Can You File Shellac Nails

There'southward something then satisfying well-nigh a beautiful smash look that lasts for weeks on end. Of form, finding such a happy mani moment requires using the right blast polish formulas in the first place. That's where Shellac comes in. While the long-lasting acrylic polish often gets a bad rap, we're here to shed a little light on why Shellac isn't the culprit, later all. It all comes downward to the formulas and knowing which are good for your nails, and which are best to steer articulate of. Since that might seem a little scientific, nosotros're here to remind you lot that Shellac isn't something to stress over. In fact, by the end of this article, we take a funny feeling you'll be reaching for (or requesting) Shellac over any other gel on the market. Keep reading to observe out why.

What Is Shellac?

Like most long-lasting manicures, Shellac—otherwise known as gel boom polish—is fabricated upwardly of an acrylic base. "All of the ingredients used to make any blazon of bogus nail—whether they are glued, cured by UV, or mixed with a liquid and powder—are based on the acrylic family unit," celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann says. "The ingredients in Shellac manicures are like pre-mixed acrylics, and they undergo a chemical reaction in one case they are cured with a UV lamp."

Varnish Lane co-founder Lauren Dunne adds to this, pointing out the Shellac is technically a combination of gel polish, which makes it terminal, and regular polish, which gives it loftier shine. "The formulas bind together when cured under the light," she explains.

What's of import to clarify—and what's commonly misunderstood—is that gel nails and Shellac are the aforementioned thing. The biggest difference is that, like petroleum jelly and Vaseline, Shellac nails refers to the term coined by CND—a popular smash make that first developed 14-day-wear gel polish.

Is Shellac Condom For Your Nails?

This is where things get interesting. Speaking specifically to Shellac nails (AKA the gel smoothen created by CND)—yeah. That's because the make's formula features tiny tunnels within the polish once information technology's dry, so one time information technology's time to remove it, acetone is able to sink into said tunnels to hands (and safely) remove the long-lasting smoothen. Information technology's this very quality that makes Lippmann believe that Shellac is the easiest of all gel products to both apply and remove—and she's not lonely.

"We highly recommend using Shellac polish versus your typical gel polish because they soak off easier and are less damaging to the nails during the soak off process," Dunne says. "Nosotros also beloved Shellac because information technology is formulated without the major harmful chemicals that used to exist in nail polish (think: Formaldehyde, toluene, camphor, etc.)."

Now, recollect: Shellac is not the same thing as off-brand gel. Off brands don't feature the same patented formula and therefore may not remove equally easily, which can cause harm to your natural nails. In fact, it'due south due to these off-brand formulas that Shellac gets a bad rap, to brainstorm with.

The Benefits of Shellac

Due to the long-wear quality of Shellac, Dunne says that your nails are protected and will wait their all-time for longer. "The major benefit of Shellac is a beautiful high-gloss manicure that volition stay chip-costless for ten to 14 days (if applied correctly)," she explains. "This makes it the ideal manicure for travel, work, and all-around having beautiful nails that final longer."

The Drawbacks of Shellac

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Even though Shellac is considered by some to be the safest of all gels, it still has its downfalls. "Any product that is cured onto your boom has the potential of nail impairment in the removal process," Lippmann explains. "Yous must commit to the time that is required to soak off the production correctly. No scraping, No filing on top of the nail—no removing with your teeth." She points out that, oftentimes, people get impatient with how long information technology takes for the gel to dissolve, and they end up pulling the shine off, which ends up damaging the nail.

Fifty-fifty if yous're not pulling the polish off, Dunne says that frequent Shellac manicures tin have a toll on your nails. "During the removal process (especially if not washed properly), you can run a risk removing layers of your natural nails and weakening the nails," she explains.

Luckily, these downfalls are avoidable with proper removal and animate time between Shellac manis.

How to Rehab Nails After Using Shellac

Take a break between Shellac manicures. Information technology's every bit uncomplicated every bit that. "We ever recommend our clients give their nails a break from Shellac, especially if they have had multiple Shellac manicures in a row," Dunne says. "It gives your nails a chance to re-strengthen."

Deborah Lippmann Difficult Rock Nail Strengthening Tiptop and Base Glaze $20.00

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In addition to giving your nails a intermission, Lippmann recommends incorporating a targeted base of operations and topcoat—like Difficult Rock base and topcoat—into your routine. "Information technology'due south a must when trying to recover from enhancement removal," she says. "I recommend always putting several layers of smoothen on to protect our nails—whether its layers of base glaze and topcoat—if you don't want colour."

Varnish Lane Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Oil $28.00

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Additionally, both Dunne and Lippmann say it helps to cater to your cuticles, as healthy cuticles are the primal to healthy nail growth. To do so, try using the Varnish Lane Nourishing Boom & Cuticle Oil, or Lippmann's Hydrating Cuticle Oil Pen meant to soften and hydrate cuticles while stimulating blast growth and improving the surface of your nails.