What is the difference between gel polish and shellac. Which is better: shellac or gel polish

"You can be a smart person and think about the beauty of your nails." This saying never loses its relevance. After all, women's hands attract so much attention. And it doesn't matter who you are - a business woman, a store clerk or a student. Any woman dreams of having beautiful and well-groomed hands, perfectly shaped nails and high-quality manicure. A few years ago, an ideal varnish coating lasted 2-3 days at most. I had to either cover my nails myself, or visit the master several times a week. Now the situation has changed radically. You can not only correct the shape of the nail using modern high-quality materials, but also make a high-quality durable coating of a natural nail that will remain perfect for at least 2 weeks, and sometimes even a month. A long-term resistant coating is ensured by the use of a special varnish with gel properties. In the palette of such a coating, there are many colors from pastel to acid bright. You can find out the answers to these and other questions on the Manicure and Pedicure course at the Bravo Training Center. And we move on...

What is better shellac or gel polish?
This question is often heard nail masters from students and administrators of beauty salons from their clients. In essence, they are one and the same. Then why are two different names used. Let's turn to history.

In 2010, CND, the world leader in care and nail design, patented and marketed a new product called "shellac". The description said it was a mixture of nail polish and gel to build and strengthen nails. But it just sounds simple. In fact, years of technological development were behind the release of a new tool. Then other companies began to produce such hybrid varnishes, but since the name "shellac" was patented, they began to be called gel polish. And the name "shellac" has become a household name, at least among ordinary people. Manicurists are aware of the difference between Shellac gel polishes and analogues from other manufacturers.
Important! The Shellac brand has a higher price and is positioned as a higher quality procedure. The line of nail care products includes not only the color coating itself, but also the base coat with a fixing one, as well as tools.
So what is the difference between these two names? Not only in price and name. Long-term research by CND specialists allowed them to create an absolutely safe coating that does not require special nail preparation. The manicure procedure is reduced to the processing of the cuticle, shaping the nails, directly coating with shellac and drying in a UV lamp.

Coating with gel polishes from other manufacturers requires additional processing of the nail plate, as with nail extensions. The top layer of the nail is simply cut off, which provides a stronger adhesion of the nail to the varnish, and only after that the coating is applied. Removing gel polish is also not so easy. The top layer is removed with a file and only after that the remnants of the coating are removed with nail polish remover. And in the line "shellac" there is a special tool that softens the hard layer and shellac is easily removed with a wooden spatula. The procedure for removing the decorative coating is not as simple as described. It is best not to experiment at home, but to entrust your nails to a professional who has passed Gel polish training. The cost of the procedure is not very high, most often it is already included in the price of a manicure. And many beauty salons, in order to retain customers, give a gel polish or shellac removal procedure as a gift.

Is this coating harmful to the nails?
And this is also one of the most popular questions that does not have a clear answer. It all depends on the condition of natural nails and the professionalism of the master. What will tip the scales, the positive or negative aspects of the procedure, is up to each individual to decide.
Of the pluses, the following can be noted:

the absence of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde in the composition of shellac and gel polish;
protection of the natural nail from delamination and breaking off between procedures;
attractive appearance of the nail for a long time;

There are also downsides:

violation of oxygen circulation through the nail plate;
damage to the protective layer of the nail during filing (when using gel polish);
prolonged, uninterrupted, use of a long-term coating can lead to dryness, thinning and cracking of the nail;
damage to nails during self-removal of the coating;
adverse effects of UV rays.

Shellac or gel polish has become popular among girls due to its durability, brightness and attractiveness. Many people ask: and shellac - what's the difference? And which one is better to use for manicure?

gel polish

It is a plastic gel, it is applied to the nails like a regular varnish, but dried with. Ultraviolet is needed for the coating to polymerize and harden. Before applying the gel polish, the nail plate is treated with a special primer, which provides a strong bond between the gel polish and the nail. With the help you can create a manicure that will last up to two weeks. All this time, the manicure will retain its bright color and shine. The coating on the nails does not have to be touched up and updated. Nails covered with gel polish will invariably look like you just stepped out of a beauty salon.

