tell me about gel/shellac manicures... - YouLookFab Forum

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tell me about gel/shellac manicures...

Diana

Veteran

Another wedding-related thing:
I am considering manicure/pedicure options for my wedding... the thing is that regular manicures last like less than 24 hours on me. I am a klutz, I do too many things with my hands, etc.

Anyway, I was thinking about trying a gel or shellac manicure. Has anyone done this and what are your thoughts? Does it really last 2 weeks without chips? Ideally I'd get it done a few days before the wedding so it would be one less thing to worry about. Also, I assume you can't use regular nail polish for this, right? So I'd be limited to whatever colors the salon has on hand?

I've also read that removing it is difficult and not very good for your nails. I'm not too worried about damaging my nails because this would be a one-off thing. Do you have to go back to the salon to have it removed?

Also, do you think it's worth it to get gel pedicure too? I don't have the same problems with pedicures getting destroyed as I do with manicures, but if I did the gel on both then they would match.

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from Diana

Tina.b

Veteran

I get shellac pedicures and I LOVE them. There is no chipping, ever. It is amazing. My friends who get the manicures have the best looking nails. I know that they are not the best considering the UV rays and the potential damage to the nails, but the results are seriously beautiful.

What I especially love is how quickly they set, and I can pop my shoes back on with no worries about smudging. I would go with both for your wedding day, totally worth it.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I have gotten shellac manicures a few times in the past. Working in healthcare, I'm really hard on my nails. Max I've ever gotten was a 1 1/2 weeks. First time I got them I didn't have time to get them removed. I peeled it off, not good. Recently I did it again but went back to the salon to get them re-done. They soak pads in acetone, and then are supposed to wrap your finger tips in foil. If it's done properly, the shellac peels off. My nail tech was impatient and cut with cutical cutters the remainder polish. Everything I read said this was the wrong way to do. My nails are trashed right now. If I get done again, which will be a few months, I'm going to a different salon.

hedgiehog

Veteran

aaahhhh, the gel manicure!
I coveted these beautiful, shiny, perfect nails! So a few months ago I decided, against better judgment, to get one.

Yes, you are limited to the colours in the salon as it's a special formula. There are more new colours coming out all the time so there's a lot of choice.
It also takes a lot longer because you have to put yout nails into a little UV machine for the chemicals to "cure" and harden. But when you leave the salon, you will be very pleased at how they look. It does last for two weeks or more, as in my case. And I loved it....

Until I tried to remove it.....
You can go back to the salon and have them do it. Basically, the process involves applying acetone to a cotton ball, plopping it on your nail and wrapping your fingertips in tin foil until the stuff dissolves. I decided to do a home job on this part.
My nails were like paper for weeks after and took a while to get back to normal. Granted, my normal was not long and strong but at least they were not like tissue paper.
Can't say that I would ever get one again but if your nails are strong to begin with and you chip manicures easily you may want to consider. Just sharing my experience.

Kristin SF

Veteran

I went through a phase with these last summer. Your nails will look beautiful and the polish lasts a long time. Like weeks. However, as stated above, your nails will suffer for it. I did not remove the polish myself, I had a proper removal at the salon. However, my nails did feel thinner and more brittle afterwards. That said, if I have a big event and need a manicure, then gel I will go! The results are that gorgeous.

Getting your mani a few days in advance is a good idea. It should last chip-free, certainly through the big day.

I was able to do a gel mani and a regular pedi with a color match, no problem. My toes don't usually chip too quickly, so I couldn't justify the extra wear and tear on my toes via the gel, and the colors were really close, if not a perfect match. However, in your case, since you're stuck waiting for your fingernails to cure, and if you're worried about a perfect match, then you might as well go for gel on both toes and fingers. It's your big day, after all!!

Thistle

Veteran

I had the same experience as the ladies above, except it didn't last more than a week and a half for me.

My nails are thin to start with but grow very fast. By the end of a week, I could already see grow out. I also had an issue with my nails curling away from the gel and then tearing underneath.

Yes, it looks pretty for a week or two, but when they came off, my thin nails were so thin they hurt.

Nicole in OC

I'm echoing most of the others comments. I was SO excited when the shellac and gel mani/pedi's hit the market that I jumped right in there. I got it on my toes several times with no real problems but my hands, OH MY!! I only got the gel manicure once for a wedding. And while it does hold up really really well, my nails have never been the same. It's been nearly 6 months since I got them removed and my nails are splitting (if that's the right word) but the top layer(s) of the nail keep coming off. Prior to this I had very strong sturdy nails and never had a problem growing them out, now however I cant get them to grow at all without splitting and breaking!

You might be lucky and not have any problems, but you might not. You'll have to decide if it's worth it.

Diana

Veteran

Hmmm... for those of you who had problems with damaging the nails, do you think it was the manicure itself or the removal process that was to blame? (i.e. is it the UV or the acetone?)

