When it comes to feeling instantly put together and polished (pardon the pun) having Shellac nails or gel nails is a sure-fire winner. Neither chip and look incredibly slick, and whether you're popping to the shops or heading out for date night – having a fresh set of ultra-shiny nails helps you feel that little bit glammed up at all times. But, the question remains: which should you opt for? What is shellac nails or gel nails? Before you hit up the salon to book your appointment, keep scrolling for the answers to all the gel versus Shellac nails questions you’ve been asking.
What is Shellac nail polish?
Let's start with the lingo. Some people reference this type of nail as shellac gel nails. This is because the product is half regular nail polish, half gel and is typically applied with two colour coats and a topcoat. Between each coat, you cure the colour and set the polish by putting your nails under a special UV light.
What is the difference between Shellac nails and gel nails?
The difference between gel and shellac nail polish isn't going to blow your mind, but none the less, there is one. Shellac is a patented brand of gel polish, explains celebrity manicurist Jenni Draper. It’s a bit like calling a vacuum cleaner a ‘Hoover’, it’s just the name of one brand of polish. It's a hybrid nail polish and gel i.e. half polish and half gel. Put simply, a shellac nails manicure is a semi-permanent polish, while gel is a semi-permanent gel.
How do I remove Shellac nails?
It's always going to be best to head to a salon to have your gels or Shellacs dissolved by a pro. If you do want to do it at home, however, know that because shellac is a polish, it’s easier to remove than gel and kinder to your nails as you don’t have to buff your nail plate to ‘break’ the bond. When you remove gel nail varnish, you file the top layer off and then soak your nails in acetone, but when you remove what is shellac nails, you simply soak in acetone. Pro tip: cover the skin around your nails in Vaseline before, to stop it from drying out from the remover.
How do I remove gel nails?
Again, you can ensure a fuss-free removal by heading to the salon to get them removed by the pros, But, given that this takes an hour-ish out of your day and costs around a tenner, plenty of people prefer to DIY it. First off, you need to break the bond between the gel and your actual nail. Very, very gently, buff the nail. This will break the gel's seal. Next, cut out ten pieces of cotton pad, one for each nail, and soak in acetone nail varnish remover. Cut out ten pieces of tin foil. Pop each cotton pad piece on top of a nail, then cover with one of the tin foil pieces, twisting at the top. Chill for 15 minutes, unwrap and gently push off, using a cuticle stick.