Worth it if you are experiencing problems with brittle nails. Strong and elastic gel polish coating will not allow even thin and fragile nails to break. The process of removing gel polish occurs with the help of foil and a special liquid. Before removing the gel polish, the top layer of the coating must be filed down.

Shellac

Shellac combines the properties of gel and varnish. When using shellac on the nail plate, you do not need to apply a primer; instead, a conventional dehydrator or degreaser is used. In this case, the nail is not polished and is not injured. In order for such a manicure to last no less than gel polish, despite the absence of filing nails, special attention must be paid to degreasing. To remove shellac, no special tools are required, the coating is removed with ordinary nail polish remover without acetone. Removing shellac does not involve sawing off the top layer of the coating. You can clean the nail plates from such a manicure by applying and holding a cotton pad with a regular nail polish remover. The removal process will not take more than 10 minutes. Shellac is considered an innovative coating and is more expensive than gel polish.

Recommended for those who want to achieve long-lasting glossy nail coverage without spending a lot of time on it. The process of applying shellac does not take more than half an hour, this is due to the rapid drying of the coating in an ultraviolet lamp and the absence of additional procedures in the form of polishing the nail. Removal of varnish also does not take much time and does not require special tools.

What coverage to choose?

And yet, are gel polish and shellac the same thing? Both gel polish and shellac allow you to create a bright and durable manicure. Both covers are available in a variety of colors. Gel polish in its qualities approaches the properties of a gel, and shellac, on the contrary, approaches the properties of a varnish. The application and removal of gel polish is a completely salon procedure that requires nail polishing and application of adhesive coatings. Gel polish manicure will take a sufficient amount of time, but as a result, this coating will stay on the nails for at least two weeks, giving the impression of a fresh manicure.

When answering the question: shellac or - which is better, keep in mind that shellac manicure takes less time and allows you to do part of the process (removing the coating) yourself. Shellac coating is great for girls with very thin nails who cannot afford to remove the top layer of the nail plate during the grinding process.

A wide palette of gel polishes and shellacs, as well as other necessary ones, are presented in the store. "Tver Nails" Tver, Tverskoy prospect, 13.

Not every girl by nature got strong healthy nails, which please with the absence of all sorts of problems. What to do if every new attempt to get the nails of your dreams again ends in failure? Many beauties have long been choosing a manicure with a resistant coating. Modern fashionistas are increasingly interested in what gel polish and shellac are, what are the differences between them.

If you decide to decorate your fingers with a new manicure, but have not yet chosen the appropriate coating option, then it's time to take a closer look at the two most popular techniques for strengthening the nail plates.

Hybrid gel and varnish

To date, special gel polish has gained particular popularity, which is very convenient to use and can be applied without problems even at home.

Experts in the beauty industry have created a unique hybrid of gel and lacquer, designed specifically to reduce the brittleness of weakened nails. The tool surprises with amazing results, thereby gaining more and more recognition from nail service masters and their clients.

This nail strengthening procedure has the following advantages:

However, if you carefully study the reviews, you can find certain inconsistencies between what the manufacturer claims and what comes out in practice.

Some girls assure the rest that the gel polish coating loses its original appearance on the second day and begins to peel off at the edges of the nail plates. According to experts, such a deplorable result may be due to non-compliance with the technique of applying the material. In addition, such problems are inevitable in case of improper operation and in the presence of medical contraindications.

Masters say that gel polish should not be used by people with excessive sweating of the palms. In addition, the technique is contraindicated for pregnant women and during lactation.

You should not count on the durability of the coating for girls who have any hormonal disorders or problems with the thyroid gland. Sudden changes in temperature and prolonged contact with water can ruin a brand new manicure. Therefore, do not forget to wear mittens in the winter season, and be sure to use special rubber gloves during cleaning.

A pioneer in the Shellac nail industry

The developer of the most popular and versatile Shellac coating was the American company CND, which five years ago demonstrated a resistant and durable gel polish to fashionistas around the world. Shellac is an innovative tool designed to strengthen the nail plates.

