What is the difference between gel polish and shellac
Nails are a very fickle attribute of a woman's appearance. Only yesterday they could shine with a fresh manicure, and today they already treacherously demonstrate broken off pieces of varnish. This problem is the prerogative of classic nail polishes. The solution, however, exists and is successfully used by millions of women. Numerous bottles of nail polishes are actively moving to dressing tables from beauty salons, and every girl who takes care of herself should know how gel polish differs from shellac and what each of them represents.
What it is
Gel polish and Shellac are specially designed plastic composition for nails. Belongs to the category instant. This coating is applied to the nails like a standard varnish, however, drying is done using UV lamps. The main advantages of both types can be considered long service life on average within two weeks.
It is also worth noting that the manicure with the help of these tools has a surprisingly deep color and shine.
What is the difference
You can stubbornly not believe, but in reality, not every manicurist will be able to answer with accuracy what are the differences between shellac and gel polish. And the culprits here can be considered resourceful marketers who are trying to pass off one for the other.
So let's start with a little history.Not so long ago, namely in 2010, the company CND made a splash in the nail industry by creating the first Shellac Brand Day. In its composition, it resembled gel polish, however, the consistency, structure and method of application still had differences. So, shellac is the only gel polish that can be used on nails without a primer or, in other words, the liquid responsible for the adhesion of the nail to the coating.
It is worth saying that when applying a primer, the top layer of the nail plate must be cut off, which is more harmful and destructive to the nail than a simple shellac coating.
The lack of a sawing procedure is one of the main differences between gel polish and Shellac.. The second difference between shellac can be considered its tools and equipment for the perfect manicure from CND. Here you can find a series of bases, tops and tools. Gel polishes do not have such a variety, and therefore require an additional search for the necessary paraphernalia. Thirdly, according to cosmetologists, There is no longer lasting coating that is easier to remove than Shellac.
So why is Shellac increasingly being confused with gel polish? Marketers deliberately give names to standard Shellac gel polishes, thereby bribing inexperienced cosmetologists and ordinary people. The truth, however, remains unchanged and confidently declares that shellac is a gel polish, but not every gel polish can bear the proud name of Shellac. Otherwise, the coatings are similar, easy to apply and dry with an ultraviolet lamp.
What's better
Each type of nail coating has a number of advantages and specific features. For example, for a good manicure it will not be enough to buy one gel polish. Here you will need degreaser, base, primer. Shellac does not require this, however, there are many improvised tools in the arsenal for applying it, which can be found in the kit for a rich shade.
It is also worth noting the application technique. For a beginner to cope with it - despite the external simplicity, in reality it is not so easy. Homogeneity of the layer, its uniform thickness over the entire surface of the plate, proper drying in the lamp - these are just some of the features that you will have to face. Skill will be a key factor in deciding which gel coat lasts longer and which one is stronger. At the same time, the average period of one or another is from two to three weeks; specialists here do not provide for differentiation by variety.
To the question of what is safer, manicurists give an unequivocal answer regarding shellac. However, users have controversial opinions. For example, Shellac does not allow the nail plate to breathe, which can cause excessive dryness and delamination of the surface, brittleness.
Brands
creative nail design, but abbreviated CND – the main and main producer of shellac. It is no coincidence that the company became an innovative company, because it was led by Stuart Nordstrom. By the way, he began his career as a dentist with an interest in experiments. So, at the reception, one patient expressed an opinion about the similarity of tooth powder and liquid with a smell in the manufacture of porcelain nails. A simple association sank into Stewart's soul, resulting in the Solar Nail monomer he produced to strengthen and flex nails. Then there were acid-free acrylics, lotions and creams for the care of the nail plates and, of course, shellac.
CND developments have been proven by many years of experience and have earned numerous awards, such as ABBIES Readers' Choice Awards. Shellac of the company can be seen not only on the dressing tables of American women, but also beauties around the world, as well as celebrities.
However, it's time to talk about products. Her color palette is multifaceted from natural tones such as "Bare Chemise", to saturated "Bicycle Yellow". The bottles are 7.5 ml containers with a regular brush for classic lacquer. The price segment starts at 900 rubles, however, there is a pleasant surprise here. CND today it is produced both in America and in China. The products of the last manufacturing country do not differ from the American ones in quality, but the price is more democratic and affordable.
