For a manicure novice, Gel nails and Shellac nails are artificial nail enhancements. If you are looking to get a manicure with long durability, then gel or shellac enhancements are to be chosen. They are done at salons as a part of a manicure and give your nails a fashionable appearance.
Gel Nails vs Shellac Nails
Superficially, gel and shellac nails are the same, that is, both are manicures completed under UV light. However, these two nail enhancements are vastly different. Gel nail polish is created using a type of semi-permanent gel. Gel nails are composed of liquid gel. The production of gel nails is not limited to one manufacturer and distributor. Gel nails can be done professionally at salons or homes with nail kits as a cheaper alternative. The application requires that nails be roughened before applying the base coat. After each coat, the nails are cured under UV light for thirty seconds. Nails provide a glossy appearance after application. The removal of gel nails can be done at home or in salons. For better nail care, salon removal is recommended. The removal process is time-consuming and complicated. The cost of gel nails varies from area to area and salon to salon. However, it is cheaper compared to shellac nails. One big advantage of gel nails is the wide assortment of colours it provides.
Shellac nail polish uses a semi-permanent polish for the nails. Shellac nails are a mixture of gel polish and traditional nail polish. Therefore, it gives the best of both worlds. Shellac nails are patented and exclusively produced by Creative Nail Design. Therefore they can only be done at salons. Shellac nails do not require that the nails be roughened before application. After each coat, the nails are cured under UV light for one minute. After the application, shellac nails provide a more natural look as compared to other manicures. The removal process of Shellac can be done at salons only. Fortunately, due to the specific formula of Shellac nails, the removal process is quick and easy. Shellac nails break off from the real nails after being soaked in acetone. It is recommended to take breaks between shellac nail manicures and provide good aftercare for the nails. The cost of Shellac nails varies from area to area and according to the salon, however, they are still expensive compared to gel nails. Shellac nails also do not provide a rich variety of colours to choose from. However, they still have 61 different shades.
Difference Between Gel and Shellac Nails in Tabular Form
| Parameters of Comparison | Gel Nails | Shellac Nails |
| Ingredient | Made exclusively of liquid gel | Combination of Gel and traditional nail polish |
| Application at home | It can be applied at home using kits | Shellac can be done only at salons |
| Patent | No | Patented by Creative Nail Design (CND) |
| Time for curing under UV | Thirty seconds | One minute |
| Cost | Varies according to area and salon. Less expensive than shellac | Varies according to area and salon. Costly compared to Gel nails. |
| Colours | Wide assortment of colours | 61 colours approx. |
| Removal time | Time-consuming | Easier and faster compared to gel nails |
| Appearance | Gives a glossy finish | Gives a natural-looking finish |
What are Gel Nails?
Gel nails are fashioned with liquid gel. In technical terms, acrylic monomers and oligomers are mixed and hardened under ultraviolet light to make gel nail polish. These nail polishes are not limited to one brand or one distributor, they are widely available.
Application of Gel Nails
Gel nails can be sculpted at home or in a salon. The process of getting gel nails is costly hence some people may prefer DIY kits. For at-home gel nail manicures, one can buy at-home nail kits,' 'gel style varnish’ and use a base coat and a glossy top coat.
Comparatively, it is better to get gel nails done at a salon if you can afford it. The application process for gel nails begins with a manicure. This is followed by using a file or buffer to roughen the nail bed. Afterwards, alcohol is used to clean and dehydrate the nail bed. After these processes, the base coat is applied. Just like all nail polish coats, gel nail coats are also cured under a UV lamp or a LED lamp for thirty seconds. After this step, two additional coats are applied, again cured under a UV or LED lamp. The last coat applied is the top coat, which also cured UV or LED lamps after application. As, the final step, the sticky film residue is removed using alcohol. This completes the process of creating gel nails.
The Durability of Gel Nails
Gel nails are fashioned with pure gel and not mixed with any other solutions. Therefore, they last longer compared to other nail polishes; usually up to three weeks.
However, gel nails can’t hold up when exposed to hot water. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid any situations which require soaking nails in water. When doing washing chores, one should wear rubber gloves to avoid hot water exposure.
Removal of Gel Nails
Gel nails can be removed at home or by visiting a nail salon. Getting the procedure done at a salon can be time-consuming and expensive, so many people prefer to do it DIY. However, gel removal is complicated work, and if not done properly can seriously damage the surface of nails. Therefore, for hassle-free nail gel removal, it is recommended to get the process done at a nail salon.
The first step to removing gel nails is to break the bond between the gel nails and the real fingernails. For this, buff the nails with incredible delicacy, which will disrupt the gel’s seal.
The second step is to soak cotton pads in acetone nail polish remover. Choose one cotton pad for one nail, so if the goal is to remove the gel from ten nails, soak ten different cotton pads.
Thirdly, cut out aluminium tin foil pieces. The number of foils depends upon the number of nails polished.
The fourth step is to place each cotton pad separately on the different nails. Afterwards, they are covered with one tin foil piece each. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
Finally, a cuticle stick is used to push off the tin foil and cotton pads.
(Some nail technicians forgo the use of cotton pads and tin foils and simply soak the nails in acetone for five to ten minutes. Then they remove the gel using a cuticle pusher.)