To better understand what is the difference between gel polish and shellac, you need to get a little more familiar with the technique of coating nails with a second tool.

If you pay attention to the composition of the material, then shellac belongs to the only variety of gel polish in the world. Attention, not gel polish, as many used to think.

The fact is that shellac contains a higher percentage of varnish than other products designed to strengthen nails. The gel included in the composition is necessary in order to make the coating stronger and more stable, and shellac is applied as quickly and easily as regular nail polish.

The main advantages of shellac include the following:

Girls who strengthen their nails with an innovative product from CND for the first time say that shellac gel polish lives up to all the manufacturer's assurances and demonstrates truly excellent results.

Gel polish and shellac - what's the difference?

Few people pay attention to the main differences between the two materials and know how gel polish differs from shellac.

As a result, women sometimes get completely different coverage, which they wanted to see all half a month after the procedure.

Not every master will want to tell the main nuances of all existing techniques, so many clients still do not know how these or those means for strengthening the nail plates differ from each other.

What is better to choose?

If you are at a loss with the choice and do not know which is better - gel polish or shellac, first you need to carefully evaluate the condition of your natural nails.

If you have very thin and weak nail plates, in this case it is not recommended to use harmful gel polish, which can worsen the health of weakened nails. It is best to give preference to shellac, since such a coating is much safer and does not require preliminary sawing of the plate.
If the service life of the coating is of particular importance to you, keep in mind that shellac loses significantly to resistant gel polish and lasts 1–1.5 weeks less.

What is shellac, gel polish - video

Many girls mistakenly believe that gel polish and shellac are the same product. And, indeed, such assumptions appeared for a reason. It is believed that the shellac manufacturer, unlike other companies, managed to patent the developed product, so the rest have to produce similar products under a different name so as not to violate copyright.

However, you should not equalize these funds, because they still have certain differences. Before deciding which is best for you, we advise you not to forget about the most significant differences between the two popular coatings:

Which of the two options to give preference, decide for yourself. For those who care about the service life of the coating, we still recommend choosing gel polish. However, if you care about the health and condition of the nail plates, then shellac is an excellent choice that will preserve the natural beauty of the nails.

Greetings to all!

Today, every beauty salon with open arms meets the fair sex, who want to have well-groomed hands. They offer them a wide range of quality, harmless treatments using reliable technology.

Their arsenal includes innovative equipment, devices, modern tools, UV lamps for drying, sterilizers and disinfectants. Here, nail service masters have a variety of sets of the latest materials for working with various colors and quality characteristics that will please even the most capricious girls.

They can choose the lacquer, gel polish, UV gel, or shellac they like according to their mood. At the same time, a specialist can decorate them with any manicure using a variety of thematic, stickers, rhinestones, decorations for nail art or photo design.

However, it has recently been very difficult for novice fashionistas to understand such a variety of cosmetic products, from which their eyes run wide. At the same time, each of them wants to receive a quality service with a good long-term result. Yes, but not everyone is guided by how gel polish differs from shellac.

Therefore, in order to fill this gap, in this article, we will deal with you with this particular problem. Here I will elaborate on these two positions. I will give their comparative characteristics so that each of you can choose the most suitable option for yourself.

It's no secret that, according to many girls and experts, gel polish or shellac are considered the top coatings today. These newfangled extensions or cut nails are produced by a wide range of cosmetics and come from a variety of brand names.

In principle, these two means cannot be called similar, although visually, it is very difficult for a non-specialist to distinguish them. So what's the difference? But the fact is that the main feature here lies behind:

composition;
structure;
Consistency;
Features of application and removal.

Therefore, we will consider separately the positive and negative aspects of these two nail coatings.

gel polish

Gel polish today is one of the modern plastic materials for high-quality manicure. It has an amazing spectral potential, visually makes it possible to enlarge the nail plates, expand the space for decor and design.

