There are many misconceptions in the beauty world...which I am here to shine some light on.  First I am going to talk about Shellac by CND (Creative Nail Design).
   
Shellac is a hybrid between gel sets and actual nail polish.  It comes in a bottle that is very similar to any other nail polish bottle.  The process includes: a cleansing of the nail plate, making it free from oils and any non-living cuticle skin, base coat, two coats of the shade you choose, an optional glitter layer  that Purify Salon now offers, and is finished with a top coat.  Once these are cured and the sticky layer is removed, your Shellac is completely dry and ready to go!

Now, here are some commonly asked questions about Shellac.

1. How long will this last?
     -Seeing how Shellac is a little more expensive, clients often ask 'how long will this last?'  The true answer is, it depends on you!  Everyone has different amounts of oil that is naturally present in their nails.  Everyone's nails are composed uniquely.  Some people have very brittle nails, while others have very thin flexible ones.  With all that said, I have had clients that it has lasted a week.  These individuals normally have adhesion problems with any type of nail products including acrylic, nail polish or gels.  Then there are the other half, that it lasts anywhere up to three weeks.

2. Will this damage the natural nail in any way?
     -Unlike most get polishes out there, YOU DO NOT FILE THE NATURAL NAIL with Shellac! That means there is simply a hard coating going over your nail, protecting it.  Nothing else. 

3.  Does Shellac keep the nail from breathing?
     -The nail does not need to 'breath' everyday.  As long as the seal between the product and your nails is secure and intact, there is no need to worry about any other health problems such as fungi, or bacterias messing with the nail.  When your Shellac is taken off and maybe even re-applied, that is plenty of time to let the nail 'breath'.

4.  How do I take this stuff off?
     -You can do one of two things.  You can either come back in and see me, or you can soak cotton balls in 100% acetone, place one on each finger, and then wrap aluminum foil around it for 10 minutes.  Then use an orange stick to scrape it off.  I don't charge extra for this if you are getting a service (re-application of Shellac or a mani/pedi) along with it.  No matter what you do DO NOT SOAK YOUR FINGERS IN ACETONE!  The soak off pads I have are engineered to sit perfectly over the nail bed, not your skin.  Some people that soak in acetone often become sensitized, and then cannot come in contact with it at all.

So those are the main questions.  A few tips before I wrap this up...
     -Use cuticle oil, or simply olive oil on your nails everyday.  It will make the Shellac last much longer, helping it stay more flexible if it were to get hit or bumped.
     -Don't peel off your Shellac.  Your asking for nasty nails til they grow back out.  (Think peeling, breaking, thin nails)
     -Try not to stare at your nails while driving.  It's simply not safe!

For all that were interested or curious, I hope I answered your questions.  If not, let me know :)
-Lexi