Moving away from the pioneer and the undisputed leader in gel polishes, I would like to note more budget brands. Gel Formula by Bridget Botier – a line of gel coatings, the raw materials for which are produced in France, and the production itself is carried out in Russia. A feature of the brand is its focus on the care of the nail plates. Cosmetics include nourishing oils, amino acids and various complexes, enriching nails.
Brigitte Botier's Gel Formula stands out in the way it is applied. Thanks to the unique technology, the product can be applied without a base, top, as well as drying under a UV lamp. The duration of such coverage is determined by the manufacturer for a period of 6 days. For a more stable result, the above procedures are required. The cost of Gel Formula fluctuates around up to 200 rubles.
It should be noted and brands that have earned an impeccable reputation for quality products. Among them:
- Shellac Bluesky;
- PNB Gel Polish.
brand Bluesky with production in China offers a wide color palette of tones, as well as tops and bases.The brand's products are proudly called Shellac.
Company Polish also known all over the world, its products are actively used in beauty salons. In the composition, you can only find a gel that provides special durability and strength to the manicure.
Whichever brand is chosen in the search for the perfect coverage, it is important to remember to buy funds only in specialized large stores. This will help to avoid fakes and give the right impression of the brand as a whole.
Design
In addition to a perfectly even manicure, using gel coatings, you can get bright and original designs. To get the effect of a salon manicure, it is enough to purchase several matching tones of gel polish, sparkles, rhinestones, stickers, a thin brush for drawings, and transfer foil for manicure.
It is worth starting the design with the correct and fashionable form of nails today. Oval and almond shapes are the trend of 2017. Their length remains close to natural, namely from 2 to 5 mm from the free edge.
The color palette today is also closer to naturalness. Honored this season deep and pastel colors with a special nobility. Any drawings are possible, for example, trendy animal print.
The traditional design is considered a monochromatic coating. In this case, it is not necessary to use one tone on all nails. Coloring the middle and ring fingers in a contrasting shade to the main one is a tradition that has become almost a classic of modern manicure. A manicure can be complemented by several rhinestones located on one or two nails.
An excess of such details is bad manners for a modern manicure.
popular today and moon design, namely a manicure with the definition of the hole and coloring it in a contrasting color. The hole can be located anywhere on the nail surface. Design remains in demand french. If desired, it is additionally decorated with rhinestones and interesting patterns, giving the manicure a festive look.
The design is amazing "ombre" with a smooth transition of colors from gentle to rich tone. Declared design "gold casting", which allows you to create unique patterns using transfer foil.
This season, experts do not limit in color and designs, but they strongly recommend abandoning pretentiousness and an excess of bright details.
color palette
Tones of gel and shellacs include more than 600 names from companies that have been on the market for a long time and have earned a good reputation. For example, the Chinese manufacturer Bluesky distinguishes tones not only in shades, but also in density. But first things first. Sometimes a beautiful deep color is not enough for the fastidious soul of a fashionista. That's when a variety of effects come to the rescue. One of the most popular is "Cat's eye". Such a magnetic shellac allows you to create a highlight sliding on the surface of the nail.
On the wave of popularity today and the palette thermo varnishescombining several shades. The fact is that the coating reacts to temperature. White and pink, indigo and fuchsia are combined in one bottle and allow you to change manicure several times a day. Agree, for a fashionista this is a significant advantage. In addition, the palette differs in consistency density. Some tones, applied in two layers, have extraordinary depth and completeness of painting.Other shades, on the contrary, are translucent and are great for daily manicure and gentle jacket.
Tones can be matte so mother-of-pearl. At the same time, mother-of-pearl has saturation and looks stylish and bright. In addition to micro-sequins, they are also used holographic sequins, irreplaceable for a festive covering of marigolds. Perhaps in the palette of gel polishes a combination of several shades, skillfully passing into each other. Blue with a silver sheen, beige with an emerald highlight – all this is an innovative reality in gel coatings.
How to apply
Gel polish and shellac can become the best helpers in creating a manicure house worthy of a beauty salon. To achieve the goal, it is enough to strictly follow the stages of coating:
- The first step should be to bring the nail plate in order. Sawing, the desired shape and a sober assessment of the condition of the nails are the key to a successful manicure. So, if your nails are thin and prone to brittleness, the best solution would be to choose a trendy short length this season.