However, working with it requires special skills and knowledge of the specifics. So, before applying gel polish to the nail plates, you should slightly remove the top layer from them, and treat the polished surface with a special cosmetic primer, which should:

Guarantee the process of interaction between the adhesion of the plate and the nail;
Save the structure of the coating;
Allow the manicure to remain intact for at least two weeks.

Freshly applied coating should be allowed to air dry. The drying process should be carried out through an ultraviolet lamp to polymerize the varnish and harden it.

The positive aspects of using gel polish include:

Great design potential.
A wide range of colors with various shades.
Ability to withstand external damage.
Providing breath to the nail plates.
A fairly long service life of up to five weeks with proper operation.
Protection of nails from accidental mechanical impact, delamination, chips.
Opportunity:

Correction of flaws on the nail plates by applying several layers of coating;
Sufficient supply of atmospheric oxygen through the coating;
Rapid growth of smooth and even nails under gel polish.

However, along with useful characteristics, this coating also has a number of negative aspects. For example:

It has an unpleasantly pungent odor. And from the category of counterfeit, such a gel polish may not take root on the nails at all or cause an allergy.
With independent primary processing of nails, their structure can be seriously damaged. Therefore, it is better to entrust the procedure for performing a manicure with gel polish to a specialist.
During the first days, even the highest quality manicure can crack if the hands are not protected from temperature changes.

Shellac

A real discovery for modern women was made by the American company CND, giving the fair sex Shellak. This coating today has no analogues. It remains unrivaled for many years and is much better in quality than traditional gel polishes.

This material is a combined product consisting of gel and varnish, and the presence of the latter is several times higher than the former. Therefore, it is very suitable for those women who want to spend a minimum of their precious time on a manicure, but enjoy their well-groomed hands for a long time.

Shellac contains a special natural resin, which is processed by certain insects from the sap of trees. This natural resin is a natural polymer that distinguishes shellac from gel polish.

Traditionally, shellac should be applied after:

Performing basic manicure;
Cuticle removal procedures;
Formation of a free edge at the nails with a nail file;
Cleansing and disinfecting nails with a dehydrator.

After coloring the nails, drawing and decorating, the shellac coating should be cured under a UV drying lamp. The advantages of such a manicure are:

High up to a month of durability;
Keeping nails long-lasting smoothness and shine;
Strengthening the nail plates;
Excellent protective properties;
Possibilities of self-use at home;
Acceptable price;
A huge color palette, more saturated shades than gel polishes;
Safety, lack of allergies and harmful components.

In addition, Shellak does not have a pungent odor, and even pregnant women can do manicures with it. The unsightly old shellac coating, before a new manicure, is removed using traditional acetone, cotton pads and food foil, from which 15 minute funny compresses are made on the end phalanges of the fingers. After everything is cleaned with an orange stick and a dry sponge.

However, like any cosmetic product, shellac has its drawbacks. Its implementation requires a little more time than with regular gel polish. It will need to be corrected more often.

And if you still do not protect your hands from cold, heat, mechanical damage or exposure to chemicals, even the same household chemicals, beautiful nails can crack, allow the development of a fungal infection, or simply aggravate the situation under the varnish coating with some other problem.

Finishing my story, I still initially want to advise those girls who decide for the first time on a manicure with gel polish or shellac to consult a dermatologist.

Contraindications to their implementation may be.

In this material you will find a detailed answer to the question of how gel polish differs from shellac and find out which coating is more suitable for your nails. Shellac combines the best properties of varnish and gel. This product is produced by CND (Creative Nail Design) and after a manicure, the decorative coating stays on the nails for 2-3 weeks, is highly resistant to mechanical damage, and does not fade over time. Shellac quickly gained popularity among many women, which continues to grow every year. But CND has worthy competitors and today large cosmetic companies offer high-quality gel polish (Kodi, Gelish, Perfect Match, Gelerations) with their own advantages and disadvantages.