Cost of Gel Nails
The cost of gel nails varies according to the country and the salon. In India the cost of getting gel nails start at around 500 rupees, this can go up to a few 1000 rupees depending on the salon and city.
Generally, the cost of gel nail removal cost more than the application process.
Colour Availability of Gel Nails
Gel nails are available in a wide variety of colours. When compared to shellac nails, there are three times as much variety available for gel nails. This gives gel nails an advantage over other types of manicures. Gel nails have a spectrum of virtually 400 colours.
Pros of Gel Nails
- Provide a lustrous and shiny finish to your nails
- No harm is done to the nail bed
- No experience of chemical odour during the process
- Lasts two to three weeks
- Dries quickly
- No smudges or chipping of nails
Cons of Gel Nails
- The manicure is expensive
- The process involves exposing nails to UV rays. For up to three to four times during a single application.
What are Shellac Nails?
“Creative Nail Design (CND)” is the creator and sole patented owner of Shellac Nails. Shellac nail is a hybrid of gel polish and regular polish. That is, shellac contains the benefits of gel polish, the colour, durability and no-chip feature, and the added benefits of traditional nail polish, the shine and ease feature. Compared to gel polish, shellac is softer, thinner, and less harmful.
Application of Shellac Nails
The official CND Shellac nail treatment is available only in salons. The application process follows the same steps as that of gel polish, with a few exceptions. Contrary to gel nail application, shellac nails do not require roughening up of the nails. The only preparation step used for shellac nails is dehydration and cleaning of nails using alcohol. In addition, Shellac nails require curing under UV light which takes up to one minute.
Removal of Shellac Nails
The removal process of Shellac nails should be done with great delicacy and patience. Hence, it is highly recommended to get the removal done by a professional in a salon. The removal process for Shellac nails can take five to 15 minutes.
Shellac nails have a unique feature, a formula that creates microscopic tunnels in the coating when the nail is cured under the CND LED lamp. During the removal process, nails are soaked in acetone for up to eight minutes. When the acetone is applied, it penetrates these microscopic tunnels till the base layer. After it reaches the base layer, it releases the shellac nail from the original nail without any fuss.
Post-Removal Care after Shellac Nails
It is recommended to take a break after one Shellac application and the next. This will give the original nails a chance to recuperate and gain strength.
To protect nails during the break period, one can apply a base coat and top coat of nail polish.
The Durability of Shellac Nails
Going through the correct process of using patented shellac nails and manicures will provide shiny nails that last up to 14 days.
Shellac nails are thinner and softer compared to gel nails. Hence, shellac nails may start to break down after two weeks.
Cost of Shellac Nails
Just like gel nails and every other manicure process, the cost for shellac nails also varies depending on the area and the salon. Shellac nail application can cost up to a few thousand rupees in India.
Precautions to be observed for Shellac Nails
- In the case of thin or brittle nails, it is recommended to spend time and effort to nurse them back to health before engaging in shellac application.
- Apply cuticle oil to your nails twice a day
- Moisturize hands regularly
- As the application process involves exposure to chemicals, make sure nails and skin are not dehydrated.
- Always visit a salon for the removal process. The wrong technique could damage the nails.
- Be careful of off-brand products, they can be harmful to nails. Always but the patented Shellac.
- Never peel off Shellac nails.
Pros of Shellac Nails
- Shellac nails have long durability (up to 10 to 14 days).
- The drying process uses a special LED lamp ergo the drying process is quick.
- It gives a mirror finish
- The nails do not chip, fade, or peel off.
- Shellac nails do not contain any DBP, formaldehyde, or toluene.
Cons of Shellac Nails
- Possibility of nail damage during the removal process.
- Removal of Shellac nails is time-consuming.
- UV exposure during application.
- Shellac nails cannot be applied on thin or brittle nails.
Main Differences Between Gel and Shellac Nails in Points
- Gel nails refer to nails done with gels, while shellac nails refer to a specific patented brand of nails.
- Gel nail polish is prepared with exclusively gels, while shellac nail polish contains a combination of gels and traditional nail polish.
- Gel nails can be applied at home as a cheaper alternative to salon care. Shellac nails can be done only at salons.
- Gel nails require only 30-second curing under UV light, while shellac requires curing of one minute.
- Gel nails provide 100+ choices of colours; shellac has lesser colour options, only around 61 shades.
- The removal of gel nails is time-consuming. In contrast, the removal of shellac nails is easier and faster.
- After application, the gel nails appear glossy, while the shellac nails give off a more natural look.
- Comparatively, shellac nails are costlier than gel nails.
Conclusion
In short, both the gel and Shellac nails are, nail enhancement treatments done as a part of manicures. They differ greatly in that shellac nails are patented while gel nails are not. Other differences include their application steps, removal processes and curing time under UV light. However, both are long-lasting and give a fashionable appearance. One can choose according to their needs and salon availability.
References
- https://www.byrdie.com/shellac-manicures-are-they-worth-the-hype-1327
- https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/beauty/skin/a706919/shellac-vs-gel-nails/
- https://secretspa.co.uk/gel-vs-shellac/
- https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/nails/a29305247/shellac-nails-vs-gel-manicure/
- https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/difference-between-acrylic-gel-shellac-nails/