colors are perfectly combined with sparkles. The fashion industry has provided the world market with a huge variety of stones, rhinestones, sparkles.

• Another interesting novelty, beloved by the beautiful half of humanity - the royal print. This, according to most beauty bloggers, is the most fashionable manicure of this year. The print includes classic colors interspersed with gold. Mandatory attributes are also the crown and massive stones.

• Neon manicure is another fashionable manicure. It is carried out by special neon varnishes that glow in the dark. The design can be very different.

• Velvet manicure is a novelty of this season. Despite the impracticality, manicure was widespread. The impracticality lies in the fact that when the villi get wet, they lose their appearance, although they return to their former condition when dried, but the effect is not the same.

• New items in the fashion industry do not cease to amaze. This season, a special place was taken by a print with three-dimensional patterns resembling the frosty patterns on the windows. This manicure looks very fashionable, stylish and impressive. In addition to the delightful appearance, three-dimensional drawings do not interfere with any household chores.

On how to perform a manicure shellac at home, see the following video.