But if shellac and gel polish of other brands are of good quality, then what is the difference between these products? For example, the recently popular Bluesky gel polish has a denser consistency and a unique texture, which allows you to create an unusual nail design (Cat's eye, 3D drops) at home. And under the Kodi brand, more than 300 shades of decorative coating are produced, which perfectly fits the nails and has an amazing glossy sheen. But against the background of these differences, shellac stands out with a significant advantage: a dense and at the same time elastic coating reliably protects natural nails from external influences, which allows you to grow even very thin and brittle nails without resorting to gel extensions.

♦ WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF POPULAR BRANDS GEL POLISH FROM SHELLAC

❶ Some manufacturers still produce single-phase gel polishes that are more suitable for decorative manicure on healthy and strong nails. The three-phase shellac application technology includes a base coat (reliable adhesion, protection of the natural nail plate), a color coat (any shade from the color palette, different combinations of shades) and a top coat (resistance to damage and household chemicals);

❷ There is a gel polish (Eternail products by Irisk Professional, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel) that cures without drying in a UV lamp. To perform a manicure with such a gel polish, a special lamp is not needed, but the coating lasts no more than a week and does not differ in high strength (which is the difference compared to shellac, for which drying it is necessary to polymerize in a lamp). By the way, any pattern of rhinestones, glitter powder, sparkles and other nail art decor elements will be securely fixed on the colored shellac layer under the top after polymerization;

❸ Before applying shellac, there is no need to grind the surface of the nails, since the adhesion of the nail plate to the coating will be perfect without cutting off the top layer;

❹ Before applying gel polish, it is necessary to treat the nails with a primer so that the coating is well fixed on the nail (this is how it differs from shellac, to work with which you just need to degrease the nails);

❺ Before removing hardened gel polish from nails, you need to cut off the top layers of the coating, and then keep it in nail polish remover for a long time (with acetone in the composition). To remove shellac there is a special tool, after processing with which the softened coating is easily removed with an orange stick;

❻ The amount of harmful substances in the composition of shellac is minimized (the most dangerous active components include: formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate);

❼ Shellac differs from many brands of gel polish in the depth of color and high saturation of the coating. Despite the fact that the color palette in the gel polish line of some manufacturers is in the hundreds of shades, you can easily choose the right shade by mixing the appropriate colors of shellac;

❽ The concentration of varnish in shellac is higher than in gel polish of many brands. Shellac is applied to nails as easily and quickly as regular varnish;

❾ The glossy sheen of a shellac finish is noticeably different from the sheen of a hardened top coat of other brands. Shellac does not fade on the nails throughout the entire period of wearing a manicure;

❿ Hardened gel polish can significantly narrow and expand with temperature changes, which sometimes leads to chips and cracks in the coating. Cracks in the shellac coating appear in the rarest cases (for example, if there were gross violations of the layering technology during the procedure).

♦ WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GEL POLISH AND REGULAR NAIL POLISH

The lacquer coating fades already for 3-4 days of wearing. Unlike shellac, hardened varnish is much less resistant to mechanical damage and household chemicals. Different colors from the shellac line can be mixed and get the right shades.

♦ WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GEL POLISH AND BIOGEL

Biogel is applied to the nails using a special technology and not all novice masters master it as quickly as the procedure for performing shellac manicure at home. Unlike shellac, biogel contains more components that restore the structure of a natural plate. Biogel can be used for nail extension procedure.

♦ WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GEL POLISH AND GEL PAINT

Gel paint is more suitable for creating original nail designs with drawings or patterns of intricate lines. Gel paint is sold in small jars without a brush and has a fairly dense consistency. The drawing can be corrected for a long time, since such paint hardens on the nails only in the rays of a UV lamp.

♦ TECHNOLOGY FOR APPLYING GEL POLISH ON NAILS

To perform the procedure, prepare a set of manicure tools, a base, colored shellac, a top, a UV lamp, a degreaser, and a disinfectant.

- step-by-step manicure with a photo of each stage

♦ VIDEO MATERIALS

Dear girls! We will be grateful if you share your secrets, experience and ways to perform manicure using gel polish at home in the Comments.
If you want to place your photo and video materials on the site on the topic, please write a message to us by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Main page

ALSO DISCOVER...