My nails are pretty strong and they grow fast.

Nicole in OC

I'm not sure, maybe a combo of both. The removal process is pretty touchy.. yeah they soak it until it comes off but if that doesn't work they file if off. (Or at least that's been my experience) Though my toes had no issue and I LOVED the fact that I could throw on shoes and not have to worry about chipping but I miss my nails. They did not survive and I can only hope that they get back to where they were.

suzyq

My daughter and I only got about 3 days out of them. We are both crazy hard on our hands. Maybe they were not applied correctly but not worth it for us.

Peri

Veteran

Echoing all the other comments on how they completely trash your nails. I had two in two months and my nails shredded like tissue paper for a few months after that. I went polish free for two months and let them grow out and recover and things are mostly okay now.

So...if you don't mind that happening, go for it! I know that sounds nuts after what I just said, but hey...wedding/ honeymoon. You might decide its worth it!

Carole

Veteran

I tried a shellac manicure just a few weeks ago for a trip to Hawaii and have to say that they look beautiful and last a good two weeks (or until the nail grow out bugs you). I couldn't get in to have them removed so tried it myself with nail polish remover which didn't work well at all so I ended up peeling and scraping them off. Not the best option I realize now, but I didn't notice much damage to my nails. I would definitely have them soaked and removed properly if I do it again and probably will for my sons upcoming wedding. You can easily do this a few days before your wedding!

Thistle

Veteran

Fr me, it was the manicure itself. The removal process for me was pretty easy. I had to have them removed at the salon, and I sat with my nails soaking for 30 minutes in a solution. The gel just melted off, but the damage was done. Took me months for my nails to return to normal, which I don't under stand as they grow fast. It was like even the grow out was damaged for a while.

rute

Veteran

I made shellac manicure for a some months, it lasted 2 weeks, but i had to get the time (1,5 hours) to spend every two weeks at the manicure and that annoyed me! When i took it off, my nails were weeker and broke a lot

Jjsloane

Veteran

I remember hearing a horrifying story on NPR and can't find it now. I think there are ways to sunscreen yourself from the damage, but it's really not a great idea (although if you're doing it once maybe?)

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

If you're only doing it once, the UV probably won't be a problem. I believe there is a warning out about getting them done constantly due to long term UV exposure (it's like a mini tanning bed for your nails!)

There are home gel/shellac kits at the drug store - something you might wanna try

Diana

Veteran

Yikes. I am thinking maybe this is not worth the trashed nails since it sounds like even one application seems to cause it often. Possibly a better idea to just get a regular manicure the day before the wedding. That way, I can just bring my own polish so I could touch it up if necessary.

bj1111

Veteran

Had it done once worked like a dream. Regrowth was a bigger issue. I have really healthy thick nails so no damage, but did it only once. Will bebtrying agsin.

for your wedding, just do it!

Robin M

I get mine done fairly regularly. I have pretty healthy nails, but ive found that after the third or fourth manicure, my nails were starting to be noticeably weaker, but I think that really happens when the polish is being removed. Anyway, I've taken to taking a two week break between manicures and it seems to work for me. I'm pretty hard on my nails (in the military) and they last about 2 weeks on me. The part that annoys me is that I have to let me nails grow for 2 weeks because cutting your nails with the manicure seems weird and i like to keep my nails pretty short.

I don't know if this is a recommendation or not, but amongst military women, it is an extremely popular option.

Scarlet

Veteran

I am not sure what the right term is, but I had my nailswrapped? Whatever it is where they make them artificially longer, but then I made them file them down pretty short because I didn't want those super long nails. Anyway the polish lasts better on those things. I only did it once so I had no appreciable nail damage. I was glad I did it because the manicure looks so much better in the photos. I would do it a few days ahead of time. Also if you have light colored polish, remember most people won't notice any chips. They will be looking at your smiling face anyway.

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I went through a period where I had regular gel mani's - french - and loved how good my nails always looked, but it is a biatch to grow the damage out once you stop doing it. I would still probably have one for a special occasion - a normal mani lasts about 5 minutes on my fingers!

kkards

Veteran

i have been using the old fashion acrylic nails for the last 20 years, and in the last 6 months, switched over the the shellac. every 6 months or so, i take the acrylic off...i have to say i have not had any issues with my nails. they are still strong and in one piece. i think the important thing is to find a good salon, one that takes time and care, not one simply interested in getting customers in and out. yelp is a great source.

Scarlet

Veteran

I think acrylic nails is what I meant. It only damages your nails if you do it a lot because they thin your nail somewhat (buff it) prior to application.

Diana

Veteran

Thanks for the additional opinions, ladies!

So my sister says she has done this before and had no problems at all. She is not a habitual manicure user either and only did it for a special occasion. I'm thinking that since we have similar nails it would probably be OK for me too.