- The further action of gel polish and shellac is different. So, with a gel coating, it is necessary to remove the gloss from the nails with a buff, degrease and apply a primer. Before applying shellac, just use a degreasing bond.
- Further, the actions coincide and the nails are covered with a base. With regard to shellacs, it will not be difficult to acquire a base, because it already exists in the line of products. The base coat is applied in a thin layer and dried for a few seconds with a UV lamp. For this step, you will need a high-quality professional brush.Covering the base means a ban on touching the nails with your hands, otherwise they can become dirty and irreparably ruin the future manicure.
- After that comes the turn of the saturated main tone. The number of layers may vary, but drying with a UV lamp for each layer is an important criterion.
- At this point, the manicure can move to the final stage, or it can continue with the imposition of a design in the form of rhinestones, stickers or drawings. Regardless of the type of decoration, the top is applied to them and dried thoroughly for no more than three minutes. The top has a sticky layer, so after drying it is important to wipe the nails with a special cloth moistened with a degreaser.
- The last step is to apply nourishing oil to the cuticle., which prevents the appearance of burrs after exposure to delicate areas of the skin.
Despite the many stages, the procedure with shellac, if you have the skill, takes no more than 30 minutes. The gel will take a little longer. As a result, efforts and time pay off completely, because you can forget about nails and enjoy their well-groomed appearance for two or more weeks.
We will reveal all the secrets of proper gel polish coating in the next video.
Reviews
Reviews of gel products are replete with joyful and negative emotions. Positive opinions, it is worth noting, are still much more.
So, the satisfied owners of a luxurious manicure, for the most part, choose only proven brands. CND, Bluesky let down only in extremely rare, and sometimes frankly subjective cases. Users note their brightness and variety. In this field, the Chinese brand Bluesky is considered a favorite, because it will take a lot of time to list its entire palette.
The nails after using these products feel great and even after removal they look quite decent. However, the removal of the gel coating is a separate issue, because for many it becomes the reason for refusing such a manicure. However, as experienced beauties assure, special means for removing or going to the salon for this procedure reduce this problem to zero. In addition, the CND brand has in its arsenal a miracle remedy with cucumber extract, which can not only remove the old layer, but also moisturize the nail plate.
As experienced girls assure, a good shellac and gel polish cannot cost less than 500-600 rubles. Saving in this case is not worth it, because there are a huge number of significant reviews with a negative for fakes. Raw methacrylate is the main harmful ingredient in cheap Chinese fakes, which can cause severe allergies and make the use of any gel impossible forever. Dejected ladies longingly demonstrate itchy and flaky fingers in cracks and actively struggle with such consequences of nail coating.
However, cheap brands do not always cause such disastrous results. For example, some of them simply begin to crack after a week of use at the most inopportune moment. Girls who find themselves in this situation strongly recommend not to tear off the coating, but to use foil and a regular or gel polish remover.
Moving away from the sad, it is worth noting a large number of advantages of such a manicure. So, craftsmen who carry out the procedure at home note that it is very convenient to apply gel polish, because it does not spread and lays down in an absolutely even and smooth layer. Women are satisfied with the color saturation, which is impossible for a classic varnish.
Probably, the most satisfied owners of this tool can be considered housewives. Detergents and water in no way affect the condition of the manicure. And the funds bring additional income when mastering this art.
Ladies admit that a starter set of quality products is expensive. Three harmonious tones, degreaser, base, top and UV lamp cost an average of 7,000 rubles. But this in no way stops the fair sex, because each product pays for itself and gives pleasant emotions from use, which, you see, are priceless.
Among the colors, women note the effects of "cat's eye", "metallic" and "mirror". Each of them looks equally dignified on both short and long nails. The perfect shade for everyone.
Gel polish and shellac have found their audience, ladies everywhere are in love with this unique composition for the beauty of marigolds. Compliance with the stages of painting, the choice of high-quality products and a share of patience - this is the key to a pleasant and effective procedure. This bottle deserves a place on the dressing table of ladies who take care of themselves and value their time.