What are Shellac nails? Here’s everything you need to know

If you like a pro manicure, chances are you will have heard of shellac nails already. The long-lasting nail paint is a classic for staying the distance and giving neat, glossy, salon-worthy nails. It’s recommended by manicurists and it’s a hit for anyone looking for a life-proof solution to chipping.

If you think shellac nails are gel nails, you’d be correct. Shellac is a form of gel polish, but it’s specific to nail brand CND, so if the nail shade you’ve chosen is from another brand, it’s not shellac.

Here’s everything you need to know about what, exactly, shellac is…

What is shellac?

“CND Shellac is a high-performance 14+ day wear gel polish,” explains CND educator, ​​​​Sarah Marr. “It offers a high gloss finish, no nail damage, easy and quick removal and over 160 designer shades to pick from,” she adds.

How it is different from other gel polishes?

“Whilst there are many gel polishes on the market, CND Shellac is the number one gel polish worldwide. As the original in the gel polish field, it has led the industry for over a decade,” explains Sarah. “The main difference is the ‘butterfly’ removal. Where most gel polish ranges require filing and sometimes 20 minutes of soaking to remove, CND Shellac should not require buffing and can be removed in as little as 5 minutes depending on which topcoat has been used.”

How it is applied?

“After performing a manicure and cleansing the nail plate, a basecoat is applied and cured using an LED Lamp, this is followed by two thin layers of colour and finished with a topcoat to ensure the longevity of your service,” says Sarah. There are two basecoats and three topcoats that allow you to fully customise your mani to the way